1

Key Questions
How did Wolsey rise to power under Henry VIII?
How did Wolsey maintain his position?
Why did Wolsey fall from power in 1529?
Introduction (30 and use source A)
1) Why was Thomas Wolsey important? Be precise and specific
2) !plain the traditional reasons used to e!plain Wolsey"s fall#
How did Wolsey rise to power under Henry VIII? (30-31)
$) %rmstron& su&&ests that Wolsey rose 'ecause of a com'ination of
(luc) and s)ill"# *oo) at pa&e 2 of these notes and show how Wolsey
'ecame more powerful due to +a) luc) +the situation, conte!t?) and +')
his personal a'ilities# -ar) with different colours#
Was Wolseys rise down to luc or sill? (31-!)
.) %nalyse the te!t on p# $1 and /ource 0 +p# $2) to comment further on
Wolsey"s luc)# 1oes /ource 0 su&&est anythin& more than luc)?
5) %nalyse sources 1 2 'y answerin& 3uestion 2 in the /)ills Builder#
4se the biographical information 'elow to e5aluate the pro5enance#
This pro5ides you with a context so that you can e5aluate the source#
How did Wolsey "aintain power in t#e period 1$1$-1$!%? (33)
His maintenance of power was based on $ )ey principles:
1# 6olitical relationship
with Henry VIII
2# Wealth
$# 7uthlessness
Cavendish was Wolseys loyal household servant from 1522 and first biographer. He wrote the Life and
Death of Cardinal Wolsey !" years after Wolseys death in 155#. He was with Wolsey during his final
year.
Vergil $ a sholar% who Henry &'' ommissioned to write a History of (ngland. )he later edition was
published in 1555 and provided an unfavourable view of Wolseys rule. *ut then he had an on+going feud
with Wolsey. He had been a favourite under Henry &''% but Henry &''' favoured another% ,ndrea ,mmonio.
Wolsey appeared to ba- the new man. &ergil wrote to .ome% ritiising Wolsey% undermining his hope of
gaining a ardinals hat. Wolsey imprisoned him in the )ower briefly as a result.

2
How did Wolsey rise to power under Henry VIII? (30-31)
[Question 3] A range of factors is always needed to explain an historical development. Below
are factors showin why !olsey rose to power. "dentify #s$ill% and #luc$% in the material below:
Wolsey"s character 2 a'ilities
Able and ambitious
&
st
at 'xford aed &( ) clever
An efficient administrator
*ery industrious
An excellent spea$er
+lever political operator
He could #read% other people ,
includin Henry *"""
8ew 0onte!t
&(-.: a new $in/ Henry *""":
ambitious and eneretic who
wished to follow new policies
He was unhappy with the
aein/ cautious ministers too
attached to Henry *""%s ways
!olsey could sei0e
opportunities for promotion1
0ircumstance and positions
1.99: too$ holy orders
+haplain to Archbishop of +anterbury/ &(-2
3ir 4ichard 5anfan/ deputy lieutenant of +alais/
brouht him to Henry *""%s attention
15;<: Henry *"" made him a chaplain
6sed on small diplomatic missions to 3cotland and
the 5etherlands
0hance: death of Henry VII
15;9: Henry *"""%s accession saw !olsey become
7oyal %lmoner 7dealin with food8/ so securin
him a place on the 4oyal +ouncil.
=pportunity: Henry wanted to spend his time
huntin and in music , !olsey ensured that it was
he who filled the space1 "ndustrious1
1512>151$: !olsey wor$ed very hard to oranise
the expeditionary force of &2/--- to invade 9rance.
He ensured that the loistics of the complex
campain wor$ed/ that the force was well)fed and
supplied. He sidelined political opponents. !olsey
did all this despite havin advised against the war1
Whereas Wolsey wanted to do the dirty wor) ?
Henry%s noblemen did not: they also wanted a ood
time. ;ositions li$e <ord =reasurer , held by the
>u$e of 5orfol$ ) were larely honorary.
0ritically@ Henry wanted him in power ? despite
noble contempt at this low born servant.
151.: Bishop of =ournai and of <incoln/ and later
Archbishop of ?or$
1515: became a +ardinal/ an honour from the ;ope
1515: the )ey turnin& point: Henry *""" made him
<ord +hancellor , the top political position in royal
overnment. 5oblemen could no loner challene
his decisions.
1519: he was appointed Legate a Latere by the
;ope ivin him the authority to the reform the
+hurch. "t also made him superior to the
Archbishop of +anterbury. 5ow !olsey was
supreme in both +hurch and 3tate. =houh he was
Immediate 0onte!t
4ein of Henry *"" , he had
established ministers whom
he trusted
His policies were cautious and
limited with little opportunities
emerin
[He li$ed the detail of
overnment]
?et ministers were aein@
Before anythin&
3on of an "pswich butcher ,
so lowly born
Became bursar of an 'xford
collee 7i.e. dealt with money8
but left after over)spendin
the collee%s money1
1iscuss in pairs# What do you thin) are the )ey dates in Wolsey"s career?
6endrill@ 19>25
7andell@ 5;>55
3
How Wolsey "aintained power& 1$1$-1$!%
1' Wolseys (olitical )elations#ip wit# Henry VIII (33-3*)
7a8 Aey to !olsey%s proress was ainin the trust of the Ain. After the &(&3
9rench invasion/ Henry trusted !olsey completely.
