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.
