Cardinal Wolsey: Puppeteer or Puppet?

Cardinal Wolsey was a cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church and attained the position of Lord Chancellor under Henry VIII. Wolsey had immense power and was the King’s chief adviser and was considered an “alter rex” or “other king”. Wolsey failed to secure an annulment from the Catholic Church for Henry. Henry was infatuated with Anne Boleyn and his marriage to Catherine of Aragon had failed to produce a male heir. Henry wanted to dissolve his marriage, not through divorce but annulment. The papacy, who had strong ties to Spain where Catherine was from, refused to grant the annulment despite herculean efforts by Wolsey. Henry became enraged and stripped Wolsey of his titles. Wolsey retreated to York and carried out his duties as Archbishop of York. However, this was not enough for Henry who was desperate to marry Anne and cut his bond with Catherine who believed their marriage valid and considered herself the true queen of England. Henry charged Wolsey with treason and had him recalled back to London. He died in route.

Shakespeare’s Henry VIII paints a picture of Wolsey as a devious puppeteer controlling Henry and the state. This is final speech in the play:

So farewell to the little good you bear me.

Farewell! a long farewell, to all my greatness!

This is the state of man: to-day he puts forth

The tender leaves of hopes; to-morrow blossoms,

And bears his blushing honours thick upon him;

The third day comes a frost, a killing frost,

And, when he thinks, good easy man, full surely

His greatness is a-ripening, nips his root,

And then he falls, as I do. I have ventured,

Like little wanton boys that swim on bladders,

This many summers in a sea of glory,

But far beyond my depth: my high-blown pride

At length broke under me and now has left me,

Weary and old with service, to the mercy

Of a rude stream, that must for ever hide me.

Vain pomp and glory of this world, I hate ye:

I feel my heart new open'd. O, how wretched

Is that poor man that hangs on princes' favours!

There is, betwixt that smile we would aspire to,

That sweet aspect of princes, and their ruin,

More pangs and fears than wars or women have:

And when he falls, he falls like Lucifer,

Never to hope again.

Wolsey considers himself to be great even after his fall in Henry’s favor, according to Shakespeare. The play was written during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. It depicts a horrid Wolsey who was unsuccessful in securing an annulment for her mother, Anne Boleyn, and who took advantage of King Henry VIII. The play did not challenge the political stance that Wolsey disliked Anne and that he was controlling Henry. The play praises Elizabeth and Henry and falls short of presenting Anne’s beheading. The play, undoubtedly, pleased Elizabeth. But Wolsey it seems, from the historical record, was not in control of Henry. Wolsey did Henry’s bidding. Wolsey was very much anti-war but when Henry wanted to go to war against France Wolsey had to convince the council members and find money. Henry was always in control and considering Wolsey as the “other king” provides him with a ruling power that was illusory.