structure of the royal household

Question 1

what is the privvy chamber?

Answer 1

• a very private area of the royal household where the King and his family lived.
• it was monitored by guards.

Question 2

what did Henry VII use his privvy chamber for and why was this?

Answer 2

• He used it to control his royal finances

- This was because he became increasingly suspicious of the nobility and the men closest to him.

Question 3

how was H7 privvy chamber protected?

Answer 3

Guarded by Yeomen of the guard - who were his personal bodyguards

Question 4

what was the advantage and disadvantage of using the privvy chamber as a way to control royal finances?

Answer 4

• It meant that the king always had ready access to money
• However, it relied on the monarch’s ability and interest to control the royal income.
• Monarch’s after H7 didn’t have the time or inclination to control the royal finances and therefore this stopped after his reign.

Question 5

what did the privvy chamber become during H8 reign?

Answer 5

It became more of a political hub for meeting with the “gentlemen of the privvy chamber” - which were the chambers staff.

Question 6

who was the most important staff member of the privvy chamber under H8?

Answer 6

• the Groom of the Stool who was in charge of the royal toilet. (usually a member of the nobility or gentry.)

Question 7

what did access to the privvy chamber also mean access to during the 1540’s?

Answer 7

Access to the dry stamp = a signed document which gave people in possession of the stamp power in government.

Question 8

why did the privvy chamber change under Mary I?

Answer 8

Due to the role of the privvy chamber involving close personal contact with the monarch, women were appointed instead of men, which were usually the wives of the men a part of the Royal household.

Question 9

What are some examples of women that Mary appointed to her privvy chamber, and who were they married to?

Answer 9

• Francis Waldegrave - married to Edward Waldegrave
• Frances Jerningham - married to Henry Jerningham
  (this supports how the privvy chamber didn’t loose it’s political role as the women undoubtedly influenced the Queen through their husbands views.)

Question 10

How did the role of the privvy chamber change under Elizabeth I?

Answer 10

It continued to decline in political importance. However she did appoint the wives of her councillors e.g. the wife of the Earl of Leicester.

Question 11

where did major political decisions go through instead of going through the privvy chamber during Elizabeth’s reign?

Answer 11

• the council.

- this was due to the reforms carried out in 1559, the members of the royal household became members of the council

Question 12

what was the role of the council?

Answer 12

It was a formal body that had existed through medieval times and was used to advice the monarch. The monarch was not obliged to take advice from the council however it was in their best interest to do so.

Question 13

what type of faction was the council under H7?

Answer 13

• informal faction = included a mixture of people including church men, nobility and royal officials.

Question 14

how many people attended council meetings between 1485-1509?

Answer 14

200 men including Yorkists. 20 Yorkists out of 22 council members, this was crucial for Henry to secure his throne. e.g. John Morton

Question 15

what did H7 discuss during his councils mainly?

Answer 15

• He held great councils were nobility and advisors would consult about certain issues e.g. ended invasion in france.

Question 16

what was H8 left with when he came to power in 1509 regarding his council?

Answer 16

• H7 had left him with powerful advisors for example the Bishop of Winchester who had supported H7 anti-war policy.

Question 17

why did Thomas Wolsey rise to the top of the council during H8 reign?

Answer 17

• Wolsey was 1st minister and chief who was responsible for day-day running of the government.
• he rose to the top because of Henry 8th wanted war and he supported him.

Question 18

what was the Eltham ordinances?

Answer 18

• reforms that proposed a smaller council of men (20) who would travel with the king
• it was also an attempt to reduce the amount of “hangers” on to the king

Question 19

what did the 1526 Eltham ordinances lead to ?

Answer 19

• the creation of the privvy council in 1540

Question 20

why did Mary have a much larger council of men?

Answer 20

• it was an attempt to remain inclusive
• only a small amount however were active regularly
• meetings were run by much more more experienced ministers such as William Paget.
• only 8 councillors attended 50% of meetings.

Question 21

how did Elizabeth run her council?

Answer 21

• she continued to the trend of Mary
• councils had become a small group of trusted advisors
• their focus of their work and role had also changed.

Question 22

what does Elton (historian) argue the reasons were for the creation of the Privy council?

Answer 22

he argues that changes occurred between 1536-1537 and suggests it was Cromwell’s attempt to modernise gov.
- however most historians reject this now and believe it to be an outcome of the POG (John Guy )

Question 23

what happened to government and the council after TC death in 1540?

Answer 23

• more changes occurred to the privvy council and government in general which suggests that gov could still run without TC
• e.g. the chamber changed to “chief minister” which meant all members of the council were collectively responsible for the work and not one person had the power.

Question 24

how did the council change the council under Edward VI?

Answer 24

Number of advisors increased he was just a child and therefore a larger number of councillors was needed in order to govern his behaviour.

Question 25

who was Edward’s council under the control of ?

Answer 25

Edward Seymor (Duke of Sommerset) and the council was undermined as he used his own position to make decisions and rule

Question 26

what cause Seymor to fall from power?

Answer 26

• he appointed the Earl of Warwick
• 1549 western rebellion which was led by the Earl of Warwick saw his downfall.
• Northumberland took his place

Question 27

what was the role of the secretary?

Answer 27

• initially a part of the royal household and was personal to the monarch.
• this position meant close and personal access to the monarch and control of the monarch’s privvy seal (wax seal on important docs.)

Question 28

TC was never appointed lord chancellor (highest position) however he was still able to manipulate his position and become the most powerful, how?

Answer 28

• he was sec in 1534 and used this to control the council meetings and also had detailed knowledge about the King.
• TC fall in 1540 decreased tge political power of the sec.

Question 29

how did the position of sec change after TC’s downfall 1540?

Answer 29

• the power and responsibility was shared e.g. between Thomas Wriotheseley and Ralph Saider who never managed to accumulate as much power as TC

Question 30

when did the role of the sec become important again post H8?

Answer 30

QE who appointed William Cecil in 1558-1572 and was followed by Francis Wallsingham who was then replaced by Cecil’s son Robert in 1590.

Question 31

why did the Role of the sec grow in importance under QE?

Answer 31

• became more permanently important as the men who were appointed used this to enhance their power and influence over government.

Question 32

who became Sec in 1586 and what is an example of how he used his power to make decisions of behalf of the Queen?

Answer 32

• William Davidson
• he had the responsibility of holding the death warrent for the execution of Mary queen of Scots.
• QE gave her signature reluctantly and asked him to keep it safe, he sent it and was imprisoned.

Question 33

how did Robert Cecil use his position for personal gain?

Answer 33

• appointed in 1596 and used his position to gain a network of supporters.
• he distributed patronage to his own clients.

Question 34

how was local government controlled before the 16th century?

Answer 34

by the nobility and gentry and their duties included collecting tax and presiding over legal cases
- they were an important way of enforcing law and order

Question 35

why was the position Lord Lieutenant created?

Answer 35

to try and mend problems with nobility such as raising an army against the monarch.

Question 36

how did Henry make use of LL?

Answer 36

• he began improvement in military recruitment in response to demand for war
• gave commissions to the gentry to organise defence against the threat from Scotland and France

Question 37

when did the spanish war begin under liz?

Answer 37

• 1585-1604
• a lord Lieutenant was appointed to each county and each with a deputy
• responsible for organising mustering and troops
• all officers were expected to obey

Question 38

what did the creation of LL allow?

Answer 38

• widened the control of the monarchs as the gentry were expected to obey orders of LL under this new system.
• this was because LL were under the direct control and answered to the monarch.