Preview

Thomas Wolsey Was Henry VIII Chief Mini

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
275 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Thomas Wolsey Was Henry VIII Chief Mini
Thomas Wolsey was Henry VIII chief minister from his rise to power in 1514 after working himself up until his eventual fall from the king’s favour in 1529. During the time period where Wolsey contained his power he made many changes to England’s domestic policies. For this reason I do not accept the view of source V that Wolsey’s domestic policies were completely disappointing.

Wolsey’s domestic policies were not all so disappointing especially when you associate them with the poor, this being because he created the Star Chamber. The Star Chamber emphasized his success of domestic policies due to the fact it gave him more popularity with the laity, the Star Chamber was a court that anyone could bring their case to, meaning the poor had the opportunity for justice, this is one reason why the policies were not disappointing. Another reason why this was a success was that Wolsey dealt with hundred and twenty cases each year which is ten times as much as Henry VII the year before. This is clearly a great success and definitely not a disappointment with the poor proportion of the county. Source U supports this point due to the fact it states ‘He favours the people exceedingly…. Hearing their cases and seeking to dispatch them instantly.’ This statement clearly shows the domestic policies were not a disappointment due to the consideration he took towards improving the poor’s’ justice.

Another way in which source U supports this point is that it states that ‘he has a reputation for being extremely just.’ This again shows the fair manor that Wolsey presented towards the poor in justice expect.
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    [Uk Model Essay from Exam Board- Level 4] Do You Agree with the View That in the Years 1515-25 Henry Viii Wholly Surrendered Power in Government to Cardinal Wolsey?
    • 707 Words
    • 3 Pages

    [Uk Model Essay from Exam Board- Level 4] Do You Agree with the View That in the Years 1515-25 Henry Viii Wholly Surrendered Power in Government to Cardinal Wolsey?

    Source 4, an extract from Scarisbrick ‘Henry VIII,’ gives the impression that Henry gave all power to Wolsey, whilst he “hunted and jousted.” Cavendish then states how the king had “surrendered the cares of the state into the Cardinal’s hands.” This gives the impression that Wolsey had the powers of the king and was in charge of running the country efficiently. This is supported by source 6, where Henry asks Wolsey to watch some of the key nobility as well as “any others of whom you are superior.” This is clearly Henry giving Wolsey freedom to act as he wishes, thus suggesting power being given to Wolsey. Additional evidence of Wolsey’s power, especially over the nobility, can be seen in his work in the Star Chamber where he often imprisoned nobles. In one instance, Wolsey ordered Sir Paulet Angus [named needs to be verified] to follow him for five years in return for the humiliation suffered by Wolsey earlier on in his career. This presents the Cardinal as a powerful figure i8n the government, who could act freely from the king.…

    • 707 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Do You Agree with the View That in the Years 1515-1525 Henry Viii Wholly Surrendered Power in Government to Cardinal Wolsey?
    • 902 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Do You Agree with the View That in the Years 1515-1525 Henry Viii Wholly Surrendered Power in Government to Cardinal Wolsey?

    To a certain extent within 
Source 4 (by J.J. Scarisbrick 1968) supports the idea that possibly Henry VIII actually did surrender power over to Wolsey. The evidence within the source that suggests this possibly for being the truth is ‘a self-indulgent King had wholly surrendered the cares of the state into the Cardinals hands’. To further support this case, it is clear that Wolsey was extremely powerful, he had vast amounts of bishoprics (Archbishop of Canterbury, Tournai, Durham just to name a few) and was the head of things such as the Star Chamber where Wolsey got himself heavily involved with. This is shown when you compared the number of cases Wolsey took on (120) compared to that of Henry VII who dealt with only 12. Also Wolsey had control of all of the state finances and could make large changes to things such as the taxation system he was able to introduce a new form of tax known as the ‘Subsidy’ which was more popular since it meant the poor payed far less tax than previously than with the old 15’s and 10’s taxation method. This new taxation method allowed Wolsey to pay for king’s foreign affairs. As well as this ‘subsidy’, since Wolsey had such significant power he was able to also raise considerable amounts of capital through other means, such as through ‘benevolences’ and enforced loans from the nobility, which raised £200,000 in 1522. This shows that Wolsey was especially powerful as ‘benevolences’ was money disguised as a gift and was only ever done by monarchs, possibly suggesting that Wolsey could be classed as an Alter Rex. Despite the positivity and great power J.J. Scarisbrick gives to Wolsey within the source we also learn that George Cavendish influences this source significantly even right from the beginning ‘Cavendish...tells us’. Cavendish was Wolsey’s friend and servant, meaning he would be more than likely…

