The Tudor England | England's Identity Crisis Under Henry VIII скачать в хорошем качестве

The Tudor England | England's Identity Crisis Under Henry VIII

Welcome to All of History! In the weeks following his fall from grace, Wolsey took refuge in a Carthusian monastery located not far from the royal residence at Richmond. Still clinging to hope that the king might restore him to favor, he appeared intent on remaining within close reach of the court. His optimism wasn’t entirely unfounded. In an effort to gather support among the king’s circle, especially those he had dealt with during his time in office, Wolsey reached out to notable figures such as Francis I of France, Francis’s mother, Emperor Charles, and even, albeit at some risk, the pope himself. At the same time, he seemed to engage sincerely in the religious life of the monastic community. The monks reportedly helped guide him away from worldly vanity and provided him with hair shirts to wear as a form of penance. He genuinely appeared to strive toward becoming a more devout priest—yet the old longing for influence and grandeur still lingered. Wolsey’s prospects for redemption were slim, mainly due to the influence of his enemies at court. Almost all those who had the king’s ear harbored deep resentment toward him. They opposed his ties to Rome and likely feared for their own positions should he regain power. On the other hand, any allies Wolsey may have had would have thought twice before speaking in his defense in such a hostile climate. It's doubtful the king ever heard a favorable word about him and was likely urged only to mistrust and keep his distance. Evidence of Henry’s suspicion is clear from the government's interception of Wolsey’s letters and the interrogation of his physician by agents seeking signs of disloyalty. The fact that he was corresponding with foreign monarchs did not work in his favor. So it was no surprise that, in the spring of 1530, Wolsey was ordered to leave for the distant north, far from the possibility of encountering the king. For the first time in his life, he traveled to York, where he unexpectedly embraced his neglected religious duties with genuine zeal. He visited parish churches on Sundays and holy days, distributed alms to the needy, repaired dilapidated church buildings, and offered counsel to troubled families. Yet, in his letters, he confessed to feeling deeply unhappy. Despite his fall, he was still seen as a towering figure in the realm. This was evident in June when an official letter requesting the annulment of the royal marriage was drafted for the pope. Intended to demonstrate the united support of England’s key figures for the king’s cause, the document was sent first to Wolsey so his signature would lead the list. The original copy, now housed in the Vatican Library, still bears his name at the top, adorned with seals and ribbons. Conspicuously missing are the signatures of John Fisher, other dissenting bishops, and Wolsey’s successor as Lord Chancellor, Sir Thomas More.