Wolsey Flashcards
When did Wolsey rise to power?
1515- up until 1529. Failure to divorce
WOL DOM POL
Wol central gov administration
H8 got sick of father’s councillors and wanted his own young men/ who wanted war
Wol ran legal system and made policy decisions
Wol was h’s business manager
Eltham ordinances - privy council 12-6
Star chamber to reduce corruption
Council attendant of the king - made nobs think they had power when they didn’t
WOL DOM POL
Local gov
Trusted men in localities
JPs - loyal
Wol used star chamber to maintain order in localities
Appointed his own men
WOL DOM POL
Legal reforms - wol greatest impact
1515 - wol as lord chancellor and put in charge of legal systems
Court of star chamber = centre of wol work
1516 - idea of punishing crimes regardless of social position
Cases overloaded in star chamber - set up 1519 court of requests as overflow. Dealt w enclosure et
Wol is judge in court of chancery. Could overrule decisions from ordinary law courts. Based on civil law = fairer
Criticisms with wol legal reforms
Star chamber overworked - slow
Used legal system for his own gain to prosecute nobles
Some ambitious schemes didnt take place
Despite helping poor he was quick to abandon them
WOL DOM POL
Financial management
Mixed successes
Subsidy 1513 - replaced fifteenths and tenths. Fixed, doesnt increase with inflation.
Wol made method of collecting it more efficient
1 shilling in every pound - amount. Remained Tudor tax
Subsidy raised £300,000
Wol asked for money for french wars and met w opposition
Asked for £800,000 and parl refused
He kept them sitting over the summer and they gave him £400,000 and to drop anti enclosure policy
Eventually led to 1525 amicable grant - wanted to invade fr but needed money so raised tax
People refused and rebellion in east anglia
Wol backtracked and requested a benevolence (gift) but rebels refused and won
Wol took blame - began his fall
Act of resumption 1515 - took back formed crownland given out in war of roses
Debasement carried out by wol
How many enclosure cases?
264 with 222 coming to court as a result of legal proceedings
Reasons for wol bad rel w nobs?
Use of legal system
Anti enclosure policy
Dealings w parl
Reform in central gov/ expulsion of minions/ Eltham ordinances
Wol wealth, positions, baseborn etc
Treatment of nob. E.g buck and Sheffield
Reasons for wol fall?
• Political enemies
• Failure of the amicable grant
• Opposition to wol foreign policy
• Wols increasing isolation from the king
• Rise of Anne Boleyn
• Divorce
When was wol dismissed as lord chancellor?
1529 - accused of praeminure
When did wol die?
1530 - on his way to court pleading how well he served his king
Why did fall fall after divorce?
wol credibility with h was crumbled. H assumed that wol and camp had worked in tandem
When was Wolsey appointed lord chancellor by Henry?
1515
What did wolseys position as lord chancellor do for him?
He was in control of royal gov and was given immense power
What did Wolsey do in 1516 with the star chamber?
He extended its use - making it the centre of both government and the legal system
