Henry 7th Government

Question 1

What evidence suggets parliament was important?

Answer 1

• Henry used parliament to strengthen his own position e.g. 1504 Act forbade corporations from making any regulations without the king’s consent
• Helped Henry establish law and order - used to pass Acts of Attainder and set up Justices of the Peace

Question 2

What suggests parliament was not important?

Answer 2

• Was not a permanent feature of government - only met 7 times during Henry’s reign
• Meetings were usually short the longest being only 3 months
• Henry used other bodies to raise money such as the Church as parliament was not always reliable - in 1504 only agreed to £40,000 rather than the £90,000 Henry asked for

Question 3

What suggests Central Government was important?

Answer 3

• Council Learned in Law was staffed by men with legal expertise and was important in ensuring Henry received feudal dues and enforcing bonds and recognisances
• Privy Council was chosen by Henry and had frequent meetings with a smaller inner group for efficiency

Question 4

What suggests regional governments were important?

Answer 4

• Ensured Henry’s central government decisions were being upheld
• The Council of the North had responsibility to defend the northern border and had administrative and judicial power so law could be enforced quickly

Question 5

What suggests regional governments were NOT important?

Answer 5

• Direct English control in Ireland was limited to an area around Dublin - the Pale

Question 6

What suggests local government was important?

Answer 6

• Justices of the Peace maintained public order and enforced laws - later their role was widened to dispensing justice, trying criminal offences, and granting bail - from 1495 could replace members of juries who they suspected took bribes
• JPs were often second rank landowners - by gaining their loyalty and giving them these positions Henry was able to reduce the power of the nobility

Question 7

What suggests local governments were not important?

Answer 7

JPs were still dependent on other officials bringing criminals to them which local officials didn’t want to do as it made them unpopular - Henry relied on good will to ensure justice could actually be implemented