INTRODUCTION

Abstract

Cardinal Wolsey, archbishop of York and Henry VIII's chancellor, was appointed as papal legate a latere by Pope Leo X on 17 May 1518. Wolsey was to exercise legatine powers in the English realm until his fall from grace in October 1529. As the pope's representative in Henry VIII's realm he was to wield almost unprecedented authority over the English Church, including the power to conduct visitations of religious houses, convene legatine councils and intervene extensively in the jurisdiction of bishops. This activity is well known to historians, but a neglected aspect of his legatine authority is his power to grant dispensations. The aim of the present edition is to assemble documents evidencing Wolsey's dispensing powers and his exercise of them.