7b8 !olsey would have to serve the Ain loyally and efficiently#
=raditionally/ historians view !olsey as the Alter Rex@ the second $in/ a man with power at
court/ Henry havin a limited role in overnment. Here !olsey is master/ Henry the puppet#
4sin& the te!t on pa&e $. 2 /ource A@ e!plain how modern
assessments of the relationship 'etween Henry and Wolsey
differ from the traditional 5iew#
6ro5ide e!amples of the disa&reements that undermined the relationship 'etween
Wolsey and Henry VIII 'ut e!plain why that relationship was so lon&>lastin&#
%nswer 3uestions 1 and 2 in the /)ills Builder on p# $$
http://history.wisc.edu/sommerville/123/123%20212%20Wolsey.htm
7andell@ B5>B9
6endrill@ 22>25
4
!' Wealt# (3$-3+)
!plain the si&nificance of Wolsey"s low 'irth +use Definitions 'o!)#
What was the impact of Wolsey"s hu&e personal wealth? How did he use that
wealth?
Where did he &et his wealth from?
3' Wolseys rut#lessness (3,)
Why is Wolsey seen as ruthless@ when such a 5iew is clearly e!a&&erated?
Why do you thin) that Wolsey was percei5ed as ruthless?
0ut the -ini case study a'out the !ecution of Buc)in&ham@ 1521@ into +a)
Buc)in&ham"s responsi'ility +') the Cin&"s responsi'ility and +c) Wolsey"s role
1' Assess t#e -iews .i-en /elow' W#ic# -iews do you a.ree
wit#0not a.ree wit#? (31)
23plain your answer' Dor Ver&il@ Hall@ /)elton and Aiustinian@
Wolsey was the other king. He made
decisions without consulting the king. Thus
Wolsey was a strong minister imposing his
policy on a weak king.
6eter Awyn: sees Wolsey as a talented
man who had been entrusted by the king to
deal with some very complex problems. Yet
he was not in total control; he relied upon
the trust and goodwill of the King who
always retained ultimate control of affairs.
Eohn Auy also sees the HenryWolsey
relationship as a political partnership. The
King trusted his chief minister to carry out
the royal will. Henry may not have known
about everything Wolsey did! but then he
was not interested. He was happy to revel
in Wolsey"s achievement # but e$ually $uick
to condemn his failures.
ric I5es oes further/ aruin for Henry%s
centrality in the decision)ma$in process:
but Henry was vulnerable to faction at
certain times. +ourtiers put pressure on
Henry. 9or much of &(&()&(2./ !olsey had
Henry%s ear: he was able to put ideas in his
head and then ma$e the $in believe that
he had formulated the idea1 6nli$e Bwyn/
"ves believes that an aristocratic faction
helped brin !olsey down in &(2.
7andell@
59>B;
7andell@
55>5<
http://www.tudors.org/as-a2-level/
(nter your e+mail address as instruted
to reeive a free opy of an introdution
to Wolsey by /ohn 0uy.
5
His reat wor$ of &..-/ =he Ain%s +ardinal/
arued that !olsey had not set out to irritate
the nobility or harm its interests: he would only
limit the nobility when it adversely affected the
+rown or the #common weal%.
1ic)ens" noted that !olsey%s
#personal arrogance! his enormous
wealth and splendid ostentation
were resented" 7&.CD8. 3carisbric$
arues that !olsey has had
#terrible %udgement passed against
him" #for having mishandled!
violated! corrupted or neglected
most of what was in his charge.%
Elton Fuoted this about !olsey in the &.(-s: it
stuc$ to the &.G-s. He arued that all !olsey%s
actions #were attended by folly! arrogance! false
aims and failure".
0omment
0omment
0omment
4or "ore on Wolsey and Henry& see pp' *$-*,
Awyn@ The Cin&"s 0ardinal# =his boo$/ held by the History >epartment
could be used as an effective doorstop1 ?ou cannot read it all , nor would
you want to. ?ou should pic$ a feature of !olsey%s character or a particular
area of policy related to your existin studies and ma$e brief notes "9 Bwyn
is sayin somethin new.
!' Assess Wolseys c#aracter as analysed on pp' 31-3% (a//re-iated
/elow)' Was Wolsey 5t#e "ost disappointin. "an w#o
e-er #eld power in 2n.land?
3' 23plainin. Wolsey6 sources and issues
Assessin !olsey is difficult due to a lac$ of sources. He did not leave a private archive ,
few letters and no diaries. &elying on contemporary comments means that we have to
reconcile highly negative comments from enemies with excessive praise from his friends.
Armstron said that these commentators naturally had reasons #to offer an interpretation of
the facts rather than the facts themselves.% [Armstron]
';="'5A<: the appended sheet #!olsey and the Historians% has four maHor contemporary
sources 7from 3.)D&8. As Armstron notes/ historians have to write histories based on them.
6
C
Introduction (*1-!)6 re7or" or "aintain t#e status 8uo?
3ome historians 'lame Wolsey for failin to reform at home. =his is not Hustified because:
+&Cth people did not want or expect reform: they did not want !olsey to reform systems
of overnment: they believed that the status $uo was best. !olsey did $eep law and
order and this was the $ey purpose of overnment. 9or most/ that was enouh.
Henry *""" craved forei&n lory , domestic achievements would not raise the status and
prestie of the +rown. !olsey needed to focus more on forein policy to please Henry.
Aspects of domestic policy were important to forein policy. Efficient tax collection was
vital for adventurous forein policies and a stable domestic overnment.
=ne criticism of Wolsey is that he was too enereticF he was involved in everything/ in all
matters of state. =he Ain%s +ardinal too$ on too much domestic administration leadin to:
A 'ac)lo& of cases in the +ourt of 3tar +hamber by &(2.
4nfinished plans for reform
=he failure to achieve any lastin institutional reform since he merely used the existin
machinery of the law to complete his wor$.
His passion for hard work actually made him inefficient.
9ustice (*!-*3)
1# What office was Wolsey appointed to in
1515 and what was the si&nificance of this?
2# Howwhy did Wolsey 'rin& &reater Gustice to the
system? !plain and illustrate your answer#
$# In what ways were Wolsey"s dealin&s with the system:
+a) 8ot necessarily Gust
+') Tar&eted at the no'ility
+c) %nd ultimately not a'out reform?
