Domestic Policies under Wolsey [1515-29]

• Thomas Wolsey was a church man of humble origins. His organisational ability impressed Henry, initially during the French Campaign, and he rose to being the Archbishop of York in 1514, a cardinal in 1515 and the papal legate in 1518.
• He was appointed Lord Chancellor by Henry in 1515; this put him in control of royal government and gave him immense power because all other courtiers had to go through him in order to speak to the king.
• During the years of Wolsey's chancellorship, domestic policy centered on strengthening royal authority and raising finance, particularly to support Henry's wars with France and Scotland.
• As Lord Chancellor, Wolsey was responsible for overseeing the legal system and promoting royal authority by enforcing law and order.
• He presided over the court of chancery, which he used to uphold 'fair' justice in problems relating to enclosure, contracts, and inheritance.
• From 1516, he extended the use of the court of Star Chamber, which had been established as an offshoot of the King's council during Henry VII's reign, making it the centre of both government and the legal system. It was used to increase cheap and fair justice and heard cases of alleged misconduct and private lawsuits.
• Local law officers were appointed to enforce royal law.
• the authority of the crown over regional councils was extended.
• Instead of using local commissioners to assess taxpayers' wealth for the raising of subsidies, he set up a network of royal commissioners that he set up himself.
• in 1525, when the amount of extraordinary revenue raised still proved insufficient to finance Henry's war in France, he tried to raise the 'Amicable Grant' of 1525. This was, in theory, a voluntary gift to the king from his subjects; in reality, it was a heavy tax, levied without Parliament's approval. It led to widespread resistance and had to be abandoned.
• In 1526, he introduced the Eltham Ordinances. These aimed to reduce royal household expenditure by reforming the Privy Chamber's finances and reducing the number of 'gentlemen' in the chamber. This was because this was the one part of government he could not control. Through this, Wolsey managed to reduce the Privy Chamber's influence.
• As part of the Eltham Ordinances, he replaced Henry's groom of the stool, Sir William Crompton, with a more compliant Henry Norris.
• The Privy Chamber

  Established by Henry VII due to William Stanley's betrayal. It was a private part of court. It was filled with 'gentlemen of the Privy Chamber', the king's closest 'minions'. This gave them huge influence due to the personal monarchy. This was HATED by Wolsey.
• The Court of Chancery

  Wolsey was not legally trained but, once he was made Lord Chancellor, he became responsible for the legal system. He aimed to uphold fair justice and, because he wasn't a noble, he granted fair decisions for the common people. Wool contracts and land disputes were all dealt with here. It was slow due to its huge popularity.
• The Star Chamber


  Set up in 1487 and an offshoot of the King's council. Wolsey ran this and managed to sit in court several times a week. He supported impartial justice regardless of wealth or status. He was not afraid of taking on the nobility (Earl of Northumberland sent to prison in 1515). This was hugely successful and the number of cases increased rapidly. However, he did use the court for personal reasons (E.g. Punishment of Sir Amyas Paulet - previously embarrassed Wolsey)
• Wolsey's 'finest hour' was arranging the Field of Cloth and Gold - (summit meeting with Francis I). This event was a diplomatic triumph and drastically improved relations with the 2 nations.
• He fell from grace during the annulment of Henry's marriage to Catherine of Aragon.
• The conciliar government between 1509 and 1514 ended because:

  1. Councilors couldn't support Henry's war with France. (Council went behind his back and signed the extension of the French Pension)
  2. Henry disliked people telling him what to do
  3. Wolsey became more dominant in decision making on Henry's behalf.