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The Early Tudors > Henry VIII And Wolsey > Flashcards

Henry VIII And Wolsey Flashcards

1
Q

Examples of Henry breaking from his father’s rule

A
  • arrested + later executed Edmund Dudley and Sir Richard Empson = men responsible for implementing H7’s harsh financial policy - gained him popularity
  • announced marriage to Catherine of Aragon - H7 had refused to return her to Spain or marry her to Henry after Arthur’s death as promised - used her in diplomacy- virtual prisoner - Henry appeared chivalrous + restored Anglo-Spanish alliance, providing Henry with an ally for his warrior pursuits
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2
Q

Why was it difficult for Henry to initially achieve his aim of war and glory?

A
  • France = much stronger that early 15th cent. when H5 had secured victories
  • ministers less supportive and skilled at inaction - Archbishop Warham and Bishop Fox determined to continue H7 policies + tricked Henry into renewing truce with France in 1510 when Henry wanted to fight
  • regardless of marriage to Catherine, Henry found that Ferdinand, as well as Emperor Maximilian, where unreliable and could be won over by French bribes
  • meant Henry couldn’t fulfil ambition for war until 1512
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3
Q

Why did Henry’s 1512 expedition to France fail?

A
  • aimed to take over Aquitaine
  • due to Anglo-Spanish alliance, Henry sent an army to Spain to prepare for a cooperative campaign, but Ferdinand just used this as a distraction to the French in order for him to seize land he wanted in the Pyrenees
  • English army was short of supplies + unwelcome amongst locals - returned home empty handed, having spent lots of money
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4
Q

How successful was Henry’s 1513 invasion of France?

A
  • took unimportant town of Therouanne + handed it over to Emp. Max. who burnt it to the ground
  • also took city of Tournai - not economically important but an internationally known city - gave Henry glory he desired
  • Battle of Spurs with the French - made into great propaganda victory - supported by capture of some French nobles
  • exhausted finances + Henry couldn’t continue claim to French throne in 1514 - forced into peace policy
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5
Q

Difference in conduct between H7 + H8

A
  • H7 had reputation as a miser, amassing a surplus, H8 soon spent this on clothes + warfare
  • H7 had become withdrawn from public in latter years, H8 = opposite + established lively court
  • H7 largely ignored nobility in latter years, H8’s court appealed to nobles and he created a large number of new nobles - traditional relationship with nobility restored = less of threat to monarch’s authority
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6
Q

What was Wolsey’s background?

A
  • son of Ipswich butcher
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7
Q

Reasons for Wolsey’s rise to power

A
  • mainly luck
  • talents - gained degree from Oxford at 15 + quick to recognise opportunities for promotion, great flatterer
  • extremely hard worker - appealed to Henry who was uninterested in day to day running of kingdom
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8
Q

What was the trigger for Wolsey entering the king’s favour?

A
  • was a member of the Fox entourage, but realised Fox’s peace party wouldn’t appeal to monarch who wanted war
  • therefore gave King advice he wanted to hear
  • aided by removal or retirement of many of H7’s advisors
  • cemented by 1513 expedition to France - Wolsey given organisational tasks passed over by more experienced officials due to difficulty - Wolsey overcame obstacles + reinforced his value to the King
  • by middle of 1514, King was referring all matters of business to him
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9
Q

Wolsey’s rise through the titular ranks

A
  • 1515 = Lord Chancellor and a cardinal
  • 1518 = papal legate
  • 1524 = papal legate role confirmed for life
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10
Q

H8s foreign policy aims in period to 1529

A
  • assert himself as king
  • demonstrate England as a major power
  • achieve glory and honour
  • secure Tudor dynasty
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11
Q

Success of foreign policy in 1512-14

A
  • campaigns to France did satisfy desire for military glory
  • peace treaty withFrance allowed Wolsey to secure some gains = land, restoring French pension + marriage of Mary to Louis
  • more impressive = defeat of Scots in Battle of Flodden - second army able to kill Scottish king + many nobles + secure northern border
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12
Q

