The rule of Henry VIII and Wolsey 1509-29 Flashcards
How did the start of Henry VIII’s reign indicate change from his father?
- His education reflected the belief that a king should follow the code of chivalry which had been developed in the Burgundian court an Netherlands in the 1400s. This included valiant deeds, such as warfare, this later influenced Henrys attitude to foreign policy.
Who were the councillors Henry VIII inherited from his father?
Sir Thomas Lovell- chancellor of the exchequer (head of financial state kind of)
Bishop Fox-Lord Privy Seal
Archbishop Warham-Lord chancellor
Thomas Howard-Earl of Surrey and Earl Marshall
Who was Lord Privy Seal and a trusted financial advisor up until Wolsey?
Bishop Fox
What does Lord Privy seal mean?
responsible for the privy seal, the authorisation of official royal documents and letters
Who did Henry VIII order the arrests of within days of becoming king?
Empson and Dudley of council learned in law, Henry VII’s financial enforcers.
Where had Catherine been from 1502 to 1509?
She had been held at court by Henry VII to be married to Henry VIII. He claimed he was securing approval from her parents and the pope for remarriage, but was actually delaying the marriage until he could be certain it would provide diplomatic advantage
What were Henry VIII’s aims as a king?
To be an imperial king (to conquer large areas of France, as intended in the Hundred years war.) He wanted to recreate the glories of the battle of Agincourt.
What was Henry VIII’s treatment of the nobility?
He disbanded the council learned in law, and cancelled 175 bonds and recognisances. He wanted to be friends and associates with the nobility but still had suspicions, to a limited extent.
what were similarities between the kings style of ruling and the ruling of henry vii
- henry viii continued to use justices of peace
- he encouraged talented advisors and administrators from outside of the nobility
What did it mean if you were a member of the privy chamber
Member of court who travelled with henry when he moved between residences.
what were differences between the ruling of henry viii and henry vii
- Henry viii never gave personal attention to matters of government and instead delegated far greater power to his chief advisors.
who was henrys chief minister 1515-29?
Cardinal Wolsey
Who was chief minister 1532-1540
Sir Thomas Cromwell
what was factionalism at court?
the royal court was the centre of political power and influence rather than parliament.
courtiers advanced by gaining the kings favour, resulting in groups of ambitious courtiers centred around nobles or ministers forming rival factions fighting for the kings attention
When did Henry VIII first reinstate hostilities with France?
1512, he led a small army there but was unsuccesful, he did it as part of an international alliance against France.
-The effort was futile, many demoralised soldiers were ill or had disease, expenditure was increasing and there was no real gain
-embarassing as henry had convinced his advisers a french campaign would be good for englands reputation
When was Henry’s first major expedition to France? and who helped organise it?
1513
Henry turned to Wolsey, just a young official in court, who had impressed him with his enthusiasm, so he organised the campaign
- The English drove off the French in Battle of the spurs, captured Tournai and Therouanne
Was the 1513 expedition to France successful?
Yes, english captured Tournai and Therouanne in Battle of the Spurs. It was Wolseys first success.
What foreign policy treaty was signed in 1514?
Treaty of Germaine-en-Laye, negotiated by Wolsey, left Henry in possession of Therouanne and Tournai and gave him the reputation he wanted as a young warrior king
What was the outcome of Treaty Germain-en-Laye?
-England had possession of Therouanne and Tournai
-Henry agreed to give up his claims to the French throne in return for an annual payment
-Henry got the reputation he wanted as a warrior king
-Wolsey had impressed Henry
What happened 1512 with Scotland?
France and Scotland had created an alliance, James IV of Scotland led an army into North England with the aim of diverting attention away from englands campaign in France
Catherine was left as regent
What happened in 1513 with Scotland?
James IV’s attempt to invade England had resulted in the battle of flodden, in which England lost 1500 men. But Scotland lost:
1,500
10,000 men
Most of Scottish nobility
King James IV
how many men did scotland lose in the battle of flodden
10,000
How many men did England lose in the battle of flodden
1,500
what were henry viii’s first 2 succesful foreign encounters
battle of spurs, capture of therouanne and tournai
battle of flodden field, killed james iv
How did Wolsey attract henrys attention
- The new atmosphere at the start of Henry VIII’s court meant henry was looking for people that impressed him, intellectuals and nobles to share his passions with, to rule with him, etc.
