Henry VII and Nobles Flashcards
What were carrots?
Positive rewards used to persuade nobles to behave.
What was patronage?
Gifts from the crown such as titles given to nobles
How would patronage ensure the nobles loyalty?
Because they owed their entire status to Henry so they would be loyal to him
Who was patronage mainly bestowed on?
Lesser nobles or gentry rather than the super nobles
How many noble families and how many did they decrease to under Henry’s reign?
50 down to 35
Why did the number of noble families decrease?
Due to natural deaths not Henry (however Henry did not replace them after they died)
What was the Order of the Garter?
Founded 1348 by Edward III, it was England’s highest and most coveted chivalry
Who was the Order of the Garter bestowed to?
Nobles or gentry that Henry felt deserved a reward
Why was the Order of the Garter better for Henry to give out?
It was cheaper than promoting people to titles of Duke or Earl because he didn’t have to give out land - just the title.
How many Knights of the Garter did Henry install during his reign?
37 (3 more than the previous 3 Kings had)
Why did Henry prefer to give out patronage and Order of the Garter rather than land?
He didn’t want to create any over-mighty subjects
What were sticks?
Negative punishments used to force the nobles to behave
What were Acts of Attainder?
Special laws passed by parliament that allowed someone to declare guilty of treason without a trial.
How did Henry use Acts of Attainder?
To seize the titles and lands of nobles who he suspected were disloyal
Did Henry follow through on Acts of Attainder?
No, they were more of a threat. Henry often reversed attainders and restored the lands and titles of the noble family when he was satisfied that they were loyal
Who did Henry first use Attainders on?
Against opponents at Bosworth
Was Henry anti-noble?
No, he was anti-abuses committed by the nobility.
He was unpopular amongst them but that is not the same as anti-noble (his best friend - Oxford - was a noble)
How many attainders were passed during Henry’s reign and how many were reversed?
138 passed.
46 reversed.
Why did the use of attainders increase towards the end of his reign?
He was paranoid that the nobility was turning on him
What was retaining?
A practice where noblemen kept a large number of men in their personal staff, in theory as household servants, but in practice they were gangs of enforcers or informal armies.
Why was retaining a problem?
The armies could be used to intimidate anyone who went against the noble. They would even intimidate juries and sheriffs.
How did Henry combat retaining?
Passed anti-retaining laws in 1485 and 1504.
He made all nobles in parliament swear that they would not illegally retain.
What did the 1504 Act require?
That nobles have a special licence from the King for retaining large numbers of men.
What was the punishment for retaining?
A fine of £5 per man
Did anti-retaining laws and fines stop the practice of retaining?
Not really - nobles found ways around the laws but Henry did reduce the practice more than any before him
What did a Bond or Recognisance do?
They would place a noble in debt to the crown and therefore ensure they were loyal - Basically Henry made the nobles promise to behave or he would financially ruin them.
When did Henry issue Bonds and Recognisances?
When a noble committed a crime
How many noble families were placed under bonds in Henry’s last decade as King?
About 2 thirds
Did Henry follow through on Bonds and Recognisances?
No, he rarely requested the full payment of the debts but in theory he could if the noble misbehaved
Give an example of Bonds and Recognisances?
Lord Burgavenny - convicted 1507 of illegal retaining and fined £70,000 which would have ruined him.
Henry generously placed him under a bond instead.
What did the bond on Lord Burgavenny state?
Had to pay £5000 over 10 years.
He could not step foot on his lands in the south east until he had paid the £5000
(Controlled a potentially disloyal noble and gained money in one go)
Who collected the money from Bonds?
The Council Learned in Law (so was hated by nobles)
