The Main changes in Politics & Government under Henry VIII - Cardinal Wolsey

Question 1

Question 1
What were Henry VIII’s three main aims at the start of his reign?

Answer 1

• Establish status among European royalty through marriage to Catherine of Aragon.
• Re-establish the role of the English Nobility.
• Become a great warrior king like his ancestors Henry V or Edward IV.

Question 2

Question 1
What was the purpose of Henry’s first Parliament in 1510?

Answer 2

Abolished the Council Learned in Law & executed Empson & Dudley, the men who ran it.

Question 3

Question 3
What did Henry VIII’s second Parliament - 1512-1514 - accomplish?

Answer 3

• Provided extraordinary revenue for invasions of France & Scotland.
• Restricted clergy benefits.

Question 4

Question 4
How many Parliaments were held during Henry VIII’s reign?

Answer 4

Five in total.

Question 5

Question 5
How did Wolsey manage day-to-day governance under Henry VIII?

Answer 5

• He controlled government operations.
• Kept Henry informed.
• Attempted to undermine the influence of the Privy Chamber advisors.

Question 6

Question 6
How did Wolsey increase his personal power?

Answer 6

By reducing noble influence while ensuring Henry remained satisfied with governance.

Question 7

Question 7
What was the purpose of the Court of the Star Chamber?

Answer 7

To deal ‘fairly’ with legal problems, often many involved the nobility.

Question 8

Question 8
When was the Court of the Star Chamber established?

Answer 8

1487

Question 9

Question 9
Who staffed the Court of the Star Chamber?

Answer 9

Members of the Privy Council.

Question 10

Question 10
How did Wolsey make the Court of the Star Chamber more significant?

Answer 10

He personally heard cases & focused on rooting out corruption amongst the nobility.

Question 11

Question 11
What was the consequence of Wolsey’s involvement in the Court of the Star Chamber?

Answer 11

• Increased Wolsey’s personal power & influence.
• Reduced nobility’s power, making Wolsey powerful enemies.

Question 12

Question 12
What was the purpose of the Court of the Chancery?

Answer 12

To hear cases on wills, property & contracts. This set legal precedents for future rulings.

Question 13

Question 13
How did Wolsey make the Court of the Chancery more accessible?

Answer 13

He encouraged commoners to bring cases, increasing hearings to around 120 per year.

Question 14

Question 14
What did Wolsey’s reforms in the Chancery reveal about his governance style?

Answer 14

He was willing to acknowledge lower-class concerns. But, mainly so he could strengthen his own personal power.

Question 15

Question 15
Why did Henry VIII often struggle financially during Wolsey’s tenure?

Answer 15

His desire to pursue war with France, which was extremely expensive, required constant funding.

Question 16

Question 16
How did Wolsey respond to Henry’s financial needs?

Answer 16

Established new taxation methods to raise more money beyond existing sources.

Question 17

Question 17
How did the subsidy tax system work?

Answer 17

All English citizens paid income tax, with higher earners contributing more.

This was a progressive system for the 16th century.

Question 18

Question 18
How often was the subsidy tax collected?

Answer 18

Four times between 1513 & 1523, funding Henry VIII’s wars with France.

Question 19

Question 19
How much revenue was raised through subsidies during this period?

Answer 19

£322,099, helping to sustain military campaigns.

Question 20

Question 20
Why was the Amicable Grant introduced?

Answer 20

Government officials discovered the Country was wealthier than previously thought & Henry needed more money for a further war with France.

Question 21

Question 21
How was the Amicable Grant collected?

Answer 21

Officials were sent out to collect taxes from the Church & ordinary tax payers.

Question 22

Question 22
When was the Amicable Grant?

Answer 22

1525.

Question 23

Question 23
How was the Amicable Grant initially designed to be paid?

Answer 23

Initially to be a freely given tax. But, people were given 10 weeks to pay a mandatory sum.

Question 24

Question 24
What was the amount to be paid for the Amicable Grant based on?

Answer 24

It was based on property owned.

Question 25

Question 25 What was the public response to the Amicable Grant?

Answer 25

In East Anglia, a rebellion erupted as people refused to pay.

