8.2 Domestic policies under Wolsey

Question 1

What two areas of Domestic affairs did Wolsey control

Answer 1

1. Law and Government
2. Finances

Question 2

What Courts did Wolsey increase the power of

Answer 2

1. The Court of Chancery
2. The Star Chamber

Question 3

What was the Court of Chancery

Answer 3

Public court in which justice was based on applying fairness.

Question 4

What type of cases did the Court of Chancery deal with

Answer 4

It dealt with cases to do with wills and property

Question 5

Was the Court of Chancery successful

Answer 5

It was partially successful.

+ Good concept
- Limited in scope due to a finite amount of courts

Question 6

What was the Star Chamber

Answer 6

It was an offshoot of the kings council. Wolsey aimed to increase fair justice through its use

It took no notice of noble status

Question 7

What type of cases did the Star Chamber handle

Answer 7

Cases of perjury and contempt of court

Question 8

Was the Star Chamber and its reforms by Wolsey successful

Answer 8

The Star Chamber heard 10x as many cases under Henry VIII than under Henry VII. It was therefore successful.

Question 9

What were Wolsey’s contributions to finance

Answer 9

1. The Tudor Subsidy
2. Amicable Grant
3. Act of Resumption

Question 10

What was the Tudor Subsidy

Answer 10

It was expected that taxpayers would pay for extraordinary expenses when required. This was done by subsidy

Question 11

How did Wolsey change the way in which Subsidy’s worked

Answer 11

Insted of using local commisioners who would assess taxpayers wealth, who were often too generous to local nobility, Wolsey created a national committee to which he headed himself

Question 12

What was the impact of Wolsey’s changes to the Tudor Subsidy

Answer 12

With much more accurate estimations of wealth, far more money was brought in through subsidies.

Question 13

How much money did the Tudor Subsidy bring in for Henry’s aggressive foreign policy

Answer 13

£300,000 on 4 occassions

Question 14

What was the Amicable Grant

Answer 14

In 1525 Wolsey attempted to raise more money for war; it was meant to be a ‘free gift’ to the king - but in reality it was a heavy tax, levied without parliamentary sanction.

Question 15

What was the impact of the Amicable Grant

Answer 15

There was significant trouble following the implementation of the ‘benevolence’ - Some refused to pay, others couldn’t.

There was a rising in Lavenham, Suffolk, but was stopped before it could raise too much traction. The town bells had been removed, otherwise it may have been more successful.

In the long term it was the beginning of Wolsey’s downfall, he had embarrassed the king and himself by begging for the rebel leaders forgiveness in the Star Chamber. It was the first time Wolsey failed to meet the demands of the King - Henry’s foreign adventures had to be ceased earlier and force a peace treaty with France

Question 16

What was the Eltham Ordinances of 1526

Answer 16

Wolsey introduced this as a method of reforming the finances of the Privy Council.

Question 17

What did the Eltham Ordinances involve

Answer 17

A reduction of royal household expenditure and a reduction in the number of members of the Privy Chamber

Question 18

What was Wolsey’s true reasons behind the Eltham Ordinances

Answer 18

The Privy chamber was the only part of government not under Wolsey’s direct control. He became fearful members of the Privy Chamber were going to turn Henry against him, and he therefore replaced the Groom of the Stool with Henry Norris

Question 19

Who replaced the Groom of the Stool following the Eltham Ordinances

Answer 19

Henry Norris

Question 20

What does the Eltham Ordinances illustrate about Wolsey and Henry’s relationship

Answer 20

That it was degrading and Wolsey was making a desperate attempt at reclaiming power