The Rise of Wolsey and his policies

Question 1

What was Wolseys background like?

Answer 1

Born to a butcher in Ipswich. Studied at Oxford and trained to become a priest

Question 2

What position did Wolsey gain in 1509?

Answer 2

Royal Almoner, giving charity to the poor on Henry VIII behalf.

This made him a part of the Royal council.

Question 3

What was Wolsey’s “big break” in 1912

Answer 3

He organised an well-supplied, well-equipped army in 1 year for an invasion against the French.

Question 4

What was the result of Wolsey successfully supplying an army in 1512?

Answer 4

Henry was impressed and made Wolsey Lord chancellor in 1515, making him the Chief Minister

Question 5

What positions did Wolsey gain in 1515 in the Church?

Answer 5

Archbishop of York and a cardinal

Question 6

What position did Wolsey gain in 1518 in the Church?

Answer 6

Papal Legate

Question 7

What was the name given to Wolsey’s position as the “second king”

Answer 7

Alter Rex

Question 8

What was Wolsey’s payment and assets?

Answer 8

He owned Hampton Court Palace
£3000 a year, 500 servants
-equal to size to Henry’s royal household

Question 9

What was the star chamber?

Answer 9

Court set up to give out royal justice to all levels of society, not just the rich

Question 10

How did courts work increase as a result of the star chamber?

Answer 10

from 12 to 120 cases a year. Many of which Wolsey oversaw himself

Question 11

Give an example of a successful star chamber case

Answer 11

Earl of Northumberland was imprisoned in 1516 for breaking the law

Question 12

How did the star chamber and Wolsey secure a fairer justice system?

Answer 12

• Wolsey encouraged the poor to bring their cases to court
• Wolsey would support their cases
• made reasons for his decisions public

Question 13

What was the main complaint about the star chamber?

Answer 13

Some felt the main reason for this court was to get revenge on the upper class who had treated him badly because of his huuumble origins

Question 14

Give an example of Wolsey abusing the power of the Star Court

Answer 14

Forced Sir Paulet to come to court every day for 5 years or risk losing his house because Wolsey felt humiliated when paulet placed him in the stocks (boards around ankles and wrists)

Question 15

What was enclosure?

Answer 15

When landlords fenced off land used by the poor for growing food or grazing animals

Question 16

What did Wolsey do to combat enclosure in 1517?

Answer 16

brought 260 cases to court

Question 17

Why was Wolsey’s attempt at stopping enclosure unsuccessful?

Answer 17

1523 - wealthy landowners protested against what Wolsey was doing

Question 18

Why was subsidy introduced

Answer 18

• Henry’s current income of £110.000 could not fund his wars

- fifteenth and tenths system was outdated by 200 years (figures calculated 200 years ago)

Question 19

What was the fifteenths and tenths system?

Answer 19

People living in countryside had to pay tax worth 1/15th of their moveable goods
People living in towns and cities had to pay tax worth 1/10th of their moveable goods

Question 20

What were subsidies

Answer 20

Tax based on a person’s income

Question 21

What were subsidies

Answer 21

Tax based on a person’s income

Question 22

How did money made from subsidies compare to money made from fifteenths and tenths?

Answer 22

Subsidies: 1513-16 - raised 160,000

Fifteenths and tenths: 1513-16 - raised 90,000

Question 23

What were the limitations of the subsidies?

Answer 23

• Still not enough to fund Henry’s wars (Spent £1.4 million between 1511-21)
• unpopular

Question 24

When were the Eltham ordinances introduced?

Answer 24

1526

Question 25

How did the Eltham ordinances improve Henry’s court?

Answer 25

• removed unnecessary jobs and fired sick workers
• reduced spendings by cutting people’s expenses and having fixed meal times
• banning dogs

Question 26

How long were the Eltham ordinances?

Answer 26

79 chapters

Question 27

How did Wolsey manipulate the Eltham ordinances for his gain?

Answer 27

• Removed his political opponents by halving the privy chamber from 12 to 6 members.
• After doing this, he stopped enforcing the Eltham ordinances

Question 28

Reasons for the Amicable grant?

Answer 28

1525 Amicable Grant

Reason is to get funding for Henrys attempt to take advantage of France’s defeat in 1525 and invading them while they were vulnerable.

Question 29

How did Wolsey go around introducing the Amicable Grant?

Answer 29

Avoided getting permission from parliament, as it was likely to be declined and Wolsey only had 10 weeks to make the money.

Question 30

What was terms of the Amicable Grant?

Answer 30

the tax demanded 1/3 the income of priests and 1/6 the income of everyone else

Question 31

What was the response to the Amicable Grant?

Answer 31

People refused to pay

Protests

Question 32

What was the main protest against the Amicable Grant?

Answer 32

1525 Suffolk rebellion: 10,000 men protested

Duke of Norfolk and Duke of Suffolk had to negotiate for the protesters to surrender

Question 33

Why was the 1525 Suffolk Rebellion significant?

Answer 33

It was the first rebellion under Henry VIIIs reign

Question 34

How did the response to the Amicable grant affect Wolsey?

Answer 34

• Henry claimed to be unaware of the tax and blamed Wolsey
• Henry started to doubt Wolsey (beginning of Wolseys downfall)
• No taxation attempted by Wolsey again
• Wolsey unpopularity increased
• Henry abandoned attempt of war with France, sought peace instead
• Suffolk protestors pardoned