Henry VII: Government - Gov. Across England & Wales

Question 1

England

Answer 1

• In England, local government was conducted through Justices of the Peace
• During Henry’s reign their powers and responsibilities grew significantly

Question 2

Durham

Answer 2

• The County of Durham was an area where the King’s authority was limited
• In this area, known as the Palatinate of Durham, the Prince-Bishop governed as a semi-independent ruler

Question 3

Northern England

Answer 3

• Northern England was far from the centre of political power and had been loyal to the House of York
• After the murder of the Earl of Northumberland in 1489, Henry allowed the Earl of Suffolk to represent him, because Suffolk had no lands or strong base of support there from which to rival Henry

Question 4

English-Welsh Borderlands

Answer 4

• Lands along the English–Welsh border were known as the ‘marches’
• There, local nobles had special privileges

Question 5

Wales

Answer 5

• Henry restored the Council of Wales and staffed it with Welsh nobles under the leadership of his uncle Jasper Tudor and the honorary control of his young son Prince Arthur

Question 6

Ireland

Answer 6

• Henry was Lord of Ireland, but real power lay with the clan chieftains
• The Earl of Kildare was his deputy, but his sympathy with the royal pretenders forced Henry to remove him and install Sir Edward Poynings in 1494
• In 1495, Poyning’s Law was passed which laid down that the Irish parliament could pass no law without the prior approval of the English Crown
• However Poynings’ attempts to reduce the independence of the Irish Parliament failed and was expensive so Kildare was restored in 1496

Question 7

Scotland

Answer 7

• Scotland was a separate kingdom over which Henry had no control
• A difficulty he faced was that Scotland was traditionally friendly with France