Changing Relationships between the crown and nobility Flashcards
What was the role of the medieval monarch?
Maintain inward and outward peace - foreign policy and justice
How did a king demonstrate their authority?
Military ability - leading an army either in England or in foreign ventures
Assert position as a judge - head of the legal system
What is key in terms of kingship?
Personality
Who was a bad king in terms of personality?
Henry VI - delegated posts and authority to noblemen didn’t do much
What is the Exchequer?
Dealt with royal finance and headed by the treasurer - collection of revenues - taxes.
What is the Chancery?
Legal section - clerks wrote up legal documents - royal charters.
What is the Great Seal?
Required to authenticate documents
Who was the head of the Chancery?
Chancellor and for most of the period - held by a bishop - importance of the church in government.
What is the Office of the Privy Seal?
Developed in the early 14th century - reflected the growing bureaucratisation of the Chancery - now held the Great Seal almost permanently
What was the key official in the Office of the Privy Seal?
Keeper of the Privy Seal and throughout the late medieval period this role was held by a senior clergyman - canon, dean or bishop
Where was the Office of the Privy Seal based?
London but tended to travel with the king
What did the King’s Chamber originally refer to?
King’s private rooms
Who headed the King’s Chamber?
Chamberlain - considerable control over who could see the king and how royal finances were spent.
What was the Great Council?
Made up of any of the lords who served in parliament and who were available at the time - often a large body
How many Lords would be in the Great Council?
Upwards of 125
What was the advantage of the Great Council?
Called at shorter notice with less formality - speedy to deal with emergencies
What was the disadvantage of the Great Council?
Record keeping less complete - patchy sources - king usually had a greater influence over individuals who could be called to these meetings
Why was the Great Council usually called?
War or key government decisions
What was the Continual Council?
Smaller group of closest advisers - dealt with everyday governance
When did the Continual Council become more formalised?
1377 - fixed post of Clerk was established
What was a key role of the main offices of state?
Advising the King - considered crucial that the king listen to a wide set of views
What would make a king less popular?
If he played favourites with higher lords
What happened in 1405?
Henry IV was criticised of playing favourites and he was pressured into removing knights and esquires from the council
Who sought advice of lesser men?
Edward III