WOLSEY (Thomas), a famous cardinal and archbishop of York, is said to have been the son of a butcher at Ipswich. He studied at Magdalen college, Oxford, where he became acquainted with the learned Erasmus; and in the year 1500 became rector of Lymington, in Somersetshire: he was afterwards made chaplain to king Henry VIII. and obtained several preferments. Having gradually acquired an entire ascendancy over the mind of Henry VIII. he successively obtained several bishoprics, and at length was made archbishop of York, lord high-chancellor of England, and prime minister; and was for several years the arbiter of Europe. Pope Leo X. created him cardinal in 1515, and made him legate à latere; and the emperor Charles V. and the French king Francis I. loaded him with favours, in order to gain him over to their interest: but after having first sided with the emperor, he deserted him to espouse the interest of France. As his revenues were immense, his pride and ostentation were carried to the greatest height. He had 500 servants; among whom were 9 or 10 lords, 15 knights, and 40 esquires. His ambition to be pope, his pride, his exactions, and his political delay of Henry's divorce, occasioned his disgrace. He was the patron of learned men; a judge and munificent encourager of the polite arts. Many remains of his magnificent ideas in architecture still exist. He died in 1530.