-He had organisational skills and could predict what the king wanted to hear
-Wolsey organised the 1512 campaign to France and provided supplies equipment and transport for the army of 30,000
-By 1514 henry was referring all major business to wolsey, meanwhile wolsey was angering all those at court who were jealous of his influence over the king
Why was Henry impressed by Wolsey at the start of his reign?
he organised the 1512 campaign to france, including equipment and transport for the army of 30,000
By 1518, what were wolseys titles?
-Papal legate
-Dean of York
-Bishop of tournai
-bishop of lincoln
-archbishop of york
-cardinal
-lord chancellor
what did the title papal legate allow wolsey to do in 1518?
deputise for the pope and exercise papal powers
Why was wolsey intimidated by duke of buckingham (edward stafford)?
Only man to hold the title of duke by the end of Henry VII’s reign
how did wolsey deal with his insecurity around duke of buckingham?
-he investigated duke of buckingham because he had apparently said in a private conversation that henry might not be king for much longer
-he arrested and imprisoned him in the tower of london, put him on trial then had him beheaded
-he did this to exercise his right as cardinal and intimidate anyone else who might try to threaten his power
what was wolseys role like in the church until 1524?
- He was basically the popes representative in england, as papal legate
-Henry and Wolsey pressured Pope Leo X into appointing this title to Wolsey
how did wolseys power in the church increase in 1524
he was appointed legatus a latere, meaning he had additional powers as papal legate and could act on behalf of the pope
what was the condition of the church in the 1520s?
England was largely catholic, only a few minority groups such as the Lollards that opposed the catholic church as they disagreed with some elements of the catholic church
awareness of criticisms of the church was increasing i.e. taxes going to rome to pay the pope, this was personified by clerical figures such as wolsey having illegitimate children
when did martin luther create his ‘95 theses’ ?
1517
what were wolseys goverment aims in terms of law?
He wanted to promote civil law based on natural justice and evidence, rather than common law which was based on precedent (similar decisions on past cases)
What did Wolsey achieve as chancellor?
-1526 Eltham ordainances laid out methods for reorganising the chaotic finances of the privvy chamber
why did wolsey make reforms in government?
So he was always the most influential figure to the king
How did Wolsey use the star chamber?
He used it against the nobles to attack them and local officials who he felt like were a threat to him. He encouraged commoners to bring their problems to the star chamber, so he could be seen as a friend to the poor.
which would hear about 120 cases a year, compared to that of henry vii which was around 12.
what were the 1526 eltham ordainances?
laid out methods for reorganising the chaotic finances of the privvy chamber
how many times a year was court heard in the star chamber under Wolseys rule?
around 120 cases/hearings each year
Cases of accusations against nobility
Or commoners bringing their problems to court
why was henry viii struggling financially in the 1520’s?
-his father had just sufficed without extravagent foreign policy, but henry with his 2 wars already was struggling financially
-parliamentary grants were fixed and inflation meant they were losing value
How did Wolsey get £200,000 in 1522-23?
Forced loans after he conducted a national survey on tax. It still wasnt sufficient for expensive foreign policy and inflation however
When did Wolsey propose the ‘amicable grant’?
1525
what was the amicable grant of 1525
A grant from the church and ordinary taxpayers, based on Wolsey’s valuations of their property, rather than their income.
Wolsey only gave people 10 weeks to find the money
what financial policy was created in 1525?
amicable grant
What was public response to the amicable grant?
Negative
- There was immediate resistance to the tax and wolsey realised he would have to make exceptions for certain people
-more regions were demanding to be exempt from the tax
-henry had to step in and suspend the amicable grant because it wasnt working and people werent willing to pay it
was the financial state of england a problem in the late 1520’s?
yes
1527 was one of the worst harvests of the time period
widespread unemployment and rise in prices
in 1526 wolsey undertook a recoinage which meant more coins were created but coins were of a lower value so contributed further to rise in prices as the coins were seen as worthless
economic depression and riots in 1528
what was debasement of the coinage in 1526
wolsey undertook a recoinage
created more coins
more coins in circulation of a lower value
did wolsey rule with parliament?
hardly at all, it could be argued he tried to rule without parliament as he only called 2 parliaments in 1515 and 1523
what were the 2 reasons wolsey called parliament and when did he call them
1515
Hunne’s case, showed real evidence of public anti-clericalism
1523
So parliament could raise taxation for foreign policy
what was hunnes case in 1515 and why was it significant
Richard Hunne was a london merchant who refused to pay church fees for the burial of his child
He was later found murdered, bishop of london was an accomplice
Wolsey, as senior representative of the church in england had to kneel before parliament for forgiveness
what legislation did parliament pass in 1534 and why?
