How Successful Was Henry VII In Controlling The Nobility?

Question 1

3 factors

Answer 1

Financial controls and government
Legislation
Patronage and rival claimants

Question 2

Financial controls and government

Answer 2

• Bonds and recognisances = at least £200k promised henry in bonds 1504-7
• last decade 2/3 nobles held under bonds
• council learned in the law run efficiently by the bureaucrats loyal to henry
• increasing income to overshadow magnates eg Surveyor of the King’s Wards
• increased reliance on non-noble administrators, JPS and spy network

Question 3

Legislation

Answer 3

• predated reign to day before BoB so that Yorkists could be accused of treason
• passed 138 acts of attainders and reversed 46 for gratitude and loyalty e.g. Earl Of Surrey 1489
• act of resumption 1486
• attacks on retaining 1487 and 1504 to curb noble military e.g. Lord Bergavenny 1507 convicted of illegal retaining and was fined 100k. Henry put him under bond of repayment for 10yrs to raise money and force loyalty or bankruptcy

Question 4

Patronage and rival claimants

Answer 4

• rewarded key supporters e.g. 11 new knighthoods at start of his reign
• promoted jasper tudor to Duke of Bedford
• 1506 captured or killed rival nobles (earl of Lincoln, earl of Suffolk, earl of Warwick)
• rarely created new titles e.g. peerage shrank from 62 to 42, made 37 order of the garter which gave knights status to satisfy nobles but at no cost to the crown