The Fall of Sir Thomas Wolsey: The Contingent Circumstances and Events That Led to His Demise

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The Fall of Sir Thomas Wolsey: The Contingent Circumstances The Fall of Sir Thomas Wolsey: The Contingent Circumstances

and Events That Led to His Demise and Events That Led to His Demise

Jeremy M. Rodriguez

University of Central Florida

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Recommended Citation Recommended Citation

Rodriguez, Jeremy M., "The Fall of Sir Thomas Wolsey: The Contingent Circumstances and Events That

Led to His Demise" (2021).

Honors Undergraduate Theses

. 1069.

https://stars.library.ucf.edu/honorstheses/1069

THE FALL OF SIR THOMAS WOLSEY: THE CONTINGENT CIRCUMSTANCES AND

EVENTS THAT LED TO HIS DEMISE

JEREMY MICHAEL RODRIGUEZ

A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements

for the Honors in the Major Program in History

in the College of Arts and Humanities

and in the Burnett Honors College

at the University of Central Florida

Orlando, Florida

Fall Term 2021

Thesis Chair: Dr. Peter Larson

ABSTRACT

This thesis describes the contingent events that led to the downfall of Lord High

Chancellor Thomas Wolsey in England using Hall’s Chronicles and the letters and papers under

Henry VIII between the years of 1527 and 1529. While the popular belief is that it was from

Wolsey’s inability to get the annulment Henry VIII wanted from his first wife, there are other

arguments. While I do follow the popular belief, in my research I found that the common belief

of the inability to get the annulment is true, but not as black and white as it has been made out

to be. There were many events and circumstances that hindered Wolsey and other delegates

that were involved ranging from physiologically to politically. In addition, the downfall of

Wolsey was not as gradual as has been assumed.

iii

DEDICATION

I would like to dedicate this to my parents, who have always supported me through my studies

and hobbies no matter what they are. I would also like to dedicate this to Jacqueline Rubio,

who, like my family, always saw more potential in me than I ever saw in myself and will always

be my inspiration for teaching; I only hope I can be half as good as a teacher as she was.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I would like to thank Dr. Amelia Lyons for pushing me to challenge myself and do an Honors

Undergraduate Thesis when I did not think I was capable of doing so and was the first person to

show me that the harder the challenge, the more you learn. I would also like to thank Dr. Peter

Larson who never once made me feel overwhelmed with the research or writing process and

always helped me organize my own thoughts. I would also like to thank Dr. Alison Hudson and

Dr. Duncan Hardy who provided me with a lot of contexts in my research of events and areas I

previously did not have much knowledge on.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................ 1

CHAPTER TWO ............................................................................................................... 10

GRADUAL DECLINE? ................................................................................................. 10

CHARLES V ................................................................................................................. 15

SICKNESS .................................................................................................................... 20

CHAPTER THREE ........................................................................................................... 26

QUALIFICATION .......................................................................................................... 26

CONCLUSION.................................................................................................................. 30

PRIMARY SOURCES ...................................................................................................... 33

SECONDARY SOURCES................................................................................................ 34

INTRODUCTION

Born on June 28, 1491 to the son of Henry VII, the first Tudor Dynasty king, Henry VIII is

one of the most infamous English Monarchs in history. His father, Henry VII, had made the

English crown very wealthy, although by no means in a way that pleased the people nor even

completely legally.

Henry VIII was much more lavish in his spending compared to his father

after inheriting the throne; loving the grandeur. Henry was also quite rash with some of his

decision-making. Well-known for his splitting from the Catholic Church in Rome and his struggle

to have a male heir to the throne, his reign changed the course of English History. This battle to

have a male heir eventually led to a seven-year struggle to get an annulment from his first wife,

Catherine of Aragon. The man put in charge of this was Thomas Wolsey, who ultimately

struggled for three years to get the annulment granted from the pope, with little to no success.

The inability to get the annulment granted is what ultimately led to his rapid fall from power.

Henry VIII was not set to be the heir of the throne; his brother, Arthur, was. As the

younger son, Henry was supposed to live a pious life and studied religion extensively. When

Arthur died unexpectedly in 1502, Henry became the heir to the throne. The solution, after

Henry VII briefly considered marrying Catherine herself, was that Henry VIII was to marry

Catherine. With Henry now becoming the next king of England, he needed a wife to produce a

male heir to the throne. But according to Leviticus, that would be against the Bible. In Leviticus

18:16 it reads, “Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy brothers’ wife: it is thy brother’s

Rebecca Fraser, The Story of Britain, (New York, NY: W. W. Norton & Company, 2006), 250-252

nakedness.” There is another verse in Leviticus 20:21 that reads, “If a man shall take his

brother’s wife, it is an unclean thing…they shall be childless.” These two verses in Leviticus were

a hinderance to them getting married. Catherine and her duenna swore that the marriage she

previously had with Arthur Tudor was never consummated, therefore meaning the marriage

was invalid and she could marry Henry VIII.

Since it was not consummated, Arthur had never

seen her naked, they could get married, and Pope Leo X granted a dispensation for the

marriage.

One thing Henry wanted more than anything, was a male heir to the throne of England.

Despite seemingly loving Catherine (which is uncommon in a time where marriages were more

of political alliances), Catherine was unsuccessful in birthing a male heir. Catherine did give

birth to Henry, Duke of Cornwall, on January 1, 1511, but he died very shortly after. After this,

Catherine was never able to bear a male child again. With Catherine getting older, Henry was

growing concerned over her ability to bear a male child. Looking back, it is more likely that

Henry himself was the cause of the reproductive issues.

During a time before modern science

and male superiority was at its peak, this would have been dismissed quickly. Henry also started

to believe the inability to produce a male heir was punishment from God for marrying

Catherine. Remember, Catherine had been married to his brother and according to Leviticus, to

J. J. Scarisbrick, Henry VIII, (Yale: Yale University Press, 1997), 8

Catrina Banks Whitley and Kyra Kramer, “A New Explanation For The Reproductive Woes and Midlife Decline

of Henry VIII,” The Historical Journal, Vol. 53 No. 4, (December 2010), 828, accessed September 10, 2021,

https://www.jstor.org/stable/40930359?Search=yes&resultItemClick=true&searchText=henry+VIII+infertility&sear

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marry a brother’s widows is wrong and furthermore would result in no children. This all

culminated into Henry demanding for an annulment from Catherine.

