Henry Vii's government Flashcards
Henry’s aims with his gov (5 main aims)
- Increase crown finance
- Increase the crown’s land
- Control noblity/prevent overmighty subjects
- Deal with rebellions and protect Tudor dynasty
- Improve law and order
How did Henry use gov to increase crown finace (6 factors)
- Introduced the Coucil Learned in the law in 1495 to collect fuedal dues owed to the King as the ultimate fuedal lord.
- Income from wardships rose from £350 to £6,000 by 1509
- Solvent by end of his reign
- Need a liscence to retain men (£5/man/month)
- Changed from the slow and cumbersome Exchequer to the Chamber system (like Ed IV) of finance in 1487. Henry persoanlly oversaw finance with his advisors in his private chamber.
- Still not a major power - his annual income was £113,000 whilst the King of France had £800,000/year income.
How did Henry use gov to increase crowns land (5 methods)
- 1486 Act of Resumption regained all crowns land lost since 1455.
- Wardships took land from heirs of dead nobles
- Passed 138 Acts of Attainder however 46 were reversed.
- Lost Brittany to France in 1492.
- Didn’t gain any new land in France as was not an agressive king, Peace was cheaper than war.
How did Henry use gov to control nobles and prevent overmighty subjects (11 points)
- Henry was 20x richer than richest noble in England.
- None of his 4 close advisors were great nobles
- Court of Star Chamber brought 10 nobles to justice fior illegal retaining. Improvment from past monarchs.
- From 1504 new lensure loaws vs retaining and liscense making retaining £5/man/month.
- Equity courts used and were fairer courts as they took social status and situation into account.
- Used bonds and recognisenses to ensure loyalty and almost all nobles placed under bonds at some point. Also helped him to gain money from nobles.
- Royal council filled with nobles but only met 5 times to limit their power/authority.
- Earl of Surrey placed in charge of Council of North where he had no support and no allies.
- Kildare was too powerful to deal with or remove from power.
- Prevented noble families form inter-marrying to prevent an overmighty noble alliance.
- Fined nobles harshly, e.g Lord Beaurgeuvanny who was fined £70,000 which would bankrupt him. However Henry allowed him to pay £5000/year and can not enter his land/property until it had been payed.
How did Henry use gov to deal with rebels and protect the dynasty
- Failure took 9 years to deal with Warbeck rebellion therefore gov was ineffective here.
- Caused rebellions/regional discontent via parliamentary tax, e.g. Cornish rebellion due to tax to fund Scotish invasion Raised 25,000 troops. e.g Yorkshire rebellion caused by £100,000 tax in 1489. Led to battle and 1000 rebels killed and only £27,000 of £100,000 agreed was raised.
How did Henry reard the nobility to prevent overmighty subjects
Used titles
11 Knighthoods given out (Knights of the Garter) instead of giving land or money, as this would bring them power.
By what percent did the number of noble families decrease from 1485-1509
Decreased by 1/4 or 25% by the use of wardships and attainders.
How many noble families remained by 1509
20-30 noble families due to wardships and attainders.
Changes in gov
- Introduced the Council Learned in the Law in 1495 to collect fuedal dues and wardships.
- Changed from slow and combersome exchequer to chamber system, in 1487, which he could personally oversee and document upon, with the help of his closest advisors.
- Made Court of the Star Chamber more effective, brought 10 nobles to justice for illegal retaining, effective for the time.
Changes in gov
- Introduced the Council Learned in the Law in 1495 to collect fuedal dues and wardships.
- Changed from slow and combersome exchequer to chamber system, in 1487, which he could personally oversee and document upon, with the help of his closest advisors.
- Made Court of the Star Chamber more effective, brought 10 nobles to justice for illegal retaining, effective for the time.
- Relied up on professionals, e.g lawyers as advisors in his royal coucil, as they were useful to him and relied upon him for their power and status, unlike the majority of nobles.
