Government and Parliament 1509-1529

Question 1

What did Henry VIII see as the 2 main functions of Parliament? How did these compare to his father’s beliefs? - Government (1509-29)

Answer 1

Henry saw Parliament as having the functions to grant extraordinary revenue to the Crown and also to legislate. This was consistent with Henry VII’s views on the matter.

Question 2

What was the attitude of Wolsey to Parliament? How many Parliaments were called whilst he was Lord Chancellor? - Government (1509-29)

Answer 2

Wolsey had a strong dislike of Parliament, preferring to have free will with which to administrate the realm. Only one Parliament was called between 1514 and 1529.

Question 3

When did the period of conciliar government at the start of Henry VIII’s reign last from-to? What led to its downfall? - Government (1509-29)

Answer 3

Henry’s conciliar government lasted from 1509 until 1514.
Henry became dismayed at the reluctance of his father’s councillors to support war with France. He also admired Wolsey’s personal aptitude for administration and management.

Question 4

When did Wolsey become Lord Chancellor? How did he complement Henry VIII’s attitude to government so well? - Government (1509-29)

Answer 4

Wolsey became Lord Chancellor in 1515.
Wolsey’s detailed and dedicated approach was a perfect contrast to Henry’s more released and hands-off approach to government.

Question 5

What were Henry VIII’s ‘minions’? Why were they outside of Wolsey’s control? - Government (1509-29)

Answer 5

Henry’s ‘minions’ were young courtiers who received the King’s favour at court and later became Gentlemen of the Privy Chamber. As they had the King’s favour, Wolsey struggled to mitigate their influence, creating a small region of court which he had little control over.

Question 6

How did Wolsey gain some influence over the Privy Chamber in 1519? How was this mitigated? - Government (1509-29)

Answer 6

Wolsey managed to remove some of Henry’s ‘minions’ in 1519 and replace them with his supporters. However, this was only temporary, with many of them later returning.

Question 7

What was the Court of Chancery? - Government (1509-29)

Answer 7

The Court of Chancery was a court based on equity in its deliverance of justice. Didn’t observe a strict reading of common law.

Question 8

How did Wolsey operate the Court of Chancery? What issues did he deal with? - Government (1509-29)

Answer 8

Wolsey oversaw the Court of Chancery as Lord Chancellor, with the aim being to provide fair justice. He dealt with issues such as enclosure, contracts and the leaving of land to others in wills.

Question 9

What was the Court of Star Chamber? - Government (1509-29)

Answer 9

The Court of Star Chamber was made to be the centre of government and justice under Wolsey.

Question 10

What were Wolsey’s aims with regards to the Court of Star Chamber? - Government (1509-29)

Answer 10

Wolsey aimed to extend the access of cheap and fair justice to all, mainly hearing cases of misconduct.

Question 11

What response did Wolsey have to take in response to the success of the Court of Star Chamber? - Government (1509-29)

Answer 11

In overseeing private justice, the Court of Star Chamber was so popular that Wolsey had to set up overflow courts to accommodate its excessive usage.

Question 12

What is a subsidy? How did Wolsey use them? - Government (1509-29)

Answer 12

A subsidy is a grant issued by Parliament to levy taxes or other requirements by the state. Wolsey used these to raise extraordinary revenue in times of need by Parliament.

Question 13

How did Wolsey change the way in which subsidies were calculated? Why was this necessary? - Government (1509-29)

Answer 13

Wolsey created an independent national committee headed by himself to assess the wealth of taxpayers in order to increase revenue gathered by taxation. This was needed as local commissioners assessing wealth would often be over-generous to the nobility.

Question 14

When did Wolsey levy the Amicable Grant? Why was this controversial? - Government (1509-29)

Answer 14

Wolsey levied the Amicable Grant in 1525, with this proving controversial due to being a tax not approved by Parliament in order to raise money for war. This later led to a resistance.

Question 15

When did Wolsey pass the Eltham Ordinances? Why was this done? (2) - Government (1509-29)

Answer 15

Wolsey passed the Eltham Ordinances in 1526 in order to reform the finances of the Privy Council. He reduced the number of courtiers at court, yet in doing so removed any political opponents he had to establish control over one area he had previously had little.

Question 16

What was the ‘King’s Great Matter’? - Government (1509-29)

Answer 16

The King’s Great Matter was the issue of securing an annulment of Henry VIII’s marriage to Catherine of Aragon in order for him to marry Anne Boleyn.

Question 17

Why was Henry VIII so keen on annulling his marriage to Catherine of Aragon? For this reason, what desperate action was he considering to take? - Government (1509-29)

Answer 17

Henry was so keen on annulling his marriage because Catherine was past child-bearing age, and was incapable of producing a male heir which would secure the succession. Henry considered legitimising his bastard son, Henry Fitzroy, for this.

Question 18

What Biblical basis was there for Henry VIII having an annulment of his marriage to Catherine of Aragon? - Government (1509-29)

Answer 18

In the Book of Leviticus, a line exists preventing a man from marrying his brother’s widow. Henry used this to argue that his marriage to Catherine was sinful and that it required annulment.

Question 19

What issues were there with Henry VIII’s Biblical argument for annulment? (2) - Government (1509-29)

Answer 19

Catherine claimed that her marriage to Arthur had never been consummated, therefore nullifying the argument made by Henry. Furthermore, it was believed that this line meant only not to marry your brother’s wife whilst he is alive.

Question 20

What problem was there in securing a divorce between Henry and Catherine in terms of foreign relations? - Government (1509-29)

Answer 20

In 1527, Rome had been sacked by Charles V, with the Pope made his prisoner. As Charles V was the nephew of Catherine of Aragon, Charles was not going to permit a divorce and see his family insulted.

Question 21

What did Wolsey aim to set up using his position as Papal Legate in order to secure a divorce in 1527? - Government (1509-29)

Answer 21

In May 1527, Wolsey set up a fake court which accused Henry of living in sin with Catherine, a charge which Henry agreed to. Catherine would not accept this verdict and later appealed to the Pope.

Question 22

When did the Pope send an envoy to hear an official church case for the annulment of Henry VIII’s marriage to Catherine? - Government (1509-29)

Answer 22

The Pope sent an envoy, Cardinal Campeggio, to London in June 1529, to initiate an official hearing.

Question 23

What was the outcome of Cardinal Campeggio’s hearing on the divorce of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon? - Government (1509-29)

Answer 23

Campeggio adjourned the hearing in July, with no divorce granted to Henry.

Question 24

How did Henry VIII react to Wolsey’s failure to secure him a divorce from Catherine? - Government (1509-29)

Answer 24

Henry charged Wolsey with praemunire (the act of acting in the interests of an organisation other than the Crown). Wolsey surrendered all his property to Henry, but died before his trial in November 1529.

Question 25

How many times more cases were heard in Star Chamber under Henry VIII than under Henry VII? - Government (1509-29)

Answer 25

Henry VIII’s Star Chamber heard 10 times the number of cases as Henry VII’s.