Gaining the cooperation of the localities Flashcards
Taxation and Amicable Grant - Scarisbrook
‘The Amicable Grant crisis was the most obvious example that demonstrated that the subsidy failed to solve all the monarch’s financial issues’
Why were borough MPs not dangerous to the monarch?
They calmed the communities and focussed on local issues
What is an example of borough MPs focussing on benign local issues?
MPs from York constantly fought for laws that prevented local woodland being chopped down rather than debating religious changes
Which social class were most borough MPs and why was this beneficial for the monarch?
Gentry - enforced common interests of the monarch
What is a rotten borough?
A borough able to elect an MP despite having very few residents - often a single family
How were rotten boroughs corrupt?
Small number of residents could be easily bribed or coerced into voting a certain way
Why were rotten boroughs useful for control?
Easily centralised power
What is an example of a rotten borough?
Tiny village of Newton could elect 2 MPs, one of them was George Carey, cousin of Elizabeth I
Which 2 duchies were created to centralise control under the Tudors?
Lancaster and Cornwall
What is an example of corruption within the system of boroughs?
The Catholic Copley family of Gatton were pressured to nominate an acceptable MP
What was a financial weakness of boroughs?
Smaller boroughs couldn’t afford to maintain MPs and so were unwilling to become boroughs
Roughly how much was the maintenance of MPs per year?
£70
How did boroughs present a potential for disloyalty?
Nobility controlled elections in their lands and operated their own system of patronage
Why was the use of boroughs in the Tudor period limited?
Mostly only a focus under Elizabeth
How was the Council of the North reformed in 1537-40? (3)
- allowed to hear cases of treason and murder (1537)
- councillors allowed to become JPs (1538-40)
- extended across the whole of the North
Where was the Council of the North given a base in 1537?
In a dissolved monastery in York
What was the Council of the North given charge of in 1559?
Enforcing the Religious Settlement and recusancy fines
How was the power of the Council of the North limited?
Had a large proportion of Southern, Protestant Lords and was still only a voice for the central government
Give an example of a Northern councillor who served a long term?
Thomas Gargrave 1545-79
What did the Council of the North act as in the 1540s and 50s?
A Northern version of the Royal Council
Who was made leader of the Council of the North in 1572?
Henry Hastings
Why was the Council of the North vital for the central government in the 1540s and 50s?
Defence against Scotland
What was Wales’ historic relationship with England?
Historically considered a loosely controlled locality, independent and lawless with unique language, legal and government system
Why was Wales threatening to the Tudors? (3)
- ruled by powerful marcher Lords
- strong separatist identity
- blood feuds were common, no law enforcement
Who were Marcher Lords?
Old nobility with large military presence, typically opposed to Tudors
What is an example of a marcher lord?
Duke of Buckingham, executed in 1521
What was the purpose of the Law in Wales Acts?
Cromwell’s attempt to centralise Wales
When were the Law in Wales Acts?
1535 and 1542
What were the 4 main points of the Law in Wales Acts?
- Marcher Lords abolished
- Anglicised legal system, banned Welsh language in court and blood feuds
- Introduced sheriffs, coroners and JPs
- Allowed Wales presence in Parliament
What did the Law in Wales Acts establish?
A Council of Wales
Who led the Council of Wales?
Bishop Lee - the ‘hanging bishop’
How many Welsh people did Bishop Lee execute in 5 years?
5,000
What were 3 consequences of the Law in Wales Acts?
- no rebellion
- satisfaction due to representation
- long term destruction of identity
Give 3 failures of poor laws before 1598.
- size of contributions were decided by contributor
- corporal punishment remained
- could not deal with crisis in the 1590s
What was notable about the Act for the Relief of the Poor?
It was a private bill from Parliament, the council were forced to accept
When was the Act for the Relief of the Poor?
1598
What new role was created under the Act for the Relief of the Poor?
Overseer of the Poor - appointed to collect and distribute relief
How were JPs important for Elizabethan poor laws?
Enforce and punish contributions
Which 2 acts came under the Act for the Relief of the Poor?
- Vagabond Act
- Act for the Relief of Soldiers
What was the Vagabond Act?
Banished dangerous vagrants to the Queen’s galleys
What was the Act for the Relief of Soldiers?
Provided pensions for wounded soldiers
What establishment was expanded under the 1598 poor laws?
Houses of Correction
What was the significance of 1598 Poor Laws? (3)
- first comprehensive national system for dealing with poverty
- made relief compulsory
- centralised policy
How long did the 1598 Poor Laws remain?
Until 1834 (with revision in 1601)
What was the Mid-Tudor crisis?
Period of economic decline caused by inflation, poor harvest, influenza and population fluctuation
What did the Mid-Tudor crisis cause?
Increased vagrancy
When was the Statute of Artificers?
1563
What did the Statute of Artificers rule on vagrancy?
Unmarried people under 30 had to accept any job and able poor had to gather harvest
What was the role of JPs in the Statute of Artificers? (3)
- assessed wages
- forced poor to collect harvest
- collected poor relief
When were Houses of Correction built at local levels?