Henry VIII, although being well-versed in religion, was not as familiar with political

affairs and “relied on his father’s ministers to run the government.”

That is, until he found

Thomas Wolsey. Thomas Wolsey was supposedly the son a butcher and was sent away for

schooling. Wolsey had studied theology extensively and loved international affairs. He would

become a priest as well as a dean of divinity. After catching the eye of Henry VIII due to his

intelligence and influential way of speaking, he was made almoner. Wolsey was capable of

giving the King good direction and what to do with foreign affairs. In the Battle of Tournai, or

the “Battle of the Spurs,” Henry scared off the French, and with this victory Wolsey became

Bishop of Tournai and proved himself to Henry. The importance of this battle was that it was

the first time Henry proved himself worthy of being king by winning a battle. And for Wolsey,

this was important to him because he was the one that assembled the army for Henry,

therefore proving himself as a capable advisor. After this, Wolsey and Henry excelled together.

Wolsey was able to help Henry in a multitude of ways that made him a trustworthy companion

for him. By doing so, Wolsey was also rewarded lavishly. Eventually being titled Bishop of

Lincoln, Archbishop of York, legatus a latere, and most importantly, Lord High Chancellor of

England, and Cardinal: Wolsey was the quintessence of pluralism. Wolsey made it possible for

Henry to be the king that he was. With great power comes great responsibility, which can mean

life or death situations. For Wolsey, things seemed to be great at first, but not forever.

Fraser, The Story of Britain, 258

In the early sixteenth century when Wolsey was at his zenith and Henry had gained his

spurs, Italy was in a state of constant warfare. The Italian Wars seemed to have been one of the

hottest topics in England, France, and the Holy Roman Empire; most of Europe for that matter.

For example, on August 17, 1527, Cardinal Salviati wrote, “The cardinal of York…is very active in

endeavoring to procure the release of the Pope by means of the English ambassadors in Spain;

this being the first point which the Cardinal demands from the Emperor in the negotiations for

the universal peace.”

In Henry’s letters and papers at this time, letters on the Italian Wars

outnumbered those on the annulment, or “Secret Matter” as it was called at the time, three to

one.” Charles V, King of Spain and elected Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire but not yet

crowned, had had interest in Genoa and Milan for a variety of reasons. These two cities were

held by the French after the Swiss had kicked them out. Ultimately, Francis I of France had a

vendetta against Charles because Francis was also a contestant for the Imperial title.

In 1523,

Francis lost Milan and when trying to gain it back, was captured and imprisoned in Spain for a

year.

The Ottomans also were also occupying lands like Syria, Egypt, Rhodes, Belgrade, Buda,

Vienna, etc. These forces were inching closer and closer to the Holy Roman Empire and shows

Charles their capabilities.

Catherine was the aunt of Charles V, King of Spain. This made the annulment an

international affair. Charles was going to support his aunt’s wishes over Henry’s. Have this

"Henry VIII: August 1527, 11-20," in Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII, Volume 4, 1524-

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J. R. Hale, War and Society in Renaissance Europe, (New York, NY: St. Martin’s Press Inc., 1985), 15-16

Hale, War and Society, 16

happened a few years before his successes in Italy and France, it is possible Charles would not

have cares as much, or would have been far too distracted to concern himself with this matter.

Charles in many letters mentions his disgust of the fact that Henry wants an annulment and

whole-heartedly tries to convince him out of it. More specifically, Charles tried to convince the

pope against granting the annulment and frequently threatens the pope. So, the pope was now

getting pressure from the Italian wars, Charles V’s threats, and Wolsey’s/Henry’s push for the

annulment. This caused an enormous amount of pressure on the pope, and ultimately Wolsey.

When Henry and Wolsey were pushing for the annulment, there was a fervor of debates in the

church and countless delegates being sent to the pope and England. What the pope wanted

was time and patience, neither of which are things Henry nor Wolsey, especially, had.

To add more pressure on Europe as a whole, the Protestant Reformation was

happening. Martin Luther had nailed his 95 Theses against the Catholic Church in 1517 and

unknowingly began the Protestant Reformation in Europe. Obviously, Henry VIII being a

“devout” Catholic, fought with him with the pope. This is quite ironic, as Henry will later begin

the Protestant Reformation in England when he breaks ties with the Rome. Needless to say,

Europe was in a chaos with seemingly non-stop wars and battles of succession. The Pope was

usually involved in some way shape or form, and in terms of the Protestants, the pope wanted

to get rid of them and the heretic Martin Luther. This caused issues for Wolsey and Henry by

adding additional pressure to the pope who was already dealing with an immense amount of

stress.

As if this wasn’t enough tension in the European atmosphere, there was also the

Sweating Sickness. Around June of 1528, the Sweating Sickness was rampant, primarily in

England.

This was the fourth wave of the Sweating Sickness to hit England since 1485.

Taking

from its name, the sickness caused “profuse sweating during a period of 24 hours with a quick

progression to either death or complete recovery.”

We know Wolsey himself got it, Anne

Boleyn got it, and Henry’s household got it. Although not specified in the letters if it was the

Sweating Sickness or not (my assumption being not), the Pope also was very ill for a period of

time in 1528. On January 11

, 1528, Sir Gregory Casale wrote,

On the 8

I wrote to you that the Pope was unwell. Since then his illness has increased so

greatly that fears arose of his death; which God forbid, in these turbulent times. Last night

he took some medicine, which has produced little effect. This evening we have received

some hope of his recovery, as the fever has not returned at its usual term; but he is not

yet out of danger.

