Wolsey: pseudoKing or reformer

1
Wolsey pseudo-King or reformer?

• ????

2
Skeltons satires

• In the Star Chamber he nods and becks
• And beareth him there so stout proud
• That no man dare rout
• Duke, Earl, baron nor Lord
• But to his sentence must accord

3
Skeltons Wolsey fair?

• For all their noble blood
• He plucks them by the hood
• And shakes them by the ear
• And brings them in such fear
• And maketh them to bow the knee
• Before his majesty

4
Skeltons Wolsey

• in the Chamber of Stars
• All matters there he mars,
• Clapping his rod on the board.
• No man dare speak a word,
• For he hath all the saying
• Without any renaying.
• He rolleth in his records,
• He saith, How say ye, my lords?
• Is not my reason good?
• (Skelton, Why Come Ye Nat to Courte?)

5
Wolsey

• So, was Wolsey obsessed with power did he
  subscribe to the old dictum,
• Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts
  absolutely
• The conventional picture of an uncounselled king
  skulking at Court while Wolsey ruled the roost is
  heavily overdrawn
• How would you judge the career of Thomas Wolsey?

6
Wolseys background

• What was his upbringing, was he of noble blood?
  Is this a factor worth considering?
• How was he able to rise so fast? Was he solely a
  careerist?
• What actions enabled rise, what did he do?
• Why do you think Henry warmed to Wolsey,
  particulalry after 1514? And why did his star
  wane so fast?

7
Wolsey

• Government
• - What were his relations with the nobility?
• of course, Wolseys impact on local government
  should not be exaggerated. If he aimed at
  centralised administration and a crown-controlled
  magistracy, the balance of power in the counties
  still remained with local landowners..a plethora
  of local networks bisected central ones.
• - How did he go about reforming the country,
  which areas did he focus on?
• - How successful was he?
• - How powerful was he?
• -Did he genuinely become too big for his boots
  or was this a factional slant?

8
Wolsey

• Power was he solely interested in his own
  status? How much did other factions resent him
  and glory in his demise?
• It was therefore recognised that good relations
  between the court and country depended on the
  willingness of the each to respect the others
  interests.p.322
• Foreign Policy what were his aims, were they
  synonymous with the Kings? Did the King
  constrain hinder his chances, or was there
  ultimately little chance at all?
• Domestic Policy what did he try and do, what
  success did he have?

9
Wolsey

• Church what reforms did he put in place what
  were his objectives, was he guilty of pluralism
  to such a degree? Did he make way for the
  Reformation?
• Education and Learning. Was he really interested
  in education and academia per se or solely as a
  vehicle for careerism?

10

• Guy
• His vision and originality in star chamber
  were limited by his personality his management
  of Parliament in 1523 was hamhanded his success
  in realising Henrician fiscal potential was
  seriously reduced by the debacle of the Amicable
  grant he overreached himself in diplomacy and
  his lasting achievement, the centralisation of
  the English church, was unintentional. Neither
  evil nor quite a genius, Wolsey was brilliant but
  flawed.
• WHAT DO YOU THINK?

11
Wolsey

• Cavendish (his biographer) gave a favourable
  Interpretation of Wolsey in 1558 I never saw
  this realm in better order, quietness, and
  obedience than it was in the time of his
  Wolseys authority and rule ne justice better
  administered with indifferency. Should
  consider this view.

12

• Your task
• In groups of 2/3 you will firstly analyse the
  position of Wolsey viz power and wealth, a
  question will be allocated which you will
  research and be ready to present next Thursday in
  the format suggested. Please go beyond the
  initial reading set it is for your benefit.