Reasons for H8s weakening position in period 1515-21

A
  • 1515-19 = new French king(Francis I) + new Roman Emp.(Charles V) - young + wanted to assert themselves like Henry but had the resources
  • Francis encouraged Duke of Suffolk to marry Henry’s sister, Mary, following death of husband Louis = loss of face, King’s sister had married a non-royal without permission, couldn’t now use her on marriage market
  • 1515 - France took Milan - H responded by ordering Wolsey to form anti-French alliance but death of Ferdinand + accession of Charles = peace treaty between France and Spain, joined by Emp. Max. = England sidelined - led to Treaty of London
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13
Q

Treaty of London

A
  • H unable to assert himself through war, had to do so through peace making
  • Wolsey hijacked papal initiative to raise troops to fight Turks + turned it into international peace treaty
  • signed in London in Oct 1518
  • Wolsey able to make Henry appear pivotal power - England appeared centre of diplomatic activity - over 20 European rulers signed
  • undermined by sacrifice of Tournai to French + election of Charles I of Spain as Holy Roman Emp. = shifted power balance
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14
Q

The Field of Cloth of Gold

A
  • both Francis + Charles eager to secure England as ally before a war between them - somewhat strengthened England’s position
  • Charles visited England in May 1520 + Henry meant Francis outside Calais in June
  • meeting with Francis known as Field of Cloth of Good - magnificent occasion - palace constructed for visitors
  • achieved nothing of diplomatic value, cost year’s income + undermined when Charles + H met again + agreed not to make separate peace with France
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15
Q

1521 war with France

A
  • under terms of Treaty of Bruges, Wolsey agreed with the emperor to invade France unless it made peace with Charles
  • meant England forced to send an army in 1523, but Charles soon abandoned ally + English army returned in disarray
  • Henry lost prestige as peace maker and £400,000 = a year’s income
  • Charles then managed to capture Francis = ideal time for Henry to assert claim to French throne but heavy taxation from previous campaigns meant Wolsey unable to raise funds
  • Charles refused to attack France + annulled planned marriage with Henry’s daughter, Mary = no longer needed his support
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16
Q

How did Henry’s foreign policy aims change following the 1523 war with France?

A
  • plans to claim French throne failed due to lack of finances + failure to support Charles = Wolsey pursued an anti-Imperial alliance
  • ## Aug 1525 = Treaty of the More = friendship with France with aim of preventing Charles V’s domination of Europe - reinforced in 1527 by Anglo-French Treaty of Westminster + Treat of Amiens(agreement to attack Charles)
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17
Q

What did the 1529 Treaty of Cambrai suggest about England’s significance as a European power?

A
  • only invited to join peace negotiations at last minute, suggests influence was limited
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18
Q

Foreign policy context of the ‘Great Matter’

A
  • Catherine of Aragon = Charles’ aunt - Charles had sacked Rome + captured the Pope in 1527 - meant although Pope May have ordinarily agreed to annulment, he couldn’t due to pressure from Charles to decline
  • could only change situation by alliance with France + military victory but this policy failed - left Henry diplomatically isolated with no chance of gaining Pope’s support
  • Wolsey faced an impossible task
19
Q

Difference between common and civil law

A
  • common law = originated before Norman conquest + based on precedent(what had been done before)
  • civil law - based on natural justice
20
Q

Evidence of Wolsey’s use of the legal system for personal grudges

A
  • Sir Amyas Paulet = had put Wolsey in stocks when he started as a priest - Wolsey summoned him daily + threatened to confiscate his property if he left London without permission
  • abandoned cases where his own position was threatened
    -general vendetta against nobility = determined to prosecute nobility for breaches of laws against maintenance + affrays
21
Q

Evidence of Wolsey advancing legal system

A
  • supported civil law at expense of common law
  • ensured courts he was responsible for gave cheap + impartial justice + available to poor and weak(little chance of gaining justice with high legal fees under common law)
  • Court of Star Chamber = cases against the powerful often given early hearing
  • Court of Chancery = permanent judicial committee to deal with cases brought by poor
  • however - didn’t carry out changes that ensured developments were continued once he left office
22
Q

How did Wolsey change subsidy?

