Wolsey's Domestic Policy Flashcards
What financial reform did Wolsey make in 1513?
Subsidy - new taxation system replaced the old fifteenths and tenths. It was based on valuations of people’s wealth, making it unpopular with the nobility who now found themselves having to pay more.
Major achievement - Crown revenue increased £300,000 in total.
Why and how did Wolsey raise money in 1522?
Forced loan from nobility of £250,000 to pay for war in France - opposition but paid (success)
Why and how did Wolsey raise money in 1523?
Again for war in France (3 pronged attack). Asked for £800,000/4 shillings in £, but Parliament refused.
He kept them sitting over summer so they gave him £400,000/2 shillings in £ to be paid in instalments and made him drop his anti enclosure policy.
What was the Amicable Grant and was it successful?
Henry wanted to invade France after Battle of Pavia. Parliament wouldn’t agree to raise a tax so Wolsey decided to bypass Parl and collect directly, Caused rebellion (4,000 strong) in East Anglia - Wol blamed and had to publicly apologise (failure)
How did Wolsey raise Crown revenue in 1515?
Act of Resumption, raised £5-10k
Why was Wolsey in charge of the legal system?
Made Lord Chancellor in 1515
What courts did Wolsey base his work in?
Court of the Star Chamber - Wol sat here as a judge several times a week, case load rose from 12-120 pa
Court of Requests - established in 1519 as a result of overloaded Star Chamber
Court of Chancery
What was the role of the Court of the Star chamber?
Criminal court - Wolsey put forward the principle that all crimes should be punished regardless of social position (e.g. 1516 E of Northumberland imprisoned)
Criticism - Wol sometimes used this court to settle personal vendettas (e.g. Amyas Paulet)
What was the role of the Court of Requests?
Heard cases of the poor, especially grievances over enclosure.
What was the role of the Court of Chancery?
Dealt with issues like enclosure, contracts and land disputes
Criticism - Wol had limited impact here as it was very slow
What were Wolsey’s reforms in local government?
Placed men he trusted in positions of authority in the localities (e.g. Ralph Pexsall served Wolsey as a clerk and was then appointed in local govt in Surrey, Berkshire and Devon)
Used Star Chamber to remove corruption in the localities (e.g. Robert Sheffield accused of aiding homicide in his county)
What were Wolsey’s social reforms?
1517 - launched enquiry into enclosure and concluded it was a social evil.
264 causes against enclosure, 222 came to court (including 2 Oxford colleges and 9 peers of the realm)
1523 - Parl made him drop anti enclosure policy.
1518 - fixed poultry prices (‘Just Price’)
1527 - got JPs to buy surplus in case of famine
Events of 1510 Parliament
Granted Henry tonnage and poundage
Abolished Council Learned in Law
Events of 1512 Parliament
Gave Henry money for invasions of France and Scotland in 1512 and 1513
Restricted benefit of the clergy (due to 1511 Hunne Affair)
Events of 1515 Parliament
Dismissed before it granted taxation as Wolsey wanted it to stop criticising the Church
Parl wanted to abolish benefit of the clergy while Wolsey wanted it to be extended (had to beg Henry on hands and knees for it to stay)
Abolished sanctuary
