Wolsey’s domestic policies regarding the Church, Nobility, the Justice and finance system along with his enclosure policy have received much criticism throughout the tudor period. Source T states that Wolsey was an arrogant and hostile man who was disliked by all, regardless of class. This negative view is in stark contrast to Source U which portrays Wolsey in a very different light, describing him as “thoughtful and ...extremely just”. Source V gives a less clear picture. Although Dawson describes Wolsey’s domestic policies as disappointing, with the benefit of hindsight he is able to also evaluate the role of Henry VIII in there failure. When evaluating Wolsey’s policies you have to consider not only if they were disappointing but also why they would be considered failures - it may be down the policies unpopularity rather than there actual failure.

Source T agrees with the statement that Wolsey’s domestic policies were disappointing. A contemporary source written by Polydore Vergil it states that Wolsey was “detested by everyone” due to his “hostility towards the nobility and the common people”. Wolsey would have been disliked by the nobility due to his policy on enclosure. In 1517 he launched a national enquiry into enclosed land for profitable sheep rearing which involved returning land, belonging to the nobility, to arable farming. The policy not only contributed to the nobilities dislike of Wolsey but rural poverty continued to increase so in more than one way, Wolsey’s domestic policy of enclosure was disappointing. However, when considering Source T we need to look at Polydore Vergil who actively disliked Wolsey due to his previous alliance with Henry VII and therefore may have characterized Wolsey’s domestic policies in a more negative light. Source U agrees with Source T that Wolsey was disliked by the Nobility as it states that “he favor[ed] the people