How Effectively Were The Localities Governed? Flashcards
What were localities?
Regions of England that lay beyond London
The further away from the centre that these regions were…
the harder it was for the monarch to exert direct control
How was local government carried out?
By unpaid members of the nobility and gentry
What were the nobility and gentry responsible for? (3)
- Collecting taxation
- Enforcing law
- Order and supressing rebellion
What were the hardest-to-control regions of England?
Areas that had borders with Wales and Scotland (Marcher regions)
Marcher regions: (2)
- Regions on the borders of Wales and Scotland that were traditionally the first line of defence against invasion
- Because of their defensive and military function, they had developed their own laws and style of government and were controlled by members of the nobility
What did the nobility that controlled these areas gain?
Gained enormous legal and military power, and were almost quasi-kings in their dominance of the marcher regions
When was Wales conquered by England?
By the late 15th century
How was Wales being conquered a positive?
No longer a threat of hostile Welsh invasion
What did the Crown control?
The Principality of Wales
What was it possible to do in the Welsh legal system? (2)
- It was possible to commit a crime in one lordship and then escape justice by fleeing into another one
- Blood feuds
Blood feuds:
The family of a victim could take vengeance on the perpetrator of the crime
Why was control of Wales and the marcher regions important in stopping rebellions?
It was still possible for powerful members of the nobility to use these militarised regions to build up their own power bases, which could then be used to challenge the monarchy (Which was how Henry VII had been able to challenge Richard III)
How did Henry VII use Wales to build up an army against Richard III?
Henry used his family estates in Pembroke, in South West Wales, to raise an army
What other powerful nobleman, apart from Henry VII, had access to military power?
Edward Stafford, Duke of Buckingham
Edward Stafford, Duke of Buckingham: (2)
- Had a claim to the throne
- ## Had landed estates in Wales
Why had Henry VIII felt suspicious of Buckingham?
Buckingham tried to visit his estates with 400 armed men
When was Buckingham executed for treason by Henry VIII?
1521
How had Henry VII and Henry VIII attempted to secure control of Wales and its marcher regions, before the 1530s?
By using the Council of Wales and the Marches
Who introduced the Council of Wales and the Marches? and when?
By Edward IV in 1470s
Where was the Council of Wales and the Marches based?
Ludlow Castle
Who headed the Council of Wales and the Marches?
Members of the royal family and the most trusted nobility
Who became head of the Council in 1490?
Henry VII’s uncle, Jasper Tudor, Duke of Bedford
Who was sent to Wales in 1501?
Prince Arthur, Henry VII’s 15-year-old son and heir
How was Prince Arthur’s presence in Wales supposed to enhance royal control?
Creating a more permanent presence in the region
Was the plan of sending Prince Arthur to Wales successful?
No. As Arthur died in 1502
How was a similar tactic used in 1525 by Henry VIII?
Henry VIII sent his 9-year-old daughter Mary as a figurehead for the Council of Wales
What were Mary and Arthur given in Wales?
Given their own courts based at Ludlow
When did Mary return from Wales?
1528
What was the more lasting solution to extending royal authority into Wales?
When Thomas Cromwell rose to prominence in the 1530s
Why was controlling the North an equally challenging problem for the Tudor monarchs? (3)
- Geographically remote
- Poor communications
- Under threat of invasion from Scotland
How many times were the Northern Marches split due to the extensive border with Scotland?
3
What were the three splits of the Northern Marches?
- The Western
- The Middle
- The Eastern
Who controlled the Northern Marches?
By wardens who were responsible for their defence and keeping order
Why was control of the Northern marches not easy?
Since cross-border raids were common
Why did Henry VII face additional problems in controlling the North?
His position as an usurper made him particularly vulnerable to attempts at invasion from his rivals, who could base themselves over the border in Scotland
What regions were particularly unsettled, and why?
Regions in the North, such as Yorkshire, because they were loyal to Richard III, who had controlled the region very successfully
What had the North experienced?
Economic hardship
What revolt occurred in 1489?
There was a tax revolt in Yorkshire which led to the murder of Henry Percy, the Earl of Northumberland
What was Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland in charge of?
In charge of money collection in the region
After the death of Henry Percy, what did Henry use this opportunity to do?
Made Thomas Howard, Earl of Surrey, as Lieutenant in the North
What was the Earl of Surrey’s role as Lieutenant in the North?
Act as a representative of the king
How long did the Earl of Surrey remain in the post of Lieutenant in the North for?
Until 1499, when power reverted to the traditional nobility as wardens of the Marches
Key noble families under Henry VIII: (4)
- The Dacres
- The Cliffords
- The Percy earls of Northumberland
- Neville earls of Northumberland
Why did Henry VIII re-establish the council in 1525?
These families were involved in complex feuds with each other and could not be relied on to keep the peace, especially since they were the first line of defence against a possible invasion from Scotland
Lord Dacre in 1525:
Fined £1,000 in Star Chamber for his tolerance of disorder in the North
When was an attempt to revive the Council of the North made?
1525
What was the attempt made to revive the Council of the North in 1525?
