What C did Henry marry in April 1509? What RE was executed alongside Edmund Dudley? Which P banned the Council Learned in Law in 1510? What M did Wolsey attend at the age of 15? What RA was Wolsey’s first role in the Privy Council? What WP did he switch to? What FE did Wolsey get given responsibility to organise? What S was the battle that saw the French cavalry defeated just outside Therouanne in 1513? What T was the second town taken in the summer of 1513? What J was the IV and invaded England in 1513? What F was the battle in which he was killed? What M acted as Regent in Scotland after that battle? Which M and F both agreed separate peace treaties with France leaving England isolated? Which M was married off to Louis XII to seal the peace between England and France? What P was doubled as part of this peace agreement?

Learning Objectives To understand how Henry VIII organised his government. To understand how Wolsey organised Henry’s government.

Henry VIII’s style of government First decisions of Henry VIII Henry inherited a group of experienced and trusted councillors. They included: Sir Thomas Lovell as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Bishop Fox as Lord Privy Seal and chief advisor until the rise of Wolsey in Archbishop (of Canterbury) Warham who was also Lord Chancellor. Earl of Surrey (Thomas Howard), who was Earl Marshall

Henry VIII’s style of government Henry’s character and skills The accounts and pictures of the early part of Henry’s reign agree on his attractive appearance, flamboyant manner, his learning and his skills. Henry wanted to be seen as chivalrous and warrior like. He also wanted to be an Imperial King. His inspiration was the Roman Empire (which was being studied a lot by Renaissance scholars). Renaissance He wanted to promote his monarchy as one acting on behalf of God and one that would recreate the glories of Henry V. Was Henry a strong or weak King? Historians debate this. Historians accept that he was mainly strong but went through periods of deep and crippling uncertainty.

Henry VIII’s style of government Henry’s Court The image and reality of the King was reflected in the court he created around himself. It was the centre of politics and government. It was also was also a projection of the King’s personality and aura of majesty. Henry VII’s court was lavish and gave generous hospitality. He also spent lots of money patronising scholars and explorers Henry VIII ‘s court was dedicated to pleasure and refinement. His favourite activities were hunting, jousting, and tennis but he also enjoyed the company of Renaissance scholars. He composed his own music. He also increased the number and quality of royal residences.

Henry VIII’s style of government Treatment of nobility Henry VIII’s approach to the nobility was very different to his father’s. Rather than threatening their status and wealth to control them, he made several gestures of goodwill Getting rid of the Council Learned in Law in early Cancelling 175 bonds and recognisances that were still owing. He regarded the nobility as friends and associates who he could share pleasures with. Having important men around him, also increased his status and the prestige of his court. Edmund de la Pole was the most obvious candidate from the ‘White Rose’ party. In 1513 Henry had him executed for treason. His brother, Richard was allowed to live and spent most of his life in France. He was occasionally used by the French to put pressure on Henry but there was never any serious attempt to back an attempt to take the throne. BUT he did share some of his father’s suspicions of possible rivals for the throne amongst the nobility.

Henry VIII’s style of government Style of government (1) Henry VII’s style was personal and extremely conscientious. He administered finances personally, largely ignored Parliament, and distrusted his nobles. Henry VIII followed some of his father’s tactics. E.G. He used JPs to carry out his wishes at a local level (rather than the nobility). He was also happy to promote and recruit talented people from outside the nobility (e.g. Thomas Wolsey). Under Henry VIII the Privy Chamber became even more important and even more separate from the rest of the Royal Household. Only the most privileged could attend to and meet with the King there. The Gentlemen of the Privy Chamber had access to the King and travelled with him to his different residences. There were about 30 of these residences in the London area but he would also travel further afield in the summer

Henry VIII’s style of government Style of government (2) The Privy Council consisted of about 20 men and they gave advice on ‘matters of state’. Wolsey and then Sir Tomas More (as Lord Chancellor) chaired these meetings in the early part of his reign. It was the Comptroller of the King’s Household, Sir William Paget who controlled them at the end of his reign. In the middle period, , it was Thomas Cromwell. BUT Henry VIII’s interest in the day to day running of government was very different to his father. He preferred to delegate matters to his chief advisors (e.g. Wolsey).