Question 26

Question 26 How did Henry VIII respond to the rebellion over the Amicable Grant?

Answer 26

He stepped in & suspended the tax, to avoid further unrest.

Question 27

Question 27 What was the purpose of the Eltham Ordinances?

Answer 27

To improve palace organization due to mismanagement.

Question 28

Question 28 How many chapters did the Eltham Ordinances contain & what did they detail?

Answer 28

79 chapters detailing administrative rules.

Question 29

Question 29 What were three major changes introduced by the Ordinances?

Answer 29

* Cut spending on meals & servants. * Dismissed sick or unneeded servants. * Reduced gentlemen in the Privy Chamber from 12 to 6.

Question 30

Question 30 What were enclosures & why did they harm peasants?

Answer 30

Landowners fenced off land for private use, limiting land for commoners & worsening vagrancy.

Question 31

Question 31 Why did nobles & landowners use enclosures?

Answer 31

To profit from the wool trade, reducing land available for common use

Question 32

Question 32 How did Wolsey attempt to address the enclosures problem?

Answer 32

* Established an inquiry in 1517 to investigate abuses. * Took legal action against 264 landowners, 222 cases went to court. * 188 landowners were ruled against.

Question 33

Question 33 Did Wolsey’s efforts stop enclosures?

Answer 33

No—vagrancy remained a problem & enclosures continued despite legal actions.

Question 34

Question 34 What position did Wolsey hold in the Church?

Answer 34

Papal Legate. ## Footnote This meant he was the Pope's representative in England.

Question 35

Question 35 How did Protestantism influence Wolsey’s reforms?

Answer 35

The rise of Protestantism pressured him to address the church's corruption & inefficiencies

Question 36

Question 36 What instructions did Wolsey order within religious institutions?

Answer 36

Instructed Bishops to evaluate quality of life in monasteries & religious houses.

Question 37

Question 37 How many religious institutions did Wolsey close & what did he do with their assets?

Answer 37

* 30 religious places closed down. * After the assets were confiscated they were used to build colleges at Oxford & Ipswich. ## Footnote Wolsey had personal ties in Oxford & Ipswich.

Question 38

Question 38 What were Henry VIII’s two main foreign policy goals?

Answer 38

* To be seen as a strong warrior king, like his ancestor Henry V. * To Reclaim former English lands in France.

Question 39

Question 39 Why did Wolsey seek better relations with France & the Habsburgs Empire?

Answer 39

To prevent English isolation from major European powers.

Question 40

Question 40 What did Wolsey want to do with the European powers?

Answer 40

He wanted to manipulate rivalries between France & the Habsburg Empire for English advantage.

Question 41

Question 41 What was Wolsey’s strategy for balancing Henry VIII’s ambitions?

Answer 41

* To provide opportunity for Henry VIII to gain glory, but a minimal financial cost. * To Position Henry to semm like a peacemaker in European diplomacy.

Question 42

Question 42 What was the Holy League?

Answer 42

An alliance between the Pope, Venetians, Swiss & Spanish.

Question 43

Question 43 When did England join the Holy League?

Answer 43

1511.

Question 44

Question 44 Why did England join the Holy League?

Answer 44

Joining gave England a greater role in European politics.

Question 45

Question 45 What was England’s military objective in 1512?

Answer 45

Capture Guienne in Southern France, a territory Henry VIII claimed for England.

Question 46

Question 46 Why did the 1512 campaign fail?

Answer 46

England invaded without the promised Spanish support. So, the attack failed. ## Footnote The troops left disease-ridden & underfed.

Question 47

Question 47 How did Spain take advantage of England’s campaign?

Answer 47

Spain used England's invasion as a smoke screen to attack Navarre. They then withdrew & made peace with France.

Question 48

Question 48 What did Wolsey Organise & England accomplish in France during 1513?

Answer 48

They won the 'Battle of Spurs', capturing the towns of Therouanne & Tournai—though it was only a minor skirmish. ## Footnote Though it was only a small skirmish in reality.

Question 49

Question 49 When was the 'Battle of Flodden'?

Answer 49

1513.

Question 50

Question 50 Why did the 'Battle of Flodden' happen?

