Henry VII - Government Flashcards
What 3 main functions did The Council have?
- To advise the King
- To administer the realm on the King’s behalf
- To make legal judgements
What were the three main types of councillor?
Members of nobility (e.g Lord Daubenay)
Churchmen such as John Morton or Richard Fox
Laymen (gentry/lawyers) who were skilled administrators. E.g Sir Reginald Bray or Edmund Dudley
How big was Henry’s council?
6-7 people
What was the Council Learned?
A body of members of the council whom ensured the protecting and consolidation of the King’s power through financial terms.
Who led the Council Learned and who took over it?
Sir Reginald Bray led it and then Richard Empson took over it when Bray died in 1503
What was the problem with the Council Learned?
Unnecessarily took finance from people for the King’s wealth. Empson and Dudley were heavily hated due to abuse and addiction to passing bonds and recognisances. Due to problematic nature it was never seen as an official council.
Counterproductive somewhat
What was the Royal Court?
Centre of the government and since wealth was power, the royal court was magnificent and generous. It was a focus of a Personal Monarchy
Always found with Henry at any given time
Advantages of the Royal Court?
Granted free food and seen as an official noble figure.
Advancements in ranks could be attained here and support of the king, moreover it sometimes gave the ability to provide the king with legal advice
What was the household proper?
Responsible for looking after the King, courtiers, guests and other ‘hang-ons’ who were being entertained. Personal and catering requirements taken care of by Lord Steward.
What was the Chamber?
The private areas of the court, also a key department for the efficient department collection of royal revenues. It was presided over by the Lord Chamberlain.
What was the Privy Chamber?
A place where the King could retreat to, knowing he will be protected by his most intimate servants. Its members had direct access to the monarch and therefore could influence him more directly.
Who were 4 of the people who were in the Privy Chamber?
Jasper Tudor - His Uncle
Earl Of Oxford - His Friend
Lord Thomas Stanley - His Stepfather
Margaret Beaufort - His Mother
What type of relationship did Henry have with the Church?
Henry had a positive relationship with the Church. He got papal support before bosworth.
Not interested in theology but was personally pious
What was 2 features of the Church system under Henry?
Separate legal system than the state (as he had no influence over operations of Church Court)
He appointed more lawyers than bishops in the church
What 2 houses did Parliament consist of?
House of Commons
House of Lords
How many times did Henry call parliament in his reign and what was his attitude towards them?
7 times in his reign (5 in first 10 years)
Passed acts of attainders and tonnage and poundage in first two parliaments
Didn’t like them as they had opposite views and sometimes thought they knew better. Also it was long and tedious.
He only called them when he needed extraordinary revenue
How did Henry manage power across the rest of the kingdom?
Put his most trusted followers in charge
What did Henry do in each region to ensure govt stability?
England - Justices of Peace ( landowners met up a few times a year to carry out tasks that were unfulfilled due to a sense of advancement or prestige )
Scotland - no control of
Wales - appointed his uncle as leader
Ireland - appointed Poynings then Earl of Kildare
What were bonds and recognizances?
Documents and formal recognitions of debts that had to be paid back. If they weren’t paid back then you would associate yourself with someone in the bond who would complete a forfeit if the sum of money wasn’t paid back.
What was the Star Chamber?
Responsible for prosecuting anyone who behaves in a rebellious or lawless manner. Became more developed and organised under H7. Set up in 1487
What 7 incentives did he have for law?
Patronage - gifted land to loyal followers
Order of the Garter - creating knights, gave recipient prestige but not land or power
Kings Council - seen as loyal trusted servants
Great Council - meetings by noblemen to discuss important matters when calling parliament would take too long
Acts of Attainder
Bonds and recognisances
Retaining - promises by lords and commons to not retain illegally (recruit gentry illegally)
What 2 ways did Henry make changes in govt to improve royal finance?
Ordinary revenue
Extraordinary revenue
Name 6 sources of royal income
Crown lands
Profits from feudal dues and exercise of royal prerogative
Customs revenue
Pensions from other powers (Treaty of Etaples - bribe to remove English soldiers from French soil)
Profits of justice
Extraordinary revenue (Benevolences too - a forced loan with no repayment. 1491 Henry raised £48.5k to take army to France)
What was Crown lands and what did Henry do to improve income from these?
Crown lands was money taxes from lands
He got rid of Court of Exchequer (someone who collected the taxes) and reformed Edward IV chamber where King supervised financial policies himself.
Income went from £12k-42k
