Chapter 1: Changes In Governance At The Centre

Question 1

1.1 Monarchy, Nobility and Gentry

Answer 1

1.1 Monarchy, Nobility and Gentry

Question 2

1.1 What is the Feudal system?

Answer 2

The Feudal system was based on hierarchy, each person had their rank and was supposed to abide by their role.

Question 3

1.1 What is order of the Feudal system?

Answer 3

1. God
2. The Monarchy
3. The Nobility
4. The Gentry
5. Yeomen and Artisans
6. Peasants
7. Vagrants and Beggars

Question 4

1.1 The Monarch

Answer 4

The Monarch ruled England and they held ultimate authority.

The Monarch also protected England from invasion and defends rights and privileges of their subjects.

Question 5

1.1 The Royal Court (displays importance)

Answer 5

The Royal Court followed the Monarch, they were an informal source of power.

Ambitious nobility and gentry come to court to expand their power through Patronage.

This is also important for the Monarch, the court emphasises power and wealth to visitors.

Question 6

1.1 The Royal Household (domestic needs)

Answer 6

The Royal Household is a body of people responsible for the monarchs domestic needs.

The Eltham Ordinances in 1526 was an attempt by Wolsey to restrict access to the monarch.

Question 7

1.1 The Privy Chamber (personal access to the Monarch)

Answer 7

The Privy chamber was a series of rooms where the king and his family lived.

Living arrangements in Hampton Court Palace structured a way that restricted access to the Monarch.

Question 8

1.1 Changes made to the structure and function of the Household - Henry VII (1485-1509)

Answer 8

Henry VII used the Privy Chamber to restrict access to the Monarch by creating Yeomen.

Henry VII used the Privy Chamber to collect and store royal income.

Question 9

1.1 Changes made to the structure and function of the Household - Henry VIII (1509-1547)

Answer 9

Henry VIII made the Privy Chamber an important political place. Positions were filled by trusted friends and employed from the formal areas in government.

In the 1540’s, Edward Seymour and John Dudley gained access to the ‘Dry Stamp’ which enabled them to make alterations to the King’s Will bringing them increased power in government in 1547.

Question 10

1.1 Changes made to the structure and function of the Household - Mary (1553-1558) and Elizabeth (1558-1603)

Answer 10

The role of the Household declined in importance because the Monarchs were both females.

Mary held more control over the chamber and had access to the ‘Dry Stamp’ under lock and key.

Under Elizabeth, members of the Household were members of her Council, political decisions were made through the formal body of the Council rather than an informal Chamber

Question 11

1.2 Role of the Council

Answer 11

1.2 Role of the Council

Question 12

1.2 The Council (formal body - advised the Monarch)

Answer 12

The Privy Council was the place of the Tudor political system. It was the main permanent institution of government.

The Council also helped the Monarch with day-to-day running’s of the country.

Question 13

1.2 The Council under Henry VII

Answer 13

The Council under Henry VII was a large, informal body which met infrequently. The council consisted of over 200 nobility, churchmen, royal officials and lawyers.

Important role in gathering information about the mood of the country -> Keeps it large to satisfy enemies.

Was given the term ‘Great Councils’ as it was seemed to consult nobility on important matters such as taxation and war.

Question 14

1.2 The Council under Henry VIII

Answer 14

Henry wanted to go to war to prove himself – experienced administrators, Fox and Warham were replaced by Wolsey, who gave Henry what he wanted.