When Henry Fitzroy, the six-year-old illegitimate son of the king was made president of the Council
When did Fitzroy die?
July 1536
Why was Henry Fitzroy dying a problem?
Henry VIII was planning to make him Deputy in the North
When was the Law in Wales Act?
1535
Why did Thomas Cromwell begin a process to bring permanent changes in Wales?
Due to the lawlessness and the limitation of royal authority
Who did Thomas Cromwell appoint to act as the Lord President of the Council?
Rowland Lee
Who introduced the Law in Wales Act?
Thomas Cromwell
When was the Law in Wales act passed by Parliament?
1536
What is the Law in Wales Act also known as?
Act of Union
How did the Law in Wales Act transform the structure of Welsh Government?
- The Principality of Wales and the marcher lordships were abolished, and replaced with 12 English-style counties
- The English-style system of local government was also introduced for each new Welsh county, including sheriffs, coroners and Justices of the Peace
- Banned the use of Welsh in the courts - only English was to be spoken
- Each new Welsh county and each Welsh county town was allocated two MPs who would sit in the English Parliament
- End of the traditional military power of the marcher lords
Law in Wales Act on the Principality of Wales and the marcher lordships:
They were abolished and replaced with 12 English-style counties
Law in Wales Act on the system of local government:
The English-style system of local government was introduced for each new Welsh county, including sheriffs, coroners and Justices of the Peace
Law in Wales Act on Welsh:
Banned the use of Welsh in the courts
Who did the banning of Welsh in Courts affect the most?
The more remote regions of Wales where the native language was still in common used, so interpreters were used (did not affect the gentry of Wales and they already spoke English)
Law in Wales Act on new Welsh Counties and Welsh County Towns:
They were allocated 2 MPs who would sit in the English parliament, which was a change as the traditional Welsh regions had not participated in English law-making
Law in Wales Act on the Marcher lords:
Ended the traditional military power of the marcher lords. Wales remained directly under the control of the Crown
Did law and order improve in Wales under the Crown?
Yes, less of a threat to political stability
When was the second Law in Wales Act passed?
1542
What system did the 1542 Act inroduce?
The system of English law into Wales, which included the use of the blood feud
In order to enforce English law, what new system did the 1542 Act introduce?
A new system of law courts were introduced called the courts of great sessions
What were the Great Sessions?
Held in each new Welsh county twice a year
What did the new system of law courts do?
Tried criminal cases such as theft or physical attacks, and there was no right of appeal
What did the 1542 Act reorganise?
The Council of the Marches, which was now known as the Council of Wales
How did the Council of Wales become a more formal body under the 1542 Act?
Included a president and vice president who were appointed by the monarch
How did the power of the Council of Wales increase under the 1542 Act?
Powers were now rested on the authority of the king and parliament, not solely the royal perogative
What examples of powers did the Council of Wales have? (2)
- The right to hear legal cases in a manner similar to the English Star Chamber
- Oversee law and order in both Wales and the former marcher countries
How did the Marcher Council adapt by Elizabeth’s reign?
Included the Lord Lieutenants
What did Cromwell decide to do after the PofG in 1536?
Decided to remodel the Council in 1537 in order to strengthen its powers and prevent future outbreaks of unrest
What powers was the Council of the North given? (5)
- To hear and decide cases of treason, murder and felony
- Became the voice of the government in London, responsible for passing on and enforcing all royal proclamations and order made to sheriffs and JPs
- Oversaw food supplies and regulated trade
- Organised local musters for military campaigns
- Heard private cases between individuals
Where was the authority of the Council extended to?
Durham, Northumberland, Cumberland and Westmorland (not just Yorkshire)
What did Henry VIII give to the Council of the North?
Gave it a permanent headquarter in York
When was the Council of the North’s headquarters dissolved?
1539
Who was the president of the Council?
A member of the nobility who came from the South or the Midlands
Who was the president of the remodelled Council of the North from 1538 - 1540?
Robert Holgate, Bishop of Llandaff
What was the benefit of having a president from the South or Midlands in the Council of the North?
They would have no vested interests in the decisions they were making and could remain relatively impartial when dealing with local disputes
What was the rest of the new Council made up of?
Local gentry, lawyers and clergy (from the North)
Sir Thomas Gargave:
A lawyer from Wakefield, who served the Council of the North for a long time
How were Councillors given further power and knowledge of the region?
They were also appointed as Justices of Peace
Council of the North after 1537:
Signalled a longer-term decline in the power of the traditional northern lords, the Dacres, the Percies and the Nevilles
How was the power of the traditional nobility undermined?
Due to the increasing power of the monarchy through the power of the Council
What did Elizabeth attempt to do with the Council?
Insert more southerners into the Council
Was Elizabeth’s decision to introduce more Southerners popular?
NO. Caused resentment among the traditional nobility and contributed to the outbreak of rebellion in 1569, showing that the Council was not completely in control of the North
Under Elizabeth, what was the Council more responsible for?
