Chapter 8 Flashcards
What does Eric W Ives say about Henry VIII in government?
“Most State papers were read to or summarised to him” - Henry did not care about the details “He did almost all his work by word of mouth” - he was not overly involved in matters of government “Henry was not willing to delegate consistently. He also reserved freedom to intervene as and when he wanted” - Henry only really cared when he was personally affected “the story of the reign is of fluctuation as the options were tried and successively broke down” - government under Henry was ineffective - it was full of ups, downs and mistakes
What was the state of the government that Henry VIII inherited?
It had a strong and efficient central and local government structure, staffed by able administrators. Some of these continued in office and Henry’s early years saw a good deal of continuity, however, there were some changes after 1514
Summarise the state of government in the years 1509-1514
Government by the council - however, conciliar government had broken down by 1514 because of disagreements between Henry and his councillors, for example, over war with France or Henry’s preference to surround himself with younger courtiers
Summarise the state of government in the years 1514-29
From 1514, Henry relied on Wolsey to manage government effectively. Wolsey’s influence was derived more from his close relationship with the king than from formal positions
Summarise the state of government in the years 1529-32
Conciliar government restored - Wolsey’s downfall brought a return to conciliar government
Summarise the state of government in the years 1532-40
Cromwell rose to power as chief minister by 1532 and dominated royal government for the rest of the 1530s
Summarise the state of government in the years 1540-47
Conciliar government restored in a new form - following Cromwell’s fall, a new Privy Council emerged with fixed membership and recorded proceedings. In the Privy Council power lay with the conservatives
What was the Court under Henry VIII
All persons who were in attendance on the King on any given day. The Court moved from place to place with the King. Key personnel included Wolsey, Cromwell and the Duke of Norfolk
What was the Privy Council under Henry VIII?
People appointed by the King to give advice in affairs of state. Key personnel included Wolsey and Cromwell
What was the Privy Chamber under Henry VIII?
Part of the household - it had its own staff outside the jurisdiction of the Lord Chamberlain, who looked after the rest of the household. The head of the Privy Chamber was the Groom of the Stool. there were also Gentlemen of the Privy Chamber, who attended to the King’s most intimate requirements. Key personnel included William Compton and Henry Norris
How did luck allow Wolsey to rise to power quickly?
It can be said that he was in the right place at the right time - “Empson and Dudley were executed” and “Foxe and Warham were rapidly facing retirement”
How did his charm allow Wolsey to rise to power so quickly?
Wolsey made the most of every opportunity he had to flatter others - he had “a special gift of natural eloquence”, he was “sociable, witty and convivial” and “whenever he wanted something from Henry, he “brought out some small present or other””
How did his flexibility allow Wolsey to rise to power so quickly?
He was willing to change his attitude to the war with France to please Henry - “he quickly became the greatest enthusiast of the idea”, demonstrating his “flexibility of outlook”
How did his ambition allow Wolsey to rise to power so quickly?
He had excellent organisational skills and engrossed himself in ambitious matters, such as bolstering his career with degrees - “he had got his first degree at the age of 15” and was keen to “engage in ambitious building works whilst in charge of Magdalen College’s finances”
How did his hardworking nature allow Wolsey to rise to power so quickly?
Wolsey was a workaholic, conscientious and moved at a fast pace - he went above and beyond - “Wolsey went into overdrive to prove his worth” and “Henry had to encourage him to take a holiday”
What is the background of Cardinal Thomas Wolsey?
- He was born in Ipswich, Suffolk around 1475 - His father, who is thought to have been a butcher, provided a good education and he went on to Magdalen College, Oxford - Wolsey was ordained as a priest around 1498 at St Peter’s Church in Marlborough - He became chaplain to the Archbishop of Canterbury and later chaplain to Henry VIII, who employed him on diplomatic missions - Wolsey made a name for himself as an efficient administrator, both for the Crown and the church - When Henry VIII became King in 1509, Wolsey’s rapid rise began - In 1514, he was made Archbishop of York
How did Henry VIII use government?
- He liked to have an overview of government, but left the “mundane” work for others - The style of government varied across his reign - Due to the personal nature of Henry’s pursuit of a male heir, his relationship with Parliament underwent great change during his reign - before the 1530s, Henry used Parliament like his father - to pass legislation and raise taxes - Parliament was only summoned a handful of times - The 1523 Parliament was the only one summoned during Wolsey’s period of dominance
How did Wolsey and Henry VIII get on?
- Wolsey was close with the King - He complemented the King’s “hands-off” approach to the details of policy making - Wolsey was mainly concerned with the legal system, the formulation of domestic policy and political decision making - He could give the King precisely what he wanted, or else convinced the King of what he assumed he wanted
How did Wolsey try to control the Privy Chamber?
- Before 1519, the Privy Chamber lay out of Wolsey’s control - Established during the reign of Henry VII, but its role was extended in the early years of Henry VIII’s reign - the King’s minions became Gentlemen of the Privy Chamber - The minions distrusted Wolsey, and in 1519, he secured the removal of the minions and replaced them with his own supporters
Did Wolsey succeed in controlling the Privy Chamber?
