Methods Of Controlling Nobility Flashcards
What were the main ways Henry VII controlled his nobility? (5 examples)
Acts of Attainder
Bonds and Recognisances
Feudal Dues
Retaining
Crown Lands
What is an Act of Attainder?
An attained family would lose the right to inherit their land - loss of power for the entire noble family and their descendants
Notably used by Henry VII to ensure good behaviour from his nobles
How many Acts of Attainders were passed under Henry VII? And how many were reversed?
138 Acts were passed
46 Acts were reversed
How could an Act of Attainder be reversed? Give an example
The king could reverse them
It was also possible to pay for a reversal e.g. Thomas Tyrell paid £1,738 to reverse his AoA
What are Bonds and Recognisances?
Bond - Written agreements where a disloyal noble has to give payments to the king via upfront or instalments
Recognisance - Formal acknowledgement of the debt
Who enforced the Bonds and Recognisances? And name the leaders of said group
The Council Learned in Law
Led by Richard Empson and Edmund Dudley
How were the Bonds and Recognisances effective for Henry VII?
Could remove a nobles power completely
Economic income increased
Discouraged nobles from being disloyal
What were the different type of Feudal Dues?
Wardship
Marriage control
Livery
What was Wardship?
If a noble family’s patriarch was under 21, the land was placed under Royal authority
Gave Henry VII the opportunity to exploit said lands for maximum income
What was Marriage control?
Henry VII had the ability to stop nobles from becoming too powerful through political marriages
If the King was not informed of a marriage - nobles fined
What was Livery? And what year was it implemented?
Refers to the number of servants a noble could own
1487 - restrictions on the numbers employed depending on title
(Duke - 120, Earl - 80 etc.)
Why did Henry VII view retaining as an illegal activity?
Nobles who retained a large amount of loyal supporters tended to use it to their advantage by pressuring tenants or juries
This was immoral to Henry VII and also threatened his authority
How did Henry VII respond to retaining? And who did he surprisingly punish?
Nobles were charged regardless of who they were
Lady Margaret (His Mother)
Give an example of Henry VII charging a noble for retaining
Lord Bergavenny was fined £5 a month, amounting to £70,550 (clear warning to others)
What are Crown Lands?
Land that is directly owned by the king