.# 0omment on Wolsey"s fa5ourin& of the poor while
tar&etin& the abuse of aristocratic pri5ile&e
2nclosure (*3)
6ro'lem: nclosure: this is when land was fenced off for profitable sheep)rearin.
"t was said to cause poverty and depopulation , floc$s of sheep replaced villaes.
6ro'lem: failure of state action: 3 statutes had been passed before !olsey had
become <ord +hancellor and all had failed.
/olution: !olsey launched a national en3uiry into enclosure in &(&G. Iany brouht to court
had to rebuild houses that had been destroyed and return land to arable farming. Aain
!olsey is determined to brin the nobility to Hustice/ to challene the power of the aristocracy.
2C- were brouht before the court: this was remar$able as usually few people appeared.
/uccess?
&8 Dailure in the lon&>term: enclosure continued and rural poverty continued to increase.
28 Wolsey was e5en more unpopular with the rulin classes.
38 152$: 6arliamentary session: !olsey had to accept all existing enclosures. This
pro5ed that Wolsey was not always to impose his authority on the no'ility#
:ourt o7 ;tar
:#a"/er
6endrill@ 2<>29
7andell@ B2>B.
7
4inances6 4i7teent#s and tent#s and re7or" < t#e su/sidy
0ompare sources = and 6# In what ways do they differ o5er
Wolsey"s character?
How does the su'sidy represent an impro5ement o5er the fifteenths and tenths?
Both the fifteenths and tenths and subsidy existed side by side/ but the su'sidy was !olsey%s
reatest financial achievement. !olsey favoured the subsidy because:
!olsey reHected the fixed rates of the fifteenths and tenths and replaced them with a
more flexible subsidy which was based on the ability to pay.
3o the new system accurately reflected the true wealth of Enlish taxpayers: graduated
rates of tax were established placin a &reater financial 'urden on the rich#
Efficiently administered: commissioners were sent to the localities to supervise
assessments of wealth
"t raised more money: it was more efficient in raisin more money and it was more
proressive.
%ssess the success of Wolsey"s fiscal policies 'etween 151$ and 1529
Dinance caused pro'lems 'etween Henry VIII and 6arliament
&(23: !olsey demanded JK--/--- in taxation from ;arliament:
6ro'lem: loans previously demanded were still bein collected amountin to J2C-/---
6ro'lem: !olsey was far too brusFue with parliament
7esult > opposition: ) !olsey had to accept far less because his fiscal
policies caused rulin class hostility
> =his was seen in the late payments &(23)(
6ro'lem: !olsey was placed in the difficult position of accountin for money that had
not been paid: this affected expenditure: he could not spend what he did not have.
1$t#s and 10t#s
&(&3)&(&C
4aised: J.-/---
su/sidy
&(&3)&(&C
4aised: &G-/---
'o the subsidy raised
almost (((((((( as
much.
9rom &(&3)&(2./ !olsey raised: J32(/--- in parliamentary su'sidies
J&&K/--- from fifteenths and tenths
J2(-/--- in loans
6endrill@
$;>$2
(en-y-Wal
2nclosure
8
%# What was the impact of the Hunne %ffair@ 1515? +2;@ .<>.9)
Hunne/ a <ondon merchant/ had challened the +hurch over exorbitant mortuary fees. =he
ensuin trial and his death in custody/ had led to the +hurch bein accused of ma$in up
chares of heresy/ murderin a wealthy merchant/ and convictin him of heresy after his death
in order to seiHe his property#
3ome arue that it helped the rowth of anti>clericalism with the controversy dominatin
parliament and allowed the +atholic +hurch to crumble under Henry%s later attac$s.
"n fact this was not true/ and most remained loyal to the )atholic )hurch.
Howe5er/ within *ondon/ the Affair did have a bi neative impact ) temporarily
"t reinforced !olsey%s view that parliaments were more trouble than they were
worth/ so another was not called till &(23.
B# What was the impact of Driar Henry /tandish"s attac) on 'enefit of the cler&y? +.9)
Benefit of the cler&y allowed the clery to be tried in more lenient ecclesiastical courts rather
than tougher secular courts. Educated laymen abused the practice/ ainin immunity from
secular trial. ;arliamentary action in &(&2 and &(&( ave oxyen to the issue and so increased
anti)clericalism. !olsey had to swear to Henry personally that royal authority was superior to
ecclesiastical power/ that an ecclesiastical practice was not underminin his secular courts.
Cey 6oint: the anti>clericalism &enerated in 1515 probably accounts for
the delay in holdin another parliament until &(23. !olsey simply had to
call it then to et the money to fund Henry%s forein policy: he also had to
compromise over enclosure in order to et the extra cash.
0# cclesiastical !tra5a&ance +.9)
!olsey did exploit his ecclesiastical position to secure enormous
wealth. As *egate a *atere he was able to set up pro'ate courts 7church
courts dealing with laymen"s wills8 whose fees enhanced his wealth.
=#e A"ica/le >rant& 1$!$
The situation: Battle of ;avia: the 9rench army was annihilated. 9rancis " was held captive
by +harles */ the Holy 4oman Emperor. Henry saw this as an opportunity to invade 9rance.
The pro'lem: =he coffers were empty.
The solution: !olsey demanded a non>parliamentary ta! called the Amicable Brant. "t
tareted clery and laity on a slidin scale.
The pro'lem: "t was too soon after the forced loans and parliamentary ta!es of &(23)(
Bi&&er pro'lem:
7efusal to pay: re'ellion erupted across 3uffol$ and indeed/ much of East Anlia.
1;@;;; men marched on *a5enham@ 7a cloth)ma$in centre8/ hihlihtin the extent and
intensity of the opposition.
"t was a popular re'ellion: its spontaneity also reflected the deree of hostility.
His enemies/ the >u$es of 3uffol$ and 5orfol$/ did not start it and indeed/ did their best
to re)establish law and order. But they would increase their importance at court.
