Measures taken to strenghten royal authority

Question 1

In 1487 what happened following Simnel’s rebellion?

Answer 1

The Star Chamber Act established additional legal powers to deal with nobles who disturbed the king’s peace

An Act of Livery and Maintenance attempted to restrict the number of servants retained by lords and used as private armies

Question 2

In the aftermath of the Yorkshire revolt in 1489, what happened?

Answer 2

Surrey was appointed Lieutenant of the Council of the North

Lands that had belonged to Northumberland were transferred to the Crown

Question 3

How many families held their land by knight service to the king following Yorkshire?

Answer 3

30

Question 4

What did Henry do in some of the more disaffected areas?

Answer 4

Built up close ties with county families as he preferred to travel throughout his realm

Question 5

What happened to Suffolk and his supporters?

Answer 5

Imprisoned in the Tower as he appeared to have been conspiring against the king between 1501 and 1506

51 attainders were issues to suppress Suffolk’s supporters and strengthen the Crown

Question 6

What did Henry VIII and Cromwell do following the POG?

Answer 6

Decided to reform the Council of the North and administration of the marches

Question 7

What happened in June 1537?

Answer 7

The Earl of Northumberland, who had held the east and middle marches, died

Question 8

What happened to the Earl of Cumberland?

Answer 8

His wardenship of the west march was taken from him

He was made a Knight of the Garter

Question 9

What was another major reform during Henry VIII’s reign?

Answer 9

The appointment of local lesser gentry as deputy wardens while he assumed overall responsibility for the marches

Question 10

What happened in the commissions of peace between 1536 and 1539?

Answer 10

Purged the bench of magistrates who had shown sympathy to the rebels or in whom he no longer had total confidence

Question 11

Why was no disciplinary action taken against nobles like Lord Scrope of Bolton and John Lord Lumley?

Answer 11

It wasn’t Henry’s attention to destabilise the north and he needed noble families to enforce his rule

He reminded the men ‘we will not be bound of a necessity to be served with Lords’

Question 12

What had Henry VIII promised?

Answer 12

That a parliament would meet in the north, but it never did

Question 13

How did Henry VIII strengthen his political hold through reforms to the Council of the North?

Answer 13

Judicial and administrative functions were expanded and all JPs and sheriffs were to take orders directly from it, enhancing its power to act quickly

Question 14

How was membership of the Council of the North reformed?

Answer 14

Tunstall, Bishop of Durham was made president

Senior nobles were encouraged to attend

Ellerker, Bowes, and Tempest were included, and none acted disloyally again

Question 15

What was an important legacy of the Northern Earls’ rebellion?

Answer 15

Reforms to the county militia, commissions of the peace, and Council of the North

Question 16

From 1569 what happened?

Answer 16

All parishes were ordered to keep a list of men who were eligible for military service, and parishes were instructed to improve the quality and size of the county muster

Question 17

What happened in 1573?

Answer 17

Better training for the militia was announced

Question 18

What reforms were there to the Council of the North in 1572?

Answer 18

The Earl of Huntingdon - a Puritan with no local connections - became president

He was authorised to ensure that JPs enforced the penal law against Catholics, removed illegal enclosures, punished unlawful retaining, and assisted the poor

Question 19

From 1570 what happened to magistrates and JPs?

Answer 19

Magistrates were purged in most northern counties

JPs who had shown leniency towards the uprising were placed, leading to a gradual build-up of a more dependable bench

Question 20

What was hoped?

Answer 20

These measures would minimise the likelihood of future disturbances and remove the influence of Catholic families from the political scene in the northern counties

Question 21

What were the consequences of the Silken Thomas rebellion?

Answer 21

English officials replaced Irish office holders in Dublin

A small permanent garrison was established and border fortresses were strengthened

Kidare’s lands and those of his supporters opened the way for granting lands to English loyalists

Seizure of Irish monastic and bishops’ lands

Question 22

What happened in 1539?

Answer 22

Opposition by Gaelic lords and Palesmen to religious reforms lead to a revolt in 1539 against the Archbishop of Dublin

Question 23

What as given a priority?

Answer 23

Domestic troubles and foreign wars

Question 23

What were the costs of Irish rebellions?

Answer 23

Silken Thomas: £40,000

Geraldine: £254,000

Tyrone’s: £2 million

Question 24

What happened after the Earl of Tyrone renounced his title of ‘the O’Neill’ and agreed to support sheriffs and garrisons in Ulster?

Answer 24

He was granted a pardon and recovered all that he had held at the start of the rebellion