Crown Finance Flashcards
What was a major problem with finance at the beginning of Edward’s reign?
The Great Debasement of the 1540s
How much did ‘The Great Debasement’ of the 1540s raise for Henry VIII?
£360,000
How much did the continuation of ‘The Great Debasement’ raise by 1551?
£1.2 million
What was the problem with the policy of debasement?
It was short sighted as it led to inflation, a loss of confidence in the currency and so it became difficult for the government to obtain credit from foreign markets
Beside debasement, what was Henry VIII’s financial legacy?
He left a large amount of debt, he ahd borrowed over £100,000 from Antwerp
How much did Somerset’s policy towards Scotland cost?
£580,000
What policy did Somerset continue?
Debasement
Who did Northumberland appoint as Lord Treasurer?
William Paulet
What reforms did Paulet make to crown finance from 1550 onwards? (3)
- ending debasement
- reducing expenditure so that it matched income and allowed the King to ‘live of his own’
- attempted to pay of some debts
How was debasement ended in 1551?
Northerumberland did not call in debased coins but rather ordered people to lower prices and trust the exisiting coinage
How much was Boulogne returned to France for?
£133,333
How was expenditure reduced under Northumberland? (3)
- drastic reductions to military and the household
- stricter methods of accounting
- emergency household fund established
Why did reductions in expenditure under Edward not achieve the goal of making the monarch live within his means?
This was not a realisitic expectation as the crown finance no longer raised enough to cover the costs of the household
What was the debt in 1550?
£300,000
What has the debt been reduced to in 1553?
from £300,000 to £180,000
How did Northumberland reduce debt between 1550 and 1553?
- sale of crown lands
- parliamentry taxes raised over £300,000
- government calling in debts raised £16,000
Who was sent by Northumberland to Antwerp to renegotiate the debt owed?
Thomas Gresham