Government

Question 1

What were the issues in government that Henry VII inherited?

Answer 1

The nobility was excessively powerful, royal finances were depleted, Henry had a bad claim to the throne and crown power was very uneven

Question 2

What did local government depend on?

Answer 2

Justices of the Peace, who were chief local government officials, who were responsible for maintaining public order and implementing any laws that concerned social-economic matters. There were on average 18 per county, and they weren’t paid but it was in their interest as local landowners to do their job properly

Question 3

What changes were made to the rights of Justices of the Peace?

Answer 3

In 1485 they could arrest or question hunters who were in disguise, and they could be suspected for murder or rebellion. In 1487 they could grant bail to those awaiting trial, and in 1495 they could replace members of juries who they suspected of having being bribed

Question 4

Why was the Earl of Suffolk put in charge in Northern England?

Answer 4

He was put in charge after the Earl of Northumberland’s murder in 1489 as he had no strong bases of support with which to rival Henry

Question 5

What happened in Wales?

Answer 5

The Council of Wales was restored and staffed with Welsh nobles under the leadership of Jasper Tudor

Question 6

Why was parliament used?

Answer 6

It had a minor role in political life and was mainly used to pass laws and give the king additional taxes, and Henry often used Parliament to support him in controversial policies such as limitations on traditional privileges of nobles or new financial demands on his subjects

Question 7

How many times did parliament meet under Henry VII?

Answer 7

7 times

Question 8

How did Henry VII mainly rule?

Answer 8

Through decrees and proclamations

Question 9

What parts of government were more important to Henry VII?

Answer 9

Committees and law courts, chiefly the Royal council

Question 10

What was the Royal Council?

Answer 10

It consisted of Henry VII’s most trusted advisors to give advice and take on the tasks of the day to day management of the kingdom, and only 6-7 people were in regular attendance, such as Morton, Fox, Dudley and Bray

Question 11

What was a sub-committee of Henry’s council?

Answer 11

The Council Learned in Law

Question 12

What was the Star Chamber?

Answer 12

It was created by the Star Chamber act in 1487 and was responsible for prosecuting anyone who behaved in a rebellious or lawless manner, along with collecting bonds and recognisances, although Henry preferred to control unruly subjects by financial methods predominantly

Question 13

What funds were brought in from lands in Henry VII’s first year through the Treasury and exchequer?

Answer 13

He only received £11,700 from lands in his first year, whereas Richard brought in about £25,000

Question 14

Who’s system of finance did Henry VII follow?

Answer 14

Edward IV, with all administration of finance being done from his own private rooms

Question 15

What was the Surveyor of the King’s Wards?

Answer 15

It was established to investigate cases of money own from Wardships

Question 16

Why was the court of Audit formed?

Answer 16

To monitor the spending of the government

Question 17

How much did Henry receive per annum compared to that of foreign powers?

Answer 17

He received £113,000 per annum by the end of his reign, compared to the King of France’s £800,000 and Maximilian’s £1,100,000

Question 18

What did Henry lend to Burgundy in 1505?

Answer 18

£138,000 to Philip of Burgundy to finance his voyage to Spain

Question 19

How much did Henry lend to Maximilian between 1505 and 1509?

Answer 19

Between £226,000 and £342,000

Question 20

What were the two types of income that Henry received?

Answer 20

Ordinary and extraordinary revenue

Question 21

What was the Act of Resumption?

Answer 21

It was used in 1486 to reclaim all crown lands that had been granted away since the start of the Wars of the Roses, but Henry didn’t always act on these claims - they were used as a potential threat to control nobles

Question 22

How many attainders were issued in one parliament?

Answer 22

51

Question 23

How much had the amount of crown land increased by?

Answer 23

It was 5x larger by the later years of Henry VII’s reign than it was in Henry VI’s reign

Question 24

Whose lands did Henry VII retain?

Answer 24

Warwick, and the Dukes of Clarence and Gloucester

Question 25

How much crown land revenue was raised under Edward IV compared to Henry VII?

Answer 25

£15,000 under Edward IV, £3,000 per year in the early part of Henry VII’s reign

Question 26

What were feudal dues?

Answer 26

Traditional rights held by the crown to demand money on the principle that the king was the sole owner of all the kingdom’s land

Question 27

What were the main types of payments that the king would demand from nobility?

Answer 27

Relief, paid by an heir when he received his inheritance, marriage, wardship, livery and escheats

Question 28

What was the increase in income from wardship and marriage?

Answer 28

In 1487 it was £350, in 1497 it was £6,000 per year

Question 29

What were custom duties?

Answer 29

They were paid on goods entering or leaving the country, and they rose from £33,000 to £40,000

Question 30

What were legal dues?

Answer 30

They were money from fines and other payments made by people appearing before the king’s courts

Question 31

What was the attainder on William Stanley from 1495?

Answer 31

£9,000 immediately and £1,000 per year thereafter

Question 32

What was extraordinary revenue?

Answer 32

It was for emergencies such as war, and parliaments approval was needed for most of it, but it came from other sources as well

Question 33

What were bonds and recognisances?

Answer 33

They were used for a guarantee of good behaviour, and used for political and financial purposes, and the Council Learned in Law was used to enforce payments of these debts

Question 34

What is an example of a loan being used?

Answer 34

In 1491 £48,000 was raised for war in Brittany, of which £9,000 was contributed by London alone

Question 35

What were clerical taxes?

Answer 35

Taxes that the king could place on the church, and they were the only way of securing money from the church

Question 36

What was the French Pension?

Answer 36

England would receive £5,000 per year as part of the Treaty of Etaples

Question 37

What were parliamentary taxes?

Answer 37

They were used to raise money for military action but were often unpopular and led to rebellion