Extraordinary and Ordinary Taxes under Henry VII

Question 1

Extraordinary: Parliamentary Grant

Answer 1

A granted subsidy when national interest was threatened.

Question 2

Extraordinary: Loans

Answer 2

Voluntary loans from richer subjects which Henry did repay. Virtually impossible to refuse.
Raised £203,000 over reign.

Question 3

Extraordinary: Benevolences

Answer 3

A forced loan which was not repaid as a sign of good will. Introduced by Edward IV in 1475.
In 1491 raised £48,000 to fight invasion of France.

Question 4

Extraordinary: Clerical Taxes

Answer 4

Substantial sums from the Church. Convocation (Church assembly) matched every parliamentary subsidy.
1/ Simony - Selling of Church appointments.
2/ Vacant Bishoprics - After death the post would be kept vacant and the King would keep the money from it. Henry did not exploit this and rarely left a diocese vacant for more than 12 months. Got £6000 an annum.

Question 5

Extraordinary: French Pension

Answer 5

1475 - Edward IV agreed annual pension in Treaty of Picquigny. Henry did the same in 1492 Treaty of Etaples and was promised £159,000.

Question 6

Extraordinary: Feudal Obligations

Answer 6

Due levied on special occasions such as knighting of Prince Arthur in 1504 - £30,000 levied. An old medieval practice Henry exploited.

Question 7

Ordinary: Crown Lands

Answer 7

Most important source. Crown lands were five times larger in 1509 than 1450’s.

Question 8

Ordinary: Custom Duties

Answer 8

Principle duties levied on wool, leather, cloth and wine. Cracked down on corrupt officials to increase.
£33,000 in first ten years and then £40,000. Lower than Edward IV but only due to recovering from medieval depression.

Question 9

Ordinary: Feudal Dues

Answer 9

1/ Wardship - King’s right to look after heir and their land if they’re minor.
2/ Livery - Fine to recover lands from wardship.
3/ Relief - Money paid as land was inherited.
4/ Marriage of dues - for heiresses.
5/ Aid - Payment on knighting the eldest son.
Set up Surveyor of the King’s Prerogative to enforce.

Question 10

Ordinary: Profits of Justice

Answer 10

Court actions issuing royal writs had to be paid for in fees.
Henry may have exploited - Earl of Northumberland fined £10,000 for ravishing a royal ward.