Wolsey summary Flashcards
Problems with Wolsey’s foreign policy
Wolsey’s alliance with France against Spain led to trade problems with the cloth industry
The land England claimed during the French expeditions were unimpressive
Describe Wolsey’s impact with Henry’s personal demands
Wolsey was in charge of Henry’s divorce to Catherine of Aragon. His first attempt was stating that Arthur and Catherine’s marriage was consummated and therefore Henry’s marriage is void using the biblical passage Leviticus
Wolsey using his papal legate status tried to hold the divorce in England. However the pope sent Cardinal Campeggio to delay and ensure the decision was never reached. In 1529, Catherine refused to acknowledge the court and appealed to the pope to decide in Rome, to which the Pope agreed and the English court dissolved, therefore not securing the divorce
Whilst trying to get the divorce, Wolsey tried to free the pope from the HRE by forming an alliance with France, which failed
Positives with Wolsey’s relationship with the church
Wolsey pursued a career as the church’s representative in England which Henry supported, leading to Wolsey becoming the Pope Legate in 1924
Wolsey then ordered the inspections into the quality of religious life in monasteries and an a result 24 religious houses were dissolved and the money saved was invested in the encouragement of religious teaching
Encouraged Henry to write a book against the Lutheran ideals and was bestowed the title of ‘defender of the church’ form the pope
In retaliation of the reformation, he also encouraged public burning of Lutheran books
Negatives of Wolsey’s religious policy
Wolsey’s personal life- 2 illegitimate children and a relationship with his mistress, meant that Wolsey can be seen to embody everything wrong with the Catholic Church
Positive with Wolsey’s government
Wolsey strengthened the Star Chamberby using it to attack nobles/ local officers who abused their power
He increased and encouraged commoners to bring complaints to court which gave him the reputation of a friend to the people
Negatives of Wolsey’s policy with government
Wolsey was capable of taking revenge and created the Eltham Ordinances which laid out methods to reorganise the finances of the Privey Chamber in 1926, in order to minimise others influence over Henry. Although could be seen as a positive, more probably it was done because Wolsey’s favour and position in court depended strongly on being in the King’s favour which prompted factionalism.
Furthermore, only two parliaments were called during Wolsey’s reign, leading Historians to accuse him of ruling without parliament
Positives of Wolsey’s economic strategies
In 1522, Wolsey organised a national survey to assess who could pay what tax, allowing him to gain £200,000 in forced loans
In 1517 he started a national enquiry to find out how much land was enclosed, believing it ruined villages and jobs, which caused landowners to be brought to court if her thought they’d enclosed illegally
Negatives of Wolsey’s economic problems
Despite Wolsey’s foreign policies, he could still not provide enough money to support Henry’s foreign ambitions
In 1923 Wolsey proposed a subsidy which was a more flexible tax based on income rather than land but didn’t raise very much
In 1925, he proposed an Amicable Grant from the Church and commoners, causing the only significant rebellion of Henry’s early reign.
There was wide spread unemployment and massive rise in goods prices
Positives of wolsey’s foreign policy
Wolsey organised a second expedition in 1512 which was seen as a success partly due to England’s win at ‘the battle of Spurs’
1914 Wolsey negotiated and sealed the Saint Germaine-en-Laye which gave England possession of parts of France as well as financial reward for Henry’s agreement to give up him claim to the throne which increased Henry’s image as a young warrior King
Wolsey oversaw military success with Scotland where James IV was killed
Because England could not partake in highly expensive, Walsey made England the peacemaker
Wolsey got the European powers to sign the Treaty of London 1912 for universal peace which lasted until Maximillian’s death
