The Amicable Grant was an effort by Wolsey to acquire funding for the war in France in 1525. It was presented as a way of the king’s subjects freely giving him financial ‘gifts’- hence the ‘amicable’ in the title-but in reality it was another heavy tax. It imposed a tax of 1/6 on secular goods, and of 1/3 on ecclesiastical possessions. Needless to say, the Amicable Grant was not popular at all, mainly because the populace were growing tired of Henry’s relentless war-mongering and fruitless attempts to defeat France, especially the Duke of Suffolk’s defeat in 1523.
The Amicable Grant was so unpopular it caused a series of revolts in East Anglia, and many citizens of London simply refused to pay. The impact of this was that Henry VIII was forced to retract the Grant, ceasing the collection of money. So as to avoid ‘losing face’, Henry claimed that he had not been aware of the Amicable Grant, and that he had not authorised it. This shifted the blame over to Wolsey, who was easy to target because he had initially proclaimed the Grant. The Amicable Grant was significant because it marked the beginning of Wolsey’s downfall.
Oliver Kadouchkine
The Amicable Grant was so unpopular it caused a series of revolts in East Anglia, and many citizens of London simply refused to pay. The impact of this was that Henry VIII was forced to retract the Grant, ceasing the collection of money. So as to avoid ‘losing face’, Henry claimed that he had not been aware of the Amicable Grant, and that he had not authorised it. This shifted the blame over to Wolsey, who was easy to target because he had initially proclaimed the Grant. The Amicable Grant was significant because it marked the beginning of Wolsey’s downfall.
Oliver Kadouchkine