WOLSEYS DOMESTIC POLICIES: AN OVERVIEW

WOLSEYS DOMESTIC POLICIES: AN OVERVIEW

WOLSEYS POLICIESEVIDENCE?SUCCESS OR FAILURE?

CHURCH Wolsey papal legate

Wolsey weakened Church

Tried to centralise Church affairs

Did defend the Church on occasion

Bad personal record

Shortly after Ws death H = Head of C of E

Churchmen orders from the Crown. Independence reduced

Defended clerical privilege W did not visit dioceses

Ws huge wealth contradicted Jesus lifeOverall it could be argued that Wolsey failed in terms of managing the Church. His personal conduct was not impressive. Many criticised his lack of interest in grass-roots Catholicism. Ultimately he was the Kings agent not the Churchs agent. He worked to increase royal control over the Church.

NOBILITY/COUNCILLORS W = of low birth, many nobles jealous of his rise to power & wealth Not a great relship with nobility but is evidence that he tried to get on with them Was there a noble conspiracy against W?

Did W intentionally antagonise nobility?

Ws relship with councillors was strained W did have close personal relship with King; did cause envy W did consult nobles on important policy decisions

Unpopular with Dukes of Norfolk & Suffolk

W had a great desire to raise for H for foreign conquest

FINANCE W as no. 1 business manager; wanted to centralise finance

Make tax system more realistic & flexible Wanted to increase revenue from Crown lands

Demands for caused W problems with parliament. Plus went to war then tried to raise for it! Fiscal policies caused resentment among upper classes Act of Resumption 1515: return lands which had been granted away

Sir John Heron remained as Treasurer of the Chamber until 1524

Ended tax system of fifteenths & tenths. Now based on ability to pay (the subsidy) Commissioners localities to make assessments of wealth

In 1523 W demanded over 800 000 in taxation

Late payments 1523-25

Amicable Grant crisis 1525. Attempt to raise a non-parliamentary tax for war. Resulted in rebellion!!

JUSTICE W active in distributing justice Tried to bring fairness to system for ALL Any one could bring a case to Star Chamber regardless of wealth or social status

W created resentment in Star Chamber as nobles targeted for abusing privileges

Didnt change legal institutions long term & much of administration chaotic W active in Court of Chancery (the Kings court) & Court of the Star Chamber Star Chamber dealt with over 120 cases per year under W (12 per annum under H7)

1515: Earl of Northumberland prison

1516: Lord Burgavenny accused of illegal retaining

1529: enormous backlog of cases

ENCLOSURE ENCLOSURE = fencing off common land to make profit

W wanted to find out how enclosure was working Actions against nobles enclosing illegally. CHALLENGE POWER OF ARISTOCRACY Sometimes the nobility showed they were more powerful than W

Supported people whod been harmed by enclosure 1517: launched an inquiry into enclosure 1523: W forced to accept all existing enclosures Houses had to be rebuilt & land returned to arable farming