It was easy enough to let Wolsey hear petitions, or advise him on matters of state, or to talk with foreign envoys and report back to him. And it was in that Wolsey had his greatest foreign policy success, and it did much to solidify his bond with the young king. Henry had long wished to make his mark upon European affairs. This was partly youthful bravado. He was young, brash, strong; he wished to stride upon the world stage and make his fellow monarchs particularly the new king of France take notice.
And he did so with aplomb. Victories at Therouanne, Tournai, and the battle of the Spurs made Wolsey untouchable at court — and indispensable to his king. His greatest ecclesiastical ambition was achieved when Leo made him a special papal representative with the title legate a latere. There is certainly cause to think Henry — especially when seeking his annulment from Katharine of Aragon — liked the idea. Wolsey himself showed no particular desire to leave England. But Wolsey was merely following tradition; few, if any, Tudor statesmen did not enrich themselves while in office.
From about to , Wolsey controlled the English state. Certainly he was ultimately dependent upon the will of the king, but he managed the increasingly temperamental Henry as well as anyone could. As Lord Chancellor, Wolsey governed the state of England; as legate, he governed the church in England. Such complete control of the mechanics of political and religious life would never be achieved by another English statesman.
But of course Wolsey must fall. Once he had achieved all that he could, there was nothing for him to do but fail. Henry initially sought an annulment of his marriage to Katharine because she had not produced a male heir.
He was later spurred by his love affair with Anne Boleyn. Of course, he conveniently ignored the papal dispensation which had made their wedding legitimate in the eyes of the church.
This was merely the philosophical cover for what he believed would be a political decision. The pope had no cause to refuse his request for an annulment; Henry — and Wolsey — expected it to be granted relatively quickly. And Charles was quite literally in charge of the pope.
The pope was not eager to anger Henry, or Charles. He prevaricated. He requested documents. He sent emissaries to England and back. He pressed Wolsey; Wolsey pressed the pope. But Wolsey also considered the end result of the annulment. This great aristocratic house had long disliked Wolsey and connived against him.
Wolsey had no great affection for Katharine of Aragon and, like any good Englishman, he wished for a male heir to the throne. If Henry was determined to have a new wife, well enough — but why not a foreign princess? A match that could enrich England and widen its sphere of influence?
This meant that he did all he could to facilitate the annulment from Katharine whist trying to pry him from Anne Boleyn. He was not successful at either task. And his machinations against Anne earned him her open scorn and enmity.
The king was not unaware of gossip about his chancellor. He served his king well, but he had prospered in that service.
And perhaps his vanity was not becoming to a priest? Henry might have dismissed gossip against Wolsey before. But now he was in love, — truly in love for the first time in his life — and the object of that passion was the one who shared the gossip. And so on. In the end, Wolsey failed. The endless debates, commissions, letters, — they all ended as they began.
Wolsey was also a very keen worker. Wolsey received support at court from William Warham who was Archbishop of Canterbury from to and Chancellor from to However, Wolsey quickly outgrew this support and he became the unofficial royal secretary. This position gave him almost daily contact with Henry VIII who rewarded the hard work and dedication Wolsey showed towards him by giving him numerous religious titles that were to finance the luxurious lifestyle Wolsey was to have.
He was also appointed Chancellor in and held that position until This position gave him huge power of the church in England at the time — far more power than Warham had as Archbishop of Canterbury.
When in London, Wolsey lived in York Place now gone but where Whitehall now stands and he also owned Hampton Court as a country residence. His luxurious lifestyle made him many enemies at court but he remained safe because of the support of the king.
As Chancellor, Wolsey dominated the Royal Council. He got to know who could be trusted and who could not. Wolsey ensured this did not happen and he used his position to tame the aristocracy. Such loyalty and devotion brought its rewards.
He was famous at Oxford University for taking his degree at the age of fifteen; he was intelligent, hard-working, and also very fond of pomp and ceremony. The war was successful and Henry generously rewarded its main proponent and organizer. His powerful office and close friendship with Henry earned him many enemies, particularly aristocrats who resented his usurpation of their traditional influence.
They also resented his great wealth. Over the years, Wolsey amassed a vast fortune, though he did so largely through his church offices. He spent lavishly, but he was also charitable and personally financed many diplomatic missions.
It should be noted that most gentlemen entered government service for financial reward; Wolsey was no different. His increasingly ostentatious displays of wealth did, however, damage both his personal reputation and that of the church.
But he was efficient and capable; when he found he could not control Parliament it met only once during his years as chancellor , he simply refused to summon it. She disliked the Cardinal because of his interference in her earlier engagement to Henry Percy.
On 9 October , he was indicted for praemunire; he later confessed his guilt. Parliament was summoned to indict him on forty-four charges. The king kept him from prison but stripped him of many offices and all of his power. Wolsey was ordered to retire to his archbishopric of York. Indiscreet letters to Rome led to his arrest on 4 November. He died on the 24th while returning to London and, most likely, execution at the Tower.
Hall implies that Wolsey committed suicide. He did not. He died on the 24th, while returning to London and, most likely, execution at the Tower. You have heard under the last year how the cardinal of York [Wolsey] was attainted in praemunire, and despite that the king had given him the bishoprics of York and Winchester, with great possessions, and had licensed him to live in his diocese of York. The cardinal would also speak fair to the people to win their hearts, and always declared that he was unjustly and untruly commanded, which fair speaking made many men believe that he spoke the truth.
And to be held in higher repute by the people he determined to be installed or enthroned at York with all possible pomp, and caused a throne to be erected in the Cathedral Church of such a height and design as was never seen before; and he sent to all the lords, abbots, priors, knights, esquires and gentlemen of his diocese to be at his manor of Cawood on 6 November, and so to bring him to York with all pomp and solemnity.
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