Thomas Wolsey Flashcards
(32 cards)
When was Wolsey appointed as Henry VII’s chaplain?
1507
What happened to Wolsey in 1509 when Henry VII died?
Wolsey hadn’t been around long enough to be associated with Henry VII’s old councillors who Henry VIII hated so Henry VIII appointed him as Almoner later that year.
What did Wolsey’s job as Almoner do for him?
It gave him a seat on the Royal Council and this gave him regular access to the King.
When did Pope Leo X appoint Wolsey as a Cardinal?
1515 and a Cardinal is one of the highest ranking positions in the church.
When was Wolsey made Papal Legate in England?
1518 and this is the highest position that a clergyman could be in the church. It also meant he got some of the Pope’s powers in England.
What did Wolsey do to Henry VIII’s ‘minions’?
He replaced them with people he could trust as the ‘minions’ limited his power.
Who controlled appointments within the Royal Council?
Wolsey, not Henry.
What were the Eltham Ordinances?
Happened in 1526 and it reduced the Gentlemen of the Bedchamber from 12 to 6, this allowed Wolsey to remain Henry’s most influential advisor.
In 1528 what happened when Wolsey refused to appoint a woman who Henry had chosen as the Abbess of Wilton?
Henry gave him a public dressing down and still made him appoint her.
What happened to the Duke of Buckingham?
In 1921 Buckingham was executed and Wolsey was accused of orchestrating this. Buckingham was a powerful noble who opposed Wolsey within court and since he was executed this shows how much power Wolsey had since Buckingham was executed.
What was Wolsey’s nickname?
‘Alter-Rex’ meaning ‘Mini-King’ and he was called this due to his grip on power.
Was Wolsey master or servant?
He was Henry’s bitch.
The church had a lot of problems before the Reformation but was Wolsey part of the problem?
He was part of the problem as he held numerous positions (pluralism), had illegitimate children and took numerous salaries and these were all against the church.
How much money did Wolsey raise through additional taxes because of his church position between the years of 1515 and 1529?
£240,000
Why did Wolsey leave lots of clerical positions vacant?
So he could take the wages for himself.
What did Wolsey do with the money he got from dissolving over 30 monasteries, which were not doing their duties?
He used the money to set up schools and a collage in Oxford University to teach theology.
Did Wolsey live like a clergyman?
No he built himself an elaborate palace and had more servants than Henry.
Did Wolsey clash with parliament because of his role in the church?
Yes and in 1515 Henry had to publically remind Wolsey that England comes before the church because Wolsey was attacking parliament for being anti-clerical.
What happened when Wolsey tried to argue that the church should have it’s own system of law?
Henry decided that he ruled and only God had more power than him and Wolsey was forced to grovel at the feet of the king for forgiveness.
Why was Henry VIII happy to leave Wolsey to deal with the daily business of running the country?
Because Henry was didn’t have the best work ethic.
Why was Wolsey able to pass policies without consulting Henry VIII?
Because he controlled the Great Seal and the Privy Seal.
What did Wolsey create to hear the cases of people too poor to use the existing courts?
The Court of Requests.
What was the problem with the Court of Requests?
It was too popular and couldn’t cope with demand.
Wolsey increased the use of the Star Chamber but by how much?
He saw 120 cases a year which is an increase from 12 a year.
