WOLSEY, THOMAS. - English cardinal and politician, b. at Ipswich probably in 1472-73, died in Leicester Abbey on 29 Nov. 1530.
He studied at Oxford until 1500; in 1507 he came to court; Henry VIII shortly after his accession chose him as almoner, listened to his advice, gave him continual proofs of his favor, among them the bishoprics of Tournai (in commendam) and of Lincoln, then the archbishopric of York (1514), which, after the conclusion of the marriage of Mary, Henry's sister, to Louis XII of France, was followed by the cardinalate (title of St. Cecilia in Trastevere; 10 Sept. 1515) and the office of lord chancellor (24 Dec. 1515). Appointed himself papal legate together with Card. Campeggio (1518), he was confirmed several times, finally (1524) for life, with very extensive powers.
W.'s action has been variously interpreted. To him would go back the first conscious formulation of England's traditional foreign policy, tending to make that country the decisive factor in the maintenance of the European balance, by preventing the formation of a continental hegemony. This aim would have suggested to W. that he follow the very lines of papal policy, in order to keep high the prestige of England in the curia and to prevent there the establishment of the influence of one of the great continental powers; hence his intriguing for support and votes in the conclaves and his attempt to obtain powers of vicar general of Clement VII, a prisoner after the sack of Rome (1527). But there is no doubt that he was also guided by enormous personal ambition, perhaps also by vague intentions of Catholic reform, as later by the hope - which he kept alive in the King, perhaps in order to avert the catastrophe - of being able to obtain the annulment of the marriage with Catherine of Aragon. The failure of this illusion brought about his disgrace (1529), although at first the King still gave him signs of benevolence; the maneuvers to regain power led to the accusation of high treason and to arrest; during the journey toward London, death overtook him.
It seems he regretted not having served, with the same diligence as the King, God, who would not have abandoned him. English historians acknowledge in him merits as an administrator. His having concentrated in himself, along with civil jurisdiction, ecclesiastical jurisdiction, if it could serve as a check to the already strong anticlerical tendencies, constituted a dangerous example, as was seen immediately after his death.
Bibliography6 works
Alberto Pincherle