OCR Specification focus:
‘Wolsey’s administration of government, finances, law and social reforms; the Church and its condition under Wolsey; the divorce and Wolsey’s fall.’
Henry VIII’s chief minister, Cardinal Wolsey, played a dominant role in shaping early Tudor government through reforms, yet his authority collapsed dramatically with the King’s marital crisis.
Wolsey’s Administration of Government
Centralisation of Authority
Wolsey sought to reinforce royal authority by expanding the efficiency of government institutions. He established greater oversight of the Privy Chamber, attempting to curb the political influence of the King’s favourites.
The Eltham Ordinances (1526) were introduced to regulate the size and spending of the royal household.
Interior of the medieval Great Hall, Eltham Palace: the dais, high windows and hammer-beam roof evoke the ceremonial household Wolsey sought to streamline via the Eltham Ordinances. The architecture situates the regulations in a real courtly space rather than in the abstract. Architectural details exceed syllabus requirements but aid contextual understanding. Source
They aimed to cut unnecessary expenditure and reduce factional influence at court.
Although framed as financial reform, these ordinances were also a political tool to strengthen Wolsey’s control by removing rivals.
Councils and Parliament
Wolsey relied heavily on his personal authority and often bypassed Parliament, calling it rarely. He preferred to govern directly through royal proclamations, expanding their legal standing.
Parliament (1515) was summoned reluctantly after disputes over clerical privileges.
Parliament (1523) was called for extraordinary taxation to fund war against France, but Wolsey faced strong opposition from MPs over the burden placed on taxpayers.
This demonstrated his uneasy relationship with Parliament, reflecting his preference for autocratic administration.
Wolsey and Financial Reform
Raising Royal Revenue
Henry VIII’s ambitions, especially foreign wars, required significant funding. Wolsey attempted to modernise revenue collection while introducing new methods.
The Subsidy (1513 onwards) replaced traditional fifteenths and tenths with a tax based on individual wealth, assessed more accurately by local commissioners.
This increased revenue collection efficiency but provoked resentment among taxpayers.
The Amicable Grant (1525)
Wolsey’s attempt to raise additional taxation without parliamentary approval through the Amicable Grant proved disastrous.
It was intended to fund Henry’s campaign in France.
Resistance was widespread, particularly in East Anglia, where open rebellion forced Wolsey to abandon the policy.
The episode severely damaged his reputation and illustrated the limits of financial reform when it overburdened subjects.
Wolsey and the Law
Judicial Reforms
Wolsey sought to improve access to justice and extend royal authority through legal reforms.
Court of Chancery: A court dealing with cases of equity, where decisions were made based on fairness rather than strict common law.
Wolsey expanded the use of the Court of Chancery, dealing with property, wills, and contracts.
He also promoted the Court of Star Chamber, making it more accessible for ordinary citizens seeking justice against the nobility.
Engraving of the Star Chamber at Westminster, showing councillors seated in a panelled chamber beneath a decorated ceiling. The image conveys the chamber’s formal setting used for equity cases that Wolsey encouraged. As a nineteenth-century rendition, it is interpretive but accurately reflects the room’s layout and purpose. Source
Social Justice and Enclosure
Wolsey launched inquiries into enclosure (the fencing off of land for sheep farming), which was seen as causing rural unemployment and poverty.
In 1517, he ordered investigations into illegal enclosures.
Some prosecutions followed, but pressure from powerful landowners forced him to scale back enforcement.
His attempts highlighted the tension between reformist ideals and political realities.
Wolsey and the Church
Role as Papal Legate
Wolsey’s authority extended beyond politics as he was appointed Papal Legate (1518), granting him control over the English Church.
He conducted visitations of monasteries to ensure clerical standards were upheld.
Some smaller monasteries were closed, with revenues redirected to fund educational institutions such as Cardinal College, Oxford.
Despite these reforms, Wolsey faced criticism for his own pluralism and ostentation. He accumulated wealth and held multiple bishoprics simultaneously, undermining the moral example he was meant to embody.
Pluralism: The practice of holding more than one ecclesiastical office at the same time, often leading to absenteeism and neglect of duties.
Religious Condition under Wolsey
Although some reform was attempted, the Church under Wolsey was still marked by corruption, absenteeism, and clerical privilege. His actions did little to quell growing discontent that would later fuel the Reformation.
The King’s Divorce and Wolsey’s Fall
Henry’s Great Matter
By the 1520s, Henry VIII sought an annulment of his marriage to Catherine of Aragon, driven by his desire for a male heir and his infatuation with Anne Boleyn.