0onse3uences
=he Brant was abandoned in Iay &(2(: !olsey raised no new taxes after this.
Henry dou'ted his minister for the first timeF and so denied all $nowlede of the Brant1
!olsey%s opponents scented blood for the first time/ but still had to waitL[!hy@]
!ith the cash one/ the Drench in5asion was called off and !olsey now allied with
9rance: he could not have $nown then what a disastrous error he had madeL
So rigorous revelling
!n a prelate specially"
So #old and #ragging
$nd was so #asely #orn"
So lordly o% his loo&s
$nd so disdain'%ul(
So %at a maggot
)red o% a %lesh-%lye.
John Skelton, Speak,
Parrot, 1522
Pendrill, 49-51
www.luminarium.orMrenlitMs$elton.htm
9
(*$-*,)
!olsey/ as <ord +hancellor/ Archbishop of ?or$ and +ardinal/ had reat leal/ political and
ecclesiastical power: but such power brouht with it real administrative problems , and trouble.
6arliament
1# Why did Wolsey not call 6arliament much durin& his ascendancy?
2# How important was 6arliament? What happened at 0ourt?
!olsey let everyone $now that he was fabulously rich: Hampton 0ourt spar$led ) but then
there were his plans for "pswich 3chool and +ardinal +ollee. 6nsurprisinly/ such display
caused Healousy and resentment and added to anti)clerical feelin. 4emember , he is a cleric1
6luralism@ 8epotism and %'senteeism +.9>.9)
How serious are the charges of corruption aimed at Wolsey+
-onastic 7eform +.9)
How successful was !olsey%s monastic reform@
What motivation lay behind some of the reform and what is the sinificance of this@
6ope or Cin&? +.9)
!ho did !olsey serve@ =he ;ope or Henry@ Explain your answer.
0onclusion: did Wolsey wea)en the n&lish 0hurch?
Answer the Fuestion above. >iscuss your response with the person next to you.
Look at the picture. What is Wolsey riding on What !ight have "een the response to this
m
%nswer 3uestions 1 and 2 in the /)ills Builder on p# .5
2# %nswer the 3uestion a'o5e usin& the te!t on pp# 52>$#
10
1# %nalyse /ource I +52): what aspect of Wolsey"s character@
outlined in the source@ may ha5e created enemies for him?
Was t#ere a no/le conspiracy a.ainst Wolsey? ($!-3)
W#y did Henry VIII lose 7ait# in Wolsey?
Amicable Brant 7see previous notes8
9orein ;olicy , the alliance with 9rance
9ailure to secure his divorce from +atherine of Araon
2# Was there a no'le conspiracy a&ainst Wolsey? 52>$#
How does t#e re-isionist -iew di77er 7ro" t#e traditional?
;o"e /ac.round6 t#e =raditional View o7 Wolsey ($1-$!)
!olsey is seen as an unpopular royal favourite always fihtin to retain
his hold over the Ain. =he hostile nobility ained revene on !olsey
when he lost the Ain%s favour over the divorce. =he traditional view is
that there was a long-term conspiracy aainst !olsey that became
very obvious durin &(2K)2.. =his suests that Henry was Fuite wea$
and easily manipulated by !olsey and others.
=#e )e-isionist View o7 Wolsey
=his plays down his unpopularity at court. Bwyn arues that !olsey
did not try to alienate the nobility or directly harm ambitious youn men
in order to preserve his influence over the $in. He arues that !olsey
was too capable a politician to offend anyone needlessly and so create
enemies. =here was no lon)standin conspiratorial roup , only a
short>term opportunist faction led by the >u$es of 5orfol$ and 3uffol$.
=hey acted on Henry%s dissatisfaction with !olsey over the Breat Iatter.
-a)e Cey 6oints
In contrast to:
Wolseys
4all
See later
6ri5y 0ham'er and 0ouncil
1# What was the role of the 6ri5y 0ouncil and the 6ri5y 0ham'er?
2# How far did Wolsey institute a pur&e to ostracise potential political ri5als in the
6ri5y 0ham'er in 1519# How far mi&ht this ha5e dama&ed his political position?
$# What were the ltham =rdinances of 152B and what is their si&nificance in terms
of Wolsey"s treatment of the no'ility and his hold on power?
0onclusion and Cey Te!t: (The Cin&"s 0ardinal"
7andell@
B1>B2
11
Key Questions
0an Henry"s early forei&n policy 'e considered a success?
How far did Wolsey achie5e his aims in forei&n policy in the years 151.>1529?
To what e!tent was Henry isolated and 5ulnera'le in uropean %ffairs 15$;>
15.;?
1o the years 1521>.; in forei&n policy merit their reputation as ones of
e!pensi5e failure?
4or a list o7 ey e-ents in 7orei.n policy& see pp' $1-$%
Answer t#e 8uestion 1 and !
on source A on p' $%
4rancisI6 4rance
Drancis I 7House of ,alois8 became
Ain of 9rance. 9rance was the
larest $indom in Europe with &Cm
people. Additional lands 7such as
Burundy and Brittany8 were
acFuired throuh con3uest or
diplomacy#
%im: he wished to uphold -rench
honour and glory abroad. He had
inherited from *ouis .// a conflict in
/taly against the Habsburgs
:#arles V(Ha/s/ur.)6 Holy )o"an
2"pire
"t was a collection of D-- semi)autonomous states
in the heart of Europe/ rouhly where Bermany is.
Althouh ruled over by an Emperor/ power was in
reality/ decentralised. Each state had a prince with
much political power: while the C( "mperial 9ree
+ities were all independent of the Emperor.
=he office of Holy 4oman Emperor brouht with it
reat prestie if little actual power. +harles * ruled
%ims:
Wage war in /taly
0efeat the /nfidel Turk
in the 1editerranean
&epel the 2rotestant
&eformation in 3urope.