- Had a smaller close circle of advisors than previous monarchs due to his inherited distrust of the nobility.
How many total royal councillors were there between 1485-1509
227 royal councillors
How many total royal councillors were there between 1485-1509
227 royal councillors
Henry’s parliament
Only met when called by the King, unable to meet without his permission, giving him total authority.
Only met 7 times during Henry VII@s reign, in times of emergency, often in times of war to request extra-ordinary finance.
Parliament was the nations most important institution.
Only sat for a total of 72 weeks during his reign.
Parliamentary tax often led to rebellion/regional dicontent
3 main functions of Henry’s parliament
- Formed a point of contact between Crown and nation.
- Agreed to legislation put forward by the King and Council.
- Granted extra-ordinary finance, these taxes had to be agreed by parliament, almost always agreed with King.
Regional government
Local regions were ran by JPs and Sherrifs, as well as councills.
18 JPs per county. They were lesser magnates used to maintain the King’s peace (law and order) on a local level.
Sherrifs were appointed annually and had the power to detain criminals. Voluntary position.
Council of the North, ran by Earl of Surrey
Council of Wales, ran by Prince Arthur Tudor
Council of Ireland, ran by
Many rebellions due to regional dicontent
Courts
see courts revision sheet in foalder
How many Jps were there in England and what did they do
18 per county
Controlled regions, maintaining law and order and helping in the running of regional governments
How long did it take for gov to effectively deal with Warbeck
9 years
What was Henry VII’s role in government
The king ruled the country and made all decisions relating to itssecurity, when to go to war, who should advice him and when parliament should meet (could only meet when called by the king).
What was the job of the Royal Household
The people who looked after the domestic needs of the king. They were people like servants, who travelled with the King wherever he went and all of them were members of the Court
What were the JPs responsible for
Responsible for keeping law and order in localities.
What was the most common reason for the King to call parliament
To gain extra-ordinary finance via tax and benevolence, especially in times of war
What position was very sought-after in Henry VII’s government
A place in the king’s court
What was the function of the King’s court
To entertain the King and offer whatever company he wished, and to be a good advertisment for him, especially when foreign guests were visiting.
What did the people in Henry VII’s court attempt to do
Have influence over the King and when this coincided with the views of other like-minded courtiers they formed factions or small interest groups.
Who chose/elected the advisors in the Privy Council
The King
Which classes/social groups usually made up the advisors in the Privy Council
The advisors in the Privy Council were usually from the nobility and the church, as well as lawyers and royal household officers.
What was the job/function of the Privy Council
To advise the King, as they were the central administative body and they acted as a court,dealing with grievances from individuals that required the direct judgement of the King
How many people did the Privy Council consist of and how did this compare to the number that attended meetings
The Privy Council could have as many as 40 or 50 councillors, but attendance at meeting was often much lower.
When was the Privy Chamber set up
During the 1490s
Who chose/elected the gentlemen of the Privy Chamber
The King
What relation did the members of the Privy Chamber have with Henry VII
The had the closest access to the King and therefore had the greatest opportunity to influence him, although the majority of Henry’s Privy Chamber servants were of a low status and therefore had very little political influence.
What was the Groom of the Stool and why was it an important role
A member of the Privy chamber, who accompanied the King to the toilet and so clearly was the most intimate member of the Privy Council with the King, giving him influence as he could spend time with the King behind closed doors.
How many member did the Royal Council contain and how many of these were regular attendees
227 councillors
7-24 regular attendees creating an inner circle
Who made up the inner circle of regular attendees of the Royal Council
7-24 regular attendees, made up of the Chancellor, treasurer, keeper of the privy seal, bishops and magnates, knights and lawyers.