    • 902 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    To what extent do you believe with the view that it was Charles himself who caused the failures of the Personal Rule?
    • 1052 Words
    • 5 Pages

    To what extent do you believe with the view that it was Charles himself who caused the failures of the Personal Rule?

    When King Charles I dismissed Parliament in 1629, he was set on the idea of a personal rule without any help from Parliament. This he could manage, as long as he avoided war. His aim was to sort out the country's finances, and with the help of Strafford and Laud, impose a 'Policy of Thorough'. This policy was the idea of a fair and paternalistic government with no corruption. However, within 11 years, Charles' personal rule had failed and England was drifting into war. There are mixed opinions on whether this failure was solely due to the actions of the King, or those of third parties, for example, Strafford or Laud.…

    • 1052 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Was Wolsey's fotiegn policy an expensive failure?
    • 673 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Was Wolsey's fotiegn policy an expensive failure?

    Source 3 supports the idea that Henry VIII’s foreign policy was actually quite successful; ‘Henry and Wolsey had good reason to think that they had been very successful’. Wolsey had gained immense status after the Treaty of London, when he became legatus a latere. Henry had successfully pulled off the field of cloth of gold (source 1), and was seen as peace keeper amongst the great powers since the 1518 Treaty of London. In conjunction with his successes in France in 1513, it was very easy for them to concentrate on how well they had done.…

    • 673 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Do You Accept The View In Source V That Wolsey S
    • 1208 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Do You Accept The View In Source V That Wolsey S

    Indeed, there were some aspects of Wolsey’s domestic policies which were particularly disappointing. This is established through the word in source V, “Wolsey sees to carry an air of disappointment”. For example there was clear resentment from the nobility from his policies of Enclosure and Engrossing in 1517 which subsequently left Wolsey having to abandon these domestic policies by 1523 because of the backlash he received. This “air of disappointment’ was also exemplified by Wolsey’s failed process to gain money for Henrys war effort: the Amicable Grant 1525 which failed as it was such a large tax which was bound to stir up considerable opposition, and so it proved. Violence flared in around England, causing Henry to halt the tax. As well as his arrogance and hatred to many nobility in the country which led to him being an unpopular character amongst them. Source T re-alliterates the unpopularity of Wolsey and his policies by stating he was “detested by everyone”, this was common between especially the nobles, however after executing Buckingham and Sheffield in 1521, nobles who threatened Wolsey it is clear that he would do anything to stride in Henry’s good favour. We can also in infer from this source that Wolsey’s steps were for his own benefit and wealth, the Eltham ordinances 1526 is a key example of how he…

    • 1208 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Was Cromwell A Hero Or A Villain
    • 254 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Was Cromwell A Hero Or A Villain

    From the devastating fall of Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, to the rise of his successor, the relentless Thomas Cromwell. Cromwell, throughout the course of English history has continually been portrayed as the main villain during Henry VIII’s reign, aside from Henry himself of course. A man, who thought nothing of betraying friends or allies in his conquest to secure the most notorious career in history. Since Henry VIII sent his chief minister and close advisor to the scaffold five centuries ago on 28 July 1540, historians have debated on the characterisation of Cromwell. Was he a manipulative death merchant who, throughout his political career killed and victimised thousands of innocent people for obeying their religious beliefs. Or was Cromwell simply a man of modest decent, risen from the ashes of his poor upbringing, due to his impeccable intelligence and determination?…

    • 254 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    How Far Was Wolsey's Foreign Policy Defensive? Essay Example
    • 1539 Words
    • 7 Pages

