The Structure Of Government: The Role Of Wolsey

Question 0

Which offices did Wolsey receive following his successes as a royal councillor?
(1510-1515)

Answer 0

1513: made bishop of Tournai
1514: Bishop of Lincoln and archbishop of York
1515: cardinal by pope Leo X and made lord chancellor by Henry VIII

Question 1

Wolsey’s early life

Answer 1

Life:

• 1475-1530
• born in Ipswich, low birth as son of a butcher (often source of tension for him/nobility as he was seen as an upstart)
• first degree from Oxford at 15, ordained 1498, chaplain to Henry VII 1507, appointed royal almoner (in charge of charity/alms) allowing him entrance to royal council, then organises Henry’s 1512/13 expedition to France

Question 2

Why was 1515 a key year in Wolsey’s rise to power?

Answer 2

• Held senior offices in state
• Power over nobility as this makes it difficult for others to challenge his decisions
• Power over church as a cardinal, though William Warham was most powerful churchman as Archbishop of Canterbury*
• however this changed in 1518 when Wolsey was made legate a latere and could make clerical appointments/ was a personal representative of the pope. Also bishop of bath and wells. Then he was the most powerful man in England

Question 3

To what extent was Wolsey’s rise to power a matter of luck?

Answer 3

• Wolsey was the right man at the right time
• He was diligent and hard working whilst Henry could not be bothered with mundane administrative tasks, ie paperwork
• Henry and the people had grown tired of Henry VII’s old councillors and wanted someone new

Question 4

To what extent was Wolsey’s rise down to his personal skill?

Answer 4

• Wolsey worked incredibly hard to satisfy Henry’s needs. Yes he was the right man, in the right place, at the right time, but he was only the right man because of his drive and ambitions to serve Henry
• opportunist: Wolsey was willing to adapt his views to suit him. Originally opposed to war with France but upon seeing Henry’s enthusiasm he worked for it

Question 5

Key elements in Wolsey’s rise to power

Answer 5

Foot in the door as almoner: made him part of the king’s council
Organisation of French expedition: gained Henry’s trust and showed how useful he could be

Henry’s attitude: disliked administrative work and his father’s ministers

Wolsey’s position in church and state: high position in state and church affairs (lord chancellor/legate a latere) made it very difficult for anyone to challenge him

Pluralism: held many key positions (bishop of Tournai/Lincoln, archbishop of York, lord chancellor) so he was the closest minister to Henry. Minimised opposition

Question 6

Evidence that Wolsey was an Alter Rex:

Answer 6

• After 1513 Henry trusted Wolsey, people couldn’t question him as his will was seen as the King’s will (alter Rex, second king)
• Wolsey’s court was of equal size to the Kings, quasi royal (starkey)
• As confrontations arose between king and Wolsey over some matters we can infer he did not always feel it necessary to consult the king. Lots of independence
• Largest disposable income in England (second only to Henry) , very rich, very powerful
• Lots of domestic policies made by Wolsey between 1525-1529. Entrusted with a lot of power, gave him all the power the king had to complete the king’s administrative work

Question 7

Evidence that Henry VIII retained control/that Wolsey was not dominant

Answer 7

• Henry always had the final say and what Wolsey decided was subject to change at any point
• 1528, the two disagreed over the appointment of an abbess to a nunnery at Wilton in Wiltshire. Wolsey disregarded Henry’s instruction on the appointment and was forced to apologise
• 1522, Wolsey proposed surprise attack on the French navy but Henry insisted the plan was foolhardy
• Wolsey was only powerful for as long as Henry was happy. As soon as He failed to grant annulment he fell from power. Henry was always dominant and only used Wolsey for as long as it suited him
• Wolsey worked for Henry in 1513 for his expedition and was rewarded with trust, wealth and many positions afterwards. Suggests partnership for mutual gain. Frustration of the council as it seemed policy had been decided between Henry and Wolsey before meetings. Suggests partnership
• Wolsey fell when Henry was dissatisfied but remained in power for 15 years, Henry must have been content for the rest of this time

Question 8

How did Wolsey remain in power for so long?

Answer 8

• Relationship with Henry
• Wealth
• Ruthlessness

Question 9

how did Wolsey’s relationship with the kind help him stay in power?

Answer 9

• Wolsey gained the trust of Henry after his assistance in the 1512-13 France expedition, and continued to do so as he served him
• the better he served him, the more power and wealth he received
• his will was the kings will, so it could not be challenged
• as long as Wolsey served the king well, his position would be secure (evident of this is the fact that as soon as he ceased to do so, he fell)

Question 10

how did Wolsey’s wealth help him to stay in power?