How many times did the Great Council meet under Henry VII
Met 5 times in times of emergency
What did the royal council not contain
The royal council did not contain any committees or sub-committees
How many times did Parliament meet under Henry VII
7 times (called by the King)
For how many weeks did parliament sit for during Henry VII’s reign
Sat for a total of 72 weeks
How many times was parliament held between 1497-1509
Parliamnet only held 2 times 1497-1509
In what year did Henry attempt to introduce subsidy reform and what did it lead to
1489
Provoked the Yorkshire rebellion, when parliament granted a subsidy of £100,000 (only £27,000 collected after the rebellion).
What were the 2 main uses of parliament under Henry VII
- To gain extra-ordinary finance
2. To pass acts of attainders (increase finance and control the nobility).
In what year was the Court of the Star Chamber introduced and what was its main function
The court of the Star Chamber was introduced in 1487 and was a tribunal court developed to deal with lawlessness, and was overseen by VKing’s councillors.
What who had previ a key change in the way Henry dealt with gov finance and who had previously used this method
In 1487 Henry moved away from the slow and cumbersome Exchequer, opting for a more personal approach with the Chamber system of handling royal finance. Overseen by Henry VII himself and his councillors
What types of things did the Court of the Star Chamber deal with
Dealt with riots, illegal retaining, pervesion of justice.
What was Henry VII’s annual income estimated at
£113,000 per year
How was Henry’s court descibed and what evidence can be given to corroberate this view
Henry allegedly had a lavish court, which can be backed up by the fact he payed £30 for a Damsel that danced
What played a key part in royal income and how was this increased
Royal estates were key for royal income and were increased by wardships (Henry VII inherited land when a minor inherited it after the death of a noble) and by attainders (confiscation of land from nobles) and the 1486 Act of Resumption.
What was the 1486 Act of Resumption
Henry took back all of the Crowns land lost since the start of the Wars of the Roses in 1455. This majorly decreased the power of the nobility and increased the amount of land that Henry had, which could then be used to increase his own power and wealth and rewars his loyal servants and follower in the Battle of Bosworth and his siccession to the English throne.
How did Henry use marriages to prevent overmight nobles
Henry had control over noble marriages, allowing him to prohibit the marriage of 2 powerful noble families, to prevent the emergence of over mighty subjects/nobles.
By how much did the income from wardships increase during henry’s reign
Income from warships rose from £350 to £6,000 from 1485-1509.
What percentage of revenue went through the chamber system and how was the Exchequer described
80% of revenue went through the chamber system and the Excgquer was described as both slow and cumbersome.
By what percent did land revenue under Henry VII and how much was his intake by the end of his reign
Land revenue increased by 45% to £42,000 under Henry VII-demesne grew by 5x
Were were all recipets for lands to be paid to
The treasurer
What were used to regularly inspect accounts and who headed these things
Informal Courts of Audit under Reginal Bray were used to regularly inspect accounts.
What did Henry attempt to do, with reagarfds to coinage
Attemptedto unify coinage and weights and measure
Which type of men were often judges
Judges were often well educated gentlemen
Which act introduced the Court of the Star Chamber and in what year was it introduced
The 1487 Act of the Star Cha,ber develpoed the Court of the Star Chamber to deal with lawlessness
How did the Court of the Star Chamber act and how can it be described
The Court of the Star Chamber acted as a law court but without complex and slow procedures.
When was the Council Learned in the Law introduced and who was it headed and staffed by
Introduced in 1495. Headed by Empson and Dudley, staffed by lawyers.
What was the 1st truely specialsed body to emerge
Council Learned in the Law
What was the function of the Council Learned in the Law
Investigated the crown’s territorial and fuedal rights. Collected fuedal dues for the King as the ultimate fuedla lord. Collected debts owed to the King and supervised implimentations of bonds and recognisences
How were bonds and recognisences used to control the nobility
Placed nobles under a debt, thus ensuring the loyalty of the nobility and also increasing crown finance
What two methods increased yield and what happend in 1507
Tonnage and Poundage tax.
1507-New book of rates increase income by 20%.
