Henry VII - Government Flashcards
King’s council
Advise the King on state matters, administer law and order and control local government. Henry relied on a small elite group.
Smaller committees/councils
One for implementation of Acts of livery and maintenance
Court of General Surveyors - audit revenue from crown lands
Council Learned in Law - wardship, marriage, relief and feudal dues as well as bonds and recognisances (debts to the crown)
Star Chamber - court used for serious crimes, often on nobility and gentry
Regional Government
Entrusted key men to run different regions
Earl of Surrey - Council of the North
Jasper Tudor - Council of Wales and the Marches
Sir Edward Poyning - Council of Ireland
Local government
Justices of the Peace - JPs for life; arrest, try imprison and sentence at quarter sessions
Sheriffs - peacekeeping and detention of criminals; management of parliamentary elections
Mayors - ran towns
Parliament
Only called by Henry seven times
Most used for Acts of Attainder and granting taxation
Also used for acts against retaining
Nobles
Uses Acts of Attainder to downsize nobility
Unpopular with magnates
Rewards loyalty
Uses bonds of allegiance on Yorkists
Dealing with traitors
Used them rather than executing them
Earl of Northumberland - released in 1485, given control of the North
Earl of Westmoreland - bond paid to Henry, and Henry kept his son at court
Rivals
Duke of Suffolk/Earl of Lincoln - swore loyalty
Edward, Earl of Warwick was imprisoned in the Tower
Supporters
Jasper Tudor - given control of Wales
Thomas Lord Stanley made Earl of Derby
Sir William Stanley made Lord Chamberlain
Style of government
A personal monarch, always knew exactly what was going on
Chose advisors for skill not for titles - only 19% were peers
Rewarded loyalty, even of previous enemies
Used proclamations to govern