Answer 10

• magnificent ‘quasi royal’ court
• 500 in household, equal to Henry’s
• largest disposable income in englan: came from multiple church positions (including abbot of St. Albans in 1525, the richest house in England), fees from clients and patrons, fees from ecclesiastical courts
• Hampton court/ established cardinal college oxford
• promoted himself as a man of great importance, ability to give patronage, vast resources at his disposal

Question 11

How did Wolsey’s ruthlessness help him to stay in power?

Answer 11

• must be noted that Wolsey’s ruthlessness has been exaggerated
• report that he sent the Italian humanist Polydore Vergil to the tower in 1515 for failing to gain papal approval for Wolsey’s appointment as a cardinal
• part in execution of the duke of Buckingham
• much jealously of Wolsey spurred by Henry and Wolsey’s partnership. Fact that policy was decided between them before it was presented created anger and jealousy

Question 12

Case study: execution of the duke of Buckingham

Answer 12

-Edward Stafford, third duke of Buckingham
-descended from Edward III’s first son, thus was sympathetic to the white rose party
-Henry rightfully suspicious of him and prevented him from gaining power/office
Stafford unhappy with his lot under new regime, disregarded ‘retaining’ law (private army where he>king) and was provocative
-at the time Henry had only Mary to succeed him, insecure succession
-accusation of threat made in 1519 to kill Henry VIII, charged in 1521 after visiting lordship in Wales with 400 men
-Some see Wolsey as key instigator, fierce anti noble
- but he did try and warn Stafford away from trouble in 1519, and ultimately it was Stafford’s disloyalty to Henry that bought about his downfall regardless of how suspect the evidence was

Question 13

What is G.R. Elton’s view of Wolsey?

Answer 13

• Wolsey was a “disappointing man”

- “all his doings were attended by folly, arrogance, false claims and final failure”

Question 14

What is J.J. Scarisbrick’s view on Wolsey?

Answer 14

-Wolsey “has had terrible judgement passed against him for having squandered power that was greedily amassed, for having mishandled, violated, corrupted or neglected most of what was in his charge”

Question 15

What was A.G Dickens’s view of Wolsey

Answer 15

“Wolsey’s personal arrogance, his enormous wealth and his splendid ostentation were resented”

Question 16

What is peter gwyn’s view of Wolsey?

Answer 16

Wolsey “had not set out to antagonise the nobility, or in any way harm it’s interests, except when they directly conflicted with those of the crown and common weal”

Question 17

George Cavendish on Wolsey

Answer 17

• Wolsey’s household servant
• wrote ‘the life and death of cardinal Wolsey’
• would expect account to be trustworthy as close assistant, but…
  (i) did not enter household until 7 years after Wolsey made councillor in 1522
  (ii) was not privy to Wolsey’s political life
• Therefore tells us little about Wolsey’s policy making or the great matter
• However he was with Henry after he was stripped of his titles in 1528, and was with Wolsey in the final year before his death. This gives us a valid, good insight

Question 18

Polydore Vergil on Wolsey

Answer 18

• Italian humanist, arrived at Henry VII’s court in 1502. Commissioned by Henry to write history of England, subsequent 1555 edition covered Wolsey’s career and did not give a favourable account
• ongoing feud with Wolsey. Convinced Wolsey favoured other Italian humanists (Andrea Ammonio)
• Did not advance Wolsey’s efforts to be made a cardinal, sent unflattering letters to Rome. Wolsey discovered this and had him imprisoned in the tower in 1515

Question 19

Edward hall on Wolsey

Answer 19

• contemporary historian who wrote ‘the union of the two noble and illustrate families of Lancaster and York’ published 1548
• not close to Wolsey and no feuds
• however he had a different political and religious stance to Wolsey: favoured break with Rome, very anti clerical, saw Wolsey as epitome of clerical corruption (pluralism), francophobe/disliked French (looked down on Wolsey’s French alliance in late 1520s)

Question 20

John Skelton on Wolsey

Answer 20

• Henry VII’s poet, tutor to Henry VIII
• mocks Wolsey in poetry
• sought patronage from nobility, fame and fortune
• poems appealed to Henry when he was loosing faith in his minister
• must be careful in trusting Skelton’s accounts as he moulded his material to suit himself and current affairs

Question 21

Wolsey’s domestic policy: justice

Answer 21

• Significant legal reform, including increasing use of star chamber
• Wolsey worked on star chamber, made it that anyone, regardless of wealth or status, could bring their cases to this court.
• civil law > common law (common: law from England that may be continually shaped. Civil: law with origins in Rome.) common law seen. As outdated as one party may win on a technicality
• dealt with 120 cases a year, as opposed to 12 under Henry VII
• impartial justice, the poor triumphing over the rich
• had been used by Wolsey to push his own agenda

Question 22

How popular was Wolsey’s legal reform?