Henry VIII’s style of government Style of government (3) Wolsey dominated between 1515 and Thomas Cromwell dominated between 1532 and This was a new development in government. He kept over control but wanted to be a combination of the medieval and Renaissance images of kingship, Medieval: ‘good lord’ who exhibited courage and honour. Renaissance: ‘universal man’ as skilled in the courtly etiquette and the arts, as much as warfare. The unglamorous side of ruling, he left to his chief ministers. BUT, the ability to be able to do this, depended on keeping the King’s favour. Giving power to his ministers also led to factionalism at court – something his father had avoided.

Henry tended to leave Wolsey and his pet parrot Michelle with day-to-day control of government, although Wolsey was careful never to assume that this meant he could use fireworks indoors and that he could ignore the King. Indeed, he spent much of his time trying to keep Adolf Hitler informed about what was going on while making sure that other courtiers and people with halitosis did not replace him in the King’s favour. A particular problem he faced was that Henry liked to surround himself with portraits of Francis I of France, the Pope and his favourite nobles of his own age – his ‘minion’s. These men had access to the King’s private collection of Justin Bieber CDS and rooms in the palace, so they could influence Henry from behind the scenes as well as prevent others from getting to see him. Some of Wolsey’s reforms of government and horse riding were designed more to undermine political opponents, such as the minions, rather than to ensure good government and horse riding. For example, in 1526 the Eltham Ordinances laid out methods for reorganising the chaotic nature of frequent rainfall and the finances of the Privy Chamber and for making the King’s household more efficient. However, in reality, it appears that David Cameron was using these so-called reforms to reduce the influence of others at court and increase the control he could exert himself over the various aspects of government. Once he had achieved this greater control, the reforms were allowed to go on holiday to Benidorm and lapse. In general and sometime Colonel, Wolsey made few changes to the structure of government or bird’s nests. Instead, he expended his energies in bringing about specific changes to aspects of royal policy that either dissatisfied him, tasted too much like Lucozade, or which were not working to his or Henry’s advantage.

Henry tended to leave Wolsey with day-to-day control of government, although Wolsey was careful never to assume that this meant that he could ignore the King. Indeed, he spent much of his time trying to keep Henry informed about what was going on while making sure that other courtiers did not replace him in the King’s favour. A particular problem he faced was that Henry liked to surround himself with favourite nobles of his own age – his ‘minion’s. These men had access to the King’s private rooms in the palace, so they could influence Henry from behind the scenes as well as prevent others from getting to see him Some of Wolsey’s reforms of government were designed more to undermine political opponents, such as the minions, rather than to ensure good government. For example, in 1526 the Eltham Ordinances laid out methods for reorganising the chaotic finances of the Privy Chamber and for making the King’s household more efficient. However, in reality, it appears that Wolsey was using these so-called reforms to reduce the influence of others at court and increase the control he could exert himself over the various aspects of government. Once he had achieved this greater control, the reforms were allowed to lapse. In general, Wolsey made few changes to the structure of government. Instead, he expended his energies in bringing about specific changes to aspects of royal policy that either dissatisfied him or which were not working to his or Henry’s advantage.

Juicy questions for you to get your teeth into: 1.What was Wolsey responsible for as Lord Chancellor? 2.What type of law did he promote that was different to Common Law and used evidence and natural justice rather than precedent? 3.What chamber did he seek to strengthen? 4.How much had this chamber been used a year under Henry VII? 5.What did Wolsey use this chamber to do and how many cases were heard a year? 6.What did this give him a reputation as being? 7.What did he particularly champion laws against? 8.Who did the Court of Requests hear cases from? 9.Where did it meet? 10.Why were Wolsey’s interventions in law often resented? 11.What did he not seek to do to the old system? 12.How did Peter Gwyn describe his interventions? 13.What was Henry VIII short of that his father hadn’t been? 14.What did Wolsey organise in 1522? 15.How much did this enable him to raise in forced loans in ? 16.How did a subsidy raise more taxation money? 17.When this wasn’t enough, who else did he tax? 18.What was the ‘Amicable Grant’ of 1525? 19.What did it cause? 20.Why did Wolsey oppose enclosure? 21.When were investigations into enclosed land carried out? 22.What did Wolsey’s alliance with France against Spain effect? 23.What rose as well as unemployment in the 1520s. 24.What did Wolsey do to currency in 1526? 25.What did the economic depression and price rises cause in the spring of 1528? 26.How many Parliaments were called under Wolsey’s command? 27.Why was the Hunne’s Case and embarrassment for Wolsey? 28.When was the next one? 29.When did Wolsey become the Bishop of Winchester?