Battling Recusansy
Recusansy:
The practice of people who refused to go to Church of England services, thus disobeying the 1559 Acts of Supremacy and Uniformity
President and Vice President of the Council of the North during the Revolt of the Northern Earls:
President - Earl of Sussex
Vice President - Thomas Gargave
Who was made president of the Council of the North in 1572?
Puritan Henry Hastings, Earl of Huntingdon, who was Elizabeth’s cousin
Boroughs:
Towns that had the right to send two MPs to sit in Parliament; granted by royal charter
By the end of Elizabeth’s reign, how many boroughs were there?
191 boroughs
What was the size of the House of Commons at the start of the period?
296 members
What was the size of the House of Commons at the end of Elizabeth’s reign?
462 members
Why was the growth of commons a particularly important development?
The House of Lords was decreasing in size during this period
Following the dissolution of the monasteries between 1536 - 1540, who were no longer summoned to Parliament?
Abbots
How many new MPs representing boroughs did Edward create during his reign?
34 new MPs
How many new MPs representing boroughs did Mary create?
25 new MPs
How many new MPs representing boroughs did Elizabeth create>
62
Reasons for the growth in the number of borough MPs:
- Pressure from the towns themselves
How was Parliament important for townsmen?
Parliament was a place in which townsmen could ensure that the interests of their community could be promoted through the use of petitions and the creation of new laws
Edward VI’s corporation of York:
In Edward VI’s parliaments, the corporation of York was keen to ensure that laws were passed which prevented woodland areas being chopped down within 25 km of the city
Who were most MPs who represented boroughs?
They tended to be members of the landed gentry who did not even live in the towns they were supposed to represent
In Reformation Parliament (1529-1536) how many of the borough MPs were townsmen?
1/2 of them (the other half being members of the gentry)
In the Elizabethan Parliament, how many of the borough MPs were townsmen?
23%
By 1601, what did the number of townsmen borough MPs decrease to?
14%
Why was gentry acting as borough MPs breaking the law?
Broke a law created in the 15th century which stipulated that MPs should live in the region that they represented
For boroughs, why was it financially sensible to have a member of the gentry acting as their MP?
MPs could claim expenses from their constituency to cover the costs of sitting in parliament
How much could Borough MPs claim for the time they sat in parliament?
2 shillings a day
What cost could Borough MPs claim? (2)
- Claim back the costs of travelling to and from London
- The cost of their accommodation while living there
During the Reformation Parliament, how much was it estimated that it would cost each town to fund just one MP?
£70
How did the cost of Borough MPs grow?
Do to the increasingly frequent meetings
Wealthy towns:
York, Bristol, Worcester
Poorer towns and Borough MPs:
Looked to wealthy members of the gentry or nobility to cover these costs in return for allowing them to sit as MP or nominate their own candidate
Example of a poorer town struggling with the cost Borough Mps brought:
Dunwich had an annual income of £50 per annum and in 1559 its remaining residents were happy to accept the offer made to them by Sir Edmund Rowse
What was the offer Sir Edmund Rowse made to the townsmen of Dunwich?
Rowse would act as a Borough MP for Dunwich and would cover for his own expenses
Why were gentry and nobility keen to become MPs?
Attract royal attention and build a career
Who were elections for many boroughs controlled by?
Members of the nobility who were controlled by the Tudor monarchs
Why did the Crown control Borough elections?
To ensure that the MPs elected would obey the Crown’s wishes
What boroughs was the Duke of Norfolk able to ensure that his clients were elected to? (3)
- Castle Rising
- Great Yarmouth
- Reigate
What boroughs was the Robert Dudley able to ensure that his clients were elected to? (3)
- Poole
- Tamworth
- Denbigh
Why were boroughs content having members of the gentry or nobility represent them?
The boroughs were able to ensure that their interests were looked after in parliament by the most powerful men in the country
How did the role of the monarch lead to the expansion of borough representation?
Many of the new boroughs created in the Tudor period were in regions controlled by the crown itself
What boroughs did the crown create because they had control over the region? (2)
- Duchy of Cornwall - Grampound and Camelford in 1547
- Duchy of Lancaster - Preston (1529), Thetford (1529), Liverpool (1545), Higham Ferrers (1545)
What was the advantage of creating boroughs for the king?
The crown could place its own candidates in parliament - men who were loyal and experienced servants of the crown
Who did Elizabeth place as a Borough MP for Higham Ferrers?
Sir Christopher Hatton
What group did literacy rates increase for?
Yeomen
Why did literacy rates increase for the Yeomen?
The growth of humanist ideas, which emphasised the role of education for all which led to the foundation of grammar schools for boys
How would girls from wealthier backgrounds receive education?
Home
Student members in oxford in 1550:
1,150
Student members in oxford by the end of the period:
2,000
What fraction of these students came from Yeomen class or prosperous artisans?
Just over half
What did the work of historian David Cressy show in regards to the illiteracy rates for men and women in 1550?
Men - 80%
Women - 98%
What did the work of historian David Cressy show in regards to the illiteracy rates for men and women in 1600?
Men - 72%
Women - 92%
