Henry VIII - Government and Parliment Flashcards
What did Henry’s early years see?
Continuity - he had inherited a strong and efficient central and local government structure, staffed by able administrators (many of which continued in office under Henry VIII)
What change took place in 1514?
By 1514 conciliar government had broken down because of disagreements between impulsive Henry and his more conservative councillors (over war in France or Henry’s preference to surround himself with younger courtiers)
From 1514-1529 who did Henry rely on?
Relied on Wolsey to manage government effectively (his influence derived more from close relationship with the king that from formal positions - he complemented Henry’s ‘hands off’ approach to the details of policy-making)
What happened between 1529-1532?
Wolsey’s downfall brought a return to conciliar government
What was significant between 1532-1540?
Cromwell rose to power as chief minister by 1532 and dominated royal government for the rest of 1530’s
What happened after 1540 until 1547?
Following Cromwell’s fall conciliar government was restored but in a new form (a new Privy Council emerged with fixed membership and recorded proceedings - within this power lay with the conservatives)
How did parliament grow in importance in Henry VIII’s reign?
The ‘Reformation Parliament’ dealt with Henry’s divorce from Catherine of Aragon and reformed the Church.
Henry also used Parliament to grant extraordinary revenue to finance wars - primary reason
Parliament could also advice but neither Henry VII or Henry VIII in his early years saw the need to ask Parliament for advice
Grew 1529-36 (Ref parliament) as the initial reason for calling another parliament (dealing with Wolsey) died with him, attention turned to divorce and the church
Divorce and break from Rome accomplished using Statue Law (parliament) whose supremacy over canon law was established
How was the role of the Privy Chamber extended during the early years of Henry VIII’s rule?
It was established in Henry VII’s reign but under Henry VIII, The kings ‘minions’ (young courtiers who enjoyed Henry’s favour) became Gentleman of the Privy Chamber, transforming their status and that of the privy chamber
This was one area which before 1519 lay outside Wolsey’s immediate control
Who was Thomas Wolsey?
A churchman of humble origins
What about Wolsey impressed Henry and what did this lead to?
His organisational abilities (especially in the French campaign) so he rose to become Archbishop of York in 1514 , a cardinal in 1515 and papal legate (Pope’s personal representative) in 1518
Wolsey (certainly in early years) had the unbelievable to give the king precisely what he wanted or to convince the king of what he assumed he wanted
When was Wolsey appointed Lord Chancellor by Henry and what did this mean?
1515 - put him in control of royal government and gave him immense power as all other courtiers had to go through him to speak to the king
During the years of Wolsey’s chancellorship what did domestic policy focus on?
Strengthening royal authority and raising finance (particularly to support Henry’s wars with France and Scotland)
As Lord Chancellor what was Wolsey responsible for?
Overseeing the legal system and promoting royal authority by enforcing law and order
What was Wolsey’s role on the court of chancery?
He was head of it and had the right to preside over the court of chancery - he tried to use this power to uphold ‘fair’ justice in problems relating to enclosure of open fields for sheep farming, contracts and land left to others in wills
He wasn’t a lawyer but at Lord Chancellor was responsible for overseeing the legal system
From 1516 what did Wolsey extend the use of?
The court of Star Chamber
What was the court of Star Chamber?
An offshoot from the king’s council established in Henry VII’s rule 1487 . It was the centre of both government and legal system - used to increase cheap and fair justice and heard cases of alleged misconduct by people who were dominant in their localities and private lawsuit
What two other legal changes took place under Wolsey as chancellor?
His most distinctive legal contribution - Local law officers were appointed to enforce royal law
Encouraged the use of the star chamber for private lawsuits (proved too successful as forced to set up overflow tribunals)
The authority of the Crown over regional councils was extended
Permanent committee which he set up in 1519 became the ancestor of the court of requests - dealing with cases involving the poor
His motive was to increase cheap and fair justice
What did Wolsey use instead of local commissioners to assess taxpayers wealth for raising subsidies - with the risk they would be too generous to local nobility (parliamentary taxation/ extraordinary revenue) + what were the consequences?
Set up a national committee which he appointed and himself headed
With direct and realistic assessments of taxpayers wealth, the nations revenue base became much more realistic
In this way W raised extraordinary revenues for war in France but it proved insufficient leading to A-grant
What did Wolsey do in 1525 when extraordinary revenue raised proved insufficient to finance Henry’s war in France?
He tried to raise unparliamentary taxation called the Amicable Grant of 1525 - this was in theory a voluntary gift to the king from his subjects - It was actually a heavy tax imposed without parliaments approval.
What was the outcome of Wolsey’s attempt to raise Amicable Grant?
It caused widespread resistance and had to be abandoned
What did Wolsey introduce in 1526 to raise money for the king?