Answer 22

Popular:

• poor could press their cases against the rich
• impartial justice
• Venitian ambassador Guistiniani said, “Wolsey had the reputation of being extremely just”

Unpopular:

• unpopular among the rich as it could be used to challenge them
• nobility hated star chamber as Wolsey could use it to challenge opposing figures directly…
  (i) Sir Amyas Paulet: put Wolsey in the stocks when Wolsey was in his first benefice (clerical position) to teach him about humility and good grace. Wolsey never forgot, and made Paulet wait on him for 5 years at his court under threat of the confiscation of all his property if he left London
  (ii) Earl of Northumberland sent to Fleet prison in 1515
  (iii) Lord Burgavenny accused of illegal retaining in 1516
• caused resentment as Wolsey was able to bring his social superiors down

Question 23

How successful was Wolsey’s legal reform?

Answer 23

Successful:

• 120 cases a year as opposed to 12 under Henry VII
• Beneficial to Wolsey who used it to intimidate his opposition

Unsuccessful:

• Not very impressive, reliant on original framework of the courts, nothing new
• no long lasting reform after Wolsey’s downfall
• huge backlog of cases to be heard by 1529
• chaotic administration in the star chamber

Question 24

Wolsey’s domestic policy: enclosure

Answer 24

• Enclosure: fencing off common land for profitable sheep rearing. Thought to be responsible for rural depopulation and poverty
• action taken against the nobility who illegally enclosed land
• national enquiry launched by Wolsey into enclosure
• 260 people charged, more than 10* the normal rate of prosecution
• many forced to return land and rebuild any houses lost

Question 25

How popular was Wolsey’s campaign on enclosure?

Answer 25

Popular:
- popular among the poor as it was seen to tackle rural poverty and challenge power of bullying nobility

Unpopular:

• unpopular among the nobility/ruling class who were specifically targeted
• furthered unpopularity with parliament. (made up of nobility)

Question 26

How successful was Wolsey’s campaign against enclosure?

Answer 26

Successful:

• 260 people prosecuted, 10* normal prosecution rate
• showed that Wolsey was not afraid to confront the aristocracy

Unsuccessful:

• enclosure continued, and rural poverty kept climbing
• impractical to take everyone practicing enclosure to court as it strained legal system
• enquiry ended in 1523 in parliament, conditionally so Wolsey could raise £151 215 in taxation
• no long term affects as enquiry only lasted 6 years and campaign continued

Question 27

Wolsey’s domestic policy: finance

Answer 27

• replaced the 15ths and 10ths taxation system (fixed rates) with a flexible system accurately reflecting the true wealth of the taxpayer, asking for a realistic subsidy based on ability to pay
• greater financial burden on the very rich
• subsidy raised £170 000 1513-1516 whilst 15ths and 10ths raised £90 000

from 1513-1519 Wolsey raised:

• £325 000 from subsidy
• £118 000 from 15ths and 10ths
• loans of £250 000

Question 28

Wolsey’s domestic policy-finance-the amicable grant crisis

Answer 28

• 1525
• French army stricken at battle of Pavia, Charles V held Francis I captive, Henry sees opportunity to invade France
• Wolsey demands non-parliamentary taxation of the laity/clergy
• following heavy taxation/forced loans of previous three years, met with displeasure
• refusal to pay and rebellion across Suffolk and East Anglian, 10 000 men marched on Lavenham (cloth making town in East Anglia - high end rebellion)
• spontaneous uprising evident of Wolsey’s policies’ unpopularity
• Amicable grant abandoned may 1525

Question 29

Why is the amicable grant crisis of 1525 significant in Wolsey’s downfall

Answer 29

• Some see it as the beginning of the end for Wolsey
• Casts seeds of doubt for Henry
• Henry distanced himself from the crisis, Wolsey seen as vulnerable at this point
• as a result, no taxation, no funding for rebellion, Wolsey moves from Spanish alliance to French with Charles, which is both unpopular and disastrous (in context of the great matter)

Question 30

How unpopular was Wolsey’s financial policy?

