Changes made to structure and function of the Household - The Privy Chamber Flashcards
The Privy Chamber
It grew in political importance during the Tudor period, then declined.
Under Henry VII, how did the role of the Privy Chamber change?
- Used the Chanber to restrict access the monarch, for Henry VII feared of betrayal from those he trusted.
- Used the chamber to collect and store royal income which he monitored personally.
Why did Henry VII created the Yeomen of the Guards?
The Yeomen of the Guards acted as his personal bodyguards, guarding the entrance to his private rooms.
To what extent did the Chamber finance system benefit the monarch?
- An advantage is that there was access to ready money.
- The disadvantage it was reliant on the monarch’s ability and interest in controlling royal income. After Henry VII, the monarchs didn’t have the time or inclination to follow the system, so the usage of Chamber finance lapsed.
Under Henry VIII, how did the Privy Chamber change?
- David Starkey’s work shows that the Privy Chamber became a political hub.
- Number of staff called the Gentlemen of the Privy Chamber. Henry VIII usually appointed his trusted friends to these positions, often men from the nobility and gentry.
- An example is the Groom of the Stool - like William Compton.
Gentlemen of the Privy duties
- Because of their intimate and daily physical contact with Henry, the Gentlemn of the Privy were his advisors and were employed in more formal government areas - gave them opportunity to build power through access to the monarch.
- Between 1520-1525, Gentlemen of the Privy Chamber were sent on diplomatic missions to France and on a military expedition against the Scots.
Why did many use the Privy Chamber as a route to power and influence
It gave them access to the monarch. They also gave them an opportunity to influence the direction of government. By the 1540s, this also meant control of the dry stamp - controlled by the Gentlemen of the Chamber.
What did Henry VIII’s aversion to paperwork lead to?
Introduction of the dry stamp as a method to placing the king’s signature to documents rapid and easily. Control of the dry stamp could give its owner enormous power.
Problems of the dry stamp
1540s - Edward Seymour and John Dudlely gained control of the dry stamp, using faction members within the Privy Chamber, to make alterations to the king’s will in their favour in 1547, bringing them increased power in government.
Under Edward IV - dry stamp
Access to the dry stamp and the young king was controlled through the Privy Chamber, which was filled with supporters of the king’s protectors, first Seymour, then Dudely.
Under Mary and Elizabeth - how did the Privy Chamber change?
- The role of the Privy Chamber began to change with the accession of females monarchs.
- As the role of Chamber involved physical contract with the ruler, women filled these roles - reduced the political role but not entirely.
Mary I’s female attendants
- Frances Waldegrave and Frances Jeringham, were her former servants who were Catholic sympathies and married to the male members of Mary’s household.
- Yes - Charles V wrote to his ambassador to say the female attendants were taking advantage of their position of trust to gain patronage and favours.
Did Mary I manage to control the Privy Chamber?
Mary kept more control over the Privy Chamber - her dry stamp kept under lock and key and seemingly never to have allowed its use by her administrator.
Did Elizabeth I manage to control the Privy Chamber?
- Chamber continued to decline in political importance.
- Appointed the wives of her key councillors to her Privy Chamber - such as like Earl of Leicester.
- By the 1559 reforms - this meant political and major decisions made through the formal body of the Council, rather than through a informal Chamber.
