HVII Government Flashcards
How did Henry rule
With a council of advisors who supported him in making key decisions
What were the three main functions of the council
Advise the king
To administer reign on Kings behalf
To make legal judgements
What were professional councillors
Often met to deal with legal and administrative matters separately when King was with advisors elsewhere
(E.g. bray, Dudley)
He was one of Henry’s most influential advisors
His mother Lady Margaret Beaufort
What was the function of the council learned
To maintain the kings revenue and exploit his prerogative rights
Mate the system of bonds and recognizances work so effectively
What did historians say about the council learned
Seen as quite shady
Thomas Penn cancel caused fear, frustration and anger as it bypassed normal legal system
It was however an expression of the kings will and was important for maintenance of authority and raising finances
Who was the renowned combination that ran the council learned
Empson and Dudley
unpopular with some of Kings other key advisors
they were removed after HVII death
their downfall brought rejoicing on the streets shows how feared and unpopular they were
What was distributed through the court
Rewards and statuses were distributed to those who deserved or well-connected
could gain support of the King
What were the two levels to court
Household proper - responsible for looking after king and others who were being entertained
Chamber - politically important presided over by Lord Chamberlain - powerful and a role with considerable trust
Why was the chamber be modelled after 1495
His Lord Chamberlain William Stanley was involved in a treasonable plot with Walbeck
His response to this challenge was to remodel the chamber by creating the PRIVY CHAMBER where he could retreat protected by his most intimate servants
Changed the character of court has made it harder to gain favour with the king
What was the function of Parliament
To pass laws and grant taxation to the crown
How many times did HVII call Parliament
Seven times
What is the little evidence of relating to Parliament
Proceedings in his reign goes
little evidence that the king tried to manage Parliament through his ministers
How did HVII maintain order in his reign
Relied heavily on justices of the peace at a local level to maintain L&O in countryside most JPs were local gentry
Largely enforced L&O through bonds & recognisances of many of his subjects to take them out - some out of genuine debt to crown however many purely political
Used to enforce law and obedience, and defeat the law, a system seen as morally dubious
What other sources of revenue in Henry’s reign
Customs revenue - tonnage and poundage granted for life in 1st Parliament small increase of £4000 in revenue from this source
Pensions from other powers - France agreed to pay £5000 a year after the Treaty of Etaples
Profits of justice - fines and incomes from bonds
Extraordinary revenue - received over £400,000 from extraordinary taxation
