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Domestic Policy in England - 1509-1529

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"Wolsey was, at times, the government of the country, the King decided on policy and Wolsey enforced and shaped it" (Trueman, 2005). Thomas Wolsey’s reasons for wanting to reform the legal system were numerous, principally his aim was to improve the public opinion of Henry whom had little interest in Domestic Policy considering warfare to be much more of kingly a pursuit. George Cavendish stated Wolsey was a “skillful political operator”; his own ambition always managed to tie in with the needs of his ‘master’. Cavendish also wrote “He was able to adapt his views and ideas to fit the king. Wolsey had initially opposed the idea of war with France but on hearing of Henry’s enthusiasm for such a campaign Wolsey threw himself into the organization” (Cavendish, 1973), it can be disputed that this source lacks accuracy as Wolsey’s most trusted servant Cavendish would have been biased towards Wolsey. The legal system in the early 1500’s was corrupt, giving preferentially towards the rich lacking the equity the legal system should have been based upon. In 1548 Edward Hall stated “the poor men perceived that he (Wolsey) punished the rich, they complained without number and brought many an honest man to trouble and vexation” (Hall, 1548). Wolsey sought to reinvent the courts of equity re-establishing the Courts of Chancery, and Star Chamber; trying to make improvements to the current system, initiatives that he had to restate on two later dates (1517, 1519) calling into question their initial and eventual effectiveness. Wolsey dominated the Star Chamber and was there so often, it was hard for the aristocracy to oppose the reforms, causing controversy among nobles; they were targeted for abusing their privileges. Wolsey spent the majority of his time there; the court was effective because of his micromanaging. George Cavendish stated that during talks with France, Wolsey “never rose once to piss, but continually wrote his letters with his own hands, having all that time his nightcap and kerchief on his head,” giving us some ins

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