Thomas Wolsey - Chief Minister 1514-30
Positive Points: Negative Points:
❖ Wolsey was simply carrying out Henry VIII’s policy of ❖ He jealously guarded his own power and stirred up
being strict on nobles and enhancing Henry’s royal power resentment amongst the nobles
➢ He made it clear from the start that noblemen should ➢ Preferred to keep Parliament at a distance, only met
not be above the law and used his title of Lord twice during his time as Chief Minister from
Chancellor and the Court of Star Chamber to 1515-23, tried to avoid calling Parliament and instead
demonstrate this - - important as at the start of relied on forced loans - believed members of
Henry’s reign, the nobility had regained some of Parliament were a potential source of trouble for the
their former power and influence government and himself
➢ Duke of Buckingham was executed for treason in ➢ tried to limit access to Henry, has been argued by
1521 on flimsy evidence which sent out a strong some that he tried to exclude many of the young
message to the nobles – one charge was that he was Gentlemen of the Privy Chamber from power by
displaying his status and power to extravagantly but initiating a purge in 1519 ('Expulsion of the
he also had a strong claim to the throne, in fact he Minions') - insured rivals were given mundane jobs
was executed as he appeared to be plotting treason away from court
➢ When many nobles returned to court after the French
and raising a private army - 1521 he requested a
licence to visit his lands in Wales with 400 armed wars from 1522-25, he secured the Eltham
men and his action seemed to threaten potential Ordinances of 1526 - by this measure the Gentlemen
rebellion - alarmed Henry and he asked Wolsey to of the Bed Chamber were reduced from 12 to 6, has
keep a close watch on him been argued that this was a cost-cutting measure but
➢ Henry also controlled the nobility with severity if it would seem that he was trying to reform the Royal
necessary household to secure his own power - Came to
❖ He served Henry loyally and effectively - vital key servant nothing as Wolsey found other ways of maintaining
➢ rewarded with multiple offices and titles, dominates his power
➢ The resentment he stirred up meant that members
government and administration for 15 years, his
main contributions were his organisational abilities were reluctant to give him what he wanted when he
which allowed Henry to afford foreign war and then called Parliament
to play international peacemaker
❖ He was a Church man so it was uncomfortable for him
➢ Has been argued that he did not usurp power from when parliament of 1515 was dominated by complaints
Henry - he was only allowed to wield it for as long against the Church
➢ Hunne Affair, Benefit of Clergy
as he was useful, it is clear that Henry had overall
➢ Cardinal, Archbishop of York and legate a latere in
power as he used Wolsey as a scapegoat for his
failures, such as for the Amicable Grant of 1525. 1518
➢ He was able, ambitious and organised the French ➢ when he became Chief Minister many members of
war, worked exceptionally hard, showed energy and the nobility, including Gentleman of the Privy
a social conscience Chamber who were used to having great influence,
➢ He did consult nobles but would often decide policy resented his influence (humble origins)
with Henry
❖ Accused of being an alter rex due to his desire to increase
❖ Attempted to improve England’s finances: his reputation and make money
➢ Subsidy introduced based on the ability to pay - ➢ His household numbered 500 men, nearly as big as
more flexible, realistic and efficient and raises more the king’s, and his building at Hampton Court was so
money, replaced traditional fifteenths and tenths magnificent that is has been argued argued to have
form of taxation, 1513-16 raised £170,000 while the undermined Henry's power
➢ used law to help with this and carry out personal
old form raised £90,000 - established a greater
financial burden on the rich vendettas (Amyas Paulet, Earl of Northumberland
and Lord Burgavenny) - he used his power and
■ increased royal power as he was able to
fund Henry’s ambitions as a warrior-king position to prosecute personal feuds eg Sir Robert
and put him in a better position for future Sheffield who, as Speaker of the House of
wars; this was particularly important after Commons, was critical of Wolsey in 1512 and was
Henry had spent £1 million on his war sent to the Tower and fined £5,333 for ‘opprobrious
with France in 1512-14 words’
➢ 1515 Act of Resumption - Wolsey wanted to ❖ Demands for money made him unpopular
➢ Mismanaged the financial crisis of 1522-23,
increase revenue from Crown lands but many had
haranguing parliament in an attempt to get a higher
