Government Flashcards
What was the council?
Consisted of 6-7 members and supported Henry in making key decisions but 227 men are recorded as having attended the Council during his reign
What were the functions of the council?
- To advise the king
- To administer the realm on the king’s behalf
- To make legal judgements
Who were the three main types of councillors?
- Nobles e.g. Lord Daubeney
- Churchmen e.g. Richard Fox- often had legal training and were excellent administrators
- Laymen- e.g. Sir Reginald Bray - either gentry or lawyers who were skilled administrators
What are examples of non-councillors who advised the king?
Henry’s mother (Margaret Beaufort) acted as an unofficial advisor
Under Henry what was the council?
- A permanent body with a core membership though with no established procedures
- Sometimes members met separately to discuss legal or administrative matters.
What was the council learned?
An offshoot of the council that developed during the second half of Henry’s reign (under Bray)
What was the function of the council learned?
To maintain the king’s revenue and to exploit his prerogative rights
It made the system of bonds and recognisances work effectively therefore helping to ensure loyalty and finance
What was the council learned not recognised as?
A court of law so there was no right of appeal against and it bypassed the normal legal system
Who were Empson and Dudley?
Empson = Bray’s associate in the council learned - a fiercely ambitious lawyer
After Bray’s death in 1503 Empson was joined by Dudley
What were Empson and Dudley known for and what happened to them?
Known for their ruthless extraction of money from the king’s subjects - this made them unpopular and feared and created enemies out of some of the king’s other advisors
They were removed and executed after Henry’s death
What was the royal court?
The centre of Government- a focus for personal monarchy, and a system in which a person’s power was determined by his relationship with the monarch. It was here that the support of the king or other influential persons could be obtained - rewards and status distributed through the court
Where ever the king was at any given time
In 1485 what did the court comprise of?
The household proper and the chamber
What was the household proper?
Responsible for looking after the king, courtiers and guests , supervised by the Lord Steward
What was the chamber?
Presided over by the Lord Chamberlain (a powerful courtier who was also a member of the king’s council and often spoke for the monarch
What happened in 1495 after the involvement of sir William Stanley in the Perkin Warbeck conspiracy?
Henry remodelled the chamber as the Privy Chamber - he could retreat into this protected by him most trusted servants - this made it more difficult for the kings favour to be gained and cut Henry off from many of the King’s traditional contacts of court