:#arles I6 ;pain
3pain emered from the
unitin of Araon and
+astile. 3pain was very
diverse in climate/ lanuae
and culture. "t had C.Km and
was devoutly +atholic and
had defeated the Ioors of
Brenada so defendin the
"berian peninsula for
+hristendom.
=#e (apacy
'piritual
He was spiritual leader of the +atholic +hurch and he
aimed to defend +atholic interests in Europe. 3o the ;ope
called for successive +atholic crusades aainst the Iuslim
'ttoman Empire.
Temporal
=he ;ope was a maHor landowner in central "taly/ rulin
over the papal states. ;ope Nulius "" had a court to rival any
prince. He wanted to expand papal territory throuh
conFuest/ hence the name the #warrior pope". =he
Habsburg4,alois conflict in northern "taly threatened papal
interests. =he papacy had to choose its allies carefully to
avoid domination. &(2G saw an unpaid "mperial army sac$
4ome and $ept +lement *"" prisoner. =his was a $ey
obstacle to Henry ettin his divorce throuh 4ome. His
failure set Enland on course for the Henrician 4eformation
12
W#at was ac#ie-ed /y t#e 4renc# ca"pai.ns o7 1$11-1*?
Henry"s %im: pursue his claim to the title of Ain of 9rance/ passed
down throuh Enlish $ins since the +&(th.
-ethod: he had his Anlo)3panish alliance throuh marriae:
9erdinand was a crucial ally in the invasion of 9rance: he $new he
needed an ally iven Enland%s limited resources when set aainst the
H4 Empire or 9rance.
War a.ainst 4rance (+!)
Henry and peace
Henry was limited by his father%s councillors 7Warham and 5ishop -ox8
who wished to avoid war. =his would preserve Enlish security while
allowin forei&n countries to loo$ for an alliance that would move the
balance of power in their favour. =his led to a peace treaty with 9rance
in &(&-1 ?et Henry wanted war.
Henry isolated
"n &(-K/ ;ope Nulius put himself at the head of the Holy *ea&ue 79r.
3p. Empire and ;apacy8 to attac$ *enice. Henry%s diplomacy failed to
et him in the <eaue and he was isolated. By &(&&/ 9rance had
emered as the stronest power in "taly/ threatenin the papal states.
Henry and war
6nsurprisinly/ the ;ope chaned direction and headed the Holy
*ea&ue 7now 3p. *enice/ the Empire and 3ngland8 in order to remove
9rance from "taly.
Henry won over the Areat 0ouncil by portrayin the war as a papal
war in defence of church liberties. 6arliament ranted the necessary
money to wae war in April &(&2. An expeditionary force under the
-ar3uis of 1orset was dispatched to Bayonne. =he plan was to ain
control of AFuitaine 73! 9rance8 throuh a Hoint Anlo)3panish
invasion.
Henry deceived
9erdinand only wanted the Enlish troops as a diversion so that he
could capture 8a5arre1 !hile the Enlish waited for the 3panish/
dysentery and drun$enness hit the camp and >orset%s troops were
recalled. =o add to this/ in 151$: naval defeat at Brest capped an
inominious first entry into European affairs. Enland%s first continental
campain had been a disaster.
=#e ?attle o7 t#e ;purs& 1$13 (+!-3)
Henry was simply more determined to attain lory in 9rance1 Henry
learnt from his mista$es: he needed to act independently of any
untrustworthy allies if English aims were to be met.
analytical
co""ent success
or 7ailure?
http://www.hrp.org.u&/*esour
ces/)attle%20o%%20the
%20Spurs
13
=he campain sei0ed Therouanne 7iven to mperor -a!imilian I8
aennd Tournai with little 9rench resistance. =ournai was arrisoned
by Henry at reat cost until &(&K. <ittle fihtin had occurred/ but
Enlish propaandists named a minor s$irmish as the Battle of the
3purs iven the speed with which the 9rench expeditionary force
retreated. 3everal important 9rench nobes were captured and
returned to Enland to enhance further Enlish prestie.
=#e ?attle o7 4lodden 1$13
=he Earl of 3urrey%s army went north to meet Names "*/ Ain of
3cotland%s opportunistic invasion of Enland while Henry was in
9rance. 3urrey was outnumbered and held the wea$er position on
9lodden Ede. ?et 3urrey won a devastatin victory/ for the maHority
of the 3cottish nobility were left dead on 9lodden 9ield , includin
Names "* himself. =he 3cottish threat was diminished even further by
the fact that his son/ Names * was Hust a boy and Henry%s own sister
7Iararet8 acted as reent. 5ow Henry could reard his northern
frontier as secure for the rest of his realm.
=#e An.lo-4renc# =reaty& 1$1*
Henry *"""%s wea$ness
"n &(&D/ Henry had to ma$e peace with 9rance because:
His allies/ 9erdinand and Iaximilian/ had decided to ma$e
peave with <ouis O"" and were neotiatin separate treaties.
<eo O/ the new ;ope wanted peace
Henry%s coffers were emprtyin rapidly
=he =reaty
Enland ot possession of =ournai
<ouis areed to pay the arrears of the Enlish pension handed
out to Henry *"" in the &D.-s.
[6 proposal by Henry to make a %oint attempt to drive
-erdinand out of 7avarre and claim )astile for )athreine was
unrealistic and not acted upon. This shows Henry"s
annoyance with -erdinand"s double4crossing.]
=he peace treaty was sealed with the marriae of Henry%s
youner sister Iary to the elderly <ouis O"".
How success7ul #ad Henry /een /y t#e end o7 1$13?
1raw a ta'le showin& &ains and issues#
14
Enland and 9rench ambitions
Nanuary &(&(/ 9rancis " became Ain on <ouis O""%s death. <i$e Henry/ he had ambitions/ but
made more impact iven his reater monetary and material resources.
