CROMWELL, Tilom.ts, Ea rt of Essex I c.1490 1540). .\n English statesman and Henry Val.', prime agent in effecting the Reformation. Ile. was born at Putney. near London. inhere hi. father engaged in the varied pursuits of black smith. brewer, innkeeper, fuller. and :.hearer of cloth. After a meagre education, he went to Antwerp as a clerk in a factory. and success fully devoted his spare tinw to learning lan guages. He spent some time in Italy as a sol dier and trailer. llo returned to England in 1513, aml, while following the paternal tilea lions. developed into a money-lender. a lawyer. and an influential citizen. He received a trusted appointment from Cardinal Wolsey, and under his patronage entered Parliament. his able speeches attracted attention. He sneces..fully defended his master against the bill of impeach ment: and limiry VIII., appreciating his talent. made hint his private secretary. He received a succession of honors, which, after knighthood in 1531, included the Chan:allot-1;Np of the Exche quer (1533) , Mastership of the Rolls and Vicar ship-General of Ecclesiastical Affairs (1535), the office of Lord Privy Seal (1536). and that of
Lord Chamberlain (1339), and culminated in his creation as Earl of F....ex in 1540. For seven years. by subservience to the King, he held supreme sway in the royal council. and con trolled all the administrative department•. He carried out faithfully the monarch's schemes to establish the Reformation. methods in suppressing the monasteries earned him the of mallcus mmtarhoram. the Hammer of the Monks. He was very unpopular. and after promoting the marriage of henry with Anne of Cleves, the King's aversion to the Queen was extended to the instigator of the union. Ilenry assented to a bill of attainder for treason on a long indictment of offenses. and, after a piteous entreaty for mercy. Cromwell wa. clumsily beheaded on July 28, 1540. Fronde praises his diameter. Contult: Drayton. His lair of the Life and Death of the Lord ('roun trcll London, 1609 ) : hook, Lines of the Arch bishops of Canterl»try, vol. vi. (London, 1868) ; Fronde. Victory of England (London. 1881-82) ; Alerrinian, Life mind Letters of Thomffs ern M well 1xf ord. 1902).