    How Far Was Wolsey's Foreign Policy Defensive? Essay Example

    Wolsey was Henry VIII’s chief adviser for fifteen years (1914-1929). He planned the French invasion in which Tournai and Therouanne were seized. He organized ‘the field of the cloth of gold’ and major peace treaties. Though to fully understand Wolsey’s foreign policies we need to know how the country was left by Henry VII to his son, Henry VIII. Henry VII was a cautious king, he spent more time writing his accounts of his expenses than he did ruling. This made him a wealthy king; he did receive help on this front though by his foreign diplomacy. In 1491 Henry launched a half hearted attack on France he wasn’t looking for glory though. It was a campaign designed to achieve three things; to save face over the loss of Breton independence, to obtain a sizeable pension from the French King and to receive a promise that France would not support Yorkist rebels. On these counts he was successful. The rest of his diplomacy rested on influential marriages the most notable being the marriage between his eldest son Prince Arthur and the daughter of the joint Spanish monarchs Catherine of Aragon. This tie between the Spanish Crown and the English Crown nearly fell apart after Arthur’s death in 1502 but after Pope Julius II granted it to be a twelve year old Henry was granted to hand of Catherine, once again the link with Spain was restored. So when his father died in 1509 the to be crowned Henry VIII had cause to be grateful to his father on four counts; the Crown’s finances were in good health, the localities were by and large under control, the authority of the Crown had been restored after the War of the Roses and the Yorkist uprisings and finally a ready-made marriage and alliance awaited.…

    • 1539 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Wolsey rise to power, luck or skill?
    • 1050 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Wolsey rise to power, luck or skill?

    All three sources only partly agree that Woley’s rise to power was a result of luck. Source C seems to suggest that the rise of power was due to luck, within the source it tells us that one of Wolsey’s main critics, Surrey, was too old to argue against him and his son too young to do so also. Warham has retired and therefore a position of power has opened up because of this Wolsey can now manoeuver his friends into other positions of power to help him, therefore this would suggest that Wolsey at this time had a lot of fortune on his side. Although within all these sources, luck may not remain the main theme it reoccurs throughout each, whether small or large. Source D reflects that’s Wolsey had a fortunate place with the King as Henry was easily bribed with gifts ‘beautifully fashioned dish, a jewel, or gifts of that sort’. Wolsey’s had his very own biographer which was his first servant and hence this creates a bias account as the information Cavendish will be collecting will be from Wolsey and this could be twisted into unreliable information, although most points also have element of Wolsey’s skilfulness it could be argued that King Henry simply favoured Wolsey, or that it was Wolsey’s personality rather than his skill that made the king acceptant of him.…

    • 1050 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Essay On What Was Wolsey's Downfall
    • 992 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Essay On What Was Wolsey's Downfall

    Henry the VIII wanted to end his marriage to Catherine of Aragon in 1527 with using an annulment, this was then Wolsey’s job to provide what the king wanted. Due to Wolsey’s constant victories, he was able to sustain power for 15 years, outlasting the King‘s other advisers. Yet his fall was swift and dramatic, which came after his failure of obtaining Henry’s divorce from Catherine of Aragon. In regards to this, it seems clear that this is the reason why Wolsey fell from power, yet there are possible contributing factors that must take into consideration. For instance Wolsey’s failure sometimes was out of his control as Queen Catherine was Charles V’s aunt so he would never accept the annulment in fear of hear being humiliated. Charles also had captured Pope Clement this meant that all decisions would have been controlled and manipulated to Charles’ will, delaying the annulment even more. Another failure that was out of Wolsey’s control was the role of factions within the court, Anne Boleyn and her family…

    • 992 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Do you agree with the view that Wolsey was the main source of all authority over English government in the period 1515 - 1529?
    • 1083 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Do you agree with the view that Wolsey was the main source of all authority over English government in the period 1515 - 1529?

