Wolseys Domestic Policies Flashcards
What were Wolseys main aims?
To serve the King and to remain in office as long as possible. To achieve these objectives. Wolsey needed to raise money to satisfy Henry’s appetite to war, and control the nobility.
What was Henry’s role as Lord Chancellor and what is civil and common law?
Wolsey was responsible for overseeing the legal system. His main concern was to tackle the r problem of slow and unfair delivery of justice. There were two systems; common law and the civil law. Common law referred to the system of law developed through judicial decisions and customs, rather than codified statutes. Civil law referred to the legal system used in disputes between private individuals and the state. It compassed areas like property rights, contracts, and personal relationships, distinct from church or criminal law.
What was Wolsey already planning by 1516 domestically?
By 1516 Wolsey was already planing reforms to the system to improve matters, in particular, strengthening the star chamber and chancery. Wolsey used the star chamber to attack the nobles and local officials who abused their power. He increased commoners to bring their complaints before the court and in doing so, increased the number of court cases heard each year to about 120.
What was the star chamber?
The Star Chamber was a court in England, a judicial arm of the King’s Council, that evolved from the king’s royal council. It was named after the room where it met in the old Palace of Westminster, which had a star-spangled ceiling. Under Henry VIII, it gained prominence for enforcing laws, particularly against powerful nobles, who could influence regular courts
What was the Subsidy?
Wolsey realized that existing forms of finance could not be exploited further, Wolsey proposed a more flexible tax - a subsidy, based on income rather than property. The subsidy was collected four times in all - between 1513 and 1515 and in 1523, each time to help pay for war in France.
What was the General proscription?
Wolsey investigated the possibility of more national finances called the General proscription. After 1523, Wolsey hoped to raised £800,000 from a subsidy but managed only £300,000
What was the amicable grant?
In 1525, Wolsey suggested the Amicable grant from both the church and ordinary tax payers based on his valuations of their property, people were given 10 weeks to pay. The reaction to this demand was to provoke the only significant rebellion of 10,000 men in East Anglia. Henry responded to the unrest by stepping in to suspend it and claim he had known nothing of it. It was embarrassing for both him and Wolsey.
What was the Act of Resumtion?
It was a piece of legislation passed by parliament that aimed to reclaim lands that had been granted away from the crown during the early years of Henry VIII’s reign. Wolsey tried to increase revenue from crown lands. In 1515, the Act of Resumption was passed, after crown income had decreased to only £25,000 per annum. He did succeed in boosting this but it was too small to make up the shortfall in expenditure.
What were enclosures?
Enclosures during Henry VIII’s reign involved the practice of taking land that was once shared or common and dividing it into privately owned plots, often fenced or hedged off. This practice, while leading to increased production and profitability for some, also resulted in the displacement of many poor farmers who lost their land and livelihoods, leading to social unrest and uprisings. Wolsey also involved himself in enclosures. He held the view that the conversion of arable land to sheep pasture was destroying village life and jobs. In 1516, he began a national enquiry to find out how much land was enclosed and the effects that was having.
What were Eltham Ordinances?
The Eltham Ordinances, drawn up by Wolsey in 1526, were a set of detailed rules designed to improve the efficiency and order of Henry VIII’s royal court. They covered various aspects of court life, including the King’s daily routine, the duties of his attendants, and even the court’s food and spending. The ordinances aimed to streamline the court and reduce unnecessary expenses. It was more about limiting access to the king rather than helping finances. The number of Gentlemen of the Bedchamber was reduced from 12 to 6.