&(&(: 9rancis effectively dissolved the Anlo)9rench peace by sendin the 3cottish
claimant/ the >u$e of Albany/ to overthrow Iararet%s reency overnment. =he unrest
in 3cotland did lead to Iararet%s overthrow.
[8989: after the 5attle of 1arignano! -rancis came to control northern /taly.
898;: a concordat with *eo . confirmed the -rench king"s right to appoint bishops to
-rench sees.]
Henry,Wolsey"s response
&. A pro)papal/ anti)9rench alliance with Emperor Iaximilian
A secret subsidy was sent to Iaximilian to remove 9rance from northern "taly.
Iaximilian accepted the money , and then Hoined the 9rench1
How 7ar did Wolsey ac#ie-e #is ai"s in 7orei.n policy in t#e years 1$1*-!%?
>ebate over the uidin principles of !olsey%s forein policies.
Traditional View: Wolsey tried to
maintain the 'alance of power in urope:
=o ensure that no one side became
dominated European affairs.
How? 3upport those states loo$in to limit
the power of the dominant force.
But lton"s 5iew:
But %#D# 6ollard ar&ues that
Wolsey"s main principle was
to follow papal policy:
He was a loyal papal servant
and so always souht to defend
the interests of the curia 7central
overnin body of the 4+
+hurch8. "t has been arued
that !olsey followed such a
policy because he wished to
become ;ope one day.
EE# /caris'ric) reGected this pro>papal interpretation:
/te5e Aunn: the modern interpretation: the fle!i'ility of Wolsey"s policies:
15
!olsey was able to redeem himself for the previous failures. <eo O wanted a crusade aainst
the infidel +hurch. !olsey too$ papal plans and modified them to suit the European powers.
His was a settlement of universal peace/ which seemed to put Enland at the centre of
diplomatic affairs.
=he treaty terms:
A peace settlement bound 9rance/ 3pain/ the ;apacy/ the Empire and Enland to action
aainst the =ur$.
"t uaranteed non)aression between the powers
Built in a principle of collective security , any aressor would meet the miht of the
other states.
=he treaty was a diplomatic success:
"t heaped presti&e onto Henry%s rein
"t ended the threat of Enlish isolation in Europe.
=ournai was returned to 9rance in return for further reat pensions
=he >u$e of Albany was to be $ept out of 3cotland while Henry%s infant dauhter/ Iary/
was betrothed to the >auphin.
!olsey had hiHac$ed <eo%s plans but also received the commission of *egate a latere/ a
position he had been pressin for since &(&D. =he papal representative to Enland/ <oren0o
+ampeio/ was not allowed to enter the country until !olsey%s new title had been officially
confirmed by the curia.
;pain or 4rance? (+,)
Biven Europe%s almost constant state of warfare/ the =reaty of <ondon was unli$ely to last lon.
!hen Emperor Iaximilian died/ a power strule was set up between +harles of Burundy/
Ain of 3pain and 9rancis ". "nevitably/ the seven electors of the Empire would choose
+harles/ iven that he was a Habsbur. And so the balance of power was upset aain.
9rance was encircled by +harles hue territorial inheritance and so a Habsbur)*alois conflict
appeared inevitable.
!olsey and Henry continued to present Enland as the arbiter of peace in Europe , while at
the same time 9rance and the Empire loo$ed to Enland as an ally.
2. An anti)9rench leaue 74ome/ *enice/ 3pain and the Empire8
However/ Nanuary &(&C/ 9erdinand died and was replaced by his randson/ the Archdu$e
+harles. He did not want to fiht 9rance at once and so made peace: he did not feel that he
needed Enland. H4 Emperor Iaximilian Hoined the 9ranco)3panish alliance in &(&G throuh
the Peace of ambrai.
3inificance
By the end of &(&G/ despite the efforts of !olsey and Henry/ Enland was isolated and
humiliated.
16
Wolseys 4orei.n (olicy& 1$!0-1$!$6 =#e 4ield o7 t#e :lot# o7 >old& 1$!0 (+1-%)
"n Nune &(2-/ Henry
and 9rancis met at
the 9ield of the +loth
of Bold/ near +alais.
3--- notables at a
sumptuous feast of
chivalric paeantry.
Both spent on
marvellous royal
pavilions/ both tryin
to display their
4enaissance
+redentials. Noustin
went on and even
an unplanned wrestlin match between the two $ins.
/i&nificance
<ittle was achieved diplomatically , there was no alliance with 9rance.
?et neutrality was difficult iven risin Habsburg4,alois tensions. +harles had visited
Enland in Iay &(2- and then Nuly &(2- Henry/ !olsey and +harles * met at
Bravelines. +harles was desperate for Henry not to Hoin 9rance: in fact Henry was
always li$ely to side with Emperor +harles *.
) =raditional hostility towards 9rance: Henry resented 9rancis "% success since &(&(
) +harles via the Habsbur 5etherlands could help protect $ey trade lin$s with the
<ow +ountries.
) =he pope was anti)9rench too iven 9rance%s domination in northern "taly.
n&land@ Drance and the Holy 7oman mperor@ 1521>1525
Wolsey the 2eacemaker! <uly 89=8
!olsey arraned a three)power conference at +alais: Enland was to act as the peace bro$er
between the 2 main superpowers
Wolsey and the Treaty of 5ruges! 6ugust 89=8
!olsey concluded a settlement with +harles. =he Enlish would invade 9rance unless the
9rench Ain areed to ma$e peace. !olsey later neotiated a delay for war until &(23 hopin
that the situation would chane and Enland would not have to fiht.
0omestic >pinion and War
=his was not &(&3 and the conFuest of 9rance was not popular 7how did it really ser5e
n&lish interests?8/ especially as it would need increased ta!ation.
6ction: skirmishes
&. 1522: arl of /urrey led a raidin party from +alais into 5ormandy and ;icardy.
