Chapter 2: Gaining the co-operation of the localities

Question 1

2.1 Control over Wales

Answer 1

2.1 Control over Wales

Question 2

2.1 Government of Wales under Henry VII and Henry VIII - Marcher regions

Answer 2

Marcher regions (areas which bordered Wales and Scotland - Hardest to control)

1. Own laws and customs.
2. First line of defence against foreign invasion.
3. Own legal system which depended on local marcher lords power and control.
4. Blood fueds and lawlessness.
5. Threat of noble power.

Question 3

2.1 Attempts to control Wales before the 1530’s (Henry VII and VIII)

Answer 3

Used the council of Wales and the marches, which was based at Ludlow castle and was run by the most trusted Tudor nobility.

• > 1490 - Jasper Tudor, Duke of Bedford (Henry VII’s uncle) became head of the council.
• > 1501 - 15 year old Prince Arthur sent to create a permanent royal presence but died in 1502.
• > 1525 - Henry VIII sent (daughter) Princess Mary as a figure head of the Council of Wales but returned to London in 1528.

Question 4

2.1 The Law in Wales Act 1535 (Act of Union)

Answer 4

The Law in Wales act was a response to the lawlessness and the limitations of the royal authority. Cromwell introduces permanent changes by changing the structure of the Welsh Government.

1. Marcher lordships abolished and replaced with 12 English-style counties.
2. English system of local government - Sheriffs, coroners and Jp’s.
3. Banned use of Welsh Courts.
4. Welsh counties and towns allocated 2 MPs who would sit in English Parliament,
5. End to traditional military power of marcher lords.

Question 5

2.1 The Law in Wales Act 1542

Answer 5

1. New system of law courts 0 tried criminal cases such as theft or attack with no chance to appeal.
2. Reorganised the Council of Marches into the Council of wales - More formal body.
3. Right to hear legal cases.
4. Oversee law and order in Wales and former marcher counties,
5. In Elizabeth’s reign the marcher council had adapted further to include Lord Lieutenants.

Question 6

2.2 Control over the North

Answer 6

2.2 Control over the North

Question 7

2.2 The government of the North 1485-1537 (Henry VII and Henry VIII)

Answer 7

Controlling the North was challenging for Tudor monarchs:

1. Geographically remote with poor communications.
2. Under threat of invasion from Scotland.
3. Henry VII’s position of usurper - rivals could place themselves over the border in Scotland.
4. Support from Richard III in places like Yorkshire.
5. Economic hardship

It was not until the Pilgrimage of Grace in 1536 that royal intervention in the north became permanent and direct.

Question 8

2.2 The re-establishment of the Council of the North, 1537

Answer 8

In October 1536, the rebellion broke out in Lincolnshire and spread northwards. Cromwell decided to remodel the council in 1537 in order to strengthen powers and prevent further unrest.

1, Given powers to hear and decide on cases of treason, murder and felony.

2. Voice of government in London - enforcing royal proclamations made to sheriffs and JPs.
3. Oversaw food supplies, regulated trade and organised local musters for military campaigns.
4. Extended to govern not only Yorkshire, but also Durham, Northumberland, Cumberland and Westmoreland.
5. Permanent headquarters in York.

Question 9

2.2 Further changes made by Elizabeth I to the re-establishment of the Council of the North

Answer 9

1. Attempted to insert more Southerners which caused resentment and led to the rebellion in 1569.
2. Combatting recusancy - North was Catholic and may rebel against her Supremacy.

Question 10

2.3 Increasing borough representation in the Commons

Answer 10

2.3 Increasing borough representation in the Commons

Question 11

2.3 Sending localities to central government

Answer 11

The boroughs were able to send 2 MPs to parliament. The House of Commons grew from 296 members to 462 members.

Edward VI created 34 new MPs.
Mary created 25 new MPs.
Elizabeth created 62 bew MPs.

Question 12

2.3 Reasons for the borough’s representation to increase

Answer 12

1. Pressure from towns.
2. Financially sensible for gentry to be MPs.
3. Use of patronage by the Crown and Nobility.
4. Extending the Monarchs power.

Question 13

2.4 Increasing literacy in the yeomen class

Answer 13

2.4 Increasing literacy in the yeoman class

Question 14

2.4 Increasing literacy in the yeomen class

Answer 14

• Growth of humanism in the Renaissance period led to formation of grammar schools for boys.
• Open to the poor and rich.
• Those below gentry rank benefited especially from free education.

Question 15

2.4 Impact of increasing literacy for yeomen

Answer 15

• Enabled yeomen to take on roles such as administration of the poor law.
• After the Northern Earls Revolt, there were no more serious disputes.
  Economic crisis in the 1590s brought no mass uprisings.

Question 16

2.5 The changing role of the JP’s

Answer 16

2.5 The changing role of the JP’s.

Question 17

2.5 How did the role of JP work in the localities

Answer 17

Opportunities arose to influence local affairs, which was monitored closely by the monarchy who inserted members of the Court to enhance the central control in the localities.

Role of JP’s:

• Deciding on cases of felony and trespass.
• Arrest potential suspects
• Supervised fixing of prices and wages.
• Administer poor law and control vagrants.

Question 18

2.5 Role of JP’s under Henry VII

Answer 18

Increased the powers of JPs:

• 1495 Act of Parliament allowed JPs to act on information received about suspects without waiting for the Jury to be summoned.
• Given power to replace jurors who they thought to be corrupt.
• Power to inquire into illegal retaining by the nobility and examine complaints of corruption.

Question 19

2.5 Role of JP’s under Henry VIII

Answer 19

• Wolsey was keen to improve the local justice system and quality of JP’s and were asked to fill in a 21-section questionnaire about the law and order in their regions.
• Cromwell was careful to check who was appointed as a JP as they were expected to enforce supremacy and reformations.