We continue to see mentions of the pope’s ill-health until March of that year, although he did

not die until 1534. One could make the argument that his sickness was increased due to the

immense pressures that were upon his shoulders between Charles and Henry. One could make

this same argument about Thomas Wolsey. Wolsey died in November of 1530 of unknown

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Frederick F. Holmes, “Anne Boleyn, the sweating sickness, and the hantavirus: a review of an old disease with a

modern interpretation,” Journal of Medical Biography, Vol. 6 Issue 1, 1998, accessed September 15, 2021,

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Holmes, “The Sweating Sickness,”

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causes in his sleep, but had suffered immense embarrassment after being stripped of his titles

and lands and losing the friendship and trust over the king, over something that ultimately was

not his fault. This failure and the three years of pressure Wolsey was experiencing ultimately

could have had an effect on his health. On October 21

of 1528, Du Bellay wrote to

Montmorency, “Such was part of our conversation, during which his countenance betrayed the

utmost possible anxiety, tears sometimes coming into his eyes.”

There was no doubt that

Wolsey was trying his hardest for Henry, whether for his own selfish reasons or for loyalty

towards him, and that it could have negatively affected his health; but I digress.

As mentioned before, Henry wanted an annulment from Catherine. The pope was the

one to grant the annulment, not Wolsey. Wolsey had to do what he could with his influential

prowess to gain this annulment. But was the annulment as important as defending Europe

against Protestants, the wars in Italy, the pope’s own health, and Charles V’s threats? Henry

and Wolsey would say yes; the pope, on the other hand, was struggling trying to make

everyone happy and merely stay in good health.

As you can see there is a lot of occurring all

at once in Europe that cumulatively made the annulment not necessarily the pope’s top

priority. To Henry, the annulment was vital, and he would not budge. Wolsey wanted nothing

more than to please the King, and also keep his titles and life, but he also did not want to

"Henry VIII: October 1528, 21-31," in Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII, Volume 4, 1524-

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Scarisbrick, Henry VIII, 48

tarnish his relationship with the pope. Wolsey was stuck in the middle and got the worst result

out of everyone.

Putting this all together, Wolsey desperately trying to please the King and get an

annulment equated to something that is seemingly impossible. The pope was far too concerned

with many other matters to really focus on Henry and the annulment. This does not mean that

the Pope put the annulment totally to the side. In fact, the Pope did put great effort into

attempting to help Henry with his struggle, frequently mentioning this friendship and trust of

Henry VIII. Whether this trust is superficial or concrete, we may never truly know. Based off the

letters it appears there is evidence of friendship, but it is also possible that this was merely a

political alliance. In any case, this did not overrule his requirements as pope to make sure he

made the correct decision and this is where there was conflict. The Pope seemed to have

trusted Henry, but did not hastily give into his request knowing his duties as the Pope,

regardless of Henry being Defender of the Faith or not. Wolsey was also in good standing with

the Pope. But there is no doubt that there were other external events that were happening in

Europe that overshadowed the annulment. Not only that, but Wolsey and Henry frequently

made indirect, and in some cases direct threats, foreshadowing the break from Rome as early

as 1527.

There are other arguments in the historiography of Wolsey’s fall make arguments such

as anti-Wolsey factions and/or the Boleyn family having a large part in Wolsey’s fall.

But the

E. W. Ives “The Fall of Wolsey,” Wolsey: Church, State, and Art, ed. S. J. Gun & P. G. Lindley, (Cambridge:

1991), 286-315; Rapheal, Brandon, “A Time of Transition from Wolsey to Cromwell in England,” (2011). HIM

1990-2015. 1177. https://stars.library.ucf.edu/honorstheses1990-2015/1177

evidence in this collection of letters against these beliefs is substantial. The fall of Wolsey was

not due to the anti-Wolsey factions nor the Boleyn family; that would imply a teleological

viewpoint that his demise was planned from the beginning and that does not seem to be the

case. Ultimately, the fall of Sir Thomas Wolsey was not teleological, his fall was not imminent

nor planned, but was in fact the result of contingent circumstances and events that ultimately

led to his failure and demise.

CHAPTER TWO

GRADUAL DECLINE?

Throughout Wolsey’s time as Lord High Chancellor, he proved to be an exceptional asset

to Henry. Out of everything he did for Henry, nothing proved to be a more difficult task for

Wolsey than getting the annulment for Henry. There have been questions regarding whether

Wolsey actually tried as hard as he could to get the annulment, or if he was part of the reason

why there was a delay. There is one thing I do not doubt: Wolsey was absolutely loyal to Henry

and would do anything he asked, regardless of his own beliefs. While we do not really have my

way of knowing if this was for his own selfish reasons or for a true loyalty to the king, we still

find evidence in this collection of letters that he would do anything the king says. This is shown

in a letter from Wolsey to Margaret Queen of Scotland. Margaret was yearning for a divorce

herself from the Earl of Angus. One would expect Wolsey to be sympathetic towards the cause,

one might not because she is a woman. In this letter Wolsey reminds her of “’the divine

ordinance of inseparable matrimony first instituted in Paradise’ and hopes her Grace will

perceive how she was seduced by flatterers to an unlawful divorce.”

This is irony at its finest:

Wolsey saying how wrong it is to end a marriage yet trying to get an annulment for Henry for a

marriage that is debatably illegal. But this shows that even though Wolsey may not have

completely thought it was a just cause, he still did his best and underwent a lot of emotional

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September 30, 2021, http://www.british-history.ac.uk/letters-papers-hen8/vol4/pp1825-1837.

angst in the process. In reality there is no way to know if Wolsey truly did have the King’s best

interests at heart, but based on these sources I believe his loyalty to him was unfailing. The Earl

of Northumberland wrote to Wolsey that he “has always found him diligent, and ready to do

the King Service.”

Wolsey’s contemporaries frequently remarked his eagerness to assist the

king in his interests.

The more accepted belief in the historical community is that the downfall of Wolsey was

gradual, beginning in 1527 and ending in 1529, and then his death in 1530 on his way to trial of

an unknown cause. The idea is that from the moment in 1527 when the downfall began, the

relationship between Wolsey and Henry was progressively getting worse with Henry having less

and less trust for Wolsey every day. In “The Fall of Wolsey Reconsidered,” G. W. Bernard wrote,

“As early as summer 1527, the king’s desire for an annulment of his marriage with Catherine of

Aragon had created tensions in his relations with Wolsey.”

