Henry VIII - Wolsey Flashcards
Introduction for Wolsey & Cromwell.
When Henry VIII inherited the throne in 1509, he was surrounded by his fathers administrators such as the archbishop of Canterbury and bishop of Winchester. They disagreed a lot with Henry, over expensive foreign warfare, who Henry replaced them within 2 years with Thomas Wolsey.
But, Henry began to lose trust in Wolsey after failing to negotiate a marriage between Henry and Anne Boleyn, and Wolsey was arrested and replaced with Thomas Cromwell, who became Henry’s second chief minister in the royal court.
The Law - Wolsey’s reformations
The court of the Star Chamber increased in importance. From 1516, Wolsey wanted it to dispense cheap and impartial justice - corruption was to be removed.
Wolsey used it to challenge the power of the nobility.
The court of Chancery was where Wolsey created legal precedents and cases were dealt with in wills, property and contracts. Wolsey established a permanent judicial committee to deal with cases brought by the poor
Finance - Wolsey’s reformations
The Act of resumption 1515, was when Wolsey wanted to increase revenue from crown lands, but many were granted away at the beginning of Henry VIII’s reign, and income fell to £25,000 from £42000 in 1509. Wolsey recovered some of these properties granted away.
The ‘Amicable grant’ was a tax that Wolsey demand in 1525 to fund Henry’s expedition to France - this led to rebellion in East Anglia & widespread non-payments. This led to forced loans in 1522 and 1523, and the subsidy in 1523.
Wolsey wanted the subsidy to replace the fifteenths and tenths tax - the subsidy was a more realistic tax as it was based on accurate valuations of the taxpayers wealth.
In terms of the balance sheet, Wolsey raised £320,000 in subsidies, £240,000 in clerical taxes, and £260,000 in forced loans. However, government expenditure was £1,700,000, so Wolsey couldn’t finance war.
The church - Wolseys reformations
As Papal Legate, Wolsey had precedence over the Archbishop of Canterbury. Wolsey dissolved 30 religious houses and used the proceeds to build colleges at Oxford and Ipswich.
The church became more centralised under his control - churchmen became more used to orders from the Crown.
Eltham Ordinances - Wolsey’s reformations
In 1526, Wolsey tried to use ordinances to reform the royal household to ensure his political supremacy.
The Eltham Ordinances were a long list of rules to try and cut the number of people attending the royal court to make it cheaper to run. It also cut members of the privy chamber from 12 to 6.
However, they came to nothing as Wolsey found other ways to maintain his power.
Enclosures - Wolsey’s reformations
Wolsey was more concerned about acting against landowners than the effects of enclosure on the poor.
- an enquiry in 1517 identified enclosed land and demolished the buildings.
Legal proceeding began against 180 landowners, in which 222 came to court with 188 clear verdicts. However, enclosure continued and vagrancy wasn’t reduced, and Wolsey stirred up further hatred from landowners.
Henry VIII’s annulment with Catherine of Aragon - Wolsey’s failed attempt
After Catherine had 6 pregnancies and failed to deliver a surviving son, Henry wanted an annulment.
Francis I commented on Henry’s ‘old deformed wife’.
Henry was also deeply in love with Anne Boleyn.
Wolsey ensured Henry that the approval of the pope could be easily achieved, as papal legate and cardinal, Wolsey had influence in Rome - However, the pope didn’t want to upset Charles V, resulting in a papal policy delaying the decision.
Wolsey was stripped of his powers and possessions and charged with praemunire in November 1530.
Cromwell expanded the role of parliament. It used to be used to grant new taxes, now it would influence laws such as the Act in Restraint of Appeals, allowing Henry to marry Anne Boleyn. in 1534, The Act of supremacy was passed and Henry became supreme head of church of England
