Wolseys Government

• Henry has a chief minister to take care of the day to day running of the country. He made demands and expected Wolsey to meet them.
• Wolsey was chief minister from 1515 to 1529
• Henry ended conciliar government because he disagreed with his father's councilors, young courtiers around him encouraged the suspicion of the old guard, Henry became more assertive over time and he really liked Wolseys management of the French campaign
• Wolsey was very good at giving Henry what he wanted or alternatively convincing Henry that he wanted what Wolsey could give him
• The privy chamber was the only area of government Wolsey couldn't control. He tried to remove Henry's minions from their positions claiming to save money and replaced them with his own supporters. The minions managed to recover their positions.
• Wolsey presided over the main equity court called the Court of Chancery and tried to uphold fairness but it often got clogged up with cases.
• The Court of Starchamber was established in 1487 but Wolsey extended it in 1516 to increase cheap and fair justice, but he had to set up overflow tribunals to cope with the demand.
• Wolsey changed how subsidies were collected, setting up national committee which he headed to decrease corruption and increase profit. He used this to raise funds for Henry's war but had to pass the Amocable Grant in 1525 due to insufficient funds.
• In 1526 Wolsey used the Eltham Ordinances to reform the Privy chamber and remove some of the minions from their positions as Gentlemen of the Chamber, such as removing Sir William Compton as Groom of the Stool and replacing him with Henry Norris
• In 1527 Wolsey used his position in the legal system to accuse Henry of living sinfully with his wife Catherine. He admitted to the charge but Catherine appealed to the Pope.
• In 1529 the Pope sent Cardinal Campeggio over to hear the case alongside Wolsey
• In October 1529, Wolsey was charged with praemunire and surrendered himself and his possessions. He was arrested a year later but died before he could be executed.