This is true, although tension

would not really begin until December. With this being said, although tensions had been raised

by the urge for an annulment, this does not mean that their relationship was bad. During 1527,

the annulment was referred to as “The Secret Affair” or “The King’s Matter.” For example, on

July 29, 1527, Wolsey wrote to Henry, “Daily and hourly musing, and thinking on your Grace’s

great and secret affair, and how the same may come to good effect and desired end…”

The

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affair was obviously not this grand affair, at least in the beginning, nor a well-known issue

throughout Europe in the beginning. In fact, on August 1, 1527, Wolsey wrote to Ghinucci and

Lee that,

A rumor, somehow or another, has sprung up in England that proceedings are being

taken for a divorce between the King and Queen, which is entirely without

foundation…But, if you hear anything started, in the event of any question being raised,

and that it is foolish to suppose so grave a cause could be decided in private. I have told

you all the circumstances, by which you will gather how unfounded the rumor is.

This shows that the annulment itself was originally supposed to be a very “hush-hush” type of

arrangement. At this point of time, Charles already had received knowledge of the desire for an

annulment and had even discussed in a letter to Don Inigo de Mendoza about making sure it

stayed secret and ending it, although supporting his aunt Catherine.

It is not until 1528 that

there was more discussion of the annulment in a more open matter, as well as a more pressing

matter. On January 1, 1528 there were two letters, the first reading, “he [Clement VII] would

send the dispensation. He begged you would have patience for a time, and not proceed at once

to trial, as he is in great perplexity,” and the second reading, “The demand in your subsequent

letter, beyond the dispensation, I have granted, though not without great hazard to myself, as a

token of my affection for you. Begs credence for the secretary and the Nuncio.”

The former

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was from a Knight to Henry, and the latter from Clement VII to Henry. These letters

demonstrate how during 1528 the urgency for an annulment was becoming more severe and

the danger in which granting the annulment does to Clement VII is also becoming more

apparent.

There are more letters showing friendship and comradery than not, even as late as the

summer of 1528. On July 26, 1528, Russell wrote to Wolsey,

You must comfort yourself, and be of good cheer; ‘assuring your Grace that the King is

well appeased and satisfied, as I well perceive when he speaks of you, and doubt you

not but you shall have him as good to your Grace as ever he was in his life.’ He is a

prince of so many good qualities that he will remember the good service and pains you

have taken for him…

One does have to be careful in assuming that these are true statements as it is possible Russell

was attempting to give Wolsey a false sense of security, but really there is no way to know for

sure either way. The following example provides a more tangible example of possible

friendship. On August 30, 1528, Hennege wrote to Wolsey, “The King sends you the greatest

red deer kill by him or any of his hunters this year.”

The second was much shorter, but still

important because it resembles the friendship they had even in mid-1528 despite the

annulment. This does not go to say that there was not still tension between them. A little bit

earlier, on December 6, 1527, Wolsey wrote to Sir Gregory Casale, “I am the more urgent as the

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King is absolutely resolved to satisfy his conscience; and if this cannot be done, he will of two

evils choose the least, and the disregard for the Papacy must grow daily, especially in these

dangerous times.”

This was the only seed of doubt in Wolsey in 1527 after analyzing the

Letters in this collection. Otherwise, 1527 was relatively quiet on the matter.

It would not be until January 16, 1529 that Henry directly began to blame Wolsey. On

that date, Inigo de Mendoza wrote to Charles, “The King has told me that he has begun to lay

the blame upon his Cardinal, who, he says, has not fulfilled his promises in the matter. And that

all he has done about it hitherto has been to desire the Pope”

By October 1529, the downfall

was complete. Wolsey would live imprisoned for as long as Henry wished and he had to forfeit

all his lands, offices, goods, and furthermore was stripped of his Chancellorship.

Thus, this

“gradual” decline was not gradual at all. The relationship between Wolsey and Henry was

relatively friendly, despite Wolsey’s anxiety and pressures to get the annulment; Henry did have

faith in him. By 1529, Henry was moved by urgency and refused to wait longer, laying the blame

on Wolsey, who in reality, did nothing wrong and seemed to be trying his hardest. But the

circumstances and events that were happening around him while attempting to get the

annulment all ended up obstructing the annulment and delaying it even longer.

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October 2, 2021, http://www.british-history.ac.uk/letters-papers-hen8/vol4/pp2269-2283.

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1530, ed. J S Brewer (London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1875), 2675-2688. British History Online, accessed

October 2, 2021, http://www.british-history.ac.uk/letters-papers-hen8/vol4/pp2675-2688.

CHARLES V

As mentioned in the Introduction, Charles V was the nephew of Catherine of Aragon.

Charles was going to supported the wishes of his aunt over the king’s wishes, although if this

would have taken place in the earlier 1520s Charles might not have cared as much because he

would have been too distracted in Italy. Charles was notified of this “Secret Matter” quite early

on. We know that at least by July of 1527 that he knew and was becoming active in convincing

Henry out of it. It was the exact same time Henry made this decision. On July 29, 1527, Charles

V wrote to Don Inigo de Mendoza saying,

It is, however, our intention not to be in fault with the Queen our aunt, but, on the

contrary, to do everything in our power on her behalf…for even if it were right and

allowable to say or think-which by no means is so-that the Pope could not dispense in

his marriage…and we ourselves have also written to his Holiness, through another

channel, respecting this ugly affair, entreating him to revoke the legatine power

conferred on the cardinal of England…

From the very beginning, Charles V was totally against the movement. Another important

aspect of this letter is the mention of him writing to the Pope himself. This is foreshadowing to

the threats that Charles V would have against the Pope if he were to approve of the annulment.

