Do you agree with the view that Thomas Cromwell was the driving force in the break with Rome in the years to 1534?!

Plan: ! Para 1:Source 7 and 8 tell us that Cromwell was the driving force in the break! Para 2:Source 9 and 7 also tell us it was driven by henry wanting a divorce ! Conclusion: I believe that the break was not driven by cromwell but a variety of other reasons (quote source 7 and 8 ‘succession problem)

Thomas Cromwell was an adviser to Henry VIII, responsible for drafting the documents that formalised England's religious and political break with Rome during the 1530’s. It can be argued that he was the driving force behind the break from Rome. However it could be other reasons such as Henrys desire for a divorce or for his desire for a male heir.! Source 7 and 8 both support the theory that Cromwell was the driving force in the break with Rome. Source 7 says that Cromwell’s importance lay “in his personal influence on the king”, this shows that Cromwell would have worked through the king giving him enough power to drive the break from Rome. Also Source 7 says, “although Cromwell may not have originated the ideas behind Henry’s policy, he took the ideas and made them practicable”, therefore it can be inferred from this source that he was the driving force as it was Cromwell who made the ideas happen. Source 8 also agrees with the statement, it tells us that the “major attack on the Commons on the Church” was “well organised by Cromwell, which Henry supported”, this is important as this source confirms again that Cromwell has an influence over the king and can act through him. Also the source tells us that Cromwell organised an attack on the Commons on the Church, the commons on the Church would have been linked to the Pope and Rome, this shows Cromwell was the driving force in the break from Rome. Finally Source 8 tell us that “under Cromwell’s