Describe the key features of Wolsey's administration of law and finance during his period as chief adviser to Henry VIII from 1514 to 1529.

Wolsey’s input into improving the state of England was minimal, though he did contribute some things. It can be argued that he seriously attempted to bring greater justice to the English legal system. Wolsey was Lord Chancellor, he was the head of the country’s secular legal system and was directly responsible both for the legal work of the Kings council and for the courts that had originated from it, such as Star Chamber and the Chancery. He spent a lot of time an attention to this area, he heard many cases himself and often taking care to make public the reasons for his decisions. It seems that Wolsey also used the system to further his own interests, especially by overturning common law decisions that adversely affected him and by using the law  to harry those against whom he had grudge’s.  An example of this is a case involving Sir Ayas Paulet, he was made to attend court for 5 years incase his case was brought up and if he did not attend Wolsey could charge him with contempt of court. Personal satisfaction was certainly not his only motive in his legal work, it is argued that he did desire to improve justice throughout the country, by advancing civil law and that the courts were accessible for the poor and the weak. Wolsey also made attempts to reform the Kings privy chamber; this implies he sought to make permanent improvements to the system. For example 1526 the Eltham Ordinances aimed to reduce privy chamber expenses and an attempt to ensure a more effective administration in the Kings household.

In conclusion Wolsey’s administration of law and finance during his period as chief adviser to Henry VIII had little to do with improving the administration. His prime concern was to reduce the power and amount of enemy’s he had, who would have been able to influence the King and to increase his own wealth and position/power over all aspects of the government.  

Why did the Government face substantial financial difficulties in the years 1514-29?

The government faced financial problems mainly due to Henry’s want to make war against France. Campaigns in 1512 (helping Ferdinand capture Navarre), 1513 Battle of the Spurs (small victory against a fleeing French Army), the capture of Tournai and Therouanne and the victory against the Scots at Flodden. These do gain Henry lots of prestige and respect from other monarchs but the small gains where not considerable enough to match the expenses. In 1514 the governments need for money is represented by the Act of Resumption, after the Lille Compact Henry’s tactic of gaining power and prestige changes to one of peace not war. 1518 Treaty of London makes Henry and Wolsey the Arbiter’s of Europe. 1520 the Field of Cloth of Gold, this was a show of status and of wealth between Henry and the French King Francis. In 1522/3 Henry changed his policy back to war, it’s named the Great Enterprise. Its aim was to join a possible rebellion in France by the Duke of Bourbon and then claim France, Charles V had promised Spanish troops to help but they did not arrive this meant that Henrys campaign was a failure. This resulted in major cash problems, in 1523 Parliament was called to raise money via taxation but due to Wolsey’s poor handling of parliament he had to compromise with it’s members on enclosure (this undermined Wolsey’s policy of anti-enclosure). Another example of Wolsey poor handling of parliament is in 1525 when an attempt to get money failed, this was the Amicable Grant which resulted in rebellion. It is believed that Wolsey inability to control and manage parliament resulted in the failing of the attempts to raise money.  In an attempt to improve the financial difficulties Wolsey did introduce a National Enquiry into the wealth of the land, this was to raise taxes from the fixed amounts of the 1/15ths and 1/10ths system.

Henry’s foreign policies can also be blamed as it got more and more ambitious and to match this war was getting more expensive too, a problem was that the inheritance money was all spent and Royal revenue could not keep up with the demand. The issue is income verses Expenditure, it can be argued that as Wolsey was successful in the early years, Henry was getting the impression that Wolsey would always be innovative and get him money.