Henry VII, Government, Law and Order

Question 1

6 points

How did the King’s Council Opperate?

Answer 1

• Henry chose to govern through a small council and came to rely on a group of elite councilors.
• This provided stability; especially since they were kept in power for so long.
• Occasionally, Great Councils were also called. These involved all the nobility, senior clerics and the most prominent gentry.
• Real power lay with the elite councillors.
• In 1497 Henry created a new office, the Lord President of the Council, which oversaw work when the king was away.
• Henry also utilised smaller committees within the larger councils to deal with specific issues - left over from Yorkist times. E.g. committe set up to implement the statue of livery and maintenance in 1487.

Question 2

5 points

Who were the elite councillors in Henry’s small council?

Answer 2

Early in the riegn:
* John Morton, Lord Chancellor
* Richard Fox, Lord Privy Seal
* John, Lord of Dynham, Lord Treasurer

Later in the reign:
* Empson
* Dudley

Question 3

2 points

What was the Council Learned in Law?

Answer 3

• A small professional body of councillors which came into being in 1495 in order to protect the King’s rights as a feudal landlord.
• Became the most important and efficient of all the King’s councils.

Question 4

4 points

Why was the Council Learned in Law disliked?

Answer 4

• Hated due to its connection with Bonds and Recognances.
• Became an instrument of royal extortion.
• Empson and Dudley were the main forces driving it.
• When Empson was promoted to Lord President of the Council in 1504 in led to a new level of ruthlessness where Bonds and Recognances were increasingly misued to threaten nobles and gentry.