A
  • replaced fifteenths and tenths with subsidy which required tax-payers to give details of their property + income = determined how much they should pay
  • brought in more money + first time since 1334 that crown was raising sums based on accurate assessments
23
Q

How did the 1525 Amicable Grant cause unrest?

A
  • Henry wanted funding for campaign to France
  • 1523 subsidy was still being collected when the non-parliamentary tax of the Amicable Grant was introduced + Henry’s foreign policy had brought little gain = Wolsey forced to back down
  • 10,000 men in East Anglia assembled in opposition, Henry had to cancel Grant, claiming he knew nothing about it(unlikely) + scapegoating Wolsey
24
Q

How successful was Wolsey’s financial reform?

A
  • raised over £322,000 in subsidies, £240,000 in clerical taxation + £260,000 in forced loans, it didn’t cover £1.7 mil spent between 1509-20(mostly on war)
25
Q

Evidence of Wolsey’s social reform

A
  • attacked enclosure = seen as defence of the poor
  • 1517 - inquiry that identified enclosed land - led to persecution of people who had ignored previous laws in Court of Chancery
  • 1518-29 = legal action taken against 264 landowners - 222 brought to court + 188 verdicts reached
26
Q

Evidence of failures to Wolsey’s social reform

A
  • impact of action against enclosure was small + Wolsey forced to sacrifice gains in 1523 Parliament, accepting all existing enclosures as part of subsidy agreement
  • most social reform could be seen as attack on nobles which was then abandoned in order to secure finances - added to nobility’s resentment
27
Q

Reasons for Wolsey’s dislike of Parliament

A
  • 1515 parliament(before he came to power) had caused problems over church affairs
  • only called in 1523 to raise funds for France - failed to provide desired amount(likely due to lack of faith in Henry’s foreign policy) - made Wolsey reluctant to summon it
  • only summoned twice during his time in office
28
Q

Wolsey’s reform of Privy Chamber

A
  • 1526 Eltham Ordinances - aimed to improve chaotic finances - many promoted e.g. Sir William Compton = Groom of the Stool -> under-treasurer of the Exchequer
  • seems reform was designed to limit access to King - number of Gentlemen of the Bedchamber halved from 12 to 6(more politically active ones removed)
  • wanted to increase his control at a time when many of his policies(Amicable Grant) had failed
29
Q

Evidence of Wolsey intentionally antagonising nobility

A
  • 1516 - announced in Star Chamber that they should not consider themselves above the law
  • sent Earl of Northumberland to Fleet prison for contempt of the council’s jurisdiction
  • appeared to interfere in marriage arrangements
  • rumours of noble plot against Wolsey - Duke of Buckingham told to behave more discreetly, failed to do so - executed for treason in 1521
30
Q

Evidence suggesting Wolsey’s relationship with the nobility was no worse that the King’s

A
  • Wolsey had lots of control over patronage - household = magnet for those seeking promotion
  • Earl of Worcester considered Wolsey a friend - offered rewards to those who were willing to work with him
  • whilst he had the King’s favour, most nobles accepted his authority
31
Q

Debate over whether Church was in need of reform in 1520s

A
  • some argue in desperate need of reform and Henry was heavily influenced by anti-clericalism
  • this has been largely discredited - many say it was in no worse condition than had been in the past
32
Q

Evidence Wolsey used the Church for selfish interests

A
  • pluralist - Archbishop of York and Bishop of Lincoln
  • not a monk but got himself elected abbot of wealthy St Albans abbey
  • absentee - never visited York until after fall
  • vowed celibacy but fathered daughter and son
  • appointed non-resident Italians to bishoprics, paid them stipend and kept surplus
  • manipulated papal legate role, extending it for life
33
Q

Evidence Wolsey intended to reform church

A
  • reform one of the conditions under which pope made him legate
  • need to improve education in clergy - visited >60 religious houses 1519, issuing new constitutions for Augustinian canons
  • dissolved smaller monasteries to form grammar schools and new Cardinal College at Oxford
34
Q

How successful was Wolsey’s religious reform?

