govt under henry viii

Question 1

1509-1514

Answer 1

Conciliar govt which he had inherited from his father: were strong and efficient, had a good deal of continuity in the early years.
By 1514, this govt had broken down due to the disagreements over war with france

Question 2

1514-1529

Answer 2

Wolsey had become heavily relied on by Henry VIII to manage govt effectively.
Made changes to the legal system as he was Chancellor: extending the use of the star chamber in 1516 to increase cheap and fair justice, court of chancery- main court of equity allowing for cheap and fair justice, court of requests- allowed poor access to justice

Question 3

1529-1532

Answer 3

return of the conciliar govt due to the fall of wolsey in 1529

Question 4

1532-1540

Answer 4

Cromwell rose to chief minister and gained royal supremacy due to securing the annulment for henry, something wolsey failed to do.
Was Cromwell who encouraged Henry to place himself as head of the Church as well as to break away from Rome.

Question 5

1540-1547

Answer 5

Conciliar govt returned with a new Privy Council with a fixed membership and recorded proceedings

Question 6

Privy Chamber

Answer 6

Before 1519- this was the one area of govt which wolsey had no control over.
The kings minions became gentlemen of the privy chamber –> 1519- Wolsey managed to remove them and instead replace them with his own supporters but the men managed to recover their positions

Question 7

Who was Wolsey?

Answer 7

Born in 1472 in Ipswich to a humble family with his father being a butcher
1513-Became Dean of York
1514- Bishop of Lincoln + Archbishop of York
1515- Lord Chancellor-controlling govt
1518- Papal Legate
1519-1529- Henrys Chief Minister

Question 8

Finances under Wolsey

Answer 8

-Set up network of royal commissioners appointed by himself to access taxpayers wealth for raising subsidies= raised £322099
-Act of Resumptions 1515- Wolsey increased revenue from crown lands, money granted straightaway at beginning of HVIII’s reign
-Amicable Grant Tax 1525- raised tax to fund Henrys war with France, but led to rebellions in East Anglia + widespread non-payment
-Eltham Ordinances 1526- aimed to reduce royal household expenditure by reforming the privy chamber finances

Question 9

Wolsey Eval

Answer 9

-Court of Requests increased respect from poor but also enemies amongst the rich
-Wolsey abused the system to target his enemies e.g Sir Robert Sheffield 1517, imprisoned for being an ‘accessory to crime’
-Eltham Ordinances- fuelled by selfish desire for survival, never actually carried out, he became powerful without it
-Wolsey= unable to actually carry out his ideas e.g amicable grant

Question 10

Who was Cromwell?

Answer 10

Born in 1485
A lawyer and secretary to Wolsey, then principle secretary to Henry
Was the mastermind behind the dissolution of monasteries
Suggested that Henry make a break from Rome and place himself as head of the English church
Achieved royal supremacy through the use of parliament
Secured the marriage between Jane Seymour and Henry, as well as Anne of Cleves.

Question 11

Downfall of Cromwell

Answer 11

By the 1540s Cromwells influence was declining.
1537- Henrys third wife Jane seymour had died after the birth of Prince Edward.
1540- Cromwell had tried to arrange a marriage between German protestant princess Anne of Cleves and Henry: was an unhappy partnership, unwelcomed politically, marriage was annulled.
This destroyed what was left of Cromwell’s credibility, Cromwell was accused of treason and heresy at a Council meeting, executed the same day, 28ht July 1540