Dermaid MacCulloch, The Reign of Henry Viii: Politics, Policy and Piety, (London,

Macmillan Press LTD, 1995)

John Guy, Thomas Wosey, Thomas Cromwell and the Reform of
Henrician Government
Wolsey advised the king and controlled the implementions of crown policy.
P.39
To be a minster during this period it meant that you were a personal
servant of the king and not a public servant to the state. P.40
Wolsey did experience exceptional favour from the king, between the
years 1515 and 1525 it can be argued that Henry VIII treated Wolsey as a
partner than his servant, historians have argued to the extent Wolsey
exploited this privilege. P.40
for a decade Henry and Wolsey governed as a team p.40 ( however this
does not mean that Henry knew or approved of everything)
By 1525 Wolsey over reached himself in foreign policy, with the failure of
his amicable grant lead to a tax revolt, this lead to Wolsey performing a
humiliating volte-face and switching alliance between Charles V against
France to and alliance with France against the emperor.p.41
Wolsey knew how to operate from 1512-1514 Wolsey was the man who
saw how to gain royal favour and was done by performing the councils
functions strictly in accordance with the kings wishes. P.41
Wolsey rolse to Henrys side in 1513 when he successfully organised
equipment and supplies that were required for Henrys invasion of France,
George Cavendish biography of Wolsey describes him as the most earnest
and ready among Henrys council to advance the Kings will. This is seen
when Henry valued Wolseys service in 1514 he promoted Wolsey bishop
of Lincoln later asking the Pope to make Wolsey a Cardinal. P.41

David Potter, Foreign Policy

the realtions between states were, strictly speaking, the relations

between dynastic rulersp .101
Henry took most interest in foreign policy in war and diplomacy than any
areas, from 1512-1513 english diplomacy was increasingly dominated by
Thomas Wolsey who remain powerful in office until his ejection in
1529.p.101
Henrys claim to the English throne was a prominent aspect throughout
Henrys reign, Charles V who had been bombarded with a number of
hereditary claims of his throne in France and Italy told Wolsey The Law of
God bindeth every man to claim and ask his right. P,108
The first half of Henrys reign saw a major transformation of Europe that
created a bipolar power structure.p.111