HENRY VII: GOVERNMENT

Question 1

What was the King’s Council? How many councillors did Henry VII have?

Answer 1

To advise the king over matters of state, to administer law and order, and to act in a judicial capacity.
Total of 227 councillors.

Question 2

Give two names of people who were in Henry’s elite, core group of councillors.

Answer 2

Lord Chancellor John Morton.

Lord Privy Seal Richard Fox.

Question 3

What was the Council Learned in the Law?

Answer 3

Small, very professional body. Most of its members had some sort of legal training or experience.

Question 4

When was the Council Learned in the Law established? What was it responsible for?

Answer 4

1495.

Keeping up to date with the wardship, marriages and relief of all the king’s tenants.

Question 5

What was the Council Learned particularly hated for?

Answer 5

It’s close connection with bonds and recognisances.

Question 6

Who was promoted in the Council Learned that made people fear it?

Answer 6

Sir Richard Empson and Edmund Dudley.

Question 7

Who were Henry’s two chief councillors who were also clerics?

Answer 7

John Morton and Richard Fox.

Question 8

Where did Henry draw most of his chief advisers and servants from? Give an example of some of these individuals.

Answer 8

The ranks of the lesser landowners or gentry, and from professional classes (lawyers). E.g. Sir Reginald Bray, Edmund Dudley.

Question 9

What were some of the advisers from lesser ranks labelled as by historians?

Answer 9

‘New men’

Question 10

What was the Council of the North allowed to do?

Answer 10

Enjoy similar administrative and judicial power to enable the law to be enforced swiftly and efficiently.

Question 11

Who was appointed to govern the Council of Wales?

Answer 11

Jasper Tudor, later in 1493, Henry’s seven-year-old son was appointed.

Question 12

Why was Henry not too concerned about danger of invasion from Wales?

Answer 12

Due to his family links and Welsh connections.

Question 13

When did Henry learn the danger that Ireland posed?

Answer 13

When Simnel and Warbeck received considerable support from there.

Question 14

Who was made Lord Lieutenant of the Council of Ireland in 1494? Who was made deputy?

Answer 14

His infant son, Prince Henry and Edward Poynings as deputy.

Question 15

What two ways was Henry making his commands felt from London to other areas of England and Ireland?

Answer 15

1) Exploitation of Crown lands.

2) Increasing the powers of the justices of the peace (JPs).

Question 16

What two things gave the sheriffs more noticeability during the Tudor period?

Answer 16

1) Became the Crown’s representative in every county throughout England.
2) Took on greater responsibility for the conduct and management of parliamentary elections.

Question 17

How often were sheriffs selected?

Answer 17

Annually.

Question 18

After 1485, JPs were selected from what ‘class’?

Answer 18

Landowning county elite.

Question 19

What were the main two weaknesses of local government?

Answer 19

King was dependent on the goodwill of his officials.

Relied on leaders of society to uphold law and order.

Question 20

How many times were Parliament summoned in Henry VII’s 24-year reign?

Answer 20

Seven, five being in his first decade as king.

Question 21

What three reasons were used to justify Henry calling Parliament so little?

Answer 21

1) Did not need to ask for war taxes very often.
2) Did not wish to strain the loyalty of his subjects.
3) Did not feel the need to initiate legislation on a large scale.