Henry’s centralised Government Flashcards
Administration
What was the King’s Council?
The King’s Council was the main focus of administration and saw the King at the heart of a group chosen to support him.
Henry VII chose to limit the daily group of advisors to no more than 20 men developing his own Privy Council
Also developing his own personal monarchy like E4
Administration
How did Henry use regional councils to maintain his authority throughout England?
Local government and regional councils were key to supporting Henry’s control over his domain.
H7 made effective use of The Council of the North and the Council of Wales by putting men like the Earl of Surrey and Jasper Tudor in charge of them to support his enforcement of the law in the localities.
This meant Henry did not go on extensive royal progresses as he left his local magnates to enforce the Royal Writ for him.
Administration
How did Henry establish control in Ireland and why was this important?
Jasper Tudor was named Lord Lieutenant of Ireland in 1485 and Sir Edward Poynings was appointed his Deputy
Poynings was a key figure in the development of Tudor control over Ireland.
Poynings’ Law passed in 1494 declared that any law made in England would automatically apply to Ireland.
(meant Warbeck couldn’t get support from Ireland like Lamber Simnel)
This meant Henry did not go on extensive royal progresses as he left his local magnates to enforce the Royal Writ for him.
Law and Order
How did Henry use parliament and what did he do to prevent overmighty subjects?
Since H7 did not really require many taxes to be granted for war he used parliament to pass laws to support his authority such as the acts against livery and maintenance.
Livery and Maintenance (or illegal retaining) was a particular issue as the failure of the kings to control the practice had led to overmighty subjects.
Although it did help kings to ensure law and order in a locality, it challenged royal authority if a magnate became too powerful.
Henry VII took action to reduce retaining with his 1487 statute against retaining.
Law and Order
What was the court of star chamber used for?
The Court of Star Chamber was used to try any baron who ignored the Act of Livery and Maintenance.
Henry would encourage the judges to impose large fines on those found guilty as it would reduce their funds and would increase the King’s finances.
This meant the balance of money + power were both in H7 favour
Law and Order
How did Henry use JPs?
Henry often chose the JPs from the ‘second rank’ of the county’s landowners as a means of reducing the power of the greater magnates.
H7 extending E4 ideas
Finance
How did Henry manage his finance?
Henry VII revived the Chamber system of administering finance rather than the Exchequer (which E4 used) to try to reduce levels of corruption.
H7 had personal control over his finances
Embezzlement was less likely when the king had a much more personal input in the financial administration.
Ordinary Revenue
What did Henry do with custom duties?
Customs duties made up the largest part of Henry VII’s income
some rates had not been changed since the 14th Century.
Henry cleverly updated the ‘book of Rates’ twice during his reign to ensure new goods were taxed effectively.
This meant that every good that came into England was taxed increasing H7 wealth
Extraordinary revenue
What was simony and how did this increase Henry’s wealth?
Clerical tax saw money for the monarch from the clergy.
Simony saw payments for clerical appointments too.
Simony meant ppl could buy the role from the King
The job went to the highest payer, not the most able
This increased H7 wealth
Extraordinary revenue
What extraordinary Revenue did Henry gain from the French?
The French Pension was secured in the Treaty of Etaples in 1492.
Henry was paid £5000 a year to pay compensation for the cost of the war he did not actually fight with France!
Extraordinary revenue
What were Bonds and Recognisances?
Bonds and Recognisances were the practice of subjects paying a sum of money to guarantee their good behaviour to the king.
If they failed to behave, the king could keep their money, but he mostly kept it anyway!
Immediately after Bosworth, the Earl of Westmoreland paid around £10000 to the king.
