1 - henry vii & administration

Question 1

Henry VII’s Central Government

Answer 1

• relief on inner group of councillors: Morton (Lord Chancellor), Fox (Lord Privy Seal), Dynham (Lord Treasurer), & 5 other members)
• smaller committees within Council (eg. Court of Requests, Council Learned in Law)
• most members of Council were nobles/from church, some from gentry
• lesser landowners, gentry & professional classes (particularly lawyers)
• royal rights exploited (hatred towards Empson & Dudley)

Question 2

Council Learned in Law (central govt)

Answer 2

handled bonds & recognisances

Question 3

Regional Government

Answer 3

• developed Yorkist system of regional councils in outlying areas where royal authority was weaker
• Council of North, Council of Wales, & Ireland

Question 4

Council of North (regional govt)

Answer 4

defended border w/ Scotland, had administrative & judicial power so law enforced quickly

Question 5

Council of Wales (regional govt)

Answer 5

re-established in 1493, under ruling of Arthur, used Welsh connections & loss of lands by Marcher lords to increase control

Question 6

Ireland (regional govt)

Answer 6

supported Yorkists, direct royal control limited to the Pale (around Dublin), attempts to bring Ulster under control failed (£££), Henry forced to rely on rule by traditional families, eg. Kildare

Question 7

the Pale

Answer 7

area around Dublin

Question 8

Local Government

Answer 8

• broken down during Wars of Roses, many noble families building power blocs
• relied on nobles & gentry to not break the law
• developed Justices of the Peace (JPs) from men of lesser nobility & gentry

Question 9

Justices of the Peace

Answer 9

• men of lesser nobility & gentry (more likely to be loyal due to having less power)
• role of JPs = impose economic & social statutes, dispense justice, uphold order, reward informers & arrest poachers
• many were unwilling to act as it made them unpopular

Question 10

Parliament

Answer 10

• not permanent feature of govt
• only met 7 times during reign
• used to pass Acts of Attainder & to uphold claim to throne
• most meetings were brief: wanted to avoid asking for money (caused disquiet), avoided war, most Acts of Attainder were at start or end of reign, parliament’s role as law court was taken by Council Learned in Law