Wolsey

Question 1

What were Wolsey’s positions?

Answer 1

• 1513
• Dean of York
• Bishop of Tournai
• 1514
• Bishop of Lincoln
• Archbishop of York
• 1515
• Cardinal
• Lord Chancellor
• 1518
• Papal Legate

Question 2

How is Wolsey described?

Answer 2

• Unusually proud and ostentatious
• Arrogant and vindictive (seen like this by enemies)
• Manipulative of Henry

Question 3

What did Wolsey do do Buckingham?

Answer 3

• 1520 = investigated B after rumours B had private conversation saying H might not be King much longer
• 1521 = ordered to London, arrested, imprisoned in Tower of London
• Refused to plead for life = executed
• W had manipulated H’s insecurities to order these actions

Question 4

What did Wolsey do to aid Church reforms?

Answer 4

• Ordered inspections on quality of religious life in monasteries / other religious institutions
  = 2 dozen religious houses closed
• 1528 = drew plans for closing monasteries with under 6 inmates, forcibly for those under 12
• As Papal Legate, removed 8 unsuitable heads of state from office
• Encouraged Henry to stand against Luther = public burnings of Lutheran texts

Question 5

What was Henry’s anti-Lutheran book called?

Answer 5

‘Defence of the Seven Sacraments’

Question 6

What title did the Pope give H in response to his stance against Luther?

Answer 6

Defender of the Faith

Question 7

What were the key issues of Wolsey?

Answer 7

• Absenteeism
• Plurality

(Held many offices yet could not fulfil all these roles)

Question 8

What did Wolsey use Eltham Ordinances for?

Answer 8

• SUPPOSEDLY:
• reorganise chaotic finances of Privy Chamber
• make King’s household more efficient

REALITY:
- Reduce influence of others at Court
- Increase W’s own power over various aspects of government

Question 9

How did Wolsey use the Star Chamber?

Answer 9

• Was established by H, staffed by members of Privy Council to establish justice (often amongst nobility)
• BUT was not v active (12 cases a year)
• Wolsey used more frequently to attack nobles/officials who abused power
• W encouraged commoners to bring their complaints before court
• Earned W reputation of being friend to the poor

Question 10

How did Wolsey use the Court of Requests?

Answer 10

• To hear cases from poor people
• It met in Whitehall in Palace of Westminster = under H7, had met where King was
• Popular due to:
  • low cost of bringing cases forward
  • quick decisions

Question 11

How did Wolsey use the national survey?

Answer 11

• To assess who could pay tax and how much
• Through this, gained £200,000 in forced loans (1522-23)
• BUT not enough during period of inflation and expensive foreign policy

Question 12

How did Wolsey use a subsidy?

Answer 12

• To overcome inflation and expensive foreign policy (which had meant National Survey not enough)
• Subsidy approved by House of Commons (1523)
• Based on income instead property
• Did not raise as much as hoped

Question 13

How did Wolsey use the Amicable Grant?

Answer 13

• 1525
• Proposed the grant from both Church and ordinary taxpayers
• Based on W’s valuations of their property
• Reaction = provokes only significant rebellion in first 1/2 of H’s reign

Question 14

Why were there issues of Wolsey regarding parliament?

Answer 14

• Parliament only called twice (1515, 1523)
• W accused of trying to rule without Parliament