Charles was very active in fighting against Henry and Wolsey’s battle for the annulment

as shown above. In mid-April of 1528 this factor is exemplified when Gregory Casale writes

(possibly to Vannes),

His Holiness is not averse to pleasing the King and Wolsey, but fears the Spaniards more

than he ever did…The Friar General has forbidden him, in the Emperor’s name, to grant

"Henry VIII: July 1527, 21-31," in Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII, Volume 4, 1524-1530,

ed. J S Brewer (London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1875), 1490-1507. British History Online, accessed

October 15, 2021, http://www.british-history.ac.uk/letters-papers-hen8/vol4/pp1490-1507.

the King’s request. He fears for his life from the Imperialists…Before the Pope would

grant this brief, he said, weeping, that it would be hit utter ruin; that he was at the

mercy of the imperialists…The Pope desired him to write separately to Wolsey that he

had willingly incurred this danger, trusting in his continual declarations of goodwill,

without which he would never have dared to do it…

Immediately we are shown the fear the Pope has. The Spaniards, and their King Charles, are

actively threatening the Pope specifically due to the annulment. Charles wanted to protect his

aunt and it seems as if he would do whatever is necessary to make sure the annulment is not

followed through with. Another important aspect of this letter was the “he had willingly

incurred this danger.” The Pope was aware of the danger that was presented to him for trying

to help the king and was still trying to help, or so he says in this collection of letters. The Pope

seems to be continually trusting both the Emperor and Henry. Even as late as March 19, 1529,

Sanga wrote to Campeggio saying, “In short, the Pope wishes to satisfy the King; but in a matter

which might create so much scandal it is requisite that he should proceed cautiously, and find

means to justify his proceedings.”

This is clear evidence that the Pope was desirous in

assisting the king achieve his goals but extremely hindered by the scandal granting the

annulment could bring. So, what is worse: Charles V/Spain or Henry VIII and Wolsey? There is

also evidence of Henry threatening the pope. For example, on October 28, 1528 Campeggio

wrote to Sanga saying, “He (Wolsey) often impresses upon me that if this [divorce] is not

"Henry VIII: April 1528, 11-18," in Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII, Volume 4, 1524-

1530, ed. J S Brewer (London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1875), 1837-1848. British History Online, accessed

October 15, 2021, http://www.british-history.ac.uk/letters-papers-hen8/vol4/pp1837-1848.

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October 20, 2021, http://www.british-history.ac.uk/letters-papers-hen8/vol4/pp2368-2376.

granted, the authority of the See Apostolic in his kingdom will be annihilated.”

There are

many letters in addition to this one between 1528 and 1529 that highlight a threat towards the

Pope if the annulment not granted. The Pope is between a rock and a hard space in that no

matter which way he goes there will be an issue.

Charles’ influence in this matter did have a negative effect for Wolsey. Not only was

Charles effective in delaying the annulment, his threats made the Pope eventually steer more

towards resolution by restoring mutual affections between the King and Queen by the end of

1528. This does not mean that tensions had been resolved. On August 17, 1528, Silvester

Darius wrote, “He (the Emperor) has said nothing about the divorce, and seems to hope that it

will not proceed…If the Spanish nobles hear of it, they may incite the Emperor to war. The

whole of Spain is displeased about the divorce.”

This is a perfect example of how although

Charles V was not necessarily speaking directly about the annulment anymore, or at least at the

moment, there was still a wave in Spain supporting Catherine of Aragon. The Pope would not

want a war, especially after yet another Sack of Rome in 1527. Therefore, the Pope was still

hindered which furthermore hinders Wolsey.

There were still a lot of letters in September of 1528 following the letter by Silvester

Darius showing that there were lasting effects from the possibility of war. Most, if not all, of

"Henry VIII: October 1528, 21-31," in Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII, Volume 4, 1524-

1530, ed. J S Brewer (London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1875), 2104-2119. British History Online, accessed

October 20, 2021, http://www.british-history.ac.uk/letters-papers-hen8/vol4/pp2104-2119.

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1530, ed. J S Brewer (London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1875), 2008-2023. British History Online, accessed

October 20, 2021, http://www.british-history.ac.uk/letters-papers-hen8/vol4/pp2008-2023.

these letters involved Cardinal Campeggio. The goal of the letters seemed to have shifted for

the Pope. At this point, the new goal was to pacify the situation by restoring mutual affections

between the King and the Queen. Up to this point, the Pope has considered himself neutral in

the situation which pleased Charles, and it seems as if the Pope has now shifted from trying to

please the King, to keeping himself safe and happy with the Emperor. This is shown on

September 16, 1528 when Sanga wrote to Campeggio discussing this goal and furthermore said,

“The Emperor declares himself well satisfied with the Pope’s neutrality.”

This does not work

for Henry. Campeggio wrote to Salviati a month later on October 17 saying, “the King exhibited

a most ardent desire for this divorce; and he seems to me to be so persuaded of the nullity of

the marriage, and so firmly to believe it, that I have come to the conclusion that it will be

impossible to persuade him otherwise.”

Furthermore, Campeggio’s conclusion became a

reality when on October 28 of the same year Campeggio wrote to Sanga saying, “He (Wolsey)

often impresses upon me that if this [divorce] is not granted, the authority of the See Apostolic

in this kingdom will be annihilated; and he certainly proves himself very zealous for its

preservation.”

Henry was willing to take any means necessary to get the annulment.

"Henry VIII: September 1528, 11-20," in Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII, Volume 4,

1524-1530, ed. J S Brewer (London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1875), 2046-2064. British History Online,

accessed October 21, 2021, http://www.british-history.ac.uk/letters-papers-hen8/vol4/pp2046-2064.

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1530, ed. J S Brewer (London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1875), 2089-2103. British History Online, accessed

October 21, 2021, http://www.british-history.ac.uk/letters-papers-hen8/vol4/pp2089-2103.

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1530, ed. J S Brewer (London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1875), 2104-2119. British History Online, accessed

October 26, 2021, http://www.british-history.ac.uk/letters-papers-hen8/vol4/pp2104-2119.

Another matter that pops up briefly after these recently mentioned letters is Wolsey’s

disillusionment with his own thought process. As mentioned previously, there was a letter

discussing Wolsey essentially breaking down over the stress of trying to get the annulment. In

the process of being pushed for an annulment for Henry for over a year, it seems Wolsey was

not thinking clearly enough. Wolsey was extremely desperate knowing that his life would most

likely be in danger if he was not able to obtain an annulment. Towards the end of December,

Du Bellay wrote to Montmorency, “Campeggio one day told him that if the divorce took place

peace would never be made, the Emperor would be so enraged against them. ‘Never you

mind,’ said he, ‘I know well what we shall do about that. He will not take the matter so much to

heart as he pretends. I know how to dress up that the best way in the world, and you may trust

it to me.’”

