Changes to Government Flashcards
What was the purpose of Lord Lieutenants?
Increasing central control over the localities and improving recruitment for royal armies
How did Henry VIII use Lord Lieutenants?
Commissioned members of nobility to organise recruitment for war
How did Edward VI use Lord Lieutenants?
Appointed nobility in charge of local military and policing
How did Mary I use Lord Lieutenants?
Divided the country into 10 lieutenants responsible for policing (temporary)
How did Elizabeth I use Lord Lieutenants?
Made the role permanent and appointed to each county, organising military but not raising private armies
Roughly how many nobility and gentry were there?
50
What was the general role of the nobility and gentry?
Helped government and control of the localities
How did the nobility and gentry rely on the monarch?
Patronage and favour
How did the monarch rely on the nobility and gentry?
Gathering and commanding troops
What percentage of land was owned by the nobility and gentry?
10%
Roughly how many yeoman and merchants were there?
60,000
Who were artisans?
Skilled craftsmen who became wealthy through trade
What was the role of yeomen?
Natural leaders of the countryside, often providing leadership for rebellions
What were the 3 main class groups of Tudor England?
- Nobility and gentry
- Yeomen and merchants
- Peasants
What was Henry VIII named in 1521 and why?
- ‘Defender of the Faith’
- wrote ‘Defending the 7 Sacraments’
How was the Church increasingly criticised amongst society? (3)
- Humanists attacked wealth
- Corruption hated
- Rise in anticlericalism
What was the vestment controversy?
Puritans refused to wear vestments and were dismissed by Elizabeth and the Archbishop of Canterbury
Which Archbishop of Canterbury was put under house arrest and why?
Edmund Grindal, sympathising with Puritans
What were the aims of the Puritan choir?
Produce a new prayer book and demand more radical changes
What and when was the Act Against Seditious Secretaries?
- 1598
- forced everyone to attend church or face exile/death
Why was the Religious Settlement initially opposed in Parliament?
Parliament was full of Marian sympathisers and bishops
What was the final vote for the Act of Uniformity?
21-18 in favour
How was the vote for Uniformity potentially rigged?
2 Catholic bishops were imprisoned and the Abbot of Westminster ‘missed’ the vote
What was the response of the bishops to the Oath of Supremacy?
All but 1 refused
What fraction of lower clergy refused the Oath of Supremacy?
300 out of 8,000
When was the Reformation Parliament?
1529-36
What caused the establishment of the Reformation Parliament?
Parliament were called to change laws due to the Pope’s refusal to grant divorce
What was the significance of the Reformation Parliament?
Gave them power to pass religious laws, making them self-aware of their own power
What was the concept of ‘King in Parliament’?
Legislation passed by both Parliament and the Monarch is most powerful and legitimate - Monarch’s is more easily dismissed
When and what was the Act in Restraint of Annates?
- 1532
- stopped payments to Rome
When and what was the Act in Restraint of Appeals?
- 1533
- forbade appeals to the Pope, making the monarch the religious authority
What was the 1534 Act of Supremacy?
Made the King Supreme Head, and not taking an Oath to the monarch is treason
When was the Act for the Dissolution of Smaller and Larger Monasteries?
1536 and 1539
What was the Act for the Dissolution of Smaller and Larger Monasteries?
Requisitioning the monasteries for the King
When and what was the Proclamation by the Crown Act?
- 1539
- Permitted the King to legislate by proclamation without consulting Parliament
What was the significance of the Proclamation by the Crown Act?
Removed the power of the Reformation Parliament
When and what was the Submission of the Clergy?
- 1534
- forced clergy to accept Henry’s authority, limited church courts and monarch controlled appointments
When and what was the Act of the 10 Articles?
- 1536
- made transubstantiation ambiguous and reduced sacraments from 7 to 3
When and what was the Act of the 6 Articles?
- 1539
- reinforced Catholic teachings and practices
What was the significance of the Act of the 6 Articles?
Presented conservatism of religious changes and a barrier to Protestant radicalism
When was Tyndale’s Bible published?
1539
How did Henry VII undermine the church? (3)
- overrode sanctuary laws to arrest nobility
- tightened control over benefit of clergy
- appointed his own Archbishop of Canterbury (John Morton)
How did Henry VIII show loyalty to the church pre-1529?
