Thomas Cromwell Quiz - The Tudor Society

A fun quiz about Thomas Cromwell, Henry VIII's right hand man, and the protagonist of Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall.

Thomas Cromwell

Q1) What occupation did Thomas Cromwell's father (some say stepfather) Walter Cromwell have?

butcher

baker

brewer

chandler

Correct! He was a beer brewer ("berebruer") and also kept sheep and cattle. He was fined a number of times for watering down beer.

Wrong! He was a beer brewer ("berebruer") and he also kept sheep and cattle. He was fined a number of times for watering down beer.

Q2) In the 1510s, Cromwell went to Rome to help the Guild of St Mary’s Chapel, Boston, Lincolnshire, renew their licence for the sale of indulgences. Cromwell arranged a chance encounter with Pope Leo X and tempted him with...

Money

Spices

A marchpane replica of Rome

Jelly

Correct! And it worked. The Pope, who was known for his sweet tooth, granted the renewal of the licence.

Wrong! Cromwell tempted him with some English "fine dishes of jelly". The Pope, who was known for his sweet tooth, granted the renewal of the licence.

Q3) Who household had Cromwell joined by 1516?

The King's

Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk's

Thomas Wolsey's

Thomas Boleyn's

Correct! He served Wolsey as a lawyer and was in charge of setting up Cardinal College, Oxford, and Cardinal’s College School, Ipswich, in Wolsey’s name.

Wrong! It was Thomas Wolsey's. He served Wolsey as a lawyer and was in charge of setting up Cardinal College, Oxford, and Cardinal’s College School, Ipswich, in Wolsey’s name.

Q4) Which Act of Parliament championed by Cromwell is seen by historians as the legal foundation of the English Reformation?

Act of Supremacy

Act in Restraints of Appeals

Act Respecting the Oath to the Succession

Submission of the Clergy Act

Correct! Diarmaid MacCulloch points out that Cromwell had given Parliament the power to intervene in the constitution and that this power has never been surrendered. The monarch now had to include Parliament in decision making, so this was where democracy started.

Wrong! It was the Act in Restraints of Appeals. Diarmaid MacCulloch points out that Cromwell had given Parliament the power to intervene in the constitution and that this power has never been surrendered. The monarch now had to include Parliament in decision making, so this was where democracy started.

Q5) In 1532, Cromwell was made...

Master of the Horse

Chancellor of the Exchequer

Henry VIII's principal secretary

Master of the Jewels

Correct! He was made Master of the King's Jewel House.

Wrong! He was made Master of the King's Jewel House.

Q6) Cromwell has gone down in history for his role in the fall of Anne Boleyn and the dissolution of the monasteries, but what issue was he attempting to tackle in 1535/6?

Poverty

Child abuse

Crime

The poor standard of education

Correct! In fact, his legislation is seen as the foundation of Elizabeth I's Poor Law.

Wrong! It was poverty. His poor relief legislation is seen as the foundation of Elizabeth I's Poor Law.

Q7) Anne Boleyn's almoner John Skip preached a controversial sermon on Passion Sunday 1536 which is seen as an attack on Cromwell and the advice he was giving the King. What Bible story did Skip use?

That of King Ahab

That of King Jehoiachin

That of King Ahasuerus.

That of King Nebuchadnezzar

Correct! was the Old Testament story of King Ahasuerus “who was moved by a wicked minister to destroy the Jews” but Queen Esther stepped in with different advice and saved the Jews. In Skip’s sermon, Henry VIII was Ahasuerus, Anne Boleyn was Queen Esther and Thomas Cromwell, who had just introduced the Act of Suppression of the Lesser Monasteries into Parliament, was Haman, the “wicked minister”.

Wrong! It was the Old Testament story of King Ahasuerus “who was moved by a wicked minister to destroy the Jews” but Queen Esther stepped in with different advice and saved the Jews. In Skip’s sermon, Henry VIII was Ahasuerus, Anne Boleyn was Queen Esther and Thomas Cromwell, who had just introduced the Act of Suppression of the Lesser Monasteries into Parliament, was Haman, the “wicked minister”.

Q8) In April 1540, Cromwell was granted the Earldom of Essex, but what office was he also given?

Lord Privy Seal

Lord High Steward

Earl Marshal

Lord Great Chamberlain

Correct!

Wrong! He was made Lord Great Chamberlain

Q9) In which year was Cromwell elected to the Order of the Garter?

1537

1538

1539

1540

Correct!

Wrong! It was in 1537.

Q10) The attainder against Cromwell in 1540 found Cromwell guilty of being a "detestable............."

traitor

heretic

sodomite

Lollard

Correct!

Wrong! He was labelled a "detestable heretic".

Q11) In 1540 a rumour was spread that Cromwell was planning to marry......

Elizabeth

Elizabeth Seymour

Margaret Douglas

Mary

Correct! The source was Louis de Perreau, Sieur de Castillon, the French ambassador.

Wrong! It was said that Cromwell was planning to marry Mary and make himself king. The source was Louis de Perreau, Sieur de Castillon, the French ambassador.

Q12) Cromwell was beheaded on 28 July 1540, what other event took place on that day?

Henry VIII's marriage to Catherine Howard

The annulment of Henry VIII's marriage to Anne of Cleves

The execution of reformer Robert Barnes

The execution of Catherine Howard

Correct!

Wrong! Henry VIII married Catherine Howard.

Q13) Where was Thomas Cromwell laid to rest?

All Hallows-by-the-Tower

St Sepulchre-without-Newgate

Church of St. Lawrence Jewry

Chapel of St Peter ad Vincula

Correct!

Wrong! It was at the Chapel of St Peter ad Vincula at the Tower of London.