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.
16
Q
Thomas More
A
- Accepted Lord Chancellor position after Wolsey provided he didn’t have to deal with the divorce.
- Norfolk and Suffolk increased power in the Privy Council.
- Little achieved due to focus on divorce.
17
Q
Rise of Cromwell
A
- Cromwell had advanced his career under Wolsey and following the cardinals death rose swiftly.
- He suggested Henry make a break with Rome and place himself as head of the English Church.
- By 1532 he was the King’s chief minister.
- He never had the same influence as Wolsey but came to dominate government.
18
Q
Reformation Parliament
A
- Initially called to deal with Wolsey who died.
* After this, attention called to Henry’s divorce and the Church.
19
Q
Weaknesses of the Church
A
- Weakened by humanist criticisms by Colet and Erasmus.
- Church’s claims to legal supremacy challenged in 1528 by lawyer Christopher St German - asserted superiority of English law over the church.
- Henry supplied with Collectanea Satis Copiosa - historical documents to justify divorce.
20
Q
Pressure on the Pope
A
- 1531 - Clergy accused of praemuire and fined £118,000.
- 1532 - Act in conditional restraint in Annates.
- 1532 - House of Commons supplication against the Ordinaries.
- 1532 - Submission of the Clergy
21
Q
Act of Supremacy 1534
A
- Henry = Supreme Head of the Church of England
* Relationship with Pope and Rome smashed.
22
Q
Treason Act 1534
A
• Capital offence to slander the Supremacy or deny King’s new title.
23
Q
Successions Acts
A
- 1534 - marriage to Catherine invalid - Mary illegitimate
* 1544 - Edward then Mary then Elizabeth
24
Q
The Act Annexing First Fruits and Tenths to the Crown
A
• Annates paid to the Pope now paid to the Crown.
25
Q
Policies
A
- Most important policy = dissolution of the monasteries.
- Began in 1536 and completed by 1542.
- It increased the wealth and power of the Crown.
26
Q
Fall of Anne
A
- Cromwell and Anne fell out.
- Cromwell allied with the conservative faction to secure her downfall - accused her of adultery.
- This was treason so Anne was executed in 1536.
27
Q
Fall of Cromwell
A
- By 1540 his influence was declining.
- Cromwell arranged the marriage between Anne and Henry to show his rejection of the Catholic Church.
- Marriage was a failure - gave enemies e.g. Duke of Norfolk chance to bring his downfall.
- Cromwell accused of treason and heresy and executed.
28
Q
Government (1540-47)
A
- Conciliar Government returned with revival of Conservatives.
- Emergence of privy council with fixed membership.
- In 1540 - power lay with conservatives such as Norfolk and Stephen Gardiner - problems caused by marriage which shifted the power balance.
29
Q
Catherine Howard
A
- Catherine and Thomas Culpepper had an affair.
- Executed for treason in 1542.
- Norfolk wounded politically.
30
Q
Katherine Parr
A
- Katherine was a protestant - married Henry as she thought it was her duty.
- She outlived him.
31
Q
Political Rivalries
A
- King’s health worsened - rivalries intensified.
- Edward Seymour - uncle to Prince Edward
- Norfolk also compromised by his son Henry Howard who was executed for treason.
- Henry consented to Norfolk’s death but Henry died first.
