Chapter 4 - Maintenance of political stability - institutional developments.

Question 1

How did the Tudors maintain political stability - institutional developments?

Answer 1

Monarchy, Church, Parliament, Propaganda, JPs, Sheriffs and county militia.

Question 2

How did the Tudors maintain political stability through the monarchy?

Answer 2

• Respect for the Monarchy, stressed relationship between subject and master and need to keep one’s place in society.
• Respect the authority of one’s superior. (Great Chain of Being)
• Used Tudor Rose, Henry majestic court, coins etc to remind subjects.
• Sin against the monarch is sin against God. E.g. PoG propaganda
• Henry VII and Elizabeth both toured the country – presence of monarch maintains stability.
• Less so with Edward (Sickly boy). Also with Mary – wasn’t popular.
• All Tudor monarchs recognised that to be effective rulers they had to work at enhancing the respect and aura surrounding the monarchy:
• From 1534, spiritual and lay officeholders swore oaths of allegiance and supremacy
• Under Edward, oaths of uniformity were added
• Oaths of succession and supremacy were taken throughout the country by individuals and corporate institutions such as universities and cathedral chapters.
• As seen in the large number of rebellion from 1485 to 1509 and again from 1547 to 1588 = shows strong monarch = stability
• Although nobility, gentry and clergy played an important role in both central and local government, their willingness to support the Crown depended on the monarch’s personality and capability.
• More willing to uphold the Crown during periods of strong authority, as was seen with Norfolk during the Pilgrimage of Grace, than they were under Edward and Mary, when they caused instability through trying to alter succession or preach against the Crown’s religious polices during Edward’s reign.

Question 3

How did the Tudors maintain political stability through the Church?

Answer 3

• Pope supported the monarch. E.g. anyone who fought against Henry at Stoke and Blackheath was threatened with excommunication.
• Sanctuary, denied to traitors and rebels by Henry’s judges, Pope made no objection.
• Henry VIII’s divorce and the break with Rome did not weaken church – crown relations. (tension removed now Henry had absolute authority.)
• Political offices in Edward’s and Elizabeth’s reigns were held by non-clergyman.
• The clergy’s role as law enforcers, which had been of vital importance before the fall of Wolsey, was over.
• The political status of the church declined throughout the period:
• after 1540 bishops no longer had a majority in the House of Lords,
• Elizabeth expected her bishops to reside in their dioceses and not engage in high politics.
• Church attendance declined during Elizabeth’s reign – recusants.
• Under Mary church becomes destabilising. Burning of heretics.
• Church’s role in helping the poor to keep them from rebelling.
• Sermons helped to shape public opinion and ensure people were kept informed of government policies.

Question 4

How did the Tudors maintain political stability through the Parliament?

Answer 4

• Nobles had a right to be tried by their peers, rebels including Hussey and Darcy, Suffolk, Northumberland and Essex were all tried and convicted for making wars against the Crown.
• Nobles don’t rebel later period– voice their opinions in the commons. Make changes through parliament rather than rebelling.
• Henry VIII and Cromwell implemented religious and political reforms through Parliament, to ensure minimal resistance.

Question 5

How did the Tudors maintain political stability through the JPs?

Answer 5

• 1485, most counties less than 10 JPs, end of the 16th century, most counties had over 50
• Wolsey appointed non-Northerners to several Northern counties between 1513 and 1525 to ensure greater stability in the region.
• Between 1536 and 1539, nearly 1/3 of JPs in areas affected by the Pilgrimage of Grace were replaced.
• Edward, Mary and Elizabeth changed JPs in particular counties for religious reasons
• It seems that the government was holding JPs particularly responsible. Demonstrates importance.
• In 1536, JPs joined the rebels, and whilst this may be representative of the government’s ability to maintain stability without JPs, it actually gave the rebels a large boost as it significantly reduced the opposition they faced.

Question 6

How did the Tudors maintain political stability through the Sheriffs and county militia?

Answer 6

• Sheriffs 1485 played a key role, Tudors never fully trusted their sheriffs. Henry VII weaken their influence. 1495, gave JPs power to monitor activities. .
• Maintenance of increasingly fell to JPs.
• Rebellions between 1536 and 1570 - became aware of the inadequacy of county militia.
• By 1603 the Crown had defence force independent of nobility supply.
• No major rebellion after 1570 due to permanent crown appointee in each county - informed of local issues, resolve difficulty before serious.

Question 7

How effective was the monarchy in maintaining stability?

Answer 7

• At the start of the period and in the mid-Tudor period when weak royal authority under Henry VII, under the boy-king Edward VI and under the rule of Mary resulted in unrest and instability, as seen in the large number of rebellion from 1485 to 1509 and again from 1547 to 1588 = shows strong monarch = stabilty
• Although nobility, gentry and clergy played an important role in both central and local government, their willingness to support the Crown depended on the monarch’s personality and capability.
  More willing to uphold the Crown during periods of strong authority, as was seen with Norfolk during the Pilgrimage of Grace, than they were under Edward and Mary, when they caused instability through trying to alter succession or preach against the Crown’s religious polices during Edward’s reign.

Question 8

How did the Tudors maintain political stability through the local clergy?

Answer 8

• The parish became the focal point for administering poor relief and tackling social problems.
• Clerics were encouraged to inform their bishops of any signs of trouble and this information was forwarded to the Privy Council.
• Parish clergy were expected to instruct the people on their moral and legal obligations.
• In the 1530s, priests received detailed instructions as the content of sermons and were told to preach at least four times a year on the subject of obedience.
• The accession of a minor to the throne in 1547 raised doubts about the Privy Council’s legitimacy to rule on his behalf ; Cranmer, the Archbishop of Canterbury, wrote a series of homilies by which the clergy would educate their congregations.
• When revolts broke out in 1549, Cranmer circulated copies of his sermons to be read out in parish churches to encourage people to obey.
• Not everybody went to church, but those who did will have received enough reminders from the priest of their duty to be a good citizen.
• Sermons helped to shape public opinion and ensure people were kept informed of government policies.

Question 9

How did the Tudors maintain political stability through the propaganda?

Answer 9

Propaganda was an important weapon in the Tudor armoury to help consolidate the monarch’s aura of power and authority:

• Henry VII claimed to be descended from King Arthur, developed the Tudor Rose as a symbol.
• His Burgundianian-style court with its lavish displays and entertainment impressed foreign visitors and English nobles alike and added to the majesty.
• Henry VIII preferred more visual imagery to highlight his physicality, wealth and Imperial bearing: coins displayed the crown or his face,
• Edward and Mary did not glamorise a monarchy to the same degree: a sickly boy and an introverted woman were not suitable subjects.
• Edward was portrayed in paintings as the image of his father and Mary’s image on her Great Seal reflected her regal bearing.
• Elizabeth realised the potential of elevating the image of the monarchy while still maintaining close links with her subject.
• The Queen encouraged pageantry and this idealised her as a symbol of eternal stability.
• Her court developed an endless round of rituals and ceremonies designed to emphasise her majesty.