Henry VII Part 4: Controlling the Power of the Nobility

Question 1

WHY did Henry VII feel that he needed to deal with his “Overmighty Subjects”? (3)

Answer 1

• Fortunately for H7, many of the nobles had been killed in the Wars of the Roses, HOWEVER
• the few who remained were extremely rich and powerful. For example, the EARLS OF WARWICK had held double the land of any previous man, and had a personal army of over 30,000 soldiers
• If Henry VII and the Tudor Dynasty were to survive, he had to do it on his own 2 feet, and needed to destroy men such as Warwick, and the threat that they posed.

Question 2

WHAT did Henry VII do to reduce the power of the nobility during his reign? (6)

Answer 2

1. The ACT OF LIVERY, passed in 1503
2. The STATUTE OF MAINTENANCE
3. Monopoly of GUNPOWDER
4. No CASTLE BUILDING was allowed, without Henry VII’s permission.
5. Henry appointed MIDDLE-CLASS men and respected CHURCHMEN as his ADVISORS and to important offices in the land.
6. The COURT OF THE STAR CHAMBER

Question 3

What was the Act of Livery? (1)

Answer 3

Passed in 1502, the Act of Livery banned the keeping of PRIVATE ARMIES.

Question 4

What was the Statute of Maintenance? (4)

Answer 4

The SoM prevented nobles from:

1. BRIBING Judges and Juries
2. FRIGHTENING Judges and Juries into giving false decisions, by filling the court room with Retainers.
3. Causing RIOTS
4. Holding unlawful MEETINGS

Question 5

Why was Henry VII’s Monopoly over GUNPOWDER helpful to him in controlling the nobles? (1)

Answer 5

Because without Gunpowder, the nobles would not be able to defy the king in long sieges. It also enabled Henry to destroy their castles if he chose to.

Question 6

How did the Court of the Start Chamber help Henry VII in his attempts to reduce the power of the nobility? (1)

Answer 6

The CoSC BROUGHT TO TRIAL any nobles who had BROKEN the Act of Livery and Maintenance.

Question 7

Did the Court of the Star Chamber have a JURY? (1)

Answer 7

No. The Judge would be the king himself! There would be no jury. Henry himself would hear the evidence and decide a verdict.

Question 8

If found guilty in the Court of the Star Chamber, how were nobility punished? (1)

Answer 8

Noblemen were fined heavily, and often had their lands confiscated (this made nobles poorer, and H7 richer).

Question 9

Did H7 show favouritism in Court of the Star Chamber?

Answer 9

Not really. Even his friend the EARL OF OXFORD was fined £15,000 for breaking the Statute of Livery and Maintenance.

Question 10

How did the Court of the Star Chamber get its name? (1)

Answer 10

It got its name from the stars that were painted on the ceiling of the room where the court met.

Question 11

Overall, how do you think H7 did in gaining control over the nobles? (

Answer 11

• Overall, was successful
• he took back all the land that had been given away by previous kings
• with their power broken, he appointed nobles to important positions that he felt he could trust
• Henry was richer and safer