WOLSEY

• Wolsey


  In charge of the secular system
• Wolsey


  • Attacked for his personal vendetta against the nobility vs gentry
  • Used the law to further his own interests
• Wolsey's legal reforms were aimed at making the law more accessible and impartial to the poor
• None of Wolsey's reforms seem to have outlasted him and many argue that his use of the legal system damaged
• Subsidy


  Tax on property & income, seen as a replacement for the system of tenths and fifteenths
• The subsidy brought in more money but was not enough to finance Henry's wars with France
• In 1523, Wolsey demanded a subsidy of 4 shillings in the £, which caused an outcry and he only got £30,000
• Henry was aware of the tax but Wolsey took the blame, making them both very unpopular with the nobility
• Wolsey tried increasing revenue from Crown Lands but it had declined from £400,000 to just £25,000
• The Act of Resumption in 1515 increased Crown Land revenue to over £322,000 but this was still short of the £1.7 million spent on wars between 1509-1520
• Wolsey


  Seen as the champion of the poor
• Wolsey's social reforms


  1. Inquiry into enclosure practice in 1517

  2. Hundreds of legal actions brought against wealthy landowners 1518-29

  3. Many forced to rebuild knocked down dwellings and return land to arable farming
• Many of Wolsey's social gains had to be sacrificed as all existing enclosures were accepted for parliamentary subsidies
• Parliament


  • Only summoned twice during Wolsey's time, 1523 and 1525
  • Usually only met during times of war
  • Caused problems and was called due to desperate need for finance to fight wars
  • Failed to deliver the required money
• Privy Chamber


  Wolsey introduced the Eltham Ordinances in 1526 to improve its finances by removing 6 politically active Gentlemen of the Bedchamber
• Wolsey's drive for greater efficiency in the Privy Chamber was more about gaining greater control and power
• Wolsey's relationship with the nobility


  • His background and rise to power was resented
  • He went out of his way to antagonise them
  • In 1515 he said the nobles will be mentioned closely and shouldn't consider themselves above the law
  • Enforced when Earl of Northumberland was sent to Fleet Prison for contempt of the council
  • Interfered in marriage arrangements of the nobles
  • Had a great clash with Duke of Buckingham, leading to his execution which many believed was Wolsey's doing
• Many nobles understood Wolsey's power and sought to gain his trust and acceptance
• Wolsey's legal reforms were his greatest domestic achievement
• Parliament


  Only summoned twice during Wolsey's time
• Times Parliament usually met

  • War
  • Times of need for finance to fight the war
• Wolsey's view of Parliament

  Disliked it, as it continued to cause problems and was called due to the desperate need for finance to fight the war
• Parliament failed to deliver the required money
• Although Wolsey disliked leading members, Parliament also seemed unable to provide Henry/Wolsey with what they needed
• Parliament gave them trade they needed
• Eltham Ordinance


  Introduced by Wolsey in 1526, aimed to improve the finance of the Privy Chamber (removed 6 politically active Gentlemen of the Bedchamber)
• Wolsey's apparent drive for greater accountability and efficiency were more about gaining greater control
• There becomes a power struggle


  Between the council dominated by Wolsey, and court dominated by the King's favourites
• Wolsey's background and rise to power


  Was resented by many of the nobles
• Wolsey went out his way to antagonise the nobles
• In 1516, Wolsey said the nobles will be monitored closely and shouldn't consider themself above the law
• Wolsey had a great clash with Duke of Buckingham
• Rumours of a plot against Wolsey led to him being told to be more discrete
• Duke of Buckingham was summoned to London in 1821, charged and convicted of treason, and executed
• Many believed it was Wolsey's doing that the Duke of Buckingham was executed
• Many nobles understood Wolsey's power and seeked to gain his trust and acceptance
• Wolsey interfered in marriage arrangements of the nobles

  Nobles were antagonised
• Wolsey had a great clash with Duke of Buckingham


  Rumours of a plot against Wolsey led to him being told to be more discrete
• Duke of Buckingham was summoned to London, charged and convicted of treason


  Many believed it was Wolsey's doing
• Wolsey: 'Wolsey's law reforms were greatest domestic achinment'