Henry VII's government Flashcards
What was the councils role?
Supported Henry in making key decisions.
Who were the three main types of councillors?
Nobles e.g. Lord Daubeney
Churchmen e.g. Richard Fox- often had legal training and were excellent administrators
Laymen- e.g. Sir Reginald Bray - either gentry or lawyers who were skilled administrators
What are examples of none councillors who advised the king?
Henry’s mother (Margaret Beaufort) acted as an unofficial advisor
What was the function of the council learned?
To maintain the king’s revenue and to exploit his prerogative rights.
It made the system of bonds and recognisances work effectively therefore helping to ensure loyalty and finance
What was the council learned not recognised as?
A court of law so there was no right of appeal against and it bypassed the normal legal system
Who were Empson and Dudley?
Empson = Bray’s associate in the council learned - a fiercely ambitious lawyer
After Bray’s death in 1503 Empson was joined by Dudley
What were Empson and Dudley known for and what happened to them?
Known for their ruthless extraction of money from the king’s subjects - this made them unpopular and feared and created enemies out of some of the king’s other advisors
They were removed and executed after Henry’s death
What was the royal court?
What was a persons power determined by?
The centre of Government - and a system in which a person’s power was determined by his relationship with the monarch
In 1485 what 2 elements did the court comprise of?
The household proper and the chamber
What was the household proper?
Responsible for looking after the king, courtiers and guests , supervised by the Lord Steward
Who presided over the chamber?
Presided over by the Lord Chamberlain = William Stanley (a powerful courtier who was also a member of the king’s council and often spoke for the monarch
What did Henry’s Privy chamber mean for his traditional contacts of court?
Made it more difficult for the kings favour to be gained and cut Henry off from many of the King’s traditional contacts of court
What happened to the chamber in 1495 after the involvement of sir William Stanley in the Perkin Warbeck conspiracy?
Henry remodelled the chamber as the Privy Chamber - he could retreat into this protected by him most trusted servants.
What did 2 bodies did parliament consist of (still exists today) and was it important?
House of Commons and the House of lords (more important)
It met infrequently so was not central to government
Who could call parliament and how often did Henry do so?
When and why was it most frequent?
Only the king could call it
Demonstrated power by calling it early November
Only called it 7 times in his reign (five in the first 10 years and only 2 in the last 14 years) - showing when Henry felt more secure parliament wasn’t needed
What were Henry’s early parliaments largely concerned with?
National security
Raising revenue
Which acts proved that Henry was focused on national security early on?
His first two parliaments passed numerous acts of attainder - individuals could be declared guilty without trial
Which acts proved that Henry was concerned with finance in parliament?
His first parliament granted tonnage and poundage for life and others granted extraordinary revenue ( one off payments - allowing king to wage war)
How effective was parliament under Henry?
The king appeared to accept its decisions and operated fairly effectively but was used very little
What were profits from feudal dues?
Profits from wardship (minor is kept under protection)
What were Profits from wardship?
How much did he earn from it?
(when property was held by a minor) In 1487, wardships provided Henry with just £350. By 1507, wardships were earning Henry £6,000 a year.
What was feudal aid and when was it granted?
Feudal aid granted in 1504 (The crown’s right to impose taxes for certain services)
How much did income did Crown lands generate?
£12,000 at the start of the reign (collected by inefficient court of Exchequer)
By the end of the reign = £42,000 per year
What were some other methods used by Henry to grand revenue?
Ordinary revenue - Customs revenue Legal systems and profits of justice (includes fines and incomes from bonds) Bonds and recognisances Clerical taxes and grants Loans and benevolences Parliamentary grants Pensions from other powers (Treaty of Epales in France 1492 = £5000 per annum) Crown lands .
Extraordinary revenue - Henry received over £400,000 from extraordinary taxation
Profits of Justice (including bonds) 1504-07 at least £200,000 was promised but not all was collected
