Henry VIII and Wolsey- background information

Question 1

How old was Henry VIII when he took the crown?

Answer 1

17.

Question 2

How did people react when Henry VIII came to the throne?

Answer 2

• ‘Now the people liberated run before their king with bright faces’
• ‘no longer does fear whisper secrets in one’s ear’.
• ‘Handsomest’

Question 3

Who were Dudley and Empson?

Answer 3

• Fathers advisers.
• Implemented harsh financial policies.
• Kept for a while but eventually arrested and executed.

Question 4

Who was Thomas Wolsey?

Answer 4

• Son of an Ipswich butcher.
• Used jobs in the church to gain power.
• Priest and held important titles such as Chaplain.
• Belief in the king taking precedent.

Question 5

What did Wolsey’s contemporaries think of him?

Answer 5

• Angered the nobility
• Ruthlessness in his methods.
• Reformed the legal system, but was not a legal specialist, exposing him to criticism.
• Increased reforms to the privy chamber and was controlling peoples access to the king.

Question 6

What did John Slow say about Wolsey?

Answer 6

‘it was a strange matter to see a man not trained up in the law to sit in the seat of judgement’

Question 7

What factors were the most important in explaining Wolsey’s rise to power?

Answer 7

1-Hard Work
2-The king’s unwillingness to govern directly
3-Talent and intelligence
4-Flattery
5-Luck

Question 8

How did Wolsey use hard work?

Answer 8

-Appealed to the king because he also wanted a fun life.

Question 9

How did the king’s unwillingness to govern directly help Wolsey?

Answer 9

-French expedition in 1513, Wolsey took control of it and Henry was not directly in charge of the difficult organisation. (showed his capability).

-He organised the expeditionary force of over 12,000 men to invade France

Question 10

How was Wolsey’s talent and intelligence showcased?

Answer 10

• Degree from Oxford at fifteen.

- 1513 French expedition

Question 11

How did Wolsey use flattery?

Answer 11

• Gave the king the advice that he wanted to hear.
• Treated him as a partner and he was always quick to recognise opportunities for promotion.
• Give him an expensive gift and drop into the sentence

Question 12

How did Wolsey use luck?

Answer 12

• Dudley’s removal

- Warsham and Fox in political retirement

Question 13

What were Henry’s war aims?

Answer 13

• Proving himself as a valiant knight and a warrior king.

- Asserting his claim to the French throne.

Question 14

Why was Henry’s aim of reasserting the French throne an issue?

Answer 14

-France was stronger than ever.

Question 15

Why were Henry’s advisers against war?

Answer 15

• Expensive

- advisers such as Bishop fox and Archbishop Warham wanted to continue the policies of Henry VII.

Question 16

What did Henry’s advisers trick him to do in 1510?

Answer 16

-Sign a treaty with France.

Question 17

Who were Henry’s unreliable allies?

Answer 17

• The holy Roman Empire.

- Spain.