Answer 30

• Unpopular with the nobility/ruling classes as subsidy put weight on the very rich. Seen with increasingly late payments in the years 1523-5
• amicable grant policy is evident of discontent with Wolsey’s heavy taxation. Widespread rebellion as result of non parliamentary forced loan for laity/clergy following three years of taxation and forced loans

Question 32

How successful was Wolsey’s financial policy?

Answer 32

Successful:

• £325 000 raised through Wolsey’s subsidy from 1513-29 as opposed to only £118 000 for the 15ths and 10ths subsidy
• fairer taxation, subsidy based on ability to pay, not a fixed rate

Unsuccessful:

• Wolsey sometimes poorly handled taxation and parliament. In 1523 Wolsey demanded £800 000 in taxation from parliament on top of £260 000 loans from 1522. Upfront mannerisms meant he had to settle for less than he wanted
• amicable grant crisis 1525: rash, poorly calculated move would spark rebellion. Shows Wolsey was not always the most prudent when it came to financial/fiscal (taxation) policy
• increasingly late payments in the years 1523-5

Question 33

Wolsey’s domestic policy: The nobility/councillors

Answer 33

• Sidelined parliament: only met twice in Wolsey’s time. Purpose was to pas laws and grant taxes. Wolsey saw them as threat, which caused such discontent in the long run that they would have been of little use to him if he had wanted them
• Alienated those ministers with power close to Henry: 1519 purge of the privy chamber where several key ministers of reputation were removed. Weakened Boleyn faction - Duke of Norfolk sent on military campaign to the North
• Wars of 1522-5 kept nobles away from court
• Eltham ordinances (1526): Cut the Gentleman of the Bedchamber (personal attendants of the king) from 12 to 6. Henry Norris, the groom of the stool, was removed.

Question 34

Wolsey’s domestic policy: The Church

Answer 34

• Wolsey held several positions in the church: Bishop of lincoln, Bath, Tournai, Archbishop of York, Abbot of St Albans, A Cardinal and legate a latere
• Parliamentary session of 1515 centred on Hunne affair, anticlericalism reflected badly on Wolsey. Further Henry Standish attacked The Benefit of the Clergy, act from 1512 restricting its use was nearly renewed. Anticlericalism reflected badly on Wolsey and may have been a reason for Wolsey sidelining Parliament
• Held council in 1518 at York to discuss ways to improve conduct of provincial clergy, but never went further than good intentions
• Monastic visitations: Observed conduct in religious houses, statutes drawn up for Augustinians/Benedictines. Dissolved 30 religious houses to pay for building of Cardinal college, Oxford, and Ipswich school. New episcopal sees (areas a bishop controls/bishoprics)

Question 35

In what ways was Wolsey a corrupt clergyman?

Answer 35

• Ecclesiastical extravagance: Multiple positions made him very wealthy. He established his own probate (church) courts dealing with wills of laity which enhanced wealth. Made him subject to criticism
• Pluralism: Held Bishoprics in plurality
• Nepotism: used ecclesiastical patronage to support illegitimate son, Thomas Winter
• Absenteeism: Never visited Lincoln, Bath or Wells. York only after fall

Question 36

Any opposition to Wolsey’s church reform?

Answer 36

• Some saw Wolsey as being heavy handed ie Archbishop Warham
• Dissolution of 30 religious houses for building of Cardinal College, Oxford and Ipswich school was poorly received by defenders of the monasteries

Question 37

How successful was Wolsey’s church policy?

Answer 37

Successful:

• Furthered his own interests through pluralism, nepotism and absenteeism (he still collected taxes)
• Some reform ie monastical visitations, creation of new episcopal sees, statutes for benedictines/augustinians

Unsuccessful:

• Mostly wishful thinking. Council in York in 1518 achieved little
• Wolsey’s action attracted quite a lot of negative anticlerical attention
• May seem that Wolsey was furthering educational/humanist movements, but this may only have been for Wolsey’s own reputation and advance (to be a cardinal)

Question 38

Did Wolsey prioritise the Pope or the King?

Answer 38

• Henry and Pope believed that they could benefit financially from Wolsey’s position as papal legate
• Wolsey did not deliver subsidy to Rome but did commence heavy taxation
• Conflict of interests, no subsidy to rome but heavy taxation for Henry. Shows that Henry was most important
• Henry expected Wolsey to use his cardinal/legate position to resolve the Great Matter. When this was not possible, Henry turned on Wolsey for showing loyalty to the Pope

Question 39

Did Wolsey weaken the church?