    Thomas Wolsey was unquestionably the main source of all authority over English government between 1515 and 1529 because of how it was he who actually put forward many different policies and reforms. Wolsey had at this point already impressed Henry VIII with the way he organised the successful expeditions and invasions of France and Scotland in 1513. He had also been promoted to the Archbishop of York and Tournai, and arranged the marriage of King Louis XII Mary Tudor in Étaples. This gave Wolsey a lot of grounding and credentials pre-1515, already making him a fairly influential figure. However, between 1515 and 1529, he definitely was the main source of all authority; whist acknowledging the fact that he was a minister, and not a monarch (i.e. he stuck to the legal mechanisms that confined him, and instead manipulated them), he was able to centralise power at Westminster towards himself. He established the Tudor subsidy. Wolsey was able to act as a bridge between Henry and the papacy, through him being a legate a latere, as well as through how he defended the Church’s rights. In the later years, he actually asked Henry to consult the pope about sanctuary. Despite the fact that he refused, him being able to ‘challenge’ the King in such a manner…

    • 1083 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    How Did Wolsey Fall From Power
    • 718 Words
    • 3 Pages

    How Did Wolsey Fall From Power

    Wolsey had always caused resentment from the nobility, and this only grew as he became more dominant in Henry VIII’s government. Not only did nobles dislike him due to his low birth contrasted with his high positions, such as becoming Lord Chancellor in 1515, but resentment was also caused by his lavish lifestyle. Although opposition against him had got stronger throughout his career, this in itself was not significant enough to cause his fall. It was a factor that undoubtedly would’ve swayed Henry, however the ultimate reason for Wolsey’s fall was the failure to annul Henry’s marriage to Catherine of Aragon.…

    • 718 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Wormald's Argument Analysis
    • 532 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Wormald's Argument Analysis

    Wormald consistently and effectively uses evidence from both contemporary and modern sources to support her arguments throughout the article. Her evidence is largely used critically, with evaluation of source material appearing in either the main body of the text or in the footnotes. Consequently, this evaluation of evidence provides for a stronger and more convincing argument by demonstrating the reliability of her sources. Wormald is also able to acknowledge flaws in her evidence, but successfully justifies the use of flawed evidence by arguing for its importance, and demonstrating how it can still support her arguments, such as the vengeful writings of Anthony Welton. It is unclear, however, exactly how far the evidence may be extrapolated to the wider British population, as much of the evidence is taken from upper class and educated individuals in personal contact with the king.…

    • 532 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Wolsey's Use Of Figurative Language In Henry Viii
    • 590 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Wolsey's Use Of Figurative Language In Henry Viii

    Wolsey states that he is “weary and old with service”, which can be seen as an admission to the extensive amount of personal resources he has poured into his work for the King. Wolsey also characterizes those who “hang on princes’ favours” as “wretched”, bemoaning his fate after a long allegiance with the King. As if these words, with their negative connotations, were not enough to display Wolsey’s despair, his last utterance in his speech does. After his contrast with Lucifer, Wolsey expressed one last vow that he is “never to hope again”. This powerful and negative diction strongly suggests that Wolsey has abandoned all hope: the best possible illumination of Wolsey’s emotional…

    • 590 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Allusion, figurative language, and tone to convey Wolsey’s complex response to his dismissal from court (Shakespeare’s play Henry VIII)
    • 1990 Words
    • 8 Pages

    Allusion, figurative language, and tone to convey Wolsey’s complex response to his dismissal from court (Shakespeare’s play Henry VIII)

    In the following speech from Shakespeare’s play Henry VIII, Cardinal Wolsey considers his sudden downfall from his position as advisor to the king. Spokesmen for the king have just left Wolsey alone on stage. Read the speech carefully. Then write a well-organized essay in which you analyze how Shakespeare uses elements such as allusion, figurative language, and tone to convey Wolsey’s complex response to his dismissal from court.…

    • 1990 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Sir Thomas More Research Paper
    • 1056 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Sir Thomas More Research Paper

    Instability remained a common theme throughout English history, especially in the years of 1400-1600. The King's reign of England would usually determine the stability of the realm. When wars broke out, taxes were increased and society became unstable. Those who appeased the King were placed above others, while those who dissatisfied him would meet the blade. That was well understood by the people in the realm of England. Sir Thomas More was an Englishman whom personified the instability of the time. Sir Thomas More was a popular scholar and statesman who towards the latter part of his life became a martyr for his beliefs. The following paper will explore the life and ideas of Sir Thomas…

    • 1056 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More

Related Topics