What did Henry attempt to do with coins
Attempted to unify coinage and weights and measures.
How many known cases were dealt with by the Court of the Star Chamber and what did this make the court
10 known cases, making it a good detterant as it was subject to full common law punishment.
Who were judges normally
Often well educated country gentlemen
What types of cases did the Court of the Star Chamber deal with
Dealt with riots, illegal retaining and the keeping of justice.
What was temporarily abolished under Henry VII
Tribunal
When was the Court of the Star Chamber created and by what act
Created in 1487 by the Act for the creation of Star Chamber.
What was the role of the Council Learned in the Law
Investigated crown’s territorial and fuedal rights, collecting debts owed to the King and it supervised the implementation of bonds and recognisences.
How much money was raised between 1504-1508 by the Council Learned in the Law
£30,000
What did the CLITLaw act without
Acted without a jury and had a free hand.
What did Henry aim to use the Council Learned in the Law to do
Aimed to use it to increase ordinary revenue streams so he would not have to rely on parliament to grant extra-ordinary finance, giving him more wealth and freedom as monarch.
Who ran the Council of the North from 1489 and how did this benefit Henry. What impact did he have on facing rebellions
From 1489 the earl of Surrey ran the Council of the North, as he had no influence or support in the North, reducing a powerful threat to Henry and ensuring his loyalty to him. Thomas Howard, Earl of Surrey helped Henry to put down the Yorkshire rebellion in 1489, for which he was rewarded with position of Henry’s leuitenant
Who ran the Councill of Wales under Henry VII
Arthur Tudor, ensuring his loyalty as heir, and then Bishop of Lincoln.
What was the importance of regional government to Henry
Allowed him to reduce the influence of regional landowners, as well as to control the country
What tended ti happen when cases were brought before court. How many cases is there with evidence for this
Tended to end in one party giving recognisance to the king before judgement was decided. Evidence of over 700 cases of this on record for Henry VII’s reign.
Which class/type of men did Henry use as his key advisors and why
Made great use of men with legal training than nobles, due to their reliance on him for their wealth and power, hence ensuring their loyalty to him. Utilized their skills, e.g lawyers.
How did Henry reduce the size of the nobility
He was reluctant to make new peerages and prefered to reward with non-inherited titles-e.g Knights of the garter. Gave out 11 new knighthoods, without land or wealth.
Successes of Henry’s gov/aims of Henry’s gov
For exam questions
- Improved crown finance
- Increased crown’s land
- Controlling the nobility/preventing over-mighty subjects
- Dealing with rebellions and uprisings
- Improving law and order
- Removing Yorkist pretenders
- Increasing gov efficieny
What was a new emergence in gov
The emergence of more lawyers in gov was new
Who were the 2 Chancellors under Henry VII
John Morton 1486-1500 (later Archbishop of Canterbury)
William Warham then took over the role.
Difference between Henry’s gov and Ed IV’s gov (with regard to changing personnel)
Under Henry VII men tended to stay in their positions for long periods of time, whereas under Ed IV the role of treasurer changed 9 times.
What roles were given to Richard Fox by Henry VII
He was made Bishop Fox, the Kings Secretary and the Keeper of the Privy Seal.
Who was treasurer
Lord Dinham-who served under Richard III and later Reginald Bray
Which role was given to Sir John Hussey in 1503
Surveyor of the King’s Wards
Which role was given to Sir Edaward Belknapp
Surveyor of the King’s prerogative
How did Henry control the nobility by not creating new patronages
Did not create new titles or give up land that came with titles. Used wardships and attainder to remove lords and titles. 138 Acts of Attainder, 46 renewed. This weakend the nobility as the number of noble families decreased from 50 to 35 (dropped 1/4). Had other methods of rewarding people, e.g gave out 11 knighthoods using the Knight of the garter.
What was Henry’s finacial situation by 1509
Henry VII was finacially solvent, when he died.
