Discussion: Wolsey-sympathy?

"YOU CANT BLAME HENRY FOR EVERYTHING!!!!"

"John Foxe who was born c. 1517 & wrote the Book of Martyrs said of Henry :

"While good counsel was about him, and could be heard, the king did much good. So again, when sinister and wicked counsel, under subtle and crafty pretences, had gotten once the foot in, thrusting truth and verity out of the prince's ears,how much religion and all good things went prosperously forward before,so much, on the contrary side, all revolted backward again."

So he is saying that Henry was influenced by the people around him and saying he was not totally to blame for the horrors perpetrated in his name. These were times when religion, politics & other dynasty issues were all merged into one government. In our modern times all these issues are kept separate whereas in Henry's court it was a boiling pot of many influences. I am not excusing Henry but just like Mary 1 - there are more factors involved than just personality."

"Good post, Henry was not blameless, I would never think that, it's just excuses are always made for Mary, Elizabeth, and so on, but never for him. There were far worse monarchs in history than him and also there were alot worse people around at that time. For example the Duke of Norfolk, he was a horrible man."

"I was just wondering did anyone else feel sympathy for Wolsey when Henry turned on him? As a priest,he did have a hidden wife,and perhaps his agendas were not always for Henry,but for himself. Still,to cast out a man who had worked most of his life for the betterment of his King,Wolsey really got the shaft!! Do you think Henry had just waited for the right opportunity to come alone to take over Wolsey's holdings,using Anne as the excuse."