Henry VII - Royal Finance and domestic policies Flashcards
What were Henry’s aims towards finances
- Achieve solvency by increasing royal income, decrease expenditure and restore the Crown’s financial strength
Why was Henry’s financial administration so ruthlessly efficient
Because he didnt feel secure unless he was rich
What could Henry use his wealth to do
- Reward loyal service - incentive for people to serve him well
- Bribe potential opponents
- Fund armies
- Consolidate the dynasty. A full treasury would provide his heir with the resources to fight to retain the throne
What is ordinary revenue and what are the examples
It was regular income on which the crown could rely to finance the costs of the monarchy
- Crown lands
- Custom duties
- Feudal duties
- Legal system
How much did Crown lands increase from 1485 to 1509
From £29,000 to £42,000
How much did custom duties increase from 1485 to 1509
From £33,000 to £40,000
How much did Feudal dues increase from 1485 to 1509
From £350 to £6,000
What was extraordinary revenue and what examples of it are there
Money that came to the crown on occasions and with no regularity
- Bonds and recognisances
- Clerical taxes
- Feudal obligations
- French pension
- loans and benevolences
- Parliamentary grants
What is a bond and recognisance
The practice of subjects paying a sum of money to the crown as a guarantee of their future good behaviour
What are clerical taxes
Grants made by ruling council of the church
What are feudal obligations
The right to levy obligations such as distraint of knighthood, or to demand payment for special occasions, such as the marriage of his eldest daughter
What is the french pension
Under the Treaty of Etaples 1492 the King of France promised to pay Henry an annual pension of £5000
What are loans and benevolences
Requests made to his landholding subjects for financial support that were impossible to declnine
What were parliamentary grants
Grants by means ot axes on moveable property
These helped pay for the Battle of Stoke
What other domestic policies did Henry’s financial administration underpin
- controlling the nobility
- co-operating with the church
- Maintaining law and order