Henry VIII- Wolsey

Question 1

why was Wolsey able to rise to power?

Answer 1

Own ability
able recognise opportunities and flatter king
gave better advice and what Henry wanted to hear- unlike adviser Fox such as supported war with France
1513- expedition to France- organisational task (many found hard)- overcome logistical obstacles- supplying the army and opposition from authority ignored so he could achieve the King’s wishes
Reinforce value to king

Other
lucky
was Henry VII’s chaplain- sent on diplomatic missions
removal of Henry VII’s advisers such as Dudley
lucky no one else wanted to do administrative tasks
complaints against him reinforced value to Henry- showed overcome obstacles

(personality, luck, opportunities)

Question 2

1512

Answer 2

Henry VII’s advisers such as Bishop Fox advised not go to war with France and follow peace
Wolsey disagreed- stood out

Question 3

1513

Answer 3

Quarter Master General (1st title in VIII’s reign)
logistics role and look after army and food supplies

Question 4

1514

Answer 4

Henry’s chief adviser- aids in governing
Bishop of Lincoln
Bishop of Tournai

Question 5

1515

Answer 5

Lord Chancellor
Cardinal
Archbishop of York

Question 6

1518

Answer 6

Papal Legate (wealthy/powerful/influential- travel on behalf of Pope)

Question 7

1524

Answer 7

Made Papal Legate for life

Question 8

Battle for Power

Answer 8

Wolsey was in charge but only if held favour of King
Wolsey could propose a policy and ensured Henry owned it
Wolsey manipulated policies- only put Henry’s name on it
never orchestrated a policy that Henry would disagree with- job at risk- divorce led to downfall

Question 9

Court of Star Chamber

Answer 9

dealt with crimes such as disorder/riot/assualt/fraud/corruption/ municipal and trade disputes, disputes over enclosure
judiciary reforms

Question 10

court of chancery

Answer 10

dealt with disputes over inheritance and wills, lands, trusts, debts, marriage settlement and apprenticeships
judiciary reforms

Question 11

Court of Requests

Answer 11

Known as poor man’s court- intended to provide easy access for poor people for royal justice. property/ forgery/perjury/forfeitures to king and marriage contacts
judiciary reforms

Question 12

Eltham Ordinances

Answer 12

1526
set of instructions drawn up to reform the King’s court and Privy Chamber including financial system
financial reforms

Question 13

Tudor Subsidy

Answer 13

taxpayers had to record details based on income and property to tax officials and to be taxed correctly- first form of income tax, general prescriptions and created revenue
financial reforms

Question 14

Amicable Grant

Answer 14

1525
Forced Grant= not agreed by parliament and faced backlash as it was for war with France
financial reforms

Question 15

Positives of Judicial reforms

Answer 15

courts accessible to poor
Wolsey reviewed cases and completed in own courts- Star chamber/requests
rich and powerful not able to gain any legal advantages as did previously
local justices were rich and powerful before reforms now meant fair and balanced and all be prosecuted

Question 16

Negatives of Judicial reforms

Answer 16

dislike from Nobles as he wasn’t of noble birth and he had personal vendetta’s against them
used judicial reforms for his own interests- Sir Amyas Paulet- put Wolsey in the stock and in revenge Wolsey summoned him to appear daily to court and If left London without permission- faced confiscation of property
started a number of schemes that failed
no institutional changes and quick abandon support
lack of training in Church civil law

Question 17

Positives for Financial System

Answer 17

attempts reform Privy Chamber- tried improve financial adminstration
Tudor subsidy removed and required intervention of Parliament- Subsidy Act of 1512- more efficient
from this- 1513 tax levied on rank of individual nobleman together with tax of communes
1526 Eltham ordinances- aimed improve finances of Privy Chamber and included promotions- Sir William Compton Groom of the Stool to under Treasurer of Exchequer- not rely on parliament and therefore more flexible
increased revenue from crown lands
1515 Act of Resumption restored some 322,000 to insufficient 240,000 clerical tax and raised 260,000 forced loans- not cover 1.7 million 1509-20

Question 18

Negatives of Financial system

Answer 18

1523 War with France demanded subsidy of 4 shillings in pound £800,000 resulted n £300,000
1525 Amicable Grant non-parliamentary tax but was forced so angered ordinary people and Henry forced intervene
foley made scape goat and unpopular with propertied classes
designed limit exchange and increase Wolsey’s control and influence- Eltham Ordinances

Question 19

Positive of Nobility

Answer 19

Wolsey knew control of nobility was essential to have efficient and effective government and crown relied on their authority and power
first use/ role of chancellor- announce a stricter monitoring of noble’s behaviour- 1516 attended meeting for Star Chamber- Earl of Northumberland punished

Question 20

negatives of nobility

Answer 20

offered rewards (bribes) to those willing work with him
interfered in marriage arrangements - resented
rumours of plot against Wolsey as Duke of Buckingham asked for license to visit Lordships in Wales with a red forces- alarmed Henry and Wolsey but was unlikely to be a plot. the trial was rigged and Duke executed 1521
Howard family- Earl of Surrey/ Duke of Norfolk 1524- his downfall
too focused on manipulating nobility to Henry’s will
Duke of Buckingham had claimant to throne- greatest nobleman wished to be constable of England- 1519: star chamber attack on one of his servants wearing duke’s livery in king’s presence- reported anger towards royal

Question 21

Social reforms

Answer 21

viewed as Champion of the poor
1517 established inquiry to identify enclosed land and buildings demolished from arable to pasture- process of enclosure
led to legal proceedings in Court of Chancery against those who ignored previous laws- 1518-29 legal actions where 264 landowners and 227 taken to court with 188 verdicts reached
had small impact- Parliament 1523 Wolsey forced sacrifice these gains made and accept all existing enclosures as part of agreement for subsidy- failure
actions against nobles and gentry attack
focus changed to France

Question 22

Why did Wolsey fall from power?

Answer 22

Failure of divorce
factions- Anne Bolyen and Aragonese Faction
himself (Star Chamber, Enclosure, Amicable Grant, hated)- unable control them