Henry VII's Government Flashcards
What were the 3 main functions of Henry VII’s council? - Government
- To advise the King
- To administer the realm on behalf of the King
- To make legal judgements
What 3 groups of people were councillors for Henry VII? Give examples of each - Government
- Nobility (Lord Daubney and Lord Dynham)
- Churchmen (John Morton and Richard Fox)
- Laymen - Gentry/Lawyers (Sir Reginald Bray and Edmund Dudley)
Who was John Morton? - Government
An able churchman and lawyer who had previously supported both Lancastrians and Yorkists. However, worked against Richard III and was later promoted to be Archbishop of Canterbury under Henry VII.
What was a magnate? - Government
A high ranking member of the nobility.
Who was Sir Reginald Bray? - Government
One of Henry VII’s most faithful servants, helping him to raise funds prior to Bosworth. Later made Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and also the head of the Council Learned.
What was the Great Council? What issues was it concerned with? - Government
The Great Council was a gathering of the House of Lords without the Commons, dealing with relating to war or rebellion.
How many times did the Great Council meet during Henry’s reign? What was Henry’s intended purpose for the great council in terms of the nobility? - Government
The Great Council met only 5 times during Henry’s reign.
The Great Council was intended to bind the nobility to key decisions on the issue of national security.
What was the Council Learned and what was its function? - Government
An offshoot of the King’s council operated by top legal individuals. Intended to exploit Henry’s prerogative rights, mainly through the enforcement of bonds and recognisances on nobles in order to maintain their loyalty.
Why was the council learned seen as a secretive body? - Government
Seen as secretive due to its separation from all recognised courts of law, meaning that no one prosecuted in there had any chance for appeal.
Who was Richard Empson? - Government
Empson was an ambitious lawyer and bureaucrat who aided Bray in his running of the Council Learned. Ruthless.
When did Reginald Bray die? Who was he replaced by? - Government
Reginald Bray died in 1503, replaced as head of the Council Learned by Edmund Dudley.
What was seen as the centre of Henry’s government? What characteristics did this area have? - Government
The centre of Henry’s government was his Court, which was magnificent and opulent in order to show off his wealth and power.
What were prerogative rights? - Government
Describes the powers at the disposal of the monarch without the permission of parliament, granted through the role of being the monarch.
What was the political aspect of the court known as? What was its purpose? Who was part of it? - Government
The political area of the court was known as the Chamber, which was the private areas of the King’s court. Key for administration. Contained King’s key advisors and servants, presided over by the Lord Chamberlain.
Who was Henry VII’s Lord Chamberlain? What saw his removal from this role and WHEN? - Government
Henry VII’s Lord Chamberlain was Sir William Stanley, his step-uncle. Replaced after his implication within the Perkin Warbeck imposture. This happened in 1495.
Following the Perkin Warbeck imposture, what alteration did Henry make to his chamber? - Government
Henry created a new, privy chamber, where the King could retreat to be surrounded by his closest servants. Made it more difficult for out of favour courtiers to regain the King’s trust.
What were the 2 main functions of Henry VII’s Parliament? How many Parliaments did Henry call throughout his reign? How were they spaced in his reign? - Government
- Pass laws
- Grant taxation to the crown
Henry called 7 parliaments during his reign, with 5 in the first 10 years and 2 in the last 14.
What was the purpose of Henry’s early Parliaments? What examples are there of these purposes? - Government
Henry’s first parliaments were concerned with taxation and the consolidation of his power.
Henry passed multiple acts of attainder to mitigate the power of the nobility, and also was granted tonnage and poundage for life.
What examples of Parliament’s financial interventions are there? - Government
First parliament granted tonnage and poundage for life, other parliaments granted extraordinary revenue to deal with conflict eg. The Scottish Rebellion.
What was extraordinary revenue? What was its most common form of payment? - Government
Extraordinary revenue is taxation granted by parliament in times of emergency, usually in terms of conflict. Usually paid in the form of fifteenths and tenths, taxes on goods of 1/10 in urban areas and 1/15 in rural.
Who did Henry rely on to maintain law and order domestically? Why did he have to strike a balance when maintaining law and order? - Government
Henry relied on high ranking members of the nobility quashing any rebellions on his behalf. Had to ensure nobles didn’t become overly powerful and risk any challenges to his own power.
What was Magnate control? Given there was no magnate control in the North, who did he place there? Why was this risky? - Government
Magnate control was where wealthy and powerful nobles oversaw law and order of regions at the discretion of the King.
Henry placed the Earl of Surrey in the North after the murder of the Earl of Northumberland. Surrey had been imprisoned as a supporter of Richard III, and was in an area of Yorkist support. However, he was loyal to Henry, providing 10 years of service in the North.
What were Justices of the Peace? What group of society did most JPs come from? - Government
Unpaid individuals at local level who maintained law and order in rural areas. Met 4 times a year.
Mainly upper classes who did unpaid work in the hope of reaching a higher ranking office in the future.
What were JPs responsible for? - Government
JPs oversaw the administration of tax assessments, alehouses, complaints against local officials and maintenance of law and order.
