托馬斯·沃爾西出生於1473年左右,父母為伊普斯威奇的羅伯特·沃爾西(Robert Wolsey)和瓊·道迪(Joan Daundy)[1]。他的父親可能是屠夫,這樣卑微的、非貴族的出身後來在他功成名就後招致非議。他曾就讀於伊普斯威奇學校[1]和莫德林學院學校(Magdalen College School),後進入牛津大學莫德林學院學習神學。1498年3月10日,他在威爾特郡的馬爾伯勒晉鐸,並留在牛津,成為莫德林學院院長。1500年到1509年,沃爾西在薩默塞特郡利明頓的聖瑪麗教堂擔任教區牧師。1502年,他成為坎特伯雷大主教亨利·迪恩的專職牧師[1]。次年迪恩去世,他進入理查德·南凡(Sir Richard Nanfan)家中工作並成為南凡的遺產執行人。1507年南凡死後,沃爾西開始效忠亨利七世。
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