Positive Points: Negative Points:
❖ Wolsey was simply carrying out Henry VIII’s policy of ❖ He jealously guarded his own power and stirred up
being strict on nobles and enhancing Henry’s royal power resentment amongst the nobles
➢ He made it clear from the start that noblemen should ➢ Preferred to keep Parliament at a distance, only met
not be above the law and used his title of Lord twice during his time as Chief Minister from
Chancellor and the Court of Star Chamber to 1515-23, tried to avoid calling Parliament and instead
demonstrate this - - important as at the start of relied on forced loans - believed members of
Henry’s reign, the nobility had regained some of Parliament were a potential source of trouble for the
their former power and influence government and himself
➢ Duke of Buckingham was executed for treason in ➢ tried to limit access to Henry, has been argued by
1521 on flimsy evidence which sent out a strong some that he tried to exclude many of the young
message to the nobles – one charge was that he was Gentlemen of the Privy Chamber from power by
displaying his status and power to extravagantly but initiating a purge in 1519 ('Expulsion of the
he also had a strong claim to the throne, in fact he Minions') - insured rivals were given mundane jobs
was executed as he appeared to be plotting treason away from court
➢ When many nobles returned to court after the French
and raising a private army - 1521 he requested a
licence to visit his lands in Wales with 400 armed wars from 1522-25, he secured the Eltham
men and his action seemed to threaten potential Ordinances of 1526 - by this measure the Gentlemen
rebellion - alarmed Henry and he asked Wolsey to of the Bed Chamber were reduced from 12 to 6, has
keep a close watch on him been argued that this was a cost-cutting measure but
➢ Henry also controlled the nobility with severity if it would seem that he was trying to reform the Royal
necessary household to secure his own power - Came to
❖ He served Henry loyally and effectively - vital key servant nothing as Wolsey found other ways of maintaining
➢ rewarded with multiple offices and titles, dominates his power
➢ The resentment he stirred up meant that members
government and administration for 15 years, his
main contributions were his organisational abilities were reluctant to give him what he wanted when he
which allowed Henry to afford foreign war and then called Parliament
to play international peacemaker
❖ He was a Church man so it was uncomfortable for him
➢ Has been argued that he did not usurp power from when parliament of 1515 was dominated by complaints
Henry - he was only allowed to wield it for as long against the Church
➢ Hunne Affair, Benefit of Clergy
as he was useful, it is clear that Henry had overall
➢ Cardinal, Archbishop of York and legate a latere in
power as he used Wolsey as a scapegoat for his
failures, such as for the Amicable Grant of 1525. 1518
➢ He was able, ambitious and organised the French ➢ when he became Chief Minister many members of
war, worked exceptionally hard, showed energy and the nobility, including Gentleman of the Privy
a social conscience Chamber who were used to having great influence,
➢ He did consult nobles but would often decide policy resented his influence (humble origins)
with Henry
❖ Accused of being an alter rex due to his desire to increase
❖ Attempted to improve England’s finances: his reputation and make money
➢ Subsidy introduced based on the ability to pay - ➢ His household numbered 500 men, nearly as big as
more flexible, realistic and efficient and raises more the king’s, and his building at Hampton Court was so
money, replaced traditional fifteenths and tenths magnificent that is has been argued argued to have
form of taxation, 1513-16 raised £170,000 while the undermined Henry's power
➢ used law to help with this and carry out personal
old form raised £90,000 - established a greater
financial burden on the rich vendettas (Amyas Paulet, Earl of Northumberland
and Lord Burgavenny) - he used his power and
■ increased royal power as he was able to
fund Henry’s ambitions as a warrior-king position to prosecute personal feuds eg Sir Robert
and put him in a better position for future Sheffield who, as Speaker of the House of
wars; this was particularly important after Commons, was critical of Wolsey in 1512 and was
Henry had spent £1 million on his war sent to the Tower and fined £5,333 for ‘opprobrious
with France in 1512-14 words’
➢ 1515 Act of Resumption - Wolsey wanted to ❖ Demands for money made him unpopular
➢ Mismanaged the financial crisis of 1522-23,
increase revenue from Crown lands but many had
haranguing parliament in an attempt to get a higher
