The government of Henry VII and threats to his rule

Question 1

How did Henry gain the throne in 1485?

Answer 1

Killed the Yorkist King Richard III at the battle of Bosworth

Question 2

Why was Henry’s position weak following his taking of the crown?

Answer 2

He had been exiled in Britany for 14 years making him unknown in England

Question 3

What was the conspiracy surrounding Richard III which made him unpopular?

Answer 3

Killed the “princes in the tower” who were Edward IV’s children in order to take the throne

Question 4

What were two strengths of Henry’s position in 1485?

Answer 4

Most Yorkist claimants were dead
England was War weary following the war of the roses

Question 5

What did Henry do to his coronation that strengthened his position?

Answer 5

Made his coronation on the 30th October (before parliament met) so it could not be argued that parliament made him king

Question 6

How did Henry use marriage to unite the Yorkist and Lancastrian houses?

Answer 6

Henry married Elizabeth of York to unite the houses

Question 7

What were the three Yorkist oppositions faced by Henry?

Answer 7

Lovell and Stafford
The pretenders
Edmond de la pole (Earl of Suffolk)

Question 8

What was the Yorkist challenge of Lovell and Stafford?

Answer 8

Lord Lovell and the Stafford brothers attempted to raise a rebellion in 1486 but Henry’s spies unearthed this attempt leading to Humphrey Stafford’s execution

Question 9

What is significant about the Lovell and Stafford challenge as well as Simnel?

Answer 9

They happened in 1486 and 1487 which suggests that Henry was unstable early on

Question 10

Who did Simnel pretend to be who was related to Richard III?

Answer 10

Richard’s Nephew the Earl of Warwick

Question 