2. 152$: =pportunity to undermine Drancis"s power: +harles/ >u$e of Bourbon rebelled
because he believed that he had been denied his rihtful territorial inheritance. A 3)
proner attac$ 7Enland/ Empire and Bourbon8 was planned. A force costin JD--/---
was sent under 3uffol$: under)supplied and in 9rance in winter/ it fell apart.
3. &(23)2(: !olsey avoids action despite +harles%s demands/ and tried to release Enland
from its obliations under the =reaty of Brues.
17
=#e ?attle o7 (a-ia& 1$!$
=#e ?attle o7 (a-ia and t#e
@iplo"atic )e-olution& 1$!$
&. Henry and )harles
+harles victory over 9rancis at
;avia chaned everythin:
9rench army was destroyed
9rancis " himself ta$en
;risoner
+harles was now much
3troner and could do
without Enland. +harles
reHected their call for the
9rench crown and even
called off his marriae to
Iary
=he Anlo)"mperial alliance
was at an end.
2. Henry and -rance: the Treaty of the 1ore! 89=9
Elton arued that !olsey%s attempt to ma$e a connection with 9rance
represented a #diplomatic revolution%.
Henry ave up his claims to 9rance in return for an annual pension.
3. Henry and -rance: the Treaty of )ognac! 1ay 89=;
9rancis did want +harles to dominate northern "taly/ and the treaty alined Enland/ 9rance
and several "talian states aainst Habsbur heemony 7i.e. +harles *%s domination8 in "taly.
!olsey helped to construct the <eaue and Enland financed it. But they never Hoined it.
How 7ar was 1$!$ a waters#ed "ar in Henrician 7orei.n policy? (+%-,0
The Treaty of Westminster@ 152<
=raditionally/ the turnin away from the Emperor and towards 9rance is seen as a turnin)point
in Enlish forein policy. =he alliance was cemented by this treaty.
=erms
;rincess Iary was aain presented as a diplomatic marriae pawn for 9rancis or his
second son.
Henry threatened +harles with armed intervention if he did not ma$e peace.
The /i&nificance of Westminster and 0o&nac
Enland did not have the military power to threaten +harles: the <eaue of +onac achieved
nothin.
&(2G: "mperial forces sac$ed 4ome and imprisoned +lement *"".
A disaster for !olsey ) since now Enlish forein policy was tied to the Ain%s #Breat
%nalyse /ource
%nswer the 3uestions on p# B9
18
Iatter%. =he Ain expected !olsey to deliver the annulment on his divorce since this
was for him the most important issue of state. Howe5er@ Wolsey"s diplomatic
re5olution had mo5ed him away from the man who could ma)e it happen@ 0harles
V# Wolsey was 'e&innin& to re&ret that decision#
0harles V was 0atherine of %ra&on"s nephew and he would not see a close
relati5e wron&ed and humiliated# Henry needed the 6ope to annul the marria&e@
'ut as a 5irtual prisoner of 0harles@ there was little hope of success in 152<#
!olsey had little room for manoeuvre
!olsey tried to act without the ;ope/ iven his imprisonment/ the +ollee of +ardinals
miht decree on the matter. He did not convince them and nothin resulted.
!olsey declared war on +harles 7after he had released the ;ope but still controlled
northern "taly8 in &(2K/ but no Enlish army was ever mobilised.
!olsey $new he did not have sufficient military forces and so tried an economic route/
considerin a trade embaro on the <ow +ountries. ?et this was more damain to
Enland%s trade interests. A separate areement was made with the >utch mar$ets to
maintain trade despite the prospect of Tudor4Habsburg hostilities.
+harles%s emphatic victory at *andriano in Nune &(2. led to the 6eace of 0am'rai
7between 9rance/ 3pain and the papacy8 which ensured +harles%s control in "taly.
!olsey was not even informed.
Significance of ambrai
) Enland was left isolated.
) !olsey had no chance of attainin an annulment throuh 4ome.
) !ith +lement now officially in the Empire%s camp and with 9rance forced to
sin +ambrai/ !olsey was facin ruin. He could not deliver the divorce.
) Armstron: #"n the end/ !olsey%s fate had depended upon the chanin nature
of forein affairs/ which had conspired aainst him from &(2()2..
-a)e notes on pp# <1 and <2 identifyin& Wolsey"s successes and failures:
Successes! "eadings
(The si&nificance of Therouanne and Tournai"
(Wolsey@ 6eace and 6resti&e"
(% fle!i'le and reacti5e forei&n policy despite limited resources"
#ailures! "eadings
4nrealistic aims and am'itions
0ostly e!peditions@ ta!ation@ ci5il unrest and few actual &ains
Henry was outmanoeu5red 'y other monarchs@ unrelia'le allies
Wolsey loo)ed as much after his own promotion as he did Henry
VIII"s: > on the secular sta&e
> as a candidate for 6ope
Henry"s (diplomatic re5olution" was unfortunate due to the Cin&"s
(Areat -atter"
152<>9: The 4npopularity of 6olicy and Wolsey
0=80*4/I=8 +<$):How successful was Wolsey"s forei&n policy? 8ote
particularly the constraints on his actions#
19
%nalyse /ources D@ A and H
%nswer the 3uestions on p# <$
7ead and use the e!am tips on p# <.
=#e I"pact o7 t#e @i-orce and t#e )oyal ;upre"acy
=he 9rench alliance collapsed/ &(3-)3(
9rancis would not want to be seen in alliance with an heretical power
Biven his recent failures/ 9rancis wanted to maintain ood relations with +harles *.
+atherine was the aunt of +harles * and he was furious with Henry *. !ith 9rance and
3pain at peace/ Henry was potentially in a lot of trouble.
Henry and =homas +romwell%s 'ptions/ &(3-)3(
&. 6lly with the ?erman 2rotestant princes.
