The Life and Death of Cardinal Wolsey


Read by John Greenman

(4.8 stars; 3 reviews)

Thomas Wolsey was an English statesman and Catholic bishop. His appointment as a cardinal by Pope Leo X in 1515 gave him precedence over all other English clergy.

Henry VIII's passion for Anne Boleyn and his consequent rejection of his wife Catherine of Aragon resulted in Henry's push for a wedding annulment. As the king's chief adviser and Lord Chancellor, Cardinal Wolsey failed to negotiate an annulment of Henry's marriage to Catherine. He fell out of favour and was stripped of his government titles.

George Cavendish was Cardinal Wolsey's "Gentleman Usher".

The intrinsic value of Cavendish's Life of Cardinal Wolsey has long been perceived, for it is the sole authentic record of a multitude of events highly important in a particularly interesting section of the history of England. Cavendish has been recognized as the earliest of the great English biographers. He writes with simplicity and vividness, rarely yielding to the rhetoric which governed the ordinary prose of his age. Shakespeare is said to have used this work as the basis for his play "Henry VIII".

Note: Latin passages recorded by Kazbek.

(Summary by Wikipedia & John Greenman) (8 hr 11 min)

Chapters

Introductory Note and The Prologue 10:29 Read by John Greenman
Part One-Earning the King's Trust 36:16 Read by John Greenman
Part Two - His Household 8:13 Read by John Greenman
Part Three - Being an Ambassador, Attending to Westminster, Repairing to the co… 10:00 Read by John Greenman
Part Four - The King's Visit to the Cardinal 10:11 Read by John Greenman
Part Five - Wolsey intervenes to stop Anne Boleyn and Lord Percy's plans 15:22 Read by John Greenman
Part Six - Anne’s Grudge against the Cardinal develops 6:17 Read by John Greenman
Part Seven - The Cardinal moves the King to attack France 14:47 Read by John Greenman
Part Eight – A plot against the Cardinal succeeds in having him lead an “ambass… 15:36 Read by John Greenman
Part Nine – Wolsey meets the French King but disagreements surface among courti… 25:22 Read by John Greenman
Part Ten – The Cardinal writes to his King and attends a boar hunt with the Fre… 8:13 Read by John Greenman
Part Eleven – The Cardinal suffers Divers Displeasures and leaves for England 5:52 Read by John Greenman
Part Twelve – French noblemen, the Cardinal and the King proclaim perpetual pea… 26:34 Read by John Greenman
Part Thirteen – The French delegates return home, the King tells the Cardinal h… 11:34 Read by John Greenman
Part Fourteen – The Cardinal convenes a Court to consider the King’s marital pl… 15:49 Read by John Greenman
Part Fifteen – The King orders Wolsey to encourage the Queen to accept his plea… 13:50 Read by John Greenman
Part Sixteen – The Cardinal learns of the King’s displeasure, but meets with hi… 16:13 Read by John Greenman
Part Seventeen – The King demands the Cardinal’s ouster from office as Chancell… 12:56 Read by John Greenman
Part Eighteen – The Cardinal is assured that the King thinks well of him but th… 23:05 Read by John Greenman
Part Nineteen - The King sends a messenger with word of his support and love fo… 10:22 Read by John Greenman
Part Twenty – The Lord of Norfolk assures Wolsey of the King’s love and support… 15:11 Read by John Greenman
Part Twenty-One – Wolsey falls dangerously ill and the King commands his docto… 16:31 Read by John Greenman
Part Twenty-Two – Wolsey recovers but his council enemies continue to conspire … 14:51 Read by John Greenman
Part Twenty-Three - Cromwell succeeds in obtaining a grant from the king, allow… 14:09 Read by John Greenman
Part Twenty-Four - Wolsey continues his journey to York, meeting various noble… 21:02 Read by John Greenman
Part Twenty-Five – Wolsey meets with the York church leaders who inform him he … 8:44 Read by John Greenman
Part Twenty-Six – The Cardinal’s enemies convince the King to have him arrested… 26:31 Read by John Greenman
Part Twenty-Seven – Under Northumberland’s control, Wolsey travels to Sheffiel… 24:25 Read by John Greenman
Part Twenty-Eight – Wolsey is assured that Sir Kingston has been assigned by th… 20:53 Read by John Greenman
Part Twenty-Nine – Wolsey, declining fast, demands meat to sustain him. Sir Kin… 14:17 Read by John Greenman
Part Thirty – The Cardinal is buried, the King assures the Cardinal’s servant (… 17:26 Read by John Greenman