This logic is extremely flawed as there have been multiple letters from Charles

himself previously mentioning his discontent with this situation. Not too long after also in the

end of December, Sanga wrote to Campeggio that, “The cardinal of York is in error if he believes

that the Emperor will no more take this matter to heard than anything else which might happen

to him; for the Pope has not a mere conjecture, but most certain knowledge, that the case is

quite otherwise, and that it would be impossible for the Pope to give him any offence which

"Henry VIII: December 1528, 16-20," in Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII, Volume 4, 1524-

1530, ed. J S Brewer (London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1875), 2184-2205. British History Online, accessed

October 31, 2021, http://www.british-history.ac.uk/letters-papers-hen8/vol4/pp2184-2205.

would affect him more than this…”

It seems at this point Wolsey is throwing caution to the

wind, knowing of the possibility of his ill-fate.

Overall, Charles V is the biggest factors working against Henry and Wolsey. Trying to

protect his aunt was important to him and as King of the Romans and Spain and soon to be

Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, he had a lot of power and was able to make threats.

Despite Henry being in great terms with the Pope as well as Wolsey, there is only so much the

pope can do in his position. Henry made it clear what he would do if not granted as well as

Charles making it clear what he will do. Charles even mentioned how he was angrier with

England than France.

To make matters worse, it was also the year of 1528 that England

experienced the Sweating Sickness again.

SICKNESS

The Sweating Sickness had had its rounds in England before 1528. It was first in England

in 1485, again in 1506, a third time in 1517, and a fourth in 1528 and 1529 with symptoms

being “characterized by profuse sweating during a period of 24 hours with a quick progression

to either death or complete recovery.”

As you can see, 1528 was the Fourth Epidemic which

"Henry VIII: December 1528, 26-31," in Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII, Volume 4, 1524-

1530, ed. J S Brewer (London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1875), 2208-2254. British History Online, accessed

October 31, 2021, http://www.british-history.ac.uk/letters-papers-hen8/vol4/pp2208-2254.

"Henry VIII: December 1528, 2-10," in Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII, Volume 4, 1524-

1530, ed. J S Brewer (London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1875), 2170-2181. British History Online, accessed

October 31, 2021, http://www.british-history.ac.uk/letters-papers-hen8/vol4/pp2170-2181.

Holmes, “The Sweating Sickness,”

was in the very middle of the King’s Matter when it was at its climax. This causes delays for

Wolsey because of recovery time. The epidemic was rampant in England during this time and

many people contracted it, including Wolsey himself.

The first letter in this collection mentioning “The sweats” was on June 21, 1528 when

Tuke wrote to Wolsey, “His messenger found Mr. Treasurer sick of the sweat at Waltham.”

Previously in the same month there were four other letters relating to sickness were either “in

vesica” or of digestion which does not seem to be related to the Sweating Sickness.

Evidently,

it was a very sick time in England. In July, Wolsey’s servants seem to have gotten sick with the

Sweat and eventually he would as well. The Sweat was nothing to be lax about, as Brian Tuke

wrote on July 14, 1528 that, “The infection is greatly to be feared and avoided, which cannot

be, if men meet together in great companies in infect airs and places.”

With that being said,

meeting up with others during this time was dangerous. On August 14, 1528, Du Bellay wrote to

Montmorency, “The day I sweated at my lord of Canterbury’s there died 18 persons in four

hours, and hardly anybody escaped but myself, who am not yet quite strong again.”

1528 was

essentially the climax of the discussion of the annulment and it was also even in the same few

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ed. J S Brewer (London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1875), 1929-1947. British History Online, accessed

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2, 2021, http://www.british-history.ac.uk/letters-papers-hen8/vol4/pp1965-1980.

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J S Brewer (London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1875), 1980-1987. British History Online, accessed November

2, 2021, http://www.british-history.ac.uk/letters-papers-hen8/vol4/pp1980-1987.

months that the Pope had shifted from his originals goals of helping the king to trying to create

peace between the King and Queen. This is an example of how things culminated into making it

essentially impossible for Wolsey to get the annulment for Henry.

It seems that after 1528 the Sweating Sickness dissipated in some way. After August the

mention of the Sweating Sickness didn’t come back up in the letters. But that does not mean

that sickness was not still around. Come the very beginning of 1529, the Pope became sick. It is

unclear exactly what the sickness is and based off the length of time that the Pope was sick it is

extremely unlikely that it was the Sweating Sickness, but diagnosing any type of sickness this

long ago in history is difficult. Whatever the sickness may have been, what is clear is that the

Pope was very ill from January to April of 1529; he was extremely weak and unable to attend to

regular business. Naturally, this had a large effect on the granting of the annulment. More

importantly, this was in 1529 when things were becoming more pressed for Wolsey. January

was the same month that we see evidence of Henry beginning to lay blame on Wolsey. On

January 16, 1529, Inigo de Mendoza wrote to, we believe, Charles V, saying, “The King has told

me that he has begun to lay the blame upon his Cardinal, who, he says, has not fulfilled his

promises on the matter.”

So the timing for Wolsey was extremely inconvenient, as less than a

week before that was when news that the Pope was very sick came up. As mentioned before,

what the Pope needed was time and patience, neither of which Wolsey nor Henry had. Henry

"Henry VIII: January 1529, 11-20," in Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII, Volume 4, 1524-1530,

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November 2, 2021, http://www.british-history.ac.uk/letters-papers-hen8/vol4/pp2269-2283.

now had been trying for two years to get this annulment granted and Wolsey was now starting

to get the blame.

I find it important to note that while Wolsey was beginning to get the blame, Henry still

had at least some trust for him, if not completely. On February 4, 1529, Inigo de Mendoza

wrote to, we believe, Charles V, “This lady [Anne Boleyn]…finding her marriage

delayed…entertains great suspicion that this Cardinal of England puts impediments in her

way…joined by her father, and the two dukes of Suffolk and Norfolk…but as yet they have made

no impression on the King.”

