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Although the years 1515–1527 were marked by the ascendancy of Wolsey to first-rate prominence in Henry's government, the king never abandoned altogether the great tasks of kingship. Henry was, indeed, hands-off in many matters, but he was very confident that all power rested in his hands and that he could assert such power at any time. His capacity to control both events and men was not fully demonstrated until the tempestuous, drawn-out period of his divorce from Catherine of Aragon.

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