Henry VIII and Wolsey Flashcards
1
Q
What were the three areas’s Wolsey made reforms?
A
legal, financial, social.
2
Q
What were the two systems of law at the time Wolsey came to power?
A
Common law + Civil law
3
Q
What was Common law, and why was there concern about it?
A
- In use since 1066
- based on precedent, or what had
been done before. - There was a growing concern that
common law was resulting in unjust
verdicts.
4
Q
What was lord chancellor Wolsey head of?
A
Secular legal system
5
Q
How did Wolsey use the secular legal system for own benefit?
A
- Overturned common law decisions
- Used the law to attack people he did
not like. - Sir Amyas Paulet - Damaged
Wolsey’s reputation when he started
as priest, Wolsey summoned him to
London, if he left London, property
confiscated.
6
Q
With Wolsey’s Legal reforms, how did he help the poor and weak?
A
- Supported civil law at expense of
common law. - Ensured courts he was responsible
for dispensed cheap and impartial
justice and were available to poor
and weak, who would stand little chance at gaining justice in common law which
often required fees. - Court of chancery, Wolsey
established a permanent judicial
committee to deal with cases
brought by the poor.
7
Q
How did Wolsey reform the tax system?
A
- Replacement of old fifteenths and
tenth tax system with subsidy tax
system. - Required tax payers to give details
of their property and income to local
officials who determined how much
they should pay. - brought in far more money given
more realistic valuation of wealth - However, still not enough to finance
Henry’s war’s.
8
Q
What did Henry VIII do to finance campaign in France 1523?
What was the consequence?
A
- Henry demanded subsidy of 4
shillings in the pound which would
raise £800,000. - Caused outcry, Wolsey got subsidy,
but only £300,000. - Wolsey sent out commissioners to
bring in unparliamentary tax,
unsuccessful. - Amicable grant occurred when
being collected. in East Anglia
10,000 men assembled against
grant, Henry forced to cancel grant.
9
Q
How else did Wolsey try to increase revenue (other than tax)?
A
- From crown lands, revenue had
decreased by 90% - Done through acts of resumption,
gaining more crown land. - Not enough to have a significant
impact.
10
Q
What was Henry VIII earnings through Wolsey’s financial reforms?
A
- £322,000 in subsidies, £240,000
through clerical taxation, £260,000
in forced loans. - Did not cover £1.7M spent between
1509 and 1520.
11
Q
Describe Wolsey’s social reforms.
A
- Attacked nobility and gentry’s gain
from enclosure, Wolsey was seen as
defending the poor as they were the
ones who were driven of common
land. - 1517 Wolsey established an enquiry,
identified enclosed land and
buildings that had been demolished
when land had been converted from
arable to pasture. - Led to legal proceedings in court of
chancery against those who had
ignored previous laws. - 1518-1529, legal action against 264
landowners, 188 verdicts reached,
some forced to rebuild and others
to return land to arable farming. - 1523 Wolsey forced to sacrifice
whatever gains made, accepting all
existing enclosures as part of an
agreement with subsidy.
12
Q
What were the two elements to Wolsey’s attitude to administration?
A
- His relationship with parliament
- The privy chamber.
13
Q
Describe Wolsey’s relationship with parliament?
A
- Only summoned it twice not fond of
it. - Only called in times of war when
funds needed to be raised. - Parliament often didn’t provide the
desired level of subsidy. - Issues often not because of
parliament relation with Wolsey, but
more because henry’s foreign policy
lacked benefits.
14
Q
Describe Wolsey’s actions with the Privy chamber?
A
- Wolsey introduced Eltham
ordinances in 1526, to help to bring
about greater efficiency in
controlling finances/household. - Gave Wolsey more influence as it
limited other peoples access to king. - More control and influence over
government. - The ones more politically active
were removed, leaving behind
those of little influence. - Wolsey worried about the influence
of the king’s minions at court who
tried to influence policy.
15
Q
Describe Wolsey’s relations with the nobility.
A
- Wolsey’s background and rise to
power were resented by many of
the nobles who considered
themselves to be natural advisors to
king. - Wolsey often went out of his way to
antagonise them. - As soon as he became lord
chancellor he announced in star
chamber that nobility would not be
above law (1516) - Duke of Buckingham, rumours of a
noble plot against Wolsey, Duke
convicted of treason and executed. - Sent Earl of Northumberland to fleet
prison for contempt of the councils
jurisdiction.
16
Q
What positive educational reforms did Wolsey Make?
A
- New grammar schools
- Visit 60 religious houses.
- Dissolves small monasteries to fund
new schools. - Create new college at Oxford (Christ
college)
17
Q
What were the negatives of some of Wolsey’s reforms towards education and churches?
A
- Pluralist - multiple offices,
Archbishop of York and Bishop of
Lincoln. - Papal legate - wish of the pope, took
some of popes role. - Only managed one school in home
town Ipswich. - 2nd richest person in England
(made to look very power hungry) - x2 children, employs them in
important roles, annoys other
Bishops.
18
Q
Why did Henry VIII want a divorce from Catherine of Aragon?
A
Matter of conscience, A legitimate heir, love for Anne Boleyn
19
Q
Describe how Henry’s want for a divorce was a matter of conscience.