So while the King has begun to lay blame, he still was not taking

to heart the negative things that those working against Wolsey were saying, but was purely

fixated on the matters of the annulment. In the same letter mentioned before, it is written that,

“he shows him in court not quite so good countenance as he did, and that he said some

disagreeable words to him.”

While Henry is angry with Wolsey, that still does not mean he

does not have trust. But it is important to note that time frame indicated between blaming to

complete lack of trust. At this point, Wolsey was getting the blame but still had his powers. Only

eight months later Wolsey wrote an indenture between himself and the king and forfeited all

his lands, offices and goods. Considering this began in 1527 and it took until mid-1529 for there

"Henry VIII: February 1529, 1-15," in Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII, Volume 4, 1524-1530,

ed. J S Brewer (London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1875), 2313-2332. British History Online, accessed

November 2, 2021, http://www.british-history.ac.uk/letters-papers-hen8/vol4/pp2313-2332.

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November 2, 2021, http://www.british-history.ac.uk/letters-papers-hen8/vol4/pp2313-2332.

to be a more serious consequence actually being put forward; the downfall of Wolsey was quite

rapid.

On March 3, 1529, Vannes wrote to Wolsey, “The Pope is unwell, and has not be able to

receive us since the first salutation of which we wrote….The fever sometimes goes off beyond

expectation, sometimes becomes most vehement.”

This was unacceptable to Henry, as the

matter of the annulment was the most pressing matter in England, or Europe as a whole for

that matter, to Henry, and he was increasingly becoming angry. On April 6, 1529, Wolsey wrote

to Gardiner, Brian, Casale, and Vannes saying, “Another part of their charge consists in the

expedition of the King’s cause of matrimony, which must not be delayed, whether the Pope has

recovery or not. He could not refuse this justice to any man, and if the King desired anything

unjust there would be no need for him to recur to the Pope.”

The well-being of the Pope was

not as important as the annulment was. Wolsey and Henry threw care to the wind and wrote

with urgency. It is also at this point where the Pope began to become angry himself at both

Wolsey and the King. On April 10, 1529, Sanga wrote to Campeggio,

While his Holiness was ill, and during his recovery, when every slight fatigue of business

might cause a relapse, he thought the King would regard his delay as excusable.

Consequently he has not hitherto been so anxious as he has now become, because, on

the one hand, had, out of his desire to satisfy the King, commissioned the cardinals de

Monte and S. Quatuor and Simonette to hear and report upon the petitions of the

English ambassadors…He is highly displeased that the King and the cardinal of York

"Henry VIII: March 1529, 2-15," in Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII, Volume 4, 1524-1530,

ed. J S Brewer (London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1875), 2351-2368. British History Online, accessed

November 2, 2021, http://www.british-history.ac.uk/letters-papers-hen8/vol4/pp2351-2368.

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J S Brewer (London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1875), 2386-2400. British History Online, accessed November

2, 2021, http://www.british-history.ac.uk/letters-papers-hen8/vol4/pp2386-2400.

should entertain hopes of things which he cannot grant; for the more often they do so,

the more grievous it seems to them not to obtain what they wish…

Obviously, wanting to help the King was getting him nowhere and until Henry had the

annulment granted, the Pope would continue to be bombarded with letters concerning the

matter. By July, the Pope would revoke the King’s cause. The Pope himself being sick was a

hinderance specifically in 1529 and this is important because this was the year that Wolsey

succumbed to his demise. Sick or not, Henry must get his annulment. And it was becoming

evident that Wolsey was for sure to get the blame if Henry did not get what he wanted, as on

July 30, 1529, Inigo de Mendoza wrote to Charles, “The Queen has written to me that she

perceives that all the King’s anger at his ill success will be visited on Wolsey.”

The King was a

walking time bomb waiting to set off and Wolsey would be the first to feel the effects.

"Henry VIII: April 1529, 6-10," in Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII, Volume 4, 1524-1530, ed. J

S Brewer (London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1875), 2386-2400. British History Online, accessed November 2,

2021, http://www.british-history.ac.uk/letters-papers-hen8/vol4/pp2386-2400.

"Henry VIII: July 1529, 22-31," in Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII, Volume 4, 1524-1530, ed.

J S Brewer (London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1875), 2585-2598. British History Online, accessed November

6, 2021, http://www.british-history.ac.uk/letters-papers-hen8/vol4/pp2585-2598.

CHAPTER THREE

QUALIFICATION

I mentioned before my disagreement with the other historical argument that there

were groups of nobles and the Boleyn family actively working against Wolsey, being the

primary cause of fall. This teleological argument overlooks the other factors mentioned earlier

in this thesis. The most significant thing it overlooks, is the matter of Henry and Wolsey’s

relationship. While there are letters showing there were some people speaking ill of Wolsey,

there is not enough in this collection to make an argument that they were the primary cause of

Wolsey’s downfall, nor is there enough for me to consider it in my contingent circumstances

that led to his demise.

Previously mentioned, the Pope laid blame on Wolsey for the first time on January 6,

1529. Before this, Wolsey seems to have been aware of the people working against him. On

August 20, 1528, Du Bellay wrote to Montmorency, “saying he [Wolsey] required to use a

terrible alchemy and dexterity in his affairs, for there were men who watched him so narrowly

that they would take the first opportunity of calumniating him as being too strong a partisan of

France…”

There are a few things to take away from this letter. One is that Wolsey was aware

and working hard to not mess up, and two, that the anti-Wolsey factions were waiting for an

"Henry VIII: August 1528, 11-20," in Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII, Volume 4, 1524-1530,

ed. J S Brewer (London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1875), 2008-2023. British History Online, accessed

November 6, 2021, http://www.british-history.ac.uk/letters-papers-hen8/vol4/pp2008-2023.

“opportunity of calumniating him.” This is important because this statement makes it appear

that while he had bad eyes on him, it does not necessarily mean that they were actively

working against him. There was never a doubt that there were people that did not like Wolsey.

