ON THIS DAY - 26 January 1533

'Thomas Audley, 1st Baron Audley'. Unknown Artist ?John Bettes, 1569 ©English Heritage: Audley End Estate

On This Day (26 January) in 1533, lawyer and Speaker of the House of Commons, Thomas Audley was formally appointed as Lord Chancellor of England.

On 16 May 1532, his predecessor Sir Thomas More resigned his position as Lord Chancellor. More, who had held the position since 1529, had known Henry VIII since his childhood, and had long championed his policies, both home and abroad. However, as a staunch Catholic, More had strongly objected to the new Protestant/Reformist religious laws and policies that were being introduced from 1530, spearheaded by Audley and his friend Thomas Cromwell. Since 1527, Henry VIII had been seeking the legal annulment of his marriage to his wife Catherine of Aragon, looking to marry Anne Boleyn. A consequence of the King's "great matter" was England's 'split' from the Catholic Church, with rejection of Papal Authority in Rome and submission to Henry as the secular head of state. More, who had consistently not been in support of the annulment, also refused to sign the Oath of Supremacy, a royal degree introduced in 1531, acknowledging Henry's authority. He subsequently resigned his post as Lord Chancellor, and 4 days later Audley, was granted the post of the Keeper of the Great Seal on 20 May 1532, prior to his appointment as Lord Chancellor 6 months later.

'Sir Thomas More'. Artist: Hans Holbein the Younger, 1527 © The Frick Collection

Audley would remain in this position until his the week before his death in April 1544. In addition to the significant policies and laws implemented during his tenure, including the Act of Supremacy (1534) and Acts of Succession (1534 and 1536), Audley also presided over many high profile trials, including those of Thomas More, Bishop John Fisher and Anne Boleyn, as well as the Attainders of Katherine Howard, Jane Parker and Thomas Cromwell; all of these were found guilty of high treason, sentenced to death, and executed.

Thomas More continued to openly oppose the Reformation, as well as Henry VIII's union to Anne Boleyn in January 1533. Additionally, he refused to attend Anne's coronation and sign the Act of Succession in 1534, acknowledging her appointment as queen and legitimacy of her children. More was arrested on charges of high treason in April 1534, and following a trial (which was presided over by Audley), was found guilty and executed at Tower Hill on 06 July 1535.

'Thomas Cromwell, 1st Earl of Essex'. Artist: Hans Holbein the Younger, c.1533-36 © The Frick Collection

Thomas Cromwell continued in his rise to power, being appointed as Henry's Chief Minister and Principal Secretary in 1534. He was said to be instrumental in the downfall and subsequent execution of Anne Boleyn and her allies in May 1536. However, Cromwell's own fall came in 1540, following Henry's disastrous marriage to Anna of Cleves, the blame being placed at Cromwell's door. Shortly after, he was arrested, attained and found guilty of high treason, executed on 28 July 1540, the same day Henry married his 'fifth' wife, Katherine Howard.