-Act of supremacy
-Treason act
Henry and Cromwell had relied on parliament to pass this legislation because it gave parliament a role in changing the countrys religeon and acknowledged the need of parliamentary agreement
when were the acts of supremacy and treason act passed?
1534
when was the first time henry viii led an army to france and was it succesful?
1512, a campaign as part of an international alliance against France
was highly unsuccesful, an embarassment for henry. there was little gain and high expenditure.
when was the second expedition to france under henry viiis rule
1513
was the 1513 expedition to france succesfull?
yes, england was succesful in battle of the spurs and captured therouanne and tournai.
when was battle of the spurs
1513
what treaty was created as a result of the 1513 expedition to france? and what were they outcomes?
1514 Treaty of St Germaine-en-Laye
Negotiated by Wolsey
Left England in possession of Therouanne and Tournai
annual payments to henry for agreeing to give up his claims to the french throne
What was the auld alliance
Scotland and France
When was the battle of flodden field?
1513
What events caused battle of flodden field?
-so scotland and france were allies
-england was invading france at this time
-to divert english troops away from france, james iv invaded the north of england
-Catherine of aragon was acting as reagent whilst henry was away in france, she gave orders to earl of surrey to send an army to north england to repel the invasion
-This led to the battle of flodden field in north england
what were the losses for England and Scotland in battle of Flodden field?
-England lost around 1,500 men
-Scotland lost about 10,000 men, including King James IV and a large proportion of the nobility
what were key events of 1513?
-2nd expedition to france, victory at battle of spurs, capture of therouanne and tournai (later agreed in 1514 peace treaty with france)
-battle of flodden field (scottish invasion of england to detract troops going to france) 10,000 scots killed including king james iv and large proportion of nobility
why was duke of buckingham executed for treason in 1521?
because wolsey had heard rumours that duke of buckingham said in a conversation that henry wouldnt be king for much longer
some historians argue that wolsey had played on henrys insecurities of treason, and wolsey used him to make an example of anyone challenging him
what position did the pope give wolsey in 1524? (this was unusual at the time)
legatus a latere
(papal legate with additional powers so he could act on behalf of the pope)
what was the condition of the church in the 1520s?
-Most people were loyal catholics and religiously devoted
-There was a little bit of anti clericalism emerging but it was minor. The lollards were a minority group critical of the church.
-Also, the reformist, martin Luther who had nailed his 95 theses on a german church in 1917, his ideas were spreading to England by 1520s. the numbers of the supporters in England were small however
how did wolsey manage to deal with the growing demands for church reform in the 1520s
-The demand wasn’t major at this point but he did some monastic reform
-He instructed english bishops to carry out inspections of monasteries, this resulted in some monasteries being closed down
- Late 1520s he closed down monasteries with less than 6 inmates, he got permission to do this from the pope under the condition the money would be used for education
-He encouraged henry to take a stand against the heresy of protestant ideas and martin luther, this led to public burnings of lutheran texts
-Henry wrote a book against a luther, and was given the title defender of the faith
what book did henry viii write against lutheran ideas in 1521?
defence of the 7 sacraments
he was given the title defender of the faith by the pope
when was wolsey lord chancellor
1515-29
what were some of wolseys actions as lord chancellor?
1526 eltham ordainances were government reforms that laid out methods for reorganising the finances of the privvy chamber and making the kings household more efficient
how did wolsey make himself seem like a friend to the working classes
created laws against enclosure of sheep
he used court of requests to hear cases from poor people, it was low cost to present a case
when is it clear that henry had first decided he wanted a divorce?
1527, in 1525 henry had told wolseys he had concerns for his marriage with catherine but in 1527 anne boleyn made it clear she wouldnt be henrys mistress
what were the 3 ways wolsey tried to secure a divorce?
-Scriptural arguments
-Diplomatic manoeuvres
-Legal efforts
why was it so difficult for henry to divorce catherine?
-The pope, the only person who could grant the divorce, was under control of Emperor Charles V, nephew of catherine of aragon.