No - most of the minions managed to recover their positions, therefore, the Privy Chamber remained outside of Wolsey’s immediate control
What was the Court of Chancery?
- Run by a Lord Chancellor, who was not a trained lawyer, but was responsible for overseeing the legal system - Wolsey tried to use the court to “uphold fair justice” - Used the court to deal with problems relating to enclosure, contracts and land left to others in wills - Became too popular and justice became slow - clogged with cases
What was the Court of the Star Chamber?
- Dealt with cheaper appeals - gave cheap and fair justice - Ordinary people could get their grievances appealed - Wolsey encouraged the use of the Star Chamber for private lawsuits - it became too successful and Wolsey was forced to set up a series of “overflow tribunals” to deal with pressure of business - Permanent committee set up in 1519 - dealt with cases involving the poor
What was the 1523 subsidy and Parliament?
Taxes asked of people to provide extraordinary revenue to fund the war against France - a “subsidy” is usually a grant issued by Parliament to the sovereign for State needs, but the 1523 subsidy imposed a tax of one shilling in the pound for land worth £50, and one shilling in the pound on personal savings and goods. The amount, however, was insufficient. John Guy calls Wolsey “arrogant and insensitive” with this policy
What was the Amicable Grant 1525?
Wolsey ordered the implementation of this to raise more money for war by means of unparliamentary taxation after the 1523 subsidy raised insufficient funds - in theory it was to be a freely given gift from his subjects to the King, but in reality, it was a heavy tax, levied without Parliament’s approval - this led to widespread resistance, almost amounting to rebellion
What were the Eltham Ordinances 1526?
Created by Wolsey to reform the finances of the Privy Council - in the guise of pushing forward proposals for a reduction of royal household expenditure, Wolsey secured a reduction in the number of the Gentlemen of the Privy Chamber, one area of government over which he did not have control. He secured the removal of Henry’s Groom of the Stool, Sir William Compton, and replaced him with the more compliant Henry Norris
What is meant by the term “Groom of the Stool”?
The most intimate of an English monarch’s courtiers, who became a man in whom much confidence was placed and royal secrets were shared as a matter of course
What was the King’s Great Matter?
Concerned the annulment of Henry VIII’s marriage to Catherine of Aragon and his desire to marry Anne Boleyn. It was complex and led to England’s break from the Catholic church
What is meant by the term “annulment”?
To declare something is legally invalid - in this case, the marriage between Henry and Catherine. It is accepted that only the Pope could authorise such a measure
What is meant by the term “papal dispensation”?
Permission was required from the Pope in order to be exempted from the laws/observances of the church. Only in special circumstances
How did Henry’s need to secure the succession and Catherine’s age lead to him desire an annulment?
She was coming to the end of childbearing age and had not given Henry a male heir, leading him to become fearful for the future of the kingdom should he stay with her. She was 6 years older than him
How did Henry’s infatuation with Anne Boleyn lead him to desire an annulment?
She was unwilling to become his mistress, and as Henry had fallen madly in love with her, he knew that the only way to obtain her would be to divorce Catherine and marry Anne
How did Henry use his religious beliefs and the Bible in his argument for an annulment?
The Bible said that you could not marry your brother’s widow as Henry had done, and so he argued that the dispensation issued by Julius II to permit the marriage was invalid as in God’s eyes, the marriage was invalid However, Catherine argued that the marriage WAS valid as she and Arthur had not consummated their marriage
What happened on 6th May 1527?
The Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V’s forces sacked Rome, taking the Pope as a prisoner
Why was the Pope not in a position to be able to grant Henry dispensation for an annulment?
He probably would have granted one under different circumstances, but Charles V was the nephew of Catherine and would not accept such an insult to his family
Why did the pursuit of the annulment fail?
- Catherine refused to accept it and she was popular in England - There was religious stalemate within the debate - The Pope was held captive by Charles V, who would not agree to the annulment as Catherine’s nephew - Wolsey did not have as much influence in Rome as he thought
What did Wolsey’s fate depend on?
Securing an annulment for Henry
What did the Pope do in 1529 towards the annulment?
- He was aware of Wolsey’s situation, but all he could do was play for time, which annoyed Henry - He sent an envoy, Cardinal Campeggio, in 1529 to hear the case along with Wolsey after 2 years of fruitless diplomacy
What happened on 15th June 1529?
The hearing for the annulment opened in London
What happened on 30th July 1529?
Campeggio adjourned the hearing, sealing Wolsey’s fate - he had failed to give Henry an annulment
Why was Wolsey’s fall expected?
It was sudden, but he was unpopular for forcing the 1523 subsidy through Parliament and imposing the Amicable Grant
What happened in October 1529?
Wolsey was charged with praemunire and surrendered himself, with all of his possessions, including Hampton Court, to Henry
