WOLSEY, THOMAS. - English cardinal and statesman, born at Ipswich probably in 1472-73, died at Leicester Abbey on 29 Nov. 1530.
He studied at Oxford until 1500; in 1507 he came to court; shortly after Henry VIII's accession he was chosen as almoner, listened to his advice, and received continuous proofs of his favour, including the bishoprics of Tournai (in commendam) and of Lincoln, then the archbishopric of York (1514). After the marriage of Henry's sister Mary to Louis XII of France, he was made a cardinal (with the title of S. Cecilia in Trastevere; 10 Sept. 1515) and appointed Lord Chancellor (24 Dec. 1515). Appointed also papal legate together with Cardinal Campeggio (1518), he was confirmed in this office several times, and finally (1524) for life, with very extensive powers.
W.'s actions have been variously interpreted. To him would go the credit for the first conscious formulation of England's traditional foreign policy, aimed at making England the decisive factor in maintaining the European balance by preventing the formation of a continental hegemony. This objective would have led W. to follow the same lines as papal policy, to maintain England's prestige at the Curia and prevent the influence of any of the great continental powers from prevailing there; hence his manoeuvring for support and votes in the conclaves and his attempt to obtain the powers of vicar-general from Clement VII, who was a prisoner after the sack of Rome (1527). But there is no doubt that he was also driven by enormous personal ambition, perhaps even vague intentions of Catholic reform, as well as the hope—which he kept alive in the King, perhaps to stave off disaster—that he might obtain the annulment of the marriage to Catherine of Aragon. The failure of this hope brought about his disgrace (1529), although at first the King still showed him signs of favour; his intrigues to regain power led to a charge of high treason and arrest; he died during the journey to London.
He is said to have regretted not having served God with the same diligence as he had served the King, who would not have abandoned him. English historians acknowledge his merits as an administrator. The concentration in his person of both civil and ecclesiastical jurisdiction, while it may have served to curb the already strong anticlerical tendencies, set a dangerous example, as was seen immediately after his death.