Breadth Study 1: Monarchy and Central government Flashcards
What were the functions of the King’s council (3)
-Advise the king over matters of the state
-Draft, pass and enforce laws
-Raise and administer the kingdom’s finances
How did Henry Vii increase the prominence of the Privy chamber (2)
-Created the Yeomen of the Guard (acted as his personal body guard/ guarded entrance of private rooms)
-Also used the chamber to store and collect Royal income
Why did the Privy chamber grow in political importance
-From 1495, Henry VII increasingly feared betrayal from those he trusted, the Chamber was used to restrict access to the monarch
Chamber used with money
Henry 7 used the Chamber to collect and store royal income, which he monitored personally
-Henry always had access to ready money BUT the system was reliant on a monarch’s interest and ability to handle money
-tudor monarchs after henry did not use this system
Staff of the Privy Chamber
from 1518 were known as the Gentlemen of the Privy Chamber
Example of the Gentlemen of the Privy chamber having power
-Between 1520 and 1525, Gentlemen of the Privy Chamber were sent on diplomatic missions to France and on a military expedition against the Scots
What was the dry stamp
King’s signature stamp- could be stamped onto documents
-Position of the dry stamp could give the holder considerable power over aspects of government such as grants of land, offices and titles
How did Henry Vii increase the prominence of the Privy chamber (2)
-Created the Yeomen of the Guard (acted as his personal body guard/ guarded entrance of private rooms)
-Also used the chamber to store and collect Royal income
How was the Privy Chamber a route to power and an opportunity to influence the direction of government
the dry stamp
Example of the dry stamp giving people influence
-H8 aversion to paper work led to the introduction of the dry stamp
-e.g the faction led by Edward Seymore and John Dudley used the stamp to make alterations to Henry Viii’s will in 1547
How did the make up of the Privy Chamber change under Mary and Elizabth
Many roles were filled by women rather than men, as the role of the Chamber included close physical contact with the ruler
-Mary’s attendants such as Frances Waldergrave and Frances Jerningham had influence with the Queen
Mary’s use of the dry stamp
Kept under lock and key-
never allowed its use by her administrators
Privy Chamber under Elizabeth
Continued to decline in political importance
Who did Elizabeth appoint to her privy chamber
-The wives of key councillors-
e.g the wife of the earl of Leciester
What reforms did Elizabeth carry out in the Privy Chamber + when
1559-
-members of her Household were also members of the Council
-Meant that politics would be decided through the formal channels of her Council rather than the informal route of the Chamber
What was the role of the Royal council (3)
Formal body that advised the monarch
-helped the monarch with day-to-day running of the country
-Could act as a judicial court for high-profile cases (e.g the nobility)
Monarch’s control over the Royal council
-monarch chose who should be on the council
-and whether to take their advise
What was the royal council like for Henry 7
- Larger, more informal body than it would be under Henry Viii
How many attended royal council meetings from 1485-1509
-Over 200 men (though not all at the same time)
What did Henry 7 royal council consist of
Mixture of members from the nobility, churchmen royal officials and lawyers
Why did Henry 7 include men who served under his Yorkist predecessors
-Henry was a usurper with no experience of government
-such men were crucial in establishing him a secure position on the throne
How many men did H7 Royal council come from Yorkist councils (2)
-Included 22 men who served under Edward iV
-20 men who served under Richard III
e.g John Morton
How many men did Henry’s 7 Royal council come from Yorkist councils (2)
-Included 22 men who served under Edward iV
-20 men who served under Richard III
