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HVIII - Government - Coggle Diagram
HVIII - Government
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Wolsey Domestic Policy
Wolsey's relationship with the nobility - He held tumultuous relationships with the nobility as the Duke of Suffolk opposed his emergence as Chief Minister and Wolsey was regarded as a person rising up the ranks
Legal Government and Justices of the Peace - Henry VIII and Wolsey continued Henry VII's policy of building links between the country and the court. Many local magnates and JPs were invited to attend court.
Wolsey used his household to train for local government and Wolsey used his powers from the Star Chamber to reduce alleged corruption and maladministration
The Court of Star Chamber's motives were to extend cheap and fair justice and used to attack nobles and local officials who abused the poor. It was established by an Act of Parliament in 1487 as an offshoot of the King's Council
The Court of Chancery - As Lord Chancellor, Wolsey was responsible for overseeing the legal system, and had the right to preside over the Court of Chancery
He used to the courts to administer fair justice and used it for enclosure, contracts and land left in wills
Legal reforms - Wolsey had a greater impact on the work of the Star Chamber. In 1516, he put forward his principles that any crime should be punished, regardless of rank and justice should be cheap and impartial
Enclosure - Poverty, crime and unemployment problems were blamed on enclosure. In 1517 - Wolsey launched a national inquiry to the amount of enclosed land and the effects. This uncovered evidence against 264 landlords and incorporations. Legal cases were drawn up but as a result of opposition, Wolsey abandoned the policy in 1523
Profiteering - He wished to protect the ordinary from extortionate overpricing. This is evidenced in 1518, when he fixed poultry prices as well as issuing proclamations against grain dealers who profiteered BUT Wolsey did little to enforce the measures
Tax reform - Wolsey changed the system of fifteenths and tenths and he moved to a system in which taxpayers were assessed individually. In incomes which exceeded a prescribed limit had to pay tax
Parliament - Did not prove adept in managing Parliament and called only 2 (1515 and 1523):
- 1515 - worried over Church affairs in the aftermath of the Hunne Case
- 1523- overshadowed by needs to raise funds to fight the war in France
Wolsey's relationship with Henry VIII - Wolsey was described as 'alta rex' indicating that he held many of the duties of a king. Such a title indicates the power that Wolsey held and HVIII's reliance upon him
Tudor Subsidy - In 1522, Wolsey organised a national survey to assess who would pay tax or not. This was used to gain about £200,000 in forced loans. To overcome inflation, Wolsey suggested a subsidy based on income. As a result, Wolsey levied tax from the Church and set up a national committee to collect tax
Eltham Ordinances (1526) - To reform finances in the Privy Council
Wolsey secured a reduction in members
- Removed HVIII's Groom of the Stool, replacing him with more compliant Henry Norris
This made him unpopular with the nobility and simultaneously emphasised his power
Henry's actions
Increasing use of the Court - which reinstated the importance of hereditary powers and emphasised the people with land
Placing more importance on the Privy Chamber - By placing more importance, it meant those within the Chamber held more influence and led to things occurring that were in the best interest of others
Increasing use of Thomas Wolsey - Placed the dutiful affairs upon Wolsey and Wolsey acquired a range of church offices and appointed Cardinal. Henry VIII offered a range of power to Wolsey
Henry preferred to pass the time with good company and due to this, there was a renewed emphasis on governing through Council and he relied on the work of his chief minister
Marriage to Catharine of Aragon (11th June 1509) - Rapidly married Catherine and Catharine was able to influence policy but Henry regretted marrying her quickly
Coronation (June 1509) - Came to the throne as well-educated but he disliked the business of governing and had no experience in government of public affairs
Imprisonment and execution of Empson and Dudley (1510) - Did this as Empson and Dudley were unpopular under HVII. Such an action separated HVIII from his father
Execution of Duke of Buckingham (1521) - Regarded him as suspicious as he was a descendant of Edward III. Such an action provided more stability
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Fall of Cromwell
Catalyst for his fall lay in his failure to manage the King's marital affairs. Cromwell failed with the marriage to Anne of Cleves and the League of Schmalkalden and Henry's desire for Catharine Howard put Cromwell's enemies in power - highlighting the power within faction
During this time, you see a move to a more conservative approach to governing and legislation.
His unpopularity was detrimental to him and as a result, he was accused of treason and executed in July 1540
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