- ‘Defender of the faith’
- Cardinal Wolsey showed church-state connections
How many monasteries did Wolsey close in the 1520s?
30
When was the Hunne Case?
1511
What was the Hunne Case?
- Merchant Richard Hunne refused to pay Church burial fee for his child
- Imprisoned in the Bishop of London’s jail
- Found hanged in his cell
- Posthumously tried and burned for heresy
What was the significance of the Hunne Case?
Provoked anticlericalism
What were the 3 powers of the church pre-1485?
- income
- influence
- independence
How did income make the church powerful before 1485?
It held more land than any monarch or nobleman and collected rent, taxes, donations and indulgences
How did influence make the church powerful before 1485?
The word of God was widely feared and the Church presented its services as essential to guard the soul from eternal damnation
How did independence make the church powerful before 1485?
The Pope held power separate from the monarch, who relied on the Church for money and support
What is a monopoly?
The sole right to sell or trade a product, creating huge wealth for its owner - source of extra-parliamentary revenue to the crown
What is an example of a monopoly?
Walter Raleigh had a monopoly on playing cards
How were monopolies controversial?
They were offered solely by royal prerogative, and conflicted the idea of ‘Commonwealth’ Elizabeth entrusted Parliament to uphold
How did Parliament challenge Elizabeth due to monopolies? (2)
- Parliament 1597-8 Speaker delivered a protest to the Queen
- 1601, lawyers in the Commons campaigned
What was the ‘golden speech’?
Made by the Queen to 140 MPs, maintained her royal prerogative but admitted grants were a ‘lapse of error’
How did Elizabeth counter challengers due to monopolies?
Persistently retained royal prerogative despite Parliament’s superior financial power
When was the Act to Retain the Queen’s Subjects in their Due Obedience?
1581
What was decreed by the Act to Retain the Queen’s Subjects in their Due Obedience? (2)
- recusancy fine put up to £20 per month
- convincing someone to convert of Catholicism is capital treason
When was the Act against Jesuits?
1584
What was the Act against Jesuits?
Commanded RC priests to leave the country in 40 days or swear the Oath of Supremacy
What is a Jesuit?
Counter-reformation Roman Catholic missionary
What was the Puritan challenge to Elizabeth?
Parliament began creating independent religious laws such as the Act to Retain the Queen’s Subjects in their Due Obedience and the Act against Jesuits
Who was Peter Wentworth?
Prominent Puritan Parliamentarian
How did Wentworth criticise Elizabeth?
1576 speech criticised her encroachment on freedom of speech
How did Parliament challenge Elizabeth to do with succession?
Attempted to blackmail her by threatening to withhold taxation if the issue wasn’t resolved
What were the 4 challenges of Parliament to Elizabeth?
- Puritan laws
- Peter Wentworth
- Succession
- Monopolies
How did Mary I use Parliament?
Passed Act of Supremacy re-establishing the Pope
How did Parliament challenge Mary I?
Refused to reinstate the monasteries
How did Elizabeth I use Parliament?
Became more significant, used to pass Religious Settlement
How was Henry VII more powerful than his Parliament? (3)
- only called it 7 times
- manipulated them to pass Acts of Attainders
- almost always granted requests
How was Henry VII challenged by Parliament?
Forced him to take less money in 1504 and they had to be kept on side
How was Henry VIII more powerful than Parliament before 1529? (3)
- only called to grant taxation
- forced them to grant 250,000 for war with France
- remained autonomous
How did Parliament challenge Henry VIII before 1529? (2)
- Amicable Grant crisis
- hostile to granting tax for war and foreign policy
When was the Amicable Grant Crisis?
1525
What was the Amicable Grant?
Henry and Wolsey’s attempt to raise money for war with France without the permission of Parliament
Why did Parliament refuse Henry VIII’s request for taxation for war in 1525?
They had not been repaid loaned money from 1523 and thought the war was pointless
How much was the Amicable Grant?
10% of people’s wealth
How was the Amicable Grant met?
With protest and refusal, the King backed down and scapegoated Wolsey
What were the challenges of Parliament to Henry VIII? (2)
- Amicable Grant Crisis
- Freedom of Speech Demand
When was the Freedom of Speech Demand?
1523
What was the Freedom of Speech Demand?
