Henry VII- Government/ domestic policy- COMPLETE Flashcards
What was the kings council?
- advise the king, administer law and order and prosecute noblemen.
-227 councillors eligible to sit but only 40 did regularly.
-1/2 church rest nobility.
-Promoted members of the gentry to the council- especially lawyers.
What are the sub-categories of the kings council?
-Courts of request.
-Court of general surveyors.
-The council learned in law.
What are the courts of request?
-Delt with requests from ordinary people.
What are the courts of general surveyors?
-Checked revenue coming in from crown lands.
What is the council learned in law?
-Staffed by lawyers and property experts.
-Delt with problems concerning wardship/ lands
-managing rents and bonds/ recognises. (falsified no appeals).
-Sir Richard Empson and Edmund Puntley.
What were the main roles and functions of parliament?
-House of commons and Lords, traditionally used to raise taxes.
-Only used seven times in Henrys 24 year reign for a total of 12 months.
-Mainly used to pass acts of attainder and laws.
-Only king could call on parliament- did to secure himself.
What were the most important jobs in the government?
-Lord chancellor.
-Lord Privy seal,
-The lord treasurers
What and who was a lord chancellor?
-Responsible for administration.
-Henry had 4, John Matron the longest serving.
Who and what is a lord privy seal?
-Responsible for the seals to enforce royal orders.
-Bishop Richard Fox had this role from 1487-1509.
Who and what was a lord treasurer?
-Responsible for finance.
-John Lord Bytham.
What was Northern England like and what was it essential for?
-it could be a lawless area and was essential for defence against the Scots.
Who was initially in charge of Northern England and who did it change to?
-Earl of Northumberland
-Thomas Howard, earl of Surrey (loyal and no vested interest).
What was Wales like?
-Very difficult area to run
-Cause of great disorder during the war of the roses.
What were the northern countries called?
The principality of wales.
Who was the rest of the country ran by?
-The great noblemen known as the marcher lords who had a lot of freedom from the crown.
Who was running Wales in 1485?
-Jasper Tudor led by Henry’s son Arthur.
How many marcher lords in 1495?
-the great marcher lords reduced from 50 in 1485 to around 24.
Which area in Ireland did the king directly govern?
Pale.
Who was the rest of Ireland governed by?
-Anglo-Irish Lords and Irish chieftains.
-No English king had managed to dominate Ireland
Why did Henry’s predecessors find it easier to deal with Ireland?
-buy off the Irish nobility- titles and some power
-Lord Kildare for example was appointed Lord Deputy and Chancellor of Ireland in 1485.
-But Henry had to be careful because Kildare involved in Simnel plot.
Who did Henry send to attempt to govern Ireland?
-Prince Henry Lord Lieutenant and sent Sir Edward Ponying’s over as his Deputy.
What was “Poynings law”
-no Irish Parliament could pass legislation that had not already been approved by the King’s Council.
Why did Poynings law fail and what did Henry have to do?
-Monarchical style was just not going to work
-Revert to buying off chieftains
-Lord Kildare restored as Deputy.
What problems did Henry VII face in the local government?
-Lacked his own paid officials in every area to enforce his laws.
-Reliance on the nobility
What was the local law enforcement like before and at the beginning of Henry’s reign?
-Every county had a sheriff appointed by landowners annually and kept the king’s peace by arresting and prosecuting criminals.
-Henry VII gradually reduced their role and influence and gave more powers to the JP’s.
What is a JP?
-Around since the twelfth century.
-the chief local government officers.
-Maintenance of public order.
What new responsibilities were JP’s given?
juicy red rasberries nibble bananas
-justice
-Rewarding informants.
-Replacing suspect juries.
-no jury in non capital
-bail
What was the issue with JP’s?
-Were still limited by the fact they had to rely on landowners and other officials bringing suspected criminals to them.
Who employed the JP’s?
-They were appointed annually directly from the crown.
-Henry VII mainly appointed members of the gentry.
Which parts of government were a success?
-Central government.
-Parliament.
-Regional government.
-Local government.
How was the central government a success?
-strong central government
-reformation of the king’s council
How was parliament a success?
-The parliament didn’t meet many times.
-Used parliament as a tool to get what he wanted.
How was regional government a success?
-The Earl of Northumberland died and an Unbiast noble was appointed.
-Kept a very close eye on them, appointing his uncle to govern Wales.
How was local government a success?
-Nobody rebelled against it.
-Increased the JP’s powers a small but effective amount.
Who is the centre of the government (intro)
-Henry
-the next was the council (small group).
Who makes up the council?
-Nobility
-churchmen
-lawyers (Empson and Dudley)
What were courtiers?
-Try to gain support of king to aid them with legal issues.
-Influence of them depended on relationship with King.
-Included the household proper, the chamber.
What is the privy chamber?
-Retreat.
-Secluded king.
Common system of tax under Henry?
-fifteenths and tenths.
Who ruled Ireland but were stripped of all titles because of Perkin Warbeck support?
The Geraldine family (Kildare as its head).
Which Irish ruler was first?
Geraldine’s- Poynings- back to Geraldine’s.
Overriding reason why Henry could just not support Ireland?
-Money.
