Thomas Wolsey was born around 1473, the…

Thomas Wolsey was born around 1473, the son of Robert Wolsey of Ipswich and his wife Joan Daundy.

His father is widely thought to have been a butcher and a cattle dealer.

Thomas attended Ipswich School and Magdalen College School before studying theology at Magdalen College, Oxford.

He had on March 10, 1498, been ordained a priest in Marlborough, Wiltshire and had remained in Oxford, first as the Master of Magdalen College School before quickly being appointed the dean of divinity.

He has from 1500 held the living of Church of Saint Mary, Limington, in Somerset.

Leaving in 1502, he had become chaplain to Henry Deane, archbishop of Canterbury, who died the following year.

He was then taken into the household of Sir Richard Nanfan, who had trusted Wolsey to be executor of his estate.

After Nanfan's death in 1507, Wolsey had entered the service of Henry VII.

It is to Wolsey's advantage that Henry VII had introduced measures to curb the power of the nobility and is prepared to favor those from more humble backgrounds.

Henry VII has appointed Wolsey royal chaplain.

In this position Wolsey is secretary to Richard Foxe, who recognizes Wolsey's innate ability and dedication and appreciates his industry and willingness to take on tedious tasks.

Thomas Wolsey's remarkable rise to power from humble origins can be attributed to his high level of intelligence and organization, his extremely industrious nature, his driving ambition for power, and the rapport he is able to achieve with the King.

Wolsey is sent to Scotland in April 1508 to discuss with King James IV rumors of the renewal of the Auld Alliance.