Henry VIII's - Government Flashcards
1
Q
Early Patronage
A
• Henry started by giving out patronage to people including: The Lord Chamberlain Charles Somerset and Margaret Beaufort who was given manor of Woking.
2
Q
Conciliar Government
A
- Early council dominated by Henry VII’s men e.g. Bishop Fox who desired peace and economy.
- They used the Course of the Seals to reign in Henry VIII’s extravagance.
- Conciliar approach lasted from 1509 to 1514 when Wolsey took over.
3
Q
Privy Chamber
A
- Henry VIII’s court was filled with young men who shared similar taste with Henry.
- They brought documents for the king to sign.
- Gentlemen of the Bedchamber had status and power due to their influence.
4
Q
Parliament
A
- In the early reign Parliament maintained a similar purpose to under Henry VII.
- Used to raise extraordinary revenue.
- 1513 parliament granted £100,000 for war against France - only £50,000 collected.
5
Q
Groom of the Stool
A
- Most intimate of the monarch’s courtiers - lots of confidence placed in the role.
- William Compton (1509-1526) held privy purse with £2,328 to spend within 4 years - went up to £17,517.
6
Q
Wolsey
A
- Son of a butcher
- Educated at Magdalen College, Oxford.
- Rose through clerical positions - Cardinal in 1515 and Papal Legate in 1518.
7
Q
Rise of Wolsey
A
- Joined Royal Council in 1510 and was Archbishop of York by 1514.
- He became Lord Chancellor after his management of the French campaign of 1513.
- He was very hardworking and saved Henry the trouble of managing his affairs personally though Henry was still interested.
8
Q
Court of Star Chamber
A
- Established by Act of Parliament in 1487, from 1516, Wolsey developed the court as a centre of justice and government.
- It gave cheap, fair justice for cases of misconduct by people dominant in society - so successful there was a backlog of cases.
9
Q
Court of Chancery
A
- Role of Chancery was to apply the principle of equity rather than a strict reading on common law.
- Cases related to enclosure, contracts and land left to others in wills.
- Also a backlog of cases.
10
Q
Administration of Subsidies
A
- Instead of using local commissioners to assess taxpayers’ wealth (often over-generous to the nobility), Wolsey set up a national commission which he headed.
- It gave direct and realistic assessments of wealth - nations revenue base was more realistic.
11
Q
Amicable Grant
A
- March 1525 - required to fund a further French campaign.
- It demanded 1/6 of the income of laymen and 1/3 of the clergy.
- It led to uprisings in East Anglia (4,000 resistors in Norfolk and Suffolk).
12
Q
Expulsion on Minions: Privy Chamber
A
- Wolsey never had control.
- 1518 - placed his supporter Richard Pace into chamber and persuaded Henry to expel minions.
- By 1520, they had been reappointed.
- Eltham Ordinances 1526 - reduced chamber from 12 to 6. Sir William Compton replaced by Sir Henry Norris.
- Wolsey proposed a ‘Council Attendant’ for 20 others but gave them duties elsewhere.
13
Q
King’s Great Matter
A
- Henry required Wolsey to get a papal dispensation for the annulment of his marriage.
- 1527 - Wolsey brought Henry before a fake court to accuse him of living a sin with his wife. Catherine didn’t accept verdict and appealed to the Pope.
14
Q
Fall of Wolsey
A
- 1529 - Pope sent Cardinal Campeggio to reside over commission with Wolsey.
- Campeggio told not to decide and adjourned it - Wolsey had failed.
- Oct 1529 - Wolsey charged with praemunire and surrendered.
- Henry allowed him to retire but Wolsey starts to write to France - accused of treason and arrested.
- Nov 1529 - dies on way to trial.
15
Q
Factions: Fall of Wolsey
A
- Anne Boleyn had faction of supporters.
- Unlike Wolsey, Anne got her supporters into the Privy Chamber.
- In council meetings, nobility united with Anne’s faction to discredit Wolsey.
