WOLSEY

• Was close to Henry, and did jobs that Henry wasn’t interested in
• He had no family or friends who could challenge him
• His power came from his position as Lord Chancellor (1514) and Cardinal (1513)
• An issue he faced was how Henry treated nobles his age, as they had access to the King’s private rooms, so they could be able to influence Henry
• Wolsey tried to gain control of the Privy Chamber in 1519 because courtiers within distrusted him, so Wolsey replaced them with his own supporters, but this did not last long.
• COURT OF CHANCERY:

  • Despite not being a trained lawyer, Wolsey was responsible for the legal system, as he was Lord Chancellor.
  • He tried to uphold ‘fair’ justice over the court of chancery.
  • However, the court became too popular and therefore became clogged up and slowed down justice.
• COURT OF STAR CHAMBER:

  • Established in 1487 as an offshoot to the king’s Council
  • Became the centre of both government and justice under Wolsey.
  • Used to challenge the power of the nobility, and private lawsuits. (These were also very popular, and even reached the poor).
• Tudor Subsidy

  Extraordinary revenue provided by taxpayers (including the nobility) when required, collected through subsidies
• • Wolsey had changed the way subsidies were collected by setting up a national committee which headed to get a fair assessment of taxpayer’s’ wealth. • This was more realistic, but he did not raise enough for the war with France
• To resolve this he made the Amicable Grant (a raise of taxation)
• Amicable Grant

  Led to a rebellion as people were only given ten weeks to find the money
• When the rebellions were defeated, Henry had to suspend it which was embarrassing for the both of them
• ECONOMIC POLICY:

  • Wolsey involved himself in the growing problem of enclosure. 
  • In 1517, he began a national enquiry to find how much land was enclosed and the effects of it.
  • From this, legal cases were drawn up against 264 landowners.
  • However, this was suspended due to opposition in Parliament from landowners in 1523.
• THE FALL OF WOLSEY:

  He was able to maintain his power and position because he served Henry well, but these factors had led to his downfall:

  • Failure to secure Henry a divorce from Catherine of Aragon.
  • Failure to achieve Henry’s aims in foreign policy - England was marginalised & isolated.
  • Boleyn faction was hinting that Wolsey delayed the divorce.
  • His reputation and personal ambitions.
• Wolsey was accused of Praemunrie


  Working in interest of the Pope and not the King.
• Anne was a main influence


  She had convinced Henry that Wolsey was delaying the divorce.
• Wolsey was charged of treason, but fell ill and died on 29th November 1530.