American Toby Jug Museum 

Cardinal Wolsey toby jug produced by H. Wain & Sons of Longton, England, circa 1960. Thomas Wolsey (1473-1530) was an English statesman and Catholic bishop. When Henry VIII became King of England in 1509, Wolsey became the king's almoner and by 1514 he had become the controlling figure in virtually all matters of state. His appointment as a cardinal by Pope Leo X in 1515 gave him precedence over all other English clergy. The highest political position Wolsey attained was Lord Chancellor, the king's chief adviser. After failing to negotiate an annulment of Henry's marriage to Catherine of Aragon, Wolsey fell out of favor and was stripped of his government titles. He retreated to York to fulfil his ecclesiastical duties as archbishop.