EP: Henry VII and domestic problems

Question 1

Introduction

Answer 1

Introduction:

• Thomas Penn argues he was a deeply unpleasant King and England had become a totalitarian, oppressive state.
• Grant, Chrimes, Lockyer, argue he was v. successful and did remarkably well to survive from his weak start
• Many now reject this view arguing he was unpopular and lucky
• Ultimately was successful considering the fragility of his position in 1485

Question 2

3 paragraphs

Answer 2

• Lack of legitimacy + Securing the throne and succession
• Extension of Royal Authority (Inc. Royal finances)
• Overcoming dynastic challenges and curbing the power of the nobility

Question 3

All of lack of legitimacy + Securing the throne and succession

Answer 3

• First King since Henry V in 1422 to successfully pass his throne to his heir (Henry VIII)
• Grant: “Henry’s personal control was much greater than his predecessors.”
• By gaining papal dispensation to marry Elizabeth of York in January 1486, he nullified the threat from Yorkist nobility such as Thomas Howard, Earl of Surrey and Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland
• Able to crush local support for the Yorkists in crushing the rebellion of Lovell and the Stafford Brothers as well as Thomas Vaughan’s rebellion of 1486
• Defeat of Yorkist figureheads such as Lincoln at Stoke Field (June 1487)
• Hence he was able to secure the throne
• BUT: Not completely secure due to the deaths of his two sons Edmund (1500) and Arthur in 1502, as well as the death of his wife Elizabeth of York in 1503
• Henry’s precarious situation is emphasised by the 51 Act of attainder passed in the parliament of January 1504, against nobility with links to Suffolk as well as the Treaty of Windsor in order to secure the surrender of Suffolk in 1506
• J: Ultimately successful

Question 4

All of extension of Royal Authority (Inc. Royal finances)

Answer 4

• Churchill: “The best businessman ever to sit upon the English throne”
• Undoubtedly his greatest success
• Exploited ordinary revenue streams:
• Royal lands- Annual income from royal lands increased from £29,000 in 1485 to £42,000 by 1509.
• 1508, he created the Surveyor of the King’s Prerogative whose job was to go through old records to find any law that could generate income
• 46/62 noble families were at one time or another financially at Henry’s mercy
• From 1495, he increased the role of the King’s Chamber. (It received £27,000/year between 1489-95 and £105,000/year between 1502-09). Those who worked there known as ‘New Men’ and were completely loyal to Henry
• New Men included: Sir Thomas Lovell, Sir John Heron and most notably Sir Reginald Bray as Treasurer and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
• Exploited extra-ordinary revenue too with 8 parliamentary grants in his reign, reintroduction of benevolences, Church revenue, French pension and the sale of offices
• BUT: Massive expenditure
• Post-1491, Henry spent roughly £300,000 on plates and jewels

Question 5

All of overcoming dynastic challenges and curbing the power of the nobility

Answer 5

• Yorkist challenge was greatly exacerbated by the extent of foreign support for the pretenders
• Both Simnel and Warbeck received support from Margaret of Burgundy, as well as Irish Lords such as the Earl of Kildare
• Although Henry was unable to prevent either pretender or noblemen such as Suffolk from receiving support, Henry was able to neutralise the threat they posed
• This included diplomacy at Treaty of Etaples (1492) and Intercursus Magnus (1496)
• Introduction of Poynings Law in Ireland in 1495 and the reinstallation of Kildare as Lord Deputy in January 1496 successfully imposed English rule again minimising the threat posed by Warbeck
• Finally the the Treaty of Windsor in 1506 led to Edmund de la Pole being surrendered and being lodged in the Tower, removing the Yorkist threat present to Henry’s rule
• BUT: Nevertheless, whilst certainly successful, the longevity of Warbeck’s threat and the emergence of Suffolk from 1501 was arguably a problem of Henry’s own device.
  J- Have to argue success

Question 6

Historians and their views

Answer 6

• Thomas Penn argues he was a deeply unpleasant King and England had become a totalitarian, oppressive state.
• Grant, Chrimes, Lockyer, argue he was v. successful and did remarkably well to survive from his weak start
• Many now reject this view arguing he was unpopular and lucky

Question 7

Quote from Grant

Answer 7

• Grant: “Henry’s personal control was much greater than his predecessors.”

Question 8

Impact of his marriage to Elizabeth of York

Answer 8

• By gaining papal dispensation to marry Elizabeth of York in January 1486, he nullified the threat from Yorkist nobility such as Thomas Howard, Earl of Surrey and Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland

Question 9

What rebellions did he crush

Answer 9

• Able to crush local support for the Yorkists in crushing the rebellion of Lovell and the Stafford Brothers as well as Thomas Vaughan’s rebellion of 1486

Question 10

What happened to his sons and wife towards the end of his reign

Answer 10

• BUT: Not completely secure due to the deaths of his two sons Edmund (1500) and Arthur in 1502, as well as the death of his wife Elizabeth of York in 1503

Question 11

Who was active at the end of his reign against him. What did he do to exacerbate and nullify the situation

Answer 11

• Henry’s precarious situation is emphasised by the 51 Act of attainder passed in the parliament of January 1504, against nobility with links to Suffolk as well as the Treaty of Windsor in order to secure the surrender of Suffolk in 1506

Question 12

Who supported Simnel and Warbeck, exacerbating their threat

Answer 12

• Both Simnel and Warbeck received support from Margaret of Burgundy, as well as Irish Lords such as the Earl of Kildare

Question 13

How did Henry manage to neutralise the threat posed by Pretenders

Answer 13

• This included diplomacy at Treaty of Etaples (1492) and Intercursus Magnus (1496)
• Introduction of Poynings Law in Ireland in 1495 and the reinstallation of Kildare as Lord Deputy in January 1496 successfully imposed English rule again minimising the threat posed by Warbeck
• Finally the the Treaty of Windsor in 1506 led to Edmund de la Pole being surrendered and being lodged in the Tower, removing the Yorkist threat present to Henry’s rule

Question 14

Henry’s 3 domestic policy aims

Answer 14

1. Secure his throne and succession
2. Overcome dynastic challenges + Curb the power of the nobility
3. Increase/ extend royal authority

Question 15

Henry’s 3 domestic problems

Answer 15

1. Lack of legitimacy and royal authority
2. Royal finances
3. Relations with the nobility

Question 16

Cornish Rebellion and the subsequent battle of Blackheath

Answer 16

• May-June 1497
• Supported by Lord Audley, rebels marched unhindered to London.
• Led by blacksmith Micheal Joseph An Gof and lawyer Thomas Flammok

Battle of Blackheath or Deptford Bridge: 17 June 1497

• Rebel force is quickly overwhelmed and as many as 500-2000 are killed
• Rebel leaders executed but most pardoned
• Highlights lack of support for Henry and opposition to his rule