Wolsey was the first of the king’s chief ministers – responsible for day-to-day running’s of the country which Henry had no interest in

Under Wolsey, despite failure of the Eltham Ordinances in 1526, the Council reduced from 40 to 20 men, who met
daily – far more formal body, became the ‘Privy Council’

Question 15

1.2 The reform of the Privy Council

Answer 15

G.R. Elton argues the changes to the Council actually occurred in 1536-37 when there was a “conscious act of administrative reform designed to modernise the Council by Cromwell

John Guy argues the 1936-37 changes were a temporary response to the Pilgrimage of Grace – council filled with
political enemies of Cromwell e.g. Duke of Norfolk; only after 1540 that long lasting changes took place

Council reformed after 1540, so government could continue to work without Cromwell, who alongside Wolsey, dominated Henry VIII’s reign and were resented by members of traditional nobility

Question 16

1.2 Changes in the Privy Council from 1540

Answer 16

Worked as corporate board – collectively responsible for work performed by Wolsey and Cromwell.

Fixed and restricted membership – following the reconstruction, the Privy Council usually had 19 or so members, compared to 227 under Henry VII’s reign

Question 17

1.2 Changes in the Privy Council from 1540

Answer 17

Worked harder – in 1560s met 3/4 times per week, but by 1590s met everyday.

Issue proclamations and administrative orders in the name of the king.

Question 18

1.2 Changes in the Privy Council from 1540

Answer 18

Realm by state paper – did not need to rely on writs of the privy seal or other exclusively judicial instruments; issue order in its own name, and for a time in Mary and Elizabeth’s reign it even had its own seal.

Question 19

1.2 Functions of the Privy Council

Answer 19

Advised the ruler and administered the realm – appointed magistrates in the localities, Privy Councilors served as JPs, leaders of
both the court and country

Management of national finance – managed finance in conjunction with the lord treasurer and the Court of exchequer

Managed national defence and fortifications – recruited armies in 1544, trained bands in 1573, post 1585 served as LLs

Management and deployment of Crown patronage – especially in Elizabeth’s reign when lack of money required innovative forms of patronage.

Question 20

1.2 Functions of the Privy Council

Answer 20

Enforced the Reformation (especially 1559) – privy councillors enforced recusancy (refusal to follow the monarch) and penal laws

Legal role – sat in Star Chamber as court of law, vetted petitions and investigated crime e.g. crime against property, sedition and treason (before passing onto ordinary courts of law)

Managed Parliament – key to crown-parliament relations under Elizabeth, clashes in Elizabeth’s parliaments were clashes between the ruler and the Privy Council.

Question 21

1.3 Role of Secretary and Lord Lieutenants

Answer 21

1.3 Role of Secretary and Lord Lieutenants

Question 22

1.3 Development of the role of the Secretary (administrative role)

Answer 22

Cromwell 1534: Cromwell was a member of the Household and had access to the king with an intimate knowledge of royal affairs. Cromwell had personal access to the monarch with control of the privy seal which then helped him become Henry VIII’s Secretary.

Fall of Cromwell - Decline in political importance due to the increased duties in the secretary.

Question 23

Elizabeth’s Secretary

Answer 23

William Cecil transformed post of secretary.

Secretary was a member of the privy council and responsible for day to day running of the government.

Cecil used his job to build up a network of supporters as he had access to the queens correspondence, ensured patronage was distributed to his own clients..

Question 24

Establishment of Lord Lieutenants:

Answer 24

Role created for collecting taxation, upholding law and order and raising armies.

Gave power to land owners and possible for them to rise up against the monarchy.

Unpaid and not necessarily suited for the roles.

Question 25

Development of the Lord Lieutenant:

Answer 25

Improvement of military recruitment and extension of royal power under Henry VII.

Mary I: Further attempt to formalise this system, war with France caused her to divide the country into ten lieutenants.

Elizabeth I: Lord Lieutenant became permanent. Members of the council acted like Lord Lieutenants and enhanced the link between government and localities.

Question 26

1.4 Church State Relations

Answer 26

1.4 Church State Relations

Question 27

Role of Church before 1529

Answer 27

Roman Catholic Church was extremely influential in English affairs

Roman Catholic beliefs and practises permeated every aspect of peoples’ lives – performed marriages and funerals, key source of alms for the poor, Church festivals were key events in peoples’ lives