Domestic Policies

• Henry VII’s reign had demonstrated that the Crown could live within its normal income, provided it did not go to war.

  • But Henry had built up surpluses by introducing arbitrary and unpopular methods.
• As Henry VIII wanted to be more involved in European diplomacy and also wanted to go to war with France, Henry VII’s surplus was soon used up.
• Wolsey was therefore called upon to raise extra revenue. If there were difficulties, it was because warfare was increasingly expensive and the English Crown remained under funded.