1572
What did the Statute of Artificers rule on employment?
People between 12-60 had to work the land
What were 3 exceptions to having to work the land under the Statute of Artificers?
- heir to lands more than £10
- skilled craftsmen
- student at university
What did the Statute of Artificers rule on wages?
All wages assessed by JPs, working hours fixed to ensure stable employment
What did the Statute of Artificers rule on apprenticeships?
7 years long and compulsory for stable employment, increasing the ability of the workforce
Which groups of people advocated for comprehensive education in Tudor England?
Humanists and Commonwealth men
What were grammar schools in Tudor England?
Schools for boys, available for all classes
What were limitations of Tudor grammar schools?
Not many in the localities and working the land remained the priority
Which percentage of Oxford students were Yeomen or merchants under the Tudors?
50%
What were male illiteracy rates in 1550 vs. 1600?
80% to 72%
What were female illiteracy rates in 1550 vs. 1600?
98% to 82%
How did education of the yeomen not necessarily help control?
The yeomen could now begin rebellions, communicate demands and become aware of inequalities and exploitation
Where in the country were literacy rates worst?
The North, due to lack of grammar schools
How was education of the yeomen successful for control? (2)
- increased people working for the local government
- allowed Yeomen to become involved in the system of patronage and promotion
What were Fifteenths and Tenths?
Standardised lay subsidy, beginning in 1334 and providing inadequate income for the monarch
Why did Wolsey need to stabilise the royal income?
Expensive foreign policy
Roughly how much did Henry VIII spend on war and how much did ordinary revenue earn?
£1 million vs £25,000
What was the 1513 subsidy?
Wolsey’s fairer and larger tax, centralised by JPs
How was the 1513 subsidy fairer?
Assessed individual wealth on all assets, with tax to be paid from the area of greatest wealth - also super-tax for the nobility
What did Henry VIII ask for for the first time?
Peace-time tax
What was the system of taxation under Elizabeth?
Peace time subsidies were regular and expected, although still struggled to sustain royal needs
Roughly how much did peace-time subsidies yield at the end of Elizabeth’s reign?
£80,000
What was the role of JPs under Henry VII? (3)
- arrest suspects
- replaces corrupt jury members
- investigates private retaining of armies
Who did Henry VII appoint as JPs?
Loyal members and new nobility
What did Henry VIII introduce in 1526 to improve the quality of JPs?
21-section questionnaire on law and order and life appointments
What was the role of the JPs in the 1530s?
Enforce the reformation
What were JPs involved in which limited their success for control?
Pilgrimage of Grace
What was the role of JPs under Edward VI?
All alehouses had to be licensed and used to enforce Second Prayer Book
By how much did JP numbers increase between 1558- 1585?
40-90
What did the expansion of JP numbers under Elizabeth lead to?
Becomes a corrupt and chaotic role, Cecil could not rely on JP reports
What was the purpose of Lord Lieutenants in relation to JPs under Elizabeth?
Made permanent in 1585 to restore central control and oversee JPs
How may acts of parliament were passed in 1603 to define the responsibilities of JP?
309
What judgment can be made on the powers of JPs?
They held a lot of power but were entirely dependent on the monarch
How did Henry VII use royal progresses?
Constantly went on heavily militarised progresses, focussing on Yorkist areas such as the North and the Midlands
What was Henry VIII’s main motivation for progressing and why did he never travel far?
- to escape London in the summer
- large household of over 1,000 members
How were Henry VIII’s progresses successful?
Prevented rebellion in the South West in 1536
How were Henry VIII’s progresses unsuccessful?
North rebelled due to neglect, progress to York in 1541 was greatly disrespected
How often did Elizabeth I progress?
Every summer
How did Elizabeth I benefit economically from progresses?
Localities would pay for her stay
Where did Elizabeth I progress most commonly?
South, Midlands and East
What did Elizabeth also use progresses for?
Patronage
How did Henry VII use patronage? (3)
- distrustful and reluctant
- preferred small group of trusted nobility
- feared rather than loved
How did Henry VII secure loyalty as opposed to patronage?
Acts of Attainder
What is an example of Henry VII’s awarding of patronage?
Jasper Tudor appointed Duke of Bedford and control of the Welsh marches
Who was an example of Henry VII’s reluctance with patronage?
William Stanley
How did Henry VIII use patronage? (3)
- reward
- centred around the secretary
- awarded monastic land
How was William Compton an example of Henry VIII’s patronage?
Income increased from £10 to £1,700 per year
How was Charles Brandon an example of Henry VIII’s patronage?
Made Duke of Suffolk and moved North to deal with the Pilgrimage of Grace
How did Henry VIII’s patronage become dangerous? (3)
- circle around Cromwell caused resentment
- factions formed
- created very powerful members
How did Elizabeth use patronage? (4)
- gave key noblemen multiple positions
- exploited virginity (Dudley)
- linked all access and power back to her favour
- monopolies
What was the limitation of Elizabeth’s patronage?
Created factions and resentment - Northern Revolt