Thomas Moore requested the King respect the rights of freedom of speech in Parliament - accepted
What was the role of Parliament pre 1485?
Just a ‘rubber stamp’ organisation but still needed to pass laws and raise taxes
What were the 4 main roles of Parliament before 1529?
- Grant taxation
- Pass laws
- Express disapproval
- Elected and legitimate
What were the 4 main limitations of Parliament before 1529?
- Aristocracy financially independent
- Monarch could veto or pass independent proclamations
- Could only be summoned by monarch
- Only rich could vote
What was the role of Thomas Cromwell? (4)
- Personal access to the King
- Control of privy seal
- Controlled council meetings
- New the monarch’s business and correspondence
What happened to the role of the secretary after Cromwell’s death?
Shared between 2 - Wriothesely and Sadler
How was the role of secretary divided under Elizabeth I?
Into 2, one was more dominant then the other
What was the role of the secretary under Elizabeth? (3)
- permanent power
- regular contact with the Queen
- Organised council meetings
What happened to William Davidson (second secretary) that showed the danger of the role?
Imprisoned and fined for sending Mary QoS’s death warrant
How was the role of the secretary limited under Elizabeth?
Monarch held ultimate power and only appointed most trusted courtiers
What was the Privy Council?
Group of leading, wealthy nobleman who met regularly in meetings often attended by the Monarch to monitor local and central government
What was the Privy Chamber?
Intimate, fluid group serving the personal needs of the monarch and gaining patronage but no formal power
What are 2 examples of noblemen in the Privy chamber?
- Robert Dudley as master of the horse
- Henry Norris as Groom of the Stool
What was the role of the secretary?
De facto leader, most trusted advisor who controlled access to the monarch and linked Council and Chamber
How did the privy chamber operate under Henry VII? (2)
- collect and store income
- restricted due to paranoia
How did William Stanley affect the relationship between Henry VII and the privy chamber?
He was head of the chamber and Lord Chamberlain so his betrayal caused distrust
How did the privy chamber operate under Henry VIII? (3)
- took formal roles
- political hub
- given dry stamp
What is an example of formal roles taken by the Privy Chamber under Henry VIII?
Diplomatic missions in France and lead wars against the Scots
What was the Privy Chamber also known as under Henry VIII?
Gentlemen of the Privy
What is an example of factionalism in the Privy chamber of Henry VIII?
The Seymour family altered the will of the King and fought over the dry stamp
How did the privy chamber operate under Edward VI?
Wielded full power
How did the privy chamber operate under Mary I?
Lost power as became mostly female - Mary controlled dry stamp
How did the privy chamber operate under Elizabeth I?
Limited - major decisions made through the council
How did the privy council operate under Henry VII? (2)
- Large and informal
- Limited role, decisions pre made
How many ‘Great Councils’ were called by Henry VII?
5
How many members were in the privy council under Henry VII?
200
How did the privy council operate under Henry VIII? (3)
- easy to undermine
- membership reduced
- controlled by secretary
How did Henry VIII undermine his council?
Archbishop Warham removed when Henry disagreed with him
How did the privy council operate under Edward VI?
Initially undermined but put down Kett’s rebellion and overthrew Somerset
How did the privy council operate under Mary I?
Permanent small group with greater power - could proclaim in the monarch’s name without her permission
How did the privy council operate under Elizabeth I?
Met 2 times a day rather than 3 times a week, only met in the Queen’s presence
What was the main cause of the 1540 reform of the privy council?
Execution of Thomas Cromwell
What were the 3 main reforms to the privy council in 1540?
- Turned itself into the ‘chief minister’ in order to function without Cromwell
- Acted collectively to carry out roles previously held by the secretary
- Membership considerably reduced to most trusted advisors only
What was the membership of the council under Henry VII vs in 1540?
227 vs 19
What was the lasting impact of the 1540 reform of the privy council?
Remained a permanent, small group despite small growth under Edward and Mary
Cromwell - John Guy
‘a self-made man […] a politician who got things done’
Cecil - John Guy
‘father of the nation’
Freedom of Speech Demand 1523 - Thomas More
‘allowance for every man to speak freely, without fear of your dreaded displeasure’
Concerns of succession - Parliament petition
‘feared a faction of heretics in your realm, contentious and malicious papists’
Monopolies - Parliament
‘bloodsuckers of the commonwealth’
