Increasing borough representation in the Commons Flashcards
What was the significance of Sending localities to central government?
o Boroughs able to send 2 MPs to parliament – House of Commons grew from 296 members to 462 members by the end of Elizabeth’s reign, declining number in the House of Lords.
o Edward VI created 34 new MPs representing boroughs between 1547 and 1553; Mary created 25 between 1553 and 1558; Elizabeth created 62 from 1558-84
Why did borough representation grow?
Pressure from the towns
o Townsmen could ensure the interests of their community were promoted, through petitions and creation of new laws.
> Edward VI’s parliaments, the council of York was keen to ensure that laws were passed which prevented woodland areas being chopped down within 25km of the city.
o However the interests of the boroughs were not the primary reason for the growth of borough representation – most MPs weren’t even townsmen, most were members of the gentry.
o Jennifer Loach has shown that in the 1559 parliament, only 23% of borough MPs were townsmen, by 1601 it was at 14%.
Why did borough representation grow?
Pressure from the towns
o Townsmen could ensure the interests of their community were promoted, through petitions and creation of new laws.
> Edward VI’s parliaments, the council of York was keen to ensure that laws were passed which prevented woodland areas being chopped down within 25km of the city.
o However the interests of the boroughs were not the primary reason for the growth of borough representation – most MPs weren’t even townsmen, most were members of the gentry.
o Jennifer Loach has shown that in the 1559 parliament, only 23% of borough MPs were townsmen, by 1601 it was at 14%.
Why did borough representation grow?
Financially sensible for gentry to be MPs
o During the Reformation Parliament it is estimated that it would have cost each town 70 pound to fund just one MP – wealthier towns such as York or Bristol could afford this, but smaller and poorer boroughs looked to wealthy members of the gentry or nobility to cover these costs.
>For example, Dunwich only had an annual income of 50 pound per annum – in return for Sir Edmund Rose’s election, he would cover his own costs.
o Members of the gentry were keen to become MPs because of the opportunities that were available to them in London – the Tudor Court became an important centre of patronage, where ambitious gentlemen sought election to parliament as a way to attract royal attention and build a career.
How was the Patronage system used by the Crown and Nobility?
o MPs were controlled by member of nobility or monarch, as part of the increasingly widespread system of patronage – Crown extended control over localities.
o Ensured the MPs elected would obey the crown’s wishes.
o Tudor nobility used their landed power to control elections to boroughs in localities.
>For example, under Henry VIII, the Duke of Norfolk was able to ensure that his clients were elected to boroughs such as Castle Rising, Great Yarmouth and Reigate.
o This arrangement was mutually beneficial to the boroughs, nobility and monarch alike – borough interests were looked after, nobility could measure power by placing clients in positions of influence.
o A nobleman who couldn’t help his clients would rapidly lose loyalty and support.
o Tudors monarchs used the system to ensure the MPs did what they were told – helps to explain why borough representation grew.
o Ambitious gentry and noble patrons were keen to extend their power and influence.
How was the Monarch’s power extended?
Many of the new boroughs were in regions controlled by the Crown itself, especially Duchies of Cornwall and Lancaster.
o The new boroughs or Grampound and Camelford, which were created in 1547, were both in the Duchy of Cornwall.
o The Crown could use these boroughs to place its own candidates in parliament – these men were loyal and experienced servants of the monarch.
>For example, Sir Christopher Hatton, one of Elizabeth I’s most trusted courtiers, was elected as MP for Higham Ferrers (Duchy of Lancaster) in 1571 parliament.
