Henry VII's Domestic Policy

Question 1

How did Henry promote trade?

Answer 1

• Under the 1485 Navigation Acts, no English merchants were to use foreign ships to transport goods if an English ship was available
• In 1489 the export of English raw wool was limited
• In 1496 Henry VII signed Magnus Intercursus, an important trade deal with Burgundy

Question 2

How did Henry improve law, order and stability?

Answer 2

• increased Justice of Peaces’ powers
• used bonds and recognisances to control over-mighty nobles
• Star Chamber was established to deal with threats to England’s stability (not used often)

Question 3

What were retainers?

Answer 3

men who served the leading nobles

Question 4

Why were retainers a problem?

Answer 4

some nobles had hundreds of retainers who behaved like private armies; keeping retainers was called maintenance

Question 5

How did Henry deal with retainers?

Answer 5

• Acts were passed against Livery and Maintenance.
• Henry VII set down quotas for nobles and required them to pay licences.

Question 6

How did Henry increase Crown revenue?

Answer 6

• used Council Learned in the Law to exploit long-forgotten feudal dues
• increased Crown lands through the Act of Resumption, attainders and the Council Learned in the Law
• improved financial administration through the Chamber