A
- In order to marry Catherine he had
obtained Papal dispensation from
pope. - doubts had began to arise about
whether pope had the authority to
issue such as dispensation. - Henry was very religious, bible
heavily annotated, given ‘defender
of faith’ title by pope for his attack
upon Martin Luther. - Henry concern were further
because of lack of son from
marriage. - Supporting Henry’s concerns - Book
of Leriticus: if a man shall take his
brothers wife, they shall be without
children. - Henry’s marriage had produced
children (Mary), but original Hebrew
provides king with answer as it
specifically mentions sons.
20
Q
Describe how Henry’s want for a divorce was because of a need for a legitimate heir.
A
- If marriage to Catherine was not
legitimate, Mary (daughter) =
illegitimate. - This raised questions to her
suitability to be heir (illegitimate +
woman) - Made possibility of unrest when
Henry died. - End of Tudor line….?
- Makes Henry Fitzroy Duke of North=
illegitimate son with mistress
Elizabeth Blount. 1525 sent him to
run council of north -
experience…potential successor.
21
Q
Describe how Henry’s want for a divorce was due to love for Anne Boleyn.
A
- Campeggio “he cannot stay away
from her an hour”. - Henry hated writing, still wrote love
letters for Anne. - Anne refused to become mistress
unless she knew she would become
queen.
22
Q
What was the first attempt to obtain a divorce?
A
To persuade the pope that the original dispensation was not valid because it ignored divine law as set out in Leviticus.
23
Q
Why did the first attempt to obtain a divorce fail?
A
- It required the present pope to
admit that a previous pope had
made an error. - Henry refused to abandon this
approach. - This brought it to international
attention and made it even harder
for papacy to give way.
24
Q
What was the second attempt to obtain a divorce and why did it fail?
A
- On technical grounds that there was
an error in dispensation. - More promising as it only required
the acceptance of a clerical error. - But, in response Catherine’s
advisors found a slightly differently
worded version, which satisfied the
objections.
25
What was the third attempt to obtain a divorce and why did it fail?
- Involved persuading the pope to
allow the case to be heard in
England.
- Wolsey hoped that in this way the
power to decide would be delegated
to papal legate (Wolsey).
- However delays and the papal view
that he could accept or reject the
decision made it useless for Henry
and Wolsey.
- Eventually compromise made
whereby decision would be made by
two legates Wolsey and Cardinal
Campeggio.
- Campeggio refused to hurry his
journey to England, delays blamed
on Wolsey.
- Henry and Wolsey had been tricked , Campeggio had no intention of
reaching a verdict. July 1529 he
suspended proceedings for the
summer.
26
Was Wolsey's failure to obtain a divorce the main reason for his fall?
- It is very difficult to argue against
the view that Wolsey's failure to
secure the annulment of Henry's
marriage brought about Wolsey's
fall from power.
- Wolsey had promised king that the
matter would be easily resolved
because of his influence with
papacy, but all attempts had failed.
- Suspension of proceedings in
England = final straw. Wolsey had
promised quick verdict, it had been
2 years.
- Henry agreed with Boleyn faction
that Wolsey was deliberately trying
to slow down process + hostile to
Boleyn's (Anne = nobility = more
politically inclined)
- Wolsey trying to wait for love for
Anne to cool off?
27
How did Henry remove Wolsey?
- 1529 Henry desperate.
- Used charge of praemunire against
Wolsey (accusing Wolsey of
upholding papal without kings
permission)
- property confiscated
- imprisonment
- Wolsey died 1530 29th Nov at
Leicester on way to London.
28
With reference to the spider diagram, what 4 factors would you use when discussing if Wolsey was a success or failure?
Divorce, Church, Foreign policy, Domestic.
29
When discussing Wolsey's successes and failures in his domestic policy, what 5 factors could you discuss?
government, social, finances, admin and law
30
Revise the Wolsey spider diagram.
Recite as much as you can about all 4 factors.
31
Revise Henry VIII Foreign policy timeline.
32
In terms of foreign policy with France, what happened between 1512 and 1514? (pos+neg)
pos:
- Recaptured Therouanne, Tournai.
- Restored French pension.
- Helped lead to treaty of London
later in 1918 where sister was
married to Louis XII (peace).
- Achieved Henry's aim of proving
capability.
neg:
- Costed £400,000
- Both places not that significant.
- Gave Maximilian Theroanne to burn
down.
- Had to give Tournai back as part of
TOL.
33
In terms of foreign policy with Scotland, what happened between 1512 and 1514?
- 1512-1514
- Killed Scottish king.
- Complete success
- Security of England.
34
What happened in 1915 in terms of foreign policy?
- Peace treaty between France and
Spain, then soon joined by Maximilian
leaving England isolated.
- Helped Lead to treaty of London as
Britain needed peace (1918).
- This brought glory to Henry as he
was seen with England at the centre
of diplomatic activity and appeared
to be leading Europe towards peace.
- French victory of Marignano further
weakened English position - gave
French control of Milan.
35
Describe the Field of cloth of gold of 1520.
- Francis + Charles eager to secure
Henry as ally before war broke out
between them, Somewhat
strengthening Henry's position.
- Henry met Charles in May and met
Francis in June for meetings.
- These meetings made sure Henry
stayed at centre of European stage.
- Henry's meeting with Francis just
outside Calais became known as the
Field of Cloth of Gold.
- Magnificence of occasion shown by
palace constructed for Henry.
- Achieved nothing, costed years
worth of income.