Answer 39

Yes he did:

• Acted as corrupt clergyman
• Centralisation of ecclesiastical affairs was crippling. Henry could use Wolsey to control church

No he didn’t:

• Actions as corrupt clergyman were typical of the time
• Tried to defend church privileges ie benefit of the clergy

Question 40

Was there a noble conspiracy against Wolsey?

Answer 40

Yes:

• Wolsey’s position of power undoubtably created resentment among the nobility
• Wolsey’s partnership with Henry, and their habit of making policy in advance, must have envied some
• Unpopular with dukes of Norfolk and Suffolk
• Anti Wolsey faction at court

No:

• Claims that Wolsey kept ambitious courtiers at safe distance from Henry have often, Gywn suggests, been exaggerated
• Anne Boleyn key to downfall of Wolsey. Feud after he broke up her relationship with Henry Percy. However unlikely that she supported anti-Wolsey faction in any ‘conspiracy’ as he was her only hope of becoming queen
• Fair to say their was resentment, but no long term conspiracy as whilst he was favoured by Henry it was pointless. When he lost favour however…

Question 41

Why did Henry loose faith in Wolsey?

Answer 41

1) General discontent with Wolsey:
- Amicable grant crisis showed cracks in Henry/Wolsey’s relationship.
- Partnership with France established in 1527 to break Hapsburg control over Italy/persuade Emperor into negotiations over Henry’s marriage to Catherine.
- Unpopular with nobility as disrupted trade and weakened Henry’s position regarding the great matter (following sacking of Rome in 1527 confirming Hapsburg (HRE/Charles V’s) domination over Italy and the pope

2) Failure to resolve the divorce crisis:
- Henry had supported Wolseys Ecclesiastical positions as it furthered royal domination of the church
- Expectation that Wolsey’s position as a Cardinal/legate would mean he could resolve the great matter easily

Question 42

The Crisis of The Great Matter

Answer 42

• 1526: Henry wants to end his marriage to Catherine
• Wolsey had the power to make the judgement of Henry’s case but required papal confirmation of the decision
• Catherine would inevitably appeal to Rome
• Wolsey recognised the significance of the decision for his own position, and knew that he had to make sure the Pope supported his case

Question 43

Why did Wolsey find it difficult to attain the divorce initially? (1)

Answer 43

• Henry’s insistence on basing argument on Leviticus verse, that would be contradicted by the Pope. Lack of acceptance of Wolsey’s alternative justifications for the divorce
• Wolsey tried to denounce the marriage in England before receiving papal confirmation, but Catherine heard an objected
• International events: Imperial troops sack rome in 1527, Charles V holds Pope Clement VII prisoner (controlling pope’s policy) Pope was reluctant to grant Wolsey a court in England with no appeal for Catherine as he did not want to upset the Emperor.

Question 44

Why could Wolsey not resolve the great matter, the events (2)

Answer 44

• Pope Clement would not grant ecclesiastical court in England to resolve matter without Catherine’s appeal as he didn’t want to upset the emperor (Charles V)
• Summer 1528: Pope sends Cardinal Campeggio to oversee court with power to annul marriage. Instructions from pope not to use these powers but to delay proceedings
• Events in Italy convince Pope he can’t side against Charles. Campeggio suggests Catherine retire to nunnery, she refuses
• Brief from Pope Julius II appears from 1503 saying Catherine’s second marriage to Henry is valid. Condemned as fake, but validity still unknown
• court opens march 1529. Catherine maintains marriage was consummated, appeals to rome
• Proceedings continue until July 1529, Campeggio delays court for the summer
• Clear now that Wolsey has failed to secure divorce, faith in the minister is lost

Question 45

Wolsey’s downfall

Answer 45

• Resigns as Lord Chancellor in 1529
• Charged with Praemunire (acknowledging another power from the King) in October 1529
• Retires to Archbishopric of York
• Wolsey is scapegoat for failure to attain divorce at the court at Blackfriars
• Now the nobility turn on him, the royal council charge him with treason in November 1530
• Wolsey dies at Leicester Abbey on route to face charges, November 1530

Question 46

How successful was Wolsey’s policy towards the nobility?

Answer 46

• Those removed in the 1519 purge acquired posts elsewhere. Caused resentment but did not entirely weaken them
• Wolsey’s feud with Anne was significant factor in his fall. His dislike of her was well known in court, targeting her faction was only successful for a short while…when Wolsey failed to grant Henry an annulment with Catherine he was targeted by disgruntled nobles