Eltham Ordinances - apparently aimed to reduce royal household expenditure by reforming the Privy Chambers finances - through this Wolsey also succeeded in reducing the Privy Chamber’s influence as he reduced the number of gentlemen in the P-Chamber (the one area of government he didn’t have control)
He also secured the removal of Henry’s Groom of the Stool, Sir William Compton, replacing him with the more compliant Henry Norris
What was the ‘King’s Great Matter’?
Concerned the annulment of Henry’s marriage to Catherine of Aragon - could only be granted by the pope
What reasons did Henry have for the divorce?
By the mid 1520’s he had no male heir, only one surviving daughter and Catherine was passed child-bearing age so feared for the kingdom should he die without a male heir - he even considering legitimising his son Henry Fitzroy (from his mistress) out of desperation but it’s unlikely this would have succeeded
He was in love with Anne Boleyn (niece of Thomas Howard, Duke of Norfolk) who was unwilling to be a mistress
What happened in 1525 with the annulment?
Henry asked Wolsey to secure a papal dispensation for the annulment of his marriage to Catherine providing biblical justification that his marriage to his brothers widow had been illegal in the sight of God
What happened in 1527 with the annulment?
Wolsey (as Papal Legate) called a fake court to ‘try’ Henry for living in sin with his supposed wife (Henry agreed) - Henry readily admitted to this
But Catherine refused to accept the court’s verdict and in accordance with canon law appealed to the Pope
After Catherine appealed to Pope Clement VII why was he reluctant to cooperate with Wolsey?
Catherine’s nephew (Charles V - HRE and king of Spain) fiercely opposed the annulment and in May 1527 Charles’ troops, entered Rome, sacked the city and took the Pope prisoner as the emperor was not prepared to see him family insulted
What happened in 1529 with the annulment?
After 2 years of fruitless diplomacy the Pope finally sent an envoy (Cardinal Campeggio) to hear the case along with Wolsey in a legatine court in London
The hearing was opened in June but Campeggio adjourned it in July without agreeing to the annulment
Sealing Wolsey’s fate as he’d failed to get the annulment (Wolsey had been aware his fate rested on this and as was the Pope but all the Pope could do was play for time which frustrated Henry further)
In October 1529 what was Wolsey charged with and was it expected?
Having failed to achieve an annulment Wolsey was charge with praemunire (using papal authority against the crown) so he retired and surrendered his possessions to the king (including Hampton Court)
His downfall was sudden but not totally unexpected as he was already unpopular for forcing the 1523 subsidy through parliament and imposing the amicable grant - former associated began distancing themselves from him.
What happened with Wolsey in 1530?
On 4th of November 1530 he was arrested but died at Leicester Abbey on the 29th, before he could be tried and executed
Henry continues with his ‘great matter’ using scholars such as Thomas Cranmer(rewarded with Archbishop of Canterbury in 1532) to put the theological case for annulment
What are actually not actual separate entities despite much suggestion?
The Court, the Council and the Privy Chamber - people could be members of more than one (gentlemen of Privy Chamber would be members of Court)
How many members did the Privy Council have and what was its job - did Henry take part?
About 20 members appointed by the King - handled routine members of state
Henry drew up agendas but never attended meetings
What was the Court?
All persons who were in attendance of the King on any given day - The Court moved from place to place with the King
What was the Privy Chamber?
Part of the Household - head of PC = Groom of the Stool
Gentlemen of PC = attended to King’s most intimate requests
What was the dry stamp and how many people had access to it?
A forged Kings signature - only ever given to 3 men at a time - impression of kings signature pressed onto document and outlined with ink
What is a faction?
A group of people who sought to advance shared interests, either positive or negative (e.g gaining titles for themselves or denying them to rivals)
What was the longest standing faction during Henry’s reign and one another example?
Aragonese - supported the rights and position of Catherine of Aragon
Boleyn faction - orchestrated the demise of Wolsey because he could not / would not obtain a divorce for Catherine and Henry to enable him to marry Anne
What is patronage?
A way of the King rewarding people who had earned his favour including titles and money
What four sections can government under Henry be divided into?
1509-1514 = early years 1514-1520 = ascendancy of Wolsey 1530-1540 = ascendancy of Cromwell 1540-1547= end of the reign
Who did Henry arrest 2 days after his fathers death?
Empson and Dudley - they were executed 16 months later
What did Henry do about bonds at the start of his reign?
Some cancelled as a gesture of Goodwill but most maintained which didn’t expire until the 1520’s
What message did the execution of Edmund de-la Pole In 1513 send out?
That perceived threats would be dealt with seriously as Edmunds brother - Richard had taken up arms with the French against whom Henry was about to wage war
What was the act of resumption 1515?
Wolsey wanted to increase revenue from crown lands as many had been granted away at the beginning of Henry VIII’s reign - this act returned some of the lands to the crown
What changes did Wolsey make to the church?
As Papal Legate he had precedence over the Archbishop of Canterbury
He showed some reforming intentions that came to little
Dissolved 30 religious houses and used proceeds to build Oxford and Ipswich colleges
Church became more centralised under his control and Churchmen more used to Crown orders
