Henry VIII- Early Domestic Policy Flashcards
What were Wolsey/ Henry’s main domestic reforms? (5)
-Financial reforms.
-Legal Reform.
-Social reform.
-Administration.
-Relations with the nobility.
Why was a financial reform needed? (3)
-Spent all his inheritance on his war with France- £1.7M between 1509-1520.
-Money was needed for more war.
-Had given away crown lands his father had recaptured.
How did Wolsey try to improve finances?
-Introduced the subsidy.
-Amicable grant- people giving gifts towards war
-Revenue from crown lands.
What was the subsidy?
-The standard parliamentary tax.
-Replaced the system of fifteenths and tenths.
-Based on a more realistic/ accurate measurement of wealth.
How successful was the subsidy?
-Popular but unsuccessful in raising enough money
-‘Permanent contribution to government’
-Hoped to bring in £800,000 only got £300,000. (outcry caused).
What was an amicable grant?
-A forced loan.
-originally called a ‘benevolence’.
How successful was the amicable grant?
-Two forced loans between 1522-3 raised £200,000 but clergy still being repaid.
-Little gain and Wolsey had to back down.
-After unrest in East Anglia 10,000 men gathered in opposition at Lavenham.
-Wolsey made as Scapegoat and took the blame.
How did Henry try to use crown lands?
-Income had dropped from £400,000 to just £25,000.
-1515 act of resumption restored some to crown.
-Couldn’t reach shortfall.
How successful was the attempt to raise revenue?
-Raised around £822,000.
-Couldn’t cover 1.7M spending.
How did Wolsey change the legal system?
-Wanted to create justice for the system +accessible
-Use of common law more often.
-Heard lots of cases himself to the nobility which he held grudges against.
-Created the court of chancery and star chamber,
What is an example of a case Wolsey heard himself?
-Sir Amyas Paulet who had put Wolsey in the stocks when he was a priest.
-Wolsey summoned him and threatened to take his property if he left London without permission.
What was the star chamber?
-Cases against the powerful.
-‘Duke, earl, baron nor Lord, but his sentence must accord’
What is the court of chancery?
-Cases against the poor.
How successful legal reforms?
-Seen as a general vendetta against the nobility and would overturn cases threatening his power.
-Did try to advance justice for the poor who could not afford high legal fees.
What was Wolsey’s social reform aim?
-Ending enclosure
How did Wolsey attack enclosure?
-1517 established enquiry, identifying enclosed land.
-Took it to the court of chancery.
-legal action taken against 264 landowners between 1518-1529.
-Forced them to rebuild homes they had knocked down and return farming land.
How successful was Wolsey’s enclosure policies?
-1523 Wolsey accepted all existing enclosures in return for a parliamentary subsidy.
-This showed it was a personal vendetta.
How did Wolsey reform administration?
-Rarely summoned parliament.
-Introduction of Eltham ordinances.
How many times did Wolsey summon parliament?
-only twice in 1518 and 1529- only for war funding.
Who were Eltham ordinances promoted by?
-Sir William Compton.
What was an Eltham ordinance?
-improving finances and efficiency with the chamber.
What ACTUALLY was the Eltham ordinance?
Limiting others access to the king, giving Wolsey more control and domination.
-by reducing finances of privy chamber, could rely less on parliament to finance government.
What were Wolsey’s relations with the nobility like?
Resentment towards the nobles who saw themselves as natural advisers to the king.
How did Wolsey change the relationship with the nobility?
-Announced the star chamber in 1516 so they couldn’t consider themselves above the law.
-Got himself involved in marriage arrangements.
What was the most notable clash with the nobility?
-Noble plot against Wolsey led by the Duke of Buckingham.
-Told B to behave more discretely.
-Didn’t act ‘discretely’ and was executed for treason.
True or False: Wolsey was more hostile to the nobility than Henry.
-False- Wolsey was no more hostile than the king.
-Wolsey had lots of control over patronage so people such as the Earl of Worcester considered Wolsey as a friend.
How much money did the first french war cost?
1.7m
How much money did the subsidy hope to bring and how much did it actually?
800,000
300,000
Main stat concerning the amicable grant?
Two forced loans between 1522-3 raised £200,000 but clergy still being repaid.
How much money did Wosley raise overall?
822,000
How much money was lost due to the loss of crown lands?
income had dropped from 400,000 to 25,000
Who was jailed when the star court was opened?
-earl of northumberland
