Henry VII - Government and Finance

Question 1

How did Henry take the business of government?

Answer 1

Henry took the business of government very seriously.

Question 2

Who were the ‘new men’ in Henry’s government?

Answer 2

The ‘new men’ were men of gentry status who owed their power and prestige to royal office.

Question 3

Who was Sir Reginald Bray?

Answer 3

Sir Reginald Bray was the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and a financial expert. His department educated many of the new men.

Question 4

What roles did Sir Thomas Lovell hold?

Answer 4

Sir Thomas Lovell was Chancellor of the Exchequer and Treasurer of the royal household.

Question 5

Who were Sir Richard Empson and Edmund Dudley?

Answer 5

They were financial experts who were later put in charge of the Council Learned in the Law.

Question 6

What was Sir Edward Poynings’ significance?

Answer 6

Sir Edward Poynings was an important military commander, not from the aristocracy.

Question 7

What roles did the new men play in tax collection?

Answer 7

The new men often collected taxes personally, acted as subsidy commissioners, collected benevolences, and even customs duties.

Question 8

What was the function of the new men in local justice?

Answer 8

They were often appointed to commissions of the peace to oversee justice in the shires.

Question 9

How did the new men support the king’s military needs?

Answer 9

They acted as royal stewards administering crown lands and raising and retaining armed men for the king.

Question 10

How many men did Bray and Lovell raise for the king in 1492?

Answer 10

Bray and Lovell raised 300 men for the king in 1492, similar to the number raised by earls and dukes.

Question 11

What was the role of the King’s Council?

Answer 11

The King’s Council became the true centre of government, dividing into inner councils with specialist functions.

Question 12

How did Henry’s administration become perceived in his later years?

Answer 12

Henry’s administration became increasingly oppressive and unpopular, especially after the deaths of the Queen and his eldest son, Arthur.

Question 13

How many parliaments did Henry call during his reign?

Answer 13

Henry called 7 parliaments during his reign, with growing infrequency.

Question 14

What was significant about the first parliament of Henry’s reign?

Answer 14

The first parliament was crucial in recognizing that Henry was king because of his victory at Bosworth.

Question 15

What taxes were granted to Henry for life by the first parliament?

Answer 15

The first parliament granted Henry tunnage and poundage (taxes on imports and exports) for life.

Question 16

What was the standard parliamentary tax during Henry’s reign?

Answer 16

The standard parliamentary tax was the Fifteenth and Tenth, worth about £30,000 each.

Question 17

What did the Parliament of 1491 grant?

Answer 17

The Parliament of 1491 granted 3 Fifteenths and Tenths for the invasion of France.

Question 18

What was the focus of new laws passed during Henry’s reign?

Answer 18

During Henry’s reign, 20% of new laws concerned attainders and a further 20% concerned law enforcement.

Question 19

How did Henry consult with the nobility?

Answer 19

Henry used Great Councils (meetings of the peers of the realm) to consult with the great men of the kingdom.

Question 20

How did Henry VII’s approach to local government differ from Edward IV’s?

Answer 20

Henry VII largely reversed Edward IV’s model of local government, which relied on building up the power of regional magnates.

Question 21

What was the role of the Council in the Welsh Marches?

Answer 21

There was a Council in the Welsh Marches under the nominal control of Arthur Prince of Wales, which continued after his death in 1502.

Question 22

Who ran the Council of the North?

Answer 22

The Council of the North was run by the Earl of Surrey, who did not have land or personal interests in the area.

Question 23

What was the impact of Henry’s reign on law and order?

Answer 23

It is not clear that the overall level of law and order improved during Henry’s reign.

Question 24

What was the Star Chamber tribunal?

Answer 24

The Star Chamber tribunal of 1487 heard only a limited number of cases.

Question 25

What was a major weakness of Henry VI?

Answer 25

A major weakness of Henry VI was his generosity and indebtedness.

Question 26

How did Henry VII’s income change from 1483 to 1509?

Answer 26

By 1483 the Crown’s income was around £90,000 pa, and by 1509 it was around £120,000 pa.

Question 27

How much land did Henry VII own compared to Henry VI?

Answer 27

Henry owned five times as much land as Henry VI, gaining Yorkist lands and those of the men attainted after Bosworth.

Question 28

By how much did Henry VII increase revenue from crown lands?

Answer 28

Between 1487 and 1489, crown lands brought in about £3,000 pa, which rose to £40,000 pa by 1502-5.

Question 29

What methods did Henry use to gain land?

Answer 29

Land was gained through attainders, confiscations, and using unscrupulous lawyers to claim land.

Question 30

What was the significance of the 138 attainders during Henry’s reign?

Answer 30

138 attainders were passed during the reign, bringing in more land, with only 46 reversed.

Question 31

What was the impact of Henry’s financial management on the Exchequer?

Answer 31

More of Crown income was diverted from the Exchequer to the King’s Chamber for direct supervision.

Question 32

How did Henry VII manage his accounts later in his reign?

Answer 32

Later in the reign, Henry checked the accounts of income and expenditure personally and signed each entry.

Question 33

What annual pension did Henry receive from the king of France?

Answer 33

After the invasion of France, Henry received an annual pension of about £12,000 for 15 years.

Question 34

What role did loans play in Henry’s financial strategy?

Answer 34

Henry could ask for loans or benevolences from wealthier subjects, with Archbishop Morton helping to collect in 1491.

Question 35

What was the significance of the sale of offices during Henry’s reign?

Answer 35

Henry may have sold offices more systematically to raise more money.

Question 36

How did Henry exploit church vacancies for financial gain?

Answer 36

Henry collected part of the revenues of a vacant bishopric until a new bishop was appointed.

Question 37

What were Bonds and Recognizances?

Answer 37

Bonds and Recognizances were used more systematically, increasing revenue from £3,000 in 1493-4 to £35,000 in 1504-5.

Question 38

What was the impact of the poll tax on aliens in 1487?

Answer 38

The poll tax on aliens in 1487 had limited impact.

Question 39

What was the outcome of the subsidy of 1489 agreed by Parliament?

Answer 39

Only 25% of the subsidy of 1489 was collected.

Question 40

What was the outcome of the aid of 1497 for war against Scotland?

Answer 40

The aid of 1497 was not collected as the war did not take place.

Question 41

What were the developments in the domestic economy during Henry VII’s reign?

Answer 41

Developments in the domestic economy were limited, with the agrarian economy remaining unchanged.

Question 42

What were the main growth areas in England’s economy during Henry VII’s reign?

Answer 42

The main growth areas were probably iron, wool, and cloth.

Question 43

How many statutes dealt with social/economic issues during Henry’s reign?

Answer 43

Only about 50 statutes dealt with social/economic issues, with one third initiated by Henry’s government.

Question 44

What legislation did the Crown pass concerning coinage?

Answer 44

Counterfeiting was made a treasonable offence in 1488, and there were reforms including new denominations.