ABSTRACT
Thomas Cromwell's fall marked something of a period in Tudor history. By depriving himself of his outstanding servant, Henry VIII destroyed the efficiency and the purpose of his government. If the revival of catholic conspiracies undermined the standing of the orthodox party, the fall of Katharine Howard was a more serious blow still. Peace was finally concluded at Ardres in June 1546, largely because neither side saw much hope of decisive success. France once again promised to pay sizable pensions, and England was to retain Boulogne until 1554 when France would buy the town back. Protestantism had ceased to be the religion of the land, many old ceremonies and practices were again used in the churches, mass especially was again being said. The Spanish match and England's virtual absorption into the Habsburg Empire had played relatively little part until 1556 because domestic issues had then predominated upon which Archduke Philip and his advisers exercised little influence.