<utheran princes were approached in &(33. "n &(3D Henry supported the ;rotestant
town of <ubec$ who were tryin to stop an "mperial candidate from becomin Ain of
>enmar$. =he princes were approached aain in &(3( thouh nothin came of it.
2. 0o nothing
=he Habsburs and the House of *alois were bound to fall out iven their traditional
rivalry. !hen they both turned to war/ Enland would be inored.
Henry and +romwell%s +oncerms/ &(3C)&(3.
'nce aain the situation chaned , and by &(3C the second option seemed the best of the 2.
Both Ann Boleyn and +atherine of Araon died that year and so Anlo)"mperial relations
miht recover.
9rance and 3pain fouht over Iilan.
=he latter improvement was only temporary and when they both sined the ;eace of 5ice/
+romwell and Henry felt vulnerable.
Enlish military defences were strenthened in anticipation of a +atholic invasion
5eotiations with Berman princes were reopened
Henry/ +romwell and ;ro);apal calls for an anti)Enlish crusade
+ardinal 4einald ;ole once more ured +harles and 9rancis to overthrow heretical Enland.
Henry"s &esponse: the 2urging of the 2oles
?or$ist 4einald%s brothers/ Beoffrey and <ord Iontaue were arrested 7?eoffrey
pardoned on giving incriminating evidence against the rest8/ alon with his mother/ the
+ountess of 3alisbury.
'ther $ey fiures/ Henry +ourtenay and 3ir Edward 5eville were arrested.
All had been executed by &(D&.
!ith one bloody swoop/ Henry had removed the last of the ?or$ist faction: now there was no
hope of a pro)papal resurence.
20
The options! 89@A: 2rotestant or )atholic
&. Henry and the C Articles
Henry%s Act of 3ix Articles aain demonstrated his belief in orthodox +atholic doctrine. 3ome
miht arue that these were desined to reassure +atholic Europe that he was movin towards
<utheranism.
2. Henry and the <utherans
?et Hust as the Act was passin ;arliament/ another <utheran essay was visitin Enland. 'f
course/ Hust as before/ Henry would not sin a deal with heretics. However/ +romwell did
succeed in proposin a marriae alliance between Enland and the duchy of +leves.
=he >u$e of +leves was not a <utheran but part of the <utheran alliance. Henry was unsure/
especially as 9ranco)3panish relations were aain deterioratin. 3o why o ahead with the
marriae@
+romwell convinced Henry that the alliance could be useful in preventin any invasion
of Enland.
Henry was convinced by Holbein%s portrait of Anne of +leves7see p. &D(8
3. Henry/ Ann of +leves/ and =homas +romwell
Henry detested Anne and the marriae remained unconsummated. =he "talian war was
resumed and so an alliance with the Berman princes was not so important. 6nli$e the &(3-s/
Henry now intended to involve himself more in forein affairs/ with invadin 9rance and
conFuerin 3cotland comin aain to the fore.
1$*1-1$*,6 was Henrys 7orei.n policy an e3pensi-e 7ailure?
%n&lo>/cottish 7elations: Henry"s success 5ia politics and diplomacy?
9rom &(D2/ Henry intended to invade 9rance. But before this could occur/ 3cotland would
have to be subdued. =he two countries were also already sufferin from poor relations owin
to the 9ranco)3cottish alliance and clashes between Names * and Henry over church reform.
=he >u$e of 5orfol$ went up north but poorly supplied/ the expedition to 3cotland ended poorly.
However/ at the Battle of 3olway Ioss/ an inferior Enlish army defeated the 3cots. Iany
nobles surrendered while Names died and left his dauhter Iary in the hands of a pro)9rench
faction. Henry opportunistically bribed noble prisoners ta$en at 3olway Ioss. A new 4eent/
the Earl of Arran seemed to bac$ Henry. =he &(D3 =reaty of Breenwich heralded peace and a
marriae of Iary 3tuart to ;rince Edward.
=his seems to represent a successful combination of politics and diplomacy. "t was not. =he
nobles too$ their bribes and then simply returned to 3cotland. Iary was allowed to retain her
connections with 9rance1 Arran had claims on the throne himself and would hardly see$ to
strenthen Henry1 =he =reaty of Breenwich merely ave 3cotland time to rebuild their
defences and strenthen their lin$ with 9rance.
A concerted violent expedition under the Earl of Hereford in &(DD merely united the 3cots
aainst Enland and strenthened the lin$ with 9rance. Henry had simply sFuandered a
winnin position after 3olway Ioss.
%n&lo>Drench 7elations: e!pensi5e failure?
=he invasion of 9rance was certainly no closer. 9rom &(D& +harles * tried to secure Henry%s
support aainst 9rance. "n &(DD/ an Enlish force of D-/--- invaded 9rance from +alais and
Hoined the 3panish in a two)proned attac$ on ;aris. Henry/ aein and increasinly immobile/
21
accompanied the slow proress of the army. "n fact neither he nor +harles would truly help
each other since they had attac$ed 9rance with Fuite different aendas. =hus Henry focused
on Boulone/ not ;aris/ and 3uffol$ captured it easily. +harles/ annoyed/ made peace with
9rance. Boulone was arrisoned and the Enlish army sailed home. 9rance souht to reain
Boulone and planned an invasion. 3$irmishes occurred in the channel and Henry%s Iary
4ose san$ itself/ attemptin a sharp manoeuvre with its unports open. All this has been too
expensive , the campain cost over J2m. "ncreased taxation and forced loans were not
enouh to pay for the campain , and Henry actually had to sell off crown lands ained with
the dissolution of the monasteries. A steady income from future rents was lost. He ained a
million by debasin the coinae , but this also increased inflation and reduced confidence in
Enlish financial mar$ets.
%nalyse sources *@ - and 8#
%nswer the 3uestion that appears on p# 9; usin& the
ad5ice pro5ided for you#
22
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