Monarchy and Government - Changes to structure of government

Question 1

Give 3 points about the council and its role

Answer 1

Helped monarch and advised them
Could act as judicial court
Could be divided by factions

Question 2

Give 4 ways in which the council changed

Answer 2

• Became more formal and ‘professional’
• Wolsey changed it to the Privy council under Henry VII
• Wolsey reduced it to 20 men
• Privy council emerged in 1537

Question 3

How did Cromwell handle money flow to the crown (regarding courts - give 3 points)

And: what was the Exchequer?

Answer 3

• Cromwell created four financial courts to handle money flow 2 crown (Example: court of Augmentation)
• Court of Wards and liveries set up to deal with estates and heirs of tenants to the monarch
• other 3 were to deal with income after dissolution of monasteries
• The Exchequer was an institution responsible for collecting the crowns income.

Question 4

How did the legal system change? Give 3 ways in which it changed?

Answer 4

• ‘special’ courts of equity introduced for cases where there was no legal precedent e.g. court of star chamber
• Wolsey changed use from 12 cases a year to over 120 cases. Used it to prosecute overly powerful members of nobility
• Cromwell made further changes: abolished franchises (land where local lord controlled court) which enhanced royal power. Reduced the threat to King as there were fewer opportunities for rival powers to gain as much power

Question 5

How was the shape of government changed?

Answer 5

ROYAL POWER INCREASED: CENTRALISED POWER

Question 6

What was the role of the council from 1547-88?

2 main points

Answer 6

Under Edward became less important

Under Elizabeth became very important, numbers were reduced to a few individuals and by the 1590s they met everyday.

Question 7

What financial developments were made under Edward, Mary and Elizabeth?

Answer 7

• ## Elizabeth ended the debasement of coinage (from 1540s tudors melted down coinage which caused large amounts of inflation)