Born somewhere around 1473, not much is known about Wolsey’s childhood. On one hand, it is often perpetuated that he was the son of a butcher, but is perhaps propaganda against him, as there are some sources which would suggest that Robert Wolsey died in the Battle of Bosworth field as a “significant casualty”, showing a level of importance. Nonetheless, Thomas Wolsey had a comfortable childhood, educated at Ipswich School, and later studying at Oxford, Magdalen College, in theology.
He was ordained as a priest on the 10th of March 1498.
Career
After being ordained, he remained in Oxford, becoming the master of the Magdalen College School, and in 1502, the chaplain to the Archbishop of Canterbury. In 1507, he began working for Henry VII, beginning as secretary to Richard Foxe. It was considered that Wolsey was considered very intelligent, organised and simply was talented. April 1508 saw Wolsey discussing the renewal of the Auld alliance with King James IV, in Scotland.
Upon Henry VIII taking the throne in 1509, Wolsey was given a seat on the Privy Council, which was the permanent governing body of England, essentially, the elite members of the Royal Court. It usually consisted of 19 men.
By 1514, he was the Archbishop of York, and subsequently a Cardinal. Wolsey gained power within the reign of Henry primarily through his adaption to the King’s wishes – in 1515, he persuaded the Privy Council to war. Those who didn’t were quickly disfavoured. After this, he became Lord Chancellor of England, and later the Legate for the Pope.
Through Wolsey, England’s foreign policy was reformed in a peaceful pursuit. The Treaty of London in 1518 was followed by Wolsey’s organisation of the Field of the Cloth of Gold, which aided the propagation of the greatness of Henry’s reign for the English people and furthered his presence in Europe. Peace did not last, but Wolsey continued adapting. Upon Anglo-French war, Wolsey raised the taxes to fund the conflict and consequently appease the King.
Ultimately, Wolsey’s career fell apart in around 1529, when he failed to obtain an annulment for Henry’s marriage with Katherine, from the Pope. Opponents of Wolsey, resenting his lower birth and policies (such as the tax increase), took this as opportunity to undo the Cardinal. In April 1530, he lost all his offices and positions, and then later in November, he was charged with treason, but died on his journey to see the King.
Importance in Henry’s Reign
Wolsey was pivotal in Henry’s earlier diplomatic dealings, corresponding with the European powers and forging bonds and alliances. Because Henry was not very interested in the running of his nation, it allowed the Cardinal an element of free reign and real power. Wolsey tightened up English foreign policy, with key events such as the Treaty of London, which was absolutely significant as it showed England as the peacemaker of Europe, making Henry look much better as a King. The Field of the Cloth of Gold had a similar effect. Wolsey orchestrated the general policy of diplomacy through marriage – the Treaty of London, after all, betrothed the French Dauphin and Mary I, creating close relations with France for the duration of this proposal.
He also reformed a lot in domestic affairs. Taxes were taken based on income, rather than a fixed value as before. He created the Court of Requests, which was a court which was free for the poor. Further, he reformed a lot of the church himself, shutting down overly corrupt monasteries. In English history, he is absolutely and entirely significant as he “had more power than any other Crown Servant in English history”.
Theresa Dunthorne