Henry VII - Government

Question 1

What 3 main functions did The Council have?

Answer 1

• To advise the King
• To administer the realm on the King’s behalf
• To make legal judgements

Question 2

What were the three main types of councillor?

Answer 2

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

Question 2

How big was Henry’s council?

Answer 2

6-7 people

Question 2

What was the Council Learned?

Answer 2

A body of members of the council whom ensured the protecting and consolidation of the King’s power through financial terms.

Question 2

Who led the Council Learned and who took over it?

Answer 2

Sir Reginald Bray led it and then Richard Empson took over it when Bray died in 1503

Question 2

What was the problem with the Council Learned?

Answer 2

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

Question 3

What was the Royal Court?

Answer 3

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

Question 4

Advantages of the Royal Court?

Answer 4

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

Question 5

What was the household proper?

Answer 5

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.

Question 6

What was the Chamber?

Answer 6

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.

Question 7

What was the Privy Chamber?

Answer 7

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.

Question 8

Who were 4 of the people who were in the Privy Chamber?

Answer 8

Jasper Tudor - His Uncle
Earl Of Oxford - His Friend
Lord Thomas Stanley - His Stepfather
Margaret Beaufort - His Mother

Question 9

What type of relationship did Henry have with the Church?

Answer 9

Henry had a positive relationship with the Church. He got papal support before bosworth.

Not interested in theology but was personally pious

Question 10

What was 2 features of the Church system under Henry?

Answer 10

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

Question 11

What 2 houses did Parliament consist of?

Answer 11

House of Commons
House of Lords

Question 12

How many times did Henry call parliament in his reign and what was his attitude towards them?

Answer 12

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

Question 13

How did Henry manage power across the rest of the kingdom?

Answer 13

Put his most trusted followers in charge

Question 14

What did Henry do in each region to ensure govt stability?

Answer 14

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

Question 15

What were bonds and recognizances?

Answer 15

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.

Question 16

What was the Star Chamber?

Answer 16

Responsible for prosecuting anyone who behaves in a rebellious or lawless manner. Became more developed and organised under H7. Set up in 1487

Question 17

What 7 incentives did he have for law?

Answer 17

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)

Question 18

What 2 ways did Henry make changes in govt to improve royal finance?

Answer 18

Ordinary revenue
Extraordinary revenue

Question 19

Name 6 sources of royal income

Answer 19

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)

Question 20

What was Crown lands and what did Henry do to improve income from these?

Answer 20

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