Please enable JavaScript.
Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.
THOMAS WOLSEY & THE GOVERNMENT, 1514-1529 - Coggle Diagram
THOMAS WOLSEY & THE GOVERNMENT, 1514-1529
COURT OF STAR CHAMBER
Too successful, forced to set up a series of 'overflow tribunals' to deal with pressure of business.
-
Seen as a friend to the poor - heard cases of alleged misconduct by people who were dominant in their localities, used to challenge nobility and local officials who abused power, championed laws against enclosure of land for sheep, and encouraged use of private lawsuits.
Court of Requests used to hear cases from poor people, met in Whitehall in the Palace of Westminster - popular, low cost of bringing case, quick decisions.
Encouraged commoners to bring complaints before the court - increased number of cases from 12 to about 120 a year.
Had been established by an Act of Parl in 1487, from 1516, Wolsey wanted it to dispense cheap and impartial justice - corruption out.
Did use it to get rid of his enemies - the Earl of Northumberland was sent to Fleet Prison in 1515 and Lord Burgavenny was accused of illegal retaining in 1516.
ENCLOSURES
Further investigations in 1518, though opposition from landowners in Parliament in 1523 forced him to suspend these enquiries temporarily until 1526.
Continued, vagrancy not reduced.
Enquiry in 1517 identified enclosed land and demolition of buildings. From this, legal proceedings against 264 landowners judged to have enclosed land without proper permission - 222 came to court, 188 clear verdicts (including Thomas More).
-
Tentative steps to tackle the issue under Henry VII, but he'd been too concerned not to annoy landowners whilst still in a vulnerable position. Wolsey was concerned less about the effects of enclosure on power, and more about acting against the landowners.
-
PARLIAMENT
Richard Hunne was a respectable London merchant tailor, who refused to pay the usual mortuary fee to the Church when his child died. He was arrested and put in the Bishop of London's prison, and found hanged there.
Parliament took up the case, Wolsey as senior representative of the Church of England had to kneel before Parl and beg for forgiveness. Relations between Wolsey and Parliament were permanently damaged.
Wolsey could be accused of trying to rule without Parliament, only two called - 1515 and 1523/
London jury returned a verdict of murder, adding that the Bishop was an accomplice.
First caused problems for Wolsey over Hunne's case and provided evidence of anti-clericalism, especially in London.
Second called so Parl could agree to taxation as a result of the expensive foreign policy being pursued.
LIMITATIONS OF JUSTICE
His modern biographer, Peter Gwyn, suggests his interventions were piecemeal and not systematic, rather than tackling the issues as a whole.
Didn't seek to set up a new system, so reforms personal and unlikely to continue when he wasn't there.
Not a trained lawyer, interventions resented by those who were.
When pursuit of justice for all clashed with his own interests, latter that gained his attention.
COURT OF CHANCERY
Cases dealt with in property, wills and contracts.
-
-
Court in huge demand as a result of Wolsey's actions, too popular and he got distracted by foreign policy.