Why did the foreign policy of Henry VIII fail in the years 1514-1525?
The failure of foreign policy in the years 1514-1525 can be attributed to many things. Undoubtedly, England’s small size and its lack of resources were a factor.
In source 4 we read that “[Henry] finally accepted the fact that royal finances could not support a repetition of the campaign of 1513” so he made peace with France. Here, Henry’s lack of resources seems to be the dominant reason for not pursuing his aim of winning the French crown. However, much must have depended on diplomatic relations with Maximilian and Ferdinand -”[Henry’s] allies proved unscrupulous and unreliable. Maximilian and Ferdinand were bribed by the French to disown their treaty obligations to England”, had Wolsey been more successful and persuasive in dealing with the major powers they would not have abandoned England to fight on its own.