How did Henry control the nobility by using bonds and recognisences
Left nobles in debt to the crown, ensuring their loyalty and took money from them, increasing crown finance and reducing the power of the nobility.
How did Henry reduce the amount of illegal retaining
Introduced laws vs retaining in 1487 and 1504 and introduced a liscence of £5/month/man illegaly retained. 1504 retaining liscence. Still happend however but was greatly reduced.
How did henry monitor and control nobles
Used his own spying network, showing his distrust and insecurity over the nobility.
Example of going back on fine/attainder
Lord Burgavenny fined £70,000, however Henry reversed this and allowed him to pay £5,000 over 10 years, preventing him from going bankrupt. Couldn’t enter his land until this fine had been payed.
Example of using bonds vs the nobility
Earl of Westmorland fined £10,000 after the Battle of Bosworth. It was an effective way of maintaining control. Payment of these debts enforced by the Council Learned in the Law
What part of gov organised loans and benevolences. How much was raised from this source
The Royal Council. Enforced by TCLITLaw.
1491-raised £48,000 for a war in Brittany, of which £9,000 was contributed by the City of London.
How much did Henry recieve from parliament in 1504 for the knighthood of Arthur (who died in 1502)
£30,000
What was exempt from paying tax to the King
The Clergy but benevolences were often paid by them to Henry VII. Raised £300 for the post of Archdeacon of Buckingham.
2 rebellion caused by parliamentary taxes
1489-Yorkshire rebellion
1497-Cornish rebellion
What are Custom duties
Tax paid on good leaving or entering the country.
How many close advisors did Hnery VII have and who were they
Had 4 close advisors His step farther Lord Stanley (brother of William Stanley who betrayed Henry in Warbeck uprising 1491-1499) His uncle, Jasper Tudor His mother, Lady Margaret Beaufort His close friend, the Earl of Oxford
How many close advisors did Hnery VII have and who were they, how did this differ from other monarchs
Had 4 close advisors
His step farther Lord Stanley (brother of William Stanley who betrayed Henry in Warbeck uprising 1491-1499)
His uncle, Jasper Tudor
His mother, Lady Margaret Beaufort
His close friend, the Earl of Oxford
Other monarchs would have had a much larger inner circle of advisors, but Henry was suspicios of the nobility.
How many people met in Henry’s smaller Privy Council
Between 7 and 24 councillors.
How many times did the Royal Council meet
5 times, only in cases of emergency
Only time parliament refused to grant Hen wanted he wanted
In 1504, only granted him £40,000 of the £90,000 he asked for in taxes.
Act in 1504 which strengthened Henry’s position as King
Act stating that companies could not make regulations without his approval. Clever way of using parliament to assert his power, a tactic used but often unsuccessfully by previous monarchs.
How many nobles brought to justice for illegal retaining by Court of Star Chamber
10 nobles
How was the Exchequer described
Slow and cumbersome, inefficient with some corruption
Switched to Chamber system
What was the role of the exchequer
To recieve and pay out money, used audit accounts.
What was the role of the Court of Requests
A minor law court in England and Wales. Vastly popular as was fast and cheap.
When was the COTSChamber made seperate from the KIng’s council
In 1487 the Court of Star Chamber was established as a judicial body separate from the king’s council.
Role of JPs
Maintain peace, as well as law and order amongst the localities.
How much was paid by Sir James Tyrell for the reversal of an attiander
£1,758
What’s Tonnage and Poundage
An important and export tax-custom duties
How much did custom duties rise under Henry VII
£33,000-£40,000
What was name of document used to record how much tax (custom duties) should be paid on imports and exports. How many times was this updated in Henry VII’s reign
Book of Rates
Updated twice during reign
What was relief
Tax paid to king by someone who was due to inherit a property/estate so that he could inherit his property.
What was wardship
When King took control over management of a property or estate (and profits) until rightful person to inherit it was old enough.