But the only true opinion that matters in this situation is Henry’s. And it was only ten days after

this letter that Hennege had written to Wolsey with a gift of the only deer he killed after ten

hours of hunting, which is an example of a token of friendship. So, the relationship between

Henry and Wolsey was still good at that time. The people working against him, or conspiring

against him, were not having much success at the time according to this collection of letters.

But, on May 22, 1529, Du Bellay wrote to an unknown recipient, “The dukes of Suffolk

and Norfolk, and the others, lead the King to believe that he has not done as much as he could

have done to promote the marriage.”

The date here is important: this is getting to the middle

of 1529 and is around when the tensions between the King and Wolsey had escalated, as he

began to lay the blame on Wolsey only a few months beforehand, not due to what others were

saying. There appears to be a shift, most likely more from anger than from advice, that it was

Wolsey’s fault. After this, there is not another mention of others working against Wolsey in this

collection of letters.

As previously mentioned, the most important aspect when analyzing this

historiographical viewpoint is the relationship between Henry and Wolsey. Wolsey was more

than just Lord High Chancellor to Henry; he was a friend, or possibly the closest thing to one, as

"Henry VIII: May 1529, 21-25," in Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII, Volume 4, 1524-1530,

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November 6, 2021, http://www.british-history.ac.uk/letters-papers-hen8/vol4/pp2466-2473.

well as a high government official. Wolsey was the man who was a successful diplomat and

helped Henry “gain his spurs” when he first became King. One example of their friendship is

when Wolsey was sent a deer from Henry as a gift as mentioned in the previous paragraph.

That was in 1528 when the annulment was almost at its climax. But most importantly, the most

compelling argument for them having friendship throughout all this is actually the letter that

states that the downfall of the Cardinal is complete on October 25, 1529. On this day, Chapuys

writes to Charles,

The downfall of the Cardinal is complete. He is dismissed from the Council, deprived of

the Chancellorship, and constrained to make an inventory of his goods in his own hand,

that nothing may be forgotten. It is said that he has acknowledged his faults, and

presented all his effects to the King. The King, either moved by pity, or for fear if he

should die the whole extend of his effects would not be found, sent him a ring for his

comfort. He has withdrawn with a small attendance to a place ten miles off.

The King, even after all of this, decided to send a ring to Wolsey for some comfort. While the

latter option of “if he should die the whole extend of his effects would not be found,” is a

possibility, it seems more likely that Henry may have had some guilt in what he was doing, or,

maybe he was moved by Wolsey acknowledging his faults. These “faults” were not actually

Wolsey’s faults, and based off all the letters it is more likely that Wolsey has simply given up

and accepted his fate, knowing that there is nothing more he could do, and would rather give

up. Regardless, Wolsey and Henry’s friendship is the main argument against the factions

working against Wolsey. While they may have been around and/or working against him, they

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did not hold enough merit to Henry to be part of the reason for his downfall, as Henry seemed

to consider Wolsey a friend, according to this collection of letters. The factions existed, but

there is a dearth of letters in this collection that therefore leads me to make the assumption

they did not have a lot of influence. To further understand this particularly would require

possibly some research in the Public Royal Offices or other various sources.

CONCLUSION

Europe was going through a period of instability between the major powers. The Italian

Wars were causing tension between the Holy Roman Empire and France, while at the same

time Henry VIII in England was fighting for an annulment that the Pope wanted to give him, but

was hindered by Charles V of Spain. On top of this, England and French relations were, as usual,

unstable. While at this time, due to the Field of Cloth and Gold, Henry and Francis I of France

had relatively good relations, there were still some tensions between each other and always

will be.

There were other circumstances such as the Protestant Reformation happening. Both

Henry VIII and Pope Clement VII were actively fighting against the heretic Martin Luther for

multiple year prior to this “Secret Matter.” The Protestant Reformation indirectly affects Henry

and Wolsey by acting as another distraction for the Pope while Wolsey is attempting to get the

annulment for Henry. This goes the same for the Sweating Sickness that was rampant in

England in 1528. 1528 is when conversations and debates about the annulment became more

frequent and Henry was getting pushier and pushier, so for the Sweating Sickness to have

another wave throughout England during that time distracts more than just the Pope, but also

both Wolsey and Henry. As mentioned in previous letters it was dangerous to meet in large

groups so for the Pope to meet with a lot of others, or for his delegates to meet with many

others, was dangerous. This also directly affects Wolsey as he ends up being sick with the

Sweats as well as his servants. With everyone being sick and gatherings being dangerous, it is

difficult for Wolsey to be able to obtain the annulment for Henry.

Most importantly, there was Charles V actively working against Wolsey and Henry.

Charles being the nephew of Catherine of Aragon, was quite opposed to the annulment.

Charles was worried about the Christendom as a whole, but more importantly protecting his

aunt. Charles works against Wolsey by actively sending letters to the Pope vehemently

opposing this annulment and making threats, such as a war with the Spanish. The pope is

frequently worried about his protection, and for good reason, as Rome was sacked in 1527 and

Clement himself was imprisoned for a while. A threat of war was the last thing the Pope

wanted. While the Pope wanted to help Henry, he still had to make a tough decision on who to

help and consider the risk factors. Ultimately the Pope will revoke the cause and shortly after,

Wolsey will fall from power.

The Italian Wars were the main topic of commentary between 1527 and 1528, and the

annulment becoming a more discussed matter in about mid-1528 and 1529. With that being

said, the downfall was not as gradual as originally argued. The argument was that in the

summer of 1527, the relationship between Wolsey and Henry progressively worsened until his

downfall in 1529. Although there were tensions between Wolsey and Henry, there was not

really a lack of trust of Wolsey from Henry until 1529. This was not due to the anti-Wolsey

factions that existed during this time. While the factions were existent, this teleological

viewpoint of them being the reason why Wolsey fell ignores the personal relationship between

Henry and Wolsey. This personal relationship made it to where the Henry consistently trusted

Wolsey despite his inability to get the annulment granted and the anti-Wolsey factions

“fighting” against him. Therefore, even though there may have been tension between the two,

Henry consistently had trust in Wolsey and the downfall of Wolsey was ultimately a quick turn

of events in 1529.

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1875), British History Online, http://www.british-history.ac.uk/letters-papers-

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