Since most cardinals had multiple mistresses and Wosley lived, basically, in a common law marriage with Joan for a number of years without any other sexual misconducts, then proceeded to take excellent financial care of his two illegitimate children, by my standards, for the time, he was indeed decent. ;)
Like many men of his time, his ambitions led him to the church because there was no other way for a commoner to receive an extensive education -- this is how so many cardinals wound up "politicians" instead of theologians; Margaret Beaufort's desire to educate the common man (later a cause of Martin Luther, Erasmus, and others) had not yet come into effect, so the only establishment that could afford to educate the poor was indeed... the Church. So being a smart, leadership-oriented man, Wolsey joined the Church, spent quite awhile delaying his ordination (no doubt out of reluctance), and then proceeded to rapidly rise through the ranks based on his skills as a diplomat, who could handle anything life threw at him.
I read a tremendous biography about him, which impressed me with his intellect, his financial prowess, his intelligent handling of diplomatic relations, etc., and it became very apparent to me why, after Henry lost him and executed Cromwell, England fell into a financial pit -- Wolsey, Cromwell, and Katharine of Aragon all stabilized a foolish, knee-jerk, narcissistic monarch.
I have a great deal of respect for Wolsey now, even if he was, not by his own desire, pitted against Katharine of Aragon in an epic battle that took them both down.
reply
share