Wolsey was the son of a butcher.
Wolsey took the boring jobs of government from Henry.
Wolsey desired peace in foreign affairs.
He wanted to continue Henry VII's policies.
He was Lord Chancellor and a cardinal by 1515
Wolsey had to respect Henry's military ambitions.
1518 Wolsey organised the Treaty of London
He organised the Field of Cloth of Gold in 1520
The costly 1523 war with France was abandoned.
1525 Francis I captured by Charles V at Pavia.
1528 England allied with France at Treaty of the More.
1529 England still seen as a minor power.
Wolsey seemed to support poor against nobility (enclosures.)
1523 Amicable Grant led to massive unrest in East Anglia.
Wolsey introduced a new parliamentary tax. Fairer & raised more.
Court changes occupied Wolsey, e.g. Star Chamber
Court of Chancery set up to help the poor.
Parliament was hardly summoned (1515 & 1523).
1526 Eltham Ordinances introduced. Controlled access to king.
Wolsey wasn't Archbishop of Canterbury but still key.
He was a pluralist, representing many sees.
Not a monk but abbot of the richest abbey in England.
Church not reformed much under Wolsey.
Some claimed he wanted to be Pope.
Henry listened to Protestant Anne Boleyn increasingly.
Protestant, Boleyn, faction gained influence
Wolsey worked hard all his life.
Wolsey's fall was not quick or immediate.
Wolsey underestimated Anne's influence over Henry.
Wolsey had promised a quick solution to the divorce issue.
1527 Wolsey was unlucky. Rome was captured by the HRE Charles.
He was charged with praemunire.
Once Campeggio arrived, it was clear that nothing would change.
Wolsey built Hampton Court and Christ's College Ipswich.