Catherine of Aragon in the familiar Tudor pattern used for many later versions, representing the queen around 1530. Her presence anchors the “Great Matter” that exposed the limits of Wolsey’s power and papal diplomacy. Note: the National Portrait Gallery dates this specific version to the eighteenth century after a Tudor prototype; this attribution detail is not required by the syllabus but clarifies provenance. Source
As chief minister and Papal Legate, Wolsey was tasked with securing papal approval.
He pursued diplomatic negotiations with Pope Clement VII but faced obstacles due to the Pope’s dependence on Charles V, Catherine’s nephew.
Failure and Downfall
Wolsey’s failure to obtain the annulment marked the collapse of his political authority.
In 1529, Henry lost patience and Wolsey was charged with praemunire (the offence of appealing to a foreign authority over the King).
Stripped of office, he retreated to York but was later summoned to London on charges of treason.
He died in 1530 on the journey south, escaping execution but remembered as a fallen minister.
Reasons for Wolsey’s Fall
Failure to deliver Henry’s divorce.
Accumulation of enemies at court, including Anne Boleyn’s faction.
Resentment at his overbearing influence and ambition.
Financial and foreign policy failures that weakened his standing.
Legacy of Wolsey’s Domestic Reforms
Wolsey left a mixed legacy. His reforms in finance and law improved efficiency and broadened access to justice, but they often provoked resistance. His control over the Church highlighted both the potential for reform and the limits of clerical authority. Ultimately, his failure to resolve the King’s marital crisis defined his downfall and overshadowed earlier achievements.
FAQ
Ordinary people welcomed Wolsey’s attempts to address enclosure, as many villagers suffered from land loss and rising poverty. His use of the Star Chamber to challenge noble abuses also gained him popular appeal.
However, these policies angered the nobility, who resented being targeted by legal cases and restrictions on land practices. This deepened Wolsey’s image as hostile to traditional elites, creating enemies that later contributed to his downfall.
Henry VII focused on cautious accumulation through traditional revenues like bonds and recognisances. His approach was conservative and long-term.
Wolsey, in contrast, had to fund Henry VIII’s expensive foreign wars. He innovated with the Subsidy, basing taxation on actual wealth, and introduced extraordinary levies like the Amicable Grant.
This shift represented a move from cautious financial management to aggressive revenue extraction, leading to more unrest.
As Papal Legate from 1518, Wolsey held unrivalled power over the English Church. He used this role to consolidate influence, dissolving smaller monasteries and redirecting funds to his educational projects.
Yet his accumulation of multiple bishoprics, alongside his grand lifestyle, fuelled accusations of hypocrisy. His dual role as reformer and self-interested cleric exposed him to criticism from both reform-minded and conservative voices.
The Eltham Ordinances (1526) aimed to reduce waste, streamline court operations, and restrict access to Henry VIII.
Key measures included:
Dismissing superfluous servants.
Regulating expenditure on food, clothing, and supplies.
Controlling who could approach the King directly.
Although framed as financial reform, the ordinances were also a political device to weaken Wolsey’s rivals and increase his own influence at court.
Henry VIII defined Wolsey’s role by expecting results. Securing an annulment from Catherine of Aragon was the King’s most urgent demand.
Wolsey’s inability to deliver, due to papal dependence on Charles V, erased his earlier successes in finance, law, and administration.
His opponents at court seized the opportunity to discredit him, portraying his reforms as self-serving. In the Tudor political climate, failure to serve the King’s will was fatal, no matter past accomplishments.
Practice Questions
Question 1 (2 marks)
Identify two methods Wolsey used to raise revenue for Henry VIII’s wars.
Mark Scheme:
1 mark for each valid method identified, up to 2 marks.
Acceptable answers include:
• The Subsidy (new tax based on individual wealth) (1 mark)
• The Amicable Grant (attempted forced loan without parliamentary approval) (1 mark)
• Parliamentary taxation (when called upon) (1 mark)
Question 2 (6 marks)
Explain why Wolsey’s attempts to reform the law had limited success.
Mark Scheme:
Level 1 (1–2 marks):
General statements with little specific detail.
Example: “Wolsey reformed the law but it did not work well.”
Level 2 (3–4 marks):
Some knowledge shown with limited explanation.
Example: “Wolsey expanded the Court of Star Chamber to make justice available to more people. However, he angered the nobility who resisted his actions.”
Level 3 (5–6 marks):
Developed explanation using specific evidence to show reasons for limited success.
Example: “Wolsey promoted the use of the Court of Star Chamber to increase fairness, but its popularity created a backlog of cases which slowed justice. He investigated enclosure in 1517 to address social problems, but pressure from powerful landowners forced him to scale back prosecutions. These factors limited the effectiveness of his reforms.”
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