A
  • school scheme slow to materialise = only one school in Ipswich established by death
  • establishment of Cardinal College in his name been used as evidence of his self-promotion
  • dissolution of smaller monasteries and founding of new colleges was part of reformers programme
  • evidence of plans just before fall to convert some abbeys into cathedrals and create new dioceses
35
Q

Three main reasons Henry wanted divorce?

A
  1. Believed marriage was against God’s will
  2. Needed legitimate male heir
  3. Had fallen in love with Anne Boleyn
36
Q

Did Henry believe that his marriage was against God’s will?

A
  • doubts about whether pope had authority to issue dispensation in first place
  • Henry very religious - titled ‘Defender of the Faith’ by Pope after attack on Martin Luther
  • lack of a son from marriage seen as God’s punishment in Book of Leviticus
37
Q

Importance of finding heir in divorce

A
  • if marriage was illegitimate, Mary was illegitimate, as well as female
  • loving descendants of Edward IV who could claim throne and end dynasty
  • Catherine over 40 and unlikely to have more children
  • 1528 visit to France = question of Mary’s legitimacy raised in marriage negotiations over her possible marriage to French heir
38
Q

Importance of love for Anne Boleyn in divorce

A
  • verified by Cardinal Campeggio
  • campaign for divorce = 5 and a half years - must have been emotional motivation
  • wrote love letters
  • Anne astute and refused to become his mistress
39
Q

How did Wolsey’s first two attempts to secure the divorce fail?

A
  • tried to persuade pope original dispensation was invalid because of Book of Leviticus - struck down as pope couldn’t admit error of previous pope
  • tried on grounds of technical error in dispensation - Catherine’s advisors found version with different wording that satisfied issue
40
Q

Wolsey’s third attempt to secure divorce and subsequent fall

A
  • persuaded pope to allow case to be heard in England - hope he would decide as papal legate
  • compromise = decision made by two legates, Wolsey and Campeggio
  • Henry increasingly urgent, Campeggio refused to hurry journey and delays blamed on Wolsey
  • Henry and Wolsey tricked - Campeggio didn’t intend to reach verdict
  • Campeggio suspended proceedings for summer in 1529
41
Q

Evidence that Wolsey opposed divorce/claims of Boleyn faction

A
  • Boleyn faction claimed he was deliberately slowing process and was hostile to them
  • Anne much more politically involved than Catherine = more likely to influence decision making
  • May have hoped delays would allow Henry’s infatuation with Anne to end
42
Q

Events of Wolsey’s fall

A
  • Henry used charge of praemunire against Wolsey = accused of upholding papal law without king’s permmission
  • allowed Henry to confiscate all property and imprison him
  • released and lived in modest comfort, returned to exile in York then arrested and brought to London
  • not executed because he died on the way in November 1530
43
Q

Evidence that Church was stable prior to reformation

A
  • most clergy well respected, little evidence of clerical misconduct and priest/parishioners relationship usually harmonious
  • ordination rates high
  • church = social centre of many communities e.g. church ales
  • Archbishop Warham’s visitation of 260 parishes from 1511-12 = only four priests ignorant
  • large-scale building projects, funded by parishioners
  • many people still leaving considerable sums to church in wills (57% of people in Devon and Cornwall made wills leaving money to religious gilds from 1529-29), contributed financially to mass and prayed for dead in chantries
44
Q

Evidence church was corrupt/unstable pre reformation

A
  • numbers of monasteries, nunneries and new abbeys, priories and friaries falling
  • concerns over absentees and pluralism
  • evidence of disquiet over tithe payments
  • but little evidence for support of Lutheranism

The Early Tudors (6 decks)

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