Answer 50

King James IV launched an attack while England was engaged in France.

Question 51

Question 51 How did England respond to the Scottish invasion?

Answer 51

The Earl of Surrey hastily assembled an army & defeated James IV at Flodden.

Question 52

Question 52 What was the outcome of the Battle of Flodden?

Answer 52

* James IV was killed, along with much of the Scottish nobility. * His 1-year-old son, James V, inherited the throne.

Question 53

Question 53 How did Henry VIII finance his military campaigns?

Answer 53

* Higher taxes. * Spent the inheritance left by Henry VII. * Henry Lost his French pension, making warfare increasingly costly. ## Footnote This made warfare increasingly costly for England.

Question 54

Question 54 Why was Henry VIII’s position weakened in 1514?

Answer 54

Maximilian & Ferdinand made peace with France, isolating England. ## Footnote * Maximilian was Holy Roman Emperor. * Ferdinand was the King of Spain.

Question 55

Question 55 What did Wolsey negotiate in the Treaty of Saint Germaine-en-Laye?

Answer 55

* Ended the war with France. * England kept Therouanne & Tournai. * Henry VIII recovered his French pension by renouncing his claim to the French throne. * His sister Mary married the much older Louis XII, strengthening the ties with France.

Question 56

Question 56 What was the purpose of the Field of the Cloth of Gold?

Answer 56

A lavish meeting between Henry VIII & Francis I, it was meant to showcase England’s wealth and power.

Question 57

Question 57 Did the Field of the Cloth of Gold lead to agreements?

Answer 57

No—nothing was decided, but Henry appeared diplomatic.

Question 58

Question 58 When was the Field of the Cloth of Gold?

Answer 58

1520.

Question 59

Question 59 Why did Henry & Wolsey consult Charles V before & after the meeting?

Answer 59

* Charles V was Holy Roman Emperor & King of Spain. * He was Catherine of Aragon’s nephew, influencing English foreign policy.

Question 60

Quesion 60 What was happening in the background when Henry VIII was seeking a divorce from Catherine of Aragorn?

Answer 60

Charles V's army was taking land in Italy.

Question 61

Question 61 How did Wolsey attempt to handle Henry’s divorce?

Answer 61

He allied England with France in 1527, hoping military pressure on Charles V would help.

Question 62

Question 62 What was the outcome of the 1528 war against Charles V in 1529?

Answer 62

* Francis I signed the Treaty of Cambrai with Charles V without consulting England. * England accepted the terms later but was diplomatically sidelined. ## Footnote Two weeks after this Wolsey fell from power.

Question 63

Question 63 How did Wolsey contribute to England’s territorial gains?

Answer 63

He organized the campaign at Spurs, securing land in France.

Question 64

Question 64 What was Wolsey’s impact on Henry’s international image?

Answer 64

* Arranged the Field of the Cloth of Gold, projecting England’s wealth & prestige. * Ensured Henry was recognized as a European power player.

Question 65

Question 65 Why were Wolsey’s successes short-lived?

Answer 65

His diplomatic victories rarely lasted beyond two years & he fell from power in 1529.

Question 66

Question 66 Why did Wolsey’s power growth anger Henry VIII?

Answer 66

Wolsey increased his own influence while reducing noble authority, making enemies among the Nobles, who would by extent be angry with Henry.

Question 67

Question 67 How did noble resentment affect Henry?

Answer 67

Nobles became hostile, which likely frustrated Henry as he didn’t want widespread anger aimed at him.

Question 68

Question 68 How did Charles V & Francis I embarrass England diplomatically?

Answer 68

They agreed to peace & only informed England after signing, forcing Henry to accept without gaining anything.

Question 69

Question 69 Why was Henry particularly frustrated with Wolsey over the treaty?

Answer 69

England was sidelined in European politics, damaging Henry’s image & ambition.

Question 70

Question 70 What was the impact of the forced loan enacted by Cromwell on Wolsey’s orders?

Answer 70

England could no longer afford war, blocking Henry’s ambitions to invade France.

Question 71

Question 71 How did financial struggles lead to domestic instability?

Answer 71

The forced loan sparked rebellions, requiring Henry to personally intervene.