Wolsey
- Enigmatic figure
- Very important to Henry VIII
- While at Oxford he became the bursar (treasurer) of his college – developed his
talent for organisation
Rise of Wolsey
- New atmosphere of Henry VIII’s court = encouraged ambitious men like Wolsey to
get themselves noticed
- Wolsey used support of Richard Fox to get promotion to office of Royal Almoner
- Progress mainly relied on his organisational skills and his ability to guess what the
king wanted to hear
- Since becoming King, Henry frustrated by his father’s minister’s advice on foreign
policy
- Henry put Wolsey in charge for organising expedition to France 1512
- Was a big task but Wolsey showed tireless energy and commitment in achieving it
- Henry deeply impressed with Wolsey’s efficiency
- By 1514 Henry referring all major business to Wolsey confident that it would be dealt
with efficiently
Rise to high office in church and state
- 1513 = Dean of York and Bishop of Tournai
- 1514 = Bishop of Lincoln and then Archbishop of York
- 1515 = made Cardinal by Pope Leo X and became Lord Chancellor in Henry’s
government
- 1518 = Papal Legate by Leo X
Personality
- Came across as unusually proud and ostentatious
- Wolsey’s enemies saw him as arrogant and vindictive
- On the one he flattered and manipulated Henry by buying him lavish gifts and tokens
- On the other hand, he used his legal powers to intimidate anyone he saw as a rival
- Shrewd judge of Henry’s character – maybe why he succeeded do well
- Could be relied upon to carry out whatever task was entrusted to him with skill and
application
- Could flatter outrageously well
Wolsey and the Church
- Traditional historians see Wolsey as example of everything wrong with the Catholic
Church
- He broke the rules, lowed money and luxury and broke church rules on pluralism
(more than one post in the church at one time)
- Another view = simply a chief minister in cardinal’s robes – was the best way for an
intelligent, young man to gain power and influence – misunderstands Wolsey though
- He heard 2 masses a day and on his deathbed reputed to say, ‘Had I but served God
as diligently as I have served the King, He would not have given me over in my grey
hair.’
- Most important churchmen in England
- Guy argues that he genuinely wanted to see reform in the church
- Enigmatic figure
- Very important to Henry VIII
- While at Oxford he became the bursar (treasurer) of his college – developed his
talent for organisation
Rise of Wolsey
- New atmosphere of Henry VIII’s court = encouraged ambitious men like Wolsey to
get themselves noticed
- Wolsey used support of Richard Fox to get promotion to office of Royal Almoner
- Progress mainly relied on his organisational skills and his ability to guess what the
king wanted to hear
- Since becoming King, Henry frustrated by his father’s minister’s advice on foreign
policy
- Henry put Wolsey in charge for organising expedition to France 1512
- Was a big task but Wolsey showed tireless energy and commitment in achieving it
- Henry deeply impressed with Wolsey’s efficiency
- By 1514 Henry referring all major business to Wolsey confident that it would be dealt
with efficiently
Rise to high office in church and state
- 1513 = Dean of York and Bishop of Tournai
- 1514 = Bishop of Lincoln and then Archbishop of York
- 1515 = made Cardinal by Pope Leo X and became Lord Chancellor in Henry’s
government
- 1518 = Papal Legate by Leo X
Personality
- Came across as unusually proud and ostentatious
- Wolsey’s enemies saw him as arrogant and vindictive
- On the one he flattered and manipulated Henry by buying him lavish gifts and tokens
- On the other hand, he used his legal powers to intimidate anyone he saw as a rival
- Shrewd judge of Henry’s character – maybe why he succeeded do well
- Could be relied upon to carry out whatever task was entrusted to him with skill and
application
- Could flatter outrageously well
Wolsey and the Church
- Traditional historians see Wolsey as example of everything wrong with the Catholic
Church
- He broke the rules, lowed money and luxury and broke church rules on pluralism
(more than one post in the church at one time)
- Another view = simply a chief minister in cardinal’s robes – was the best way for an
intelligent, young man to gain power and influence – misunderstands Wolsey though
- He heard 2 masses a day and on his deathbed reputed to say, ‘Had I but served God
as diligently as I have served the King, He would not have given me over in my grey
hair.’
- Most important churchmen in England
- Guy argues that he genuinely wanted to see reform in the church
