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
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
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
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
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- H7 had become withdrawn from public in latter years, H8 = opposite + established lively court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
6
Q
What was Wolsey’s background?
A
- son of Ipswich butcher
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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)
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
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
- Believed marriage was against God’s will
- Needed legitimate male heir
- 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