Question 20

2.5 Role of JP’s under Edward/Mary/Elizabeth

Answer 20

• Enforcing Edward’s religious changes, 1552 ordered to enforce the Second Prayer Book.
• Elizabeth’s reign size of country benches increased. 25 under Wolsey to 40-50 under Elizabeth.

Roles:

• Deal with new felonies.
• Minor offences.
• Administration of Tudor Poor Laws.
• By 1603, there were 309 Acts of Parliament which played responsibility on the JP’s.

Question 21

2.6 Taxation

Answer 21

2.6 Taxation

Question 22

2.6 Taxation before 1513 (out dated, unfair and inefficient)

Answer 22

15ths and 10ths were based on property.
The fixed amounts paid by each community had been fixed since 1334:
- Boroughs = 1/10th
-Countryside = 1/15th
- Expected yield was £29,500

Out of Date - Taxation levels set 150 years before, no consideration of population or social/economic changes
Inflation - The amount no longer met the expenditure needs of the government.
Unfair - Sum based on their personal wealth, poorest suffered most.

Question 23

2.6 The 1513 Subsidy

Answer 23

Wolsey needed a new funding for Henry VIII’s wars with France. The government spend 1 million pounds on war effort but only generated £25,000 from ordinary revenues.

Wolsey’s solution:
- Each person assessed on their income.
- Separate assessment for the nobility based on their rank.
Local officials assessed people.

Question 24

2.6 Impacts of the 1513 Subsidy (advantages)

Answer 24

• Reduced the amount of resentment and ensured the wealthier in society contributed more to tax compared to the poorer members.
• Successful so it was repeated by Wolsey in 1514, 1515 and 1523.
• Wolsey’s innovation enabled Cromwell to develop the collection of further subsidies.

Question 25

2.6 Impacts of the 1513 Subsidy (disadvantages)

Answer 25

• Effectiveness in increasing royal income from taxation was not sustained.
• Due to demands of war between 1512 and 1529, parliament were less reluctant to grant subsidies.
• In 1523, Parliament refused to grant Wolsey the 800,000 in taxation.

Question 26

2.6 Subsidies under Elizabeth (fixed taxes and corruption)

Answer 26

• Elizabeth’s obsession with caution and political stability mean that problems emerged with her use of subsidy.
• Tax was paid to become foxed, did not take inflation into account.

Problems:
- Government received less money.
- Corruption
- Tax records were not updated.
Elizabeth was forced to exploit her royal prerogative (privileges)

Question 27

2.7 The Poor

Answer 27

2.7 The Poor

Question 28

2.7 Growing poverty in Tudor England

Answer 28

Poverty, unemployment and vagabonds were increasing problems in the 16th century:
- Rising population - Rising prices and falling wages.
- Harvests could be affected by bad weather which led to reduced crop yield and death.
- Dissolution of the monasteries exacerbated poverty as they were support and aims for the poor.
- Increasing vagrancy
Vagrants had no master ->went against the hierarchy.
- Poor relief made up of donations from wealthier parishioner to the church aims fund.

Question 29

2.7 Social and economic legislation before 1563

Answer 29

1. 1495 Vagabonds and Beggars Act - Beggars and idle poor to put in stock for 3 days, whipped and returned to original parish.
2. 1531 Vagabonds Act - Impotent poor to be licensed by the JP’s and allowed to beg.
3. 1547 Vagrancy Act - Most severe law which reflected the social and economic tensions of the time. Vagrants that were bodied and out of employment were branded with a V on the chest and had to work as a slave for two years.
4. 1552 Poor Law - New act required the impotent poor to be registered for the first time. Priests to put more pressure on those reluctant to make voluntary contributions to aims in the parishes.

Question 30

2.7 Regulation of wages and prices through parliamentary statute

Answer 30

• Regulations often as a result of pressure from particular interest groups or communities.
• Pressure from central government to regulate economy, wages and prices.
• In the 1540’s-1550’s, food prices were rising alarmingly, laws were passed against price and wage fixing.

Question 31

Social and economic crisis of the 50’s (lead up to Statute of Artificers)

Answer 31

• Elizabeth I inherited a country in social and economic crisis, bad harvests and the influenza epidemic.
• Lack of food - Higher prices and pushed up wages.
• Placed pressure on central government and local authorities - they feared that those lower down becoming less respectful of positions.
• More responsibility placed in the hands of the JP’s.

Question 32

2.8 Patronage

Answer 32

2.8 Patronage

Question 33

2.8 Henry VII’s Patronage (sparing)

Answer 33

• Used patronage sparingly, only trusted those closest to him in the Privy Chamber.
• Noble families dropped from 55 to 42 during his reign.
• Preferred to use a small group of trusted nobility, gentry and lawyers.

Question 34

2.8 Henry VIII’s patronage (extensive, new nobility)

Answer 34

• The chamber became increasingly politicised.
• The power of traditional nobility was undermined.
• Attacks on noble families in the North whom Henry distrusted.
• Growth of royal estates.
• Sale of monastic lands strengthened royal position.

Problems:

• Patronage could cause jealously and lead to political instability.
• Patronage created members of the nobility who were almost too powerful.

Question 35

2.8 Elizabeth I’s Patronage

Answer 35

• Elizabeth used a complex system of patronage to tie the centre and the localities closer together.
• Elizabeth was careful to keep patronage in her own hands. She distributed patronage fairly between Dudley and Cecil to maintain political stability.

Problems with Patronage:

• Not enough to go around.
• Faction fights at Court.
• Required a strong monarch.