Administrative reforms

What were Wolsey’s aims?

1) Attacking the nobility

-Wolsey aimed to bend the nobility to his master's will. But it proved difficult as Wolsey was only a chancellor and had no noble background

2) Control the Court

-huge threat as Wolsey had no place in control

3) Create loyalty in the councils

-Henry had not trusted the old council and Wolsey was to make a new privy council of Henry's and Wolsey's closest friends and family members to keep stability

What were the successes regarding nobility?

-managed to bring many soldiers for the wars against France, building his own prestige

-managed to maintain order in the localities by bringing people such as the Earl of Surrey

-the Duke of Suffolk called Wolsey a man who was raised from the dust and was hostile(?)

-managed to attack Duke of Edinburgh who was blamed to depose Henry VIII, was successful

what were the successes regarding the court?

-King's secretaries appointed by Wolsey sent them off to diplomatic missions

-Henry VIII shows a great deal of enthusiasm for these plans , which Wolsey always wraps up in the idea that Henry himself will become more powerful from them.Built up his prestige.

What were the successes regarding the council?

-Privy council's foundations are set up which ensures the loyalty as certain lords are chosen

-1526, reduced people in the privy council by 12 to 6 to ensure the closest of the close are around Henry in the most important decisions

what were failures regarding the nobility?

-Much resentment towards Wolsey since he controlled very powerful earls

-April 1525, rebellion against the Amicable grant, faced backlash and becam very unpopular

Failures regarding the court

-Henry rapidly lost interest

-nothing comes off these ideas save for a brief period of personnel rule in Ireland (1519)

-Wolsey failed to deliver in 1519 so Henry reintroduces minions

-Wolsey introduces ordinances which cut the funding of the Court due to the failure of the amicable grant in 1525

-He was highly criticised for not actually making any major progress in the court

Failures regarding the council

-The lords in the privy council were young and inexperienced as Henry liked to surround himself with young people (Groom of the Stool)

-Example of an important man who was not in the privy council was Lord Howard, admiral of the Royal navy, who was killed in the Sea Battle of Brest

Overall Judgement

mostly successful in attacking the nobility:

-brought Duke of Buckingham to justice, who had an army in extremely close proximity to the King

-Managed to secure borders and localities by appointing close friends

-Reduced nobility's influence over the new young King, which built his own self-prestige

Some success in creating loyalty in council.

-managed to set up Privy Council which kept close friends and trustworthy nobles within Henry's plans, BUT weren’t experienced as Lord Howard

-managed to keep most of the officials loyal even though he marginalised them from the council

-Less success in court as this was viewed by officials and royals as Wolsey stepping stepping out of his place and brought resentment to him. However, was able build upon his prestige and managed to control nobles by sending them off on diplomatic missions.

BUT some e.g. Thomas Moore rejected thinking Wolsey was stepping out of his place