Henry VIII And Wolsey Flashcards
(44 cards)
1
Q
Examples of Henry breaking from his father’s rule
A
- arrested + later executed Edmund Dudley and Sir Richard Empson = men responsible for implementing H7’s harsh financial policy - gained him popularity
- announced marriage to Catherine of Aragon - H7 had refused to return her to Spain or marry her to Henry after Arthur’s death as promised - used her in diplomacy- virtual prisoner - Henry appeared chivalrous + restored Anglo-Spanish alliance, providing Henry with an ally for his warrior pursuits
2
Q
Why was it difficult for Henry to initially achieve his aim of war and glory?
A
- France = much stronger that early 15th cent. when H5 had secured victories
- ministers less supportive and skilled at inaction - Archbishop Warham and Bishop Fox determined to continue H7 policies + tricked Henry into renewing truce with France in 1510 when Henry wanted to fight
- regardless of marriage to Catherine, Henry found that Ferdinand, as well as Emperor Maximilian, where unreliable and could be won over by French bribes
- meant Henry couldn’t fulfil ambition for war until 1512
3
Q
Why did Henry’s 1512 expedition to France fail?
A
- aimed to take over Aquitaine
- due to Anglo-Spanish alliance, Henry sent an army to Spain to prepare for a cooperative campaign, but Ferdinand just used this as a distraction to the French in order for him to seize land he wanted in the Pyrenees
- English army was short of supplies + unwelcome amongst locals - returned home empty handed, having spent lots of money
4
Q
How successful was Henry’s 1513 invasion of France?
A
- took unimportant town of Therouanne + handed it over to Emp. Max. who burnt it to the ground
- also took city of Tournai - not economically important but an internationally known city - gave Henry glory he desired
- Battle of Spurs with the French - made into great propaganda victory - supported by capture of some French nobles
- exhausted finances + Henry couldn’t continue claim to French throne in 1514 - forced into peace policy
5
Q
Difference in conduct between H7 + H8
A
- H7 had reputation as a miser, amassing a surplus, H8 soon spent this on clothes + warfare
- H7 had become withdrawn from public in latter years, H8 = opposite + established lively court
- H7 largely ignored nobility in latter years, H8’s court appealed to nobles and he created a large number of new nobles - traditional relationship with nobility restored = less of threat to monarch’s authority
6
Q
What was Wolsey’s background?
A
- son of Ipswich butcher
7
Q
Reasons for Wolsey’s rise to power
A
- mainly luck
- talents - gained degree from Oxford at 15 + quick to recognise opportunities for promotion, great flatterer
- extremely hard worker - appealed to Henry who was uninterested in day to day running of kingdom
8
Q
What was the trigger for Wolsey entering the king’s favour?
A
- was a member of the Fox entourage, but realised Fox’s peace party wouldn’t appeal to monarch who wanted war
- therefore gave King advice he wanted to hear
- aided by removal or retirement of many of H7’s advisors
- cemented by 1513 expedition to France - Wolsey given organisational tasks passed over by more experienced officials due to difficulty - Wolsey overcame obstacles + reinforced his value to the King
- by middle of 1514, King was referring all matters of business to him
9
Q
Wolsey’s rise through the titular ranks
A
- 1515 = Lord Chancellor and a cardinal
- 1518 = papal legate
- 1524 = papal legate role confirmed for life
10
Q
H8s foreign policy aims in period to 1529
A
- assert himself as king
- demonstrate England as a major power
- achieve glory and honour
- secure Tudor dynasty
11
Q
Success of foreign policy in 1512-14
A
- campaigns to France did satisfy desire for military glory
- peace treaty withFrance allowed Wolsey to secure some gains = land, restoring French pension + marriage of Mary to Louis
- more impressive = defeat of Scots in Battle of Flodden - second army able to kill Scottish king + many nobles + secure northern border
12
Q
Reasons for H8s weakening position in period 1515-21
A
- 1515-19 = new French king(Francis I) + new Roman Emp.(Charles V) - young + wanted to assert themselves like Henry but had the resources
- Francis encouraged Duke of Suffolk to marry Henry’s sister, Mary, following death of husband Louis = loss of face, King’s sister had married a non-royal without permission, couldn’t now use her on marriage market
- 1515 - France took Milan - H responded by ordering Wolsey to form anti-French alliance but death of Ferdinand + accession of Charles = peace treaty between France and Spain, joined by Emp. Max. = England sidelined - led to Treaty of London
13
Q
Treaty of London
A
- H unable to assert himself through war, had to do so through peace making
- Wolsey hijacked papal initiative to raise troops to fight Turks + turned it into international peace treaty
- signed in London in Oct 1518
- Wolsey able to make Henry appear pivotal power - England appeared centre of diplomatic activity - over 20 European rulers signed
- undermined by sacrifice of Tournai to French + election of Charles I of Spain as Holy Roman Emp. = shifted power balance
14
Q
The Field of Cloth of Gold
A
- both Francis + Charles eager to secure England as ally before a war between them - somewhat strengthened England’s position
- Charles visited England in May 1520 + Henry meant Francis outside Calais in June
- meeting with Francis known as Field of Cloth of Good - magnificent occasion - palace constructed for visitors
- achieved nothing of diplomatic value, cost year’s income + undermined when Charles + H met again + agreed not to make separate peace with France
15
Q
1521 war with France
A
- under terms of Treaty of Bruges, Wolsey agreed with the emperor to invade France unless it made peace with Charles
- meant England forced to send an army in 1523, but Charles soon abandoned ally + English army returned in disarray
- Henry lost prestige as peace maker and £400,000 = a year’s income
- Charles then managed to capture Francis = ideal time for Henry to assert claim to French throne but heavy taxation from previous campaigns meant Wolsey unable to raise funds
- Charles refused to attack France + annulled planned marriage with Henry’s daughter, Mary = no longer needed his support
16
Q
How did Henry’s foreign policy aims change following the 1523 war with France?
A
- plans to claim French throne failed due to lack of finances + failure to support Charles = Wolsey pursued an anti-Imperial alliance
- ## Aug 1525 = Treaty of the More = friendship with France with aim of preventing Charles V’s domination of Europe - reinforced in 1527 by Anglo-French Treaty of Westminster + Treat of Amiens(agreement to attack Charles)
17
Q
What did the 1529 Treaty of Cambrai suggest about England’s significance as a European power?
A
- only invited to join peace negotiations at last minute, suggests influence was limited
18
Q
Foreign policy context of the ‘Great Matter’
A
- Catherine of Aragon = Charles’ aunt - Charles had sacked Rome + captured the Pope in 1527 - meant although Pope May have ordinarily agreed to annulment, he couldn’t due to pressure from Charles to decline
- could only change situation by alliance with France + military victory but this policy failed - left Henry diplomatically isolated with no chance of gaining Pope’s support
- Wolsey faced an impossible task
19
Q
Difference between common and civil law
A
- common law = originated before Norman conquest + based on precedent(what had been done before)
- civil law - based on natural justice
20
Q
Evidence of Wolsey’s use of the legal system for personal grudges
A
- Sir Amyas Paulet = had put Wolsey in stocks when he started as a priest - Wolsey summoned him daily + threatened to confiscate his property if he left London without permission
- abandoned cases where his own position was threatened
-general vendetta against nobility = determined to prosecute nobility for breaches of laws against maintenance + affrays
21
Q
Evidence of Wolsey advancing legal system
A
- supported civil law at expense of common law
- ensured courts he was responsible for gave cheap + impartial justice + available to poor and weak(little chance of gaining justice with high legal fees under common law)
- Court of Star Chamber = cases against the powerful often given early hearing
- Court of Chancery = permanent judicial committee to deal with cases brought by poor
- however - didn’t carry out changes that ensured developments were continued once he left office
22
Q
How did Wolsey change subsidy?
A
- replaced fifteenths and tenths with subsidy which required tax-payers to give details of their property + income = determined how much they should pay
- brought in more money + first time since 1334 that crown was raising sums based on accurate assessments
23
Q
How did the 1525 Amicable Grant cause unrest?
A
- Henry wanted funding for campaign to France
- 1523 subsidy was still being collected when the non-parliamentary tax of the Amicable Grant was introduced + Henry’s foreign policy had brought little gain = Wolsey forced to back down
- 10,000 men in East Anglia assembled in opposition, Henry had to cancel Grant, claiming he knew nothing about it(unlikely) + scapegoating Wolsey
24
Q
How successful was Wolsey’s financial reform?
A
- raised over £322,000 in subsidies, £240,000 in clerical taxation + £260,000 in forced loans, it didn’t cover £1.7 mil spent between 1509-20(mostly on war)
25
Evidence of Wolsey’s social reform
- attacked enclosure = seen as defence of the poor
- 1517 - inquiry that identified enclosed land - led to persecution of people who had ignored previous laws in Court of Chancery
- 1518-29 = legal action taken against 264 landowners - 222 brought to court + 188 verdicts reached
26
Evidence of failures to Wolsey’s social reform
- impact of action against enclosure was small + Wolsey forced to sacrifice gains in 1523 Parliament, accepting all existing enclosures as part of subsidy agreement
- most social reform could be seen as attack on nobles which was then abandoned in order to secure finances - added to nobility’s resentment
27
Reasons for Wolsey’s dislike of Parliament
- 1515 parliament(before he came to power) had caused problems over church affairs
- only called in 1523 to raise funds for France - failed to provide desired amount(likely due to lack of faith in Henry’s foreign policy) - made Wolsey reluctant to summon it
- only summoned twice during his time in office
28
Wolsey’s reform of Privy Chamber
- 1526 Eltham Ordinances - aimed to improve chaotic finances - many promoted e.g. Sir William Compton = Groom of the Stool -> under-treasurer of the Exchequer
- seems reform was designed to limit access to King - number of Gentlemen of the Bedchamber halved from 12 to 6(more politically active ones removed)
- wanted to increase his control at a time when many of his policies(Amicable Grant) had failed
29
Evidence of Wolsey intentionally antagonising nobility
- 1516 - announced in Star Chamber that they should not consider themselves above the law
- sent Earl of Northumberland to Fleet prison for contempt of the council’s jurisdiction
- appeared to interfere in marriage arrangements
- rumours of noble plot against Wolsey - Duke of Buckingham told to behave more discreetly, failed to do so - executed for treason in 1521
30
Evidence suggesting Wolsey’s relationship with the nobility was no worse that the King’s
- Wolsey had lots of control over patronage - household = magnet for those seeking promotion
- Earl of Worcester considered Wolsey a friend - offered rewards to those who were willing to work with him
- whilst he had the King’s favour, most nobles accepted his authority
31
Debate over whether Church was in need of reform in 1520s
- some argue in desperate need of reform and Henry was heavily influenced by anti-clericalism
- this has been largely discredited - many say it was in no worse condition than had been in the past
32
Evidence Wolsey used the Church for selfish interests
- pluralist - Archbishop of York and Bishop of Lincoln
- not a monk but got himself elected abbot of wealthy St Albans abbey
- absentee - never visited York until after fall
- vowed celibacy but fathered daughter and son
- appointed non-resident Italians to bishoprics, paid them stipend and kept surplus
- manipulated papal legate role, extending it for life
33
Evidence Wolsey intended to reform church
- reform one of the conditions under which pope made him legate
- need to improve education in clergy - visited >60 religious houses 1519, issuing new constitutions for Augustinian canons
- dissolved smaller monasteries to form grammar schools and new Cardinal College at Oxford
34
How successful was Wolsey’s religious reform?
- school scheme slow to materialise = only one school in Ipswich established by death
- establishment of Cardinal College in his name been used as evidence of his self-promotion
- dissolution of smaller monasteries and founding of new colleges was part of reformers programme
- evidence of plans just before fall to convert some abbeys into cathedrals and create new dioceses
35
Three main reasons Henry wanted divorce?
1. Believed marriage was against God’s will
2. Needed legitimate male heir
3. Had fallen in love with Anne Boleyn
36
Did Henry believe that his marriage was against God’s will?
- doubts about whether pope had authority to issue dispensation in first place
- Henry very religious - titled ‘Defender of the Faith’ by Pope after attack on Martin Luther
- lack of a son from marriage seen as God’s punishment in Book of Leviticus
37
Importance of finding heir in divorce
- if marriage was illegitimate, Mary was illegitimate, as well as female
- loving descendants of Edward IV who could claim throne and end dynasty
- Catherine over 40 and unlikely to have more children
- 1528 visit to France = question of Mary’s legitimacy raised in marriage negotiations over her possible marriage to French heir
38
Importance of love for Anne Boleyn in divorce
- verified by Cardinal Campeggio
- campaign for divorce = 5 and a half years - must have been emotional motivation
- wrote love letters
- Anne astute and refused to become his mistress
39
How did Wolsey’s first two attempts to secure the divorce fail?
- tried to persuade pope original dispensation was invalid because of Book of Leviticus - struck down as pope couldn’t admit error of previous pope
- tried on grounds of technical error in dispensation - Catherine’s advisors found version with different wording that satisfied issue
40
Wolsey’s third attempt to secure divorce and subsequent fall
- persuaded pope to allow case to be heard in England - hope he would decide as papal legate
- compromise = decision made by two legates, Wolsey and Campeggio
- Henry increasingly urgent, Campeggio refused to hurry journey and delays blamed on Wolsey
- Henry and Wolsey tricked - Campeggio didn’t intend to reach verdict
- Campeggio suspended proceedings for summer in 1529
41
Evidence that Wolsey opposed divorce/claims of Boleyn faction
- Boleyn faction claimed he was deliberately slowing process and was hostile to them
- Anne much more politically involved than Catherine = more likely to influence decision making
- May have hoped delays would allow Henry’s infatuation with Anne to end
42
Events of Wolsey’s fall
- Henry used charge of praemunire against Wolsey = accused of upholding papal law without king’s permmission
- allowed Henry to confiscate all property and imprison him
- released and lived in modest comfort, returned to exile in York then arrested and brought to London
- not executed because he died on the way in November 1530
43
Evidence that Church was stable prior to reformation
- most clergy well respected, little evidence of clerical misconduct and priest/parishioners relationship usually harmonious
- ordination rates high
- church = social centre of many communities e.g. church ales
- Archbishop Warham’s visitation of 260 parishes from 1511-12 = only four priests ignorant
- large-scale building projects, funded by parishioners
- many people still leaving considerable sums to church in wills (57% of people in Devon and Cornwall made wills leaving money to religious gilds from 1529-29), contributed financially to mass and prayed for dead in chantries
44
Evidence church was corrupt/unstable pre reformation
- numbers of monasteries, nunneries and new abbeys, priories and friaries falling
- concerns over absentees and pluralism
- evidence of disquiet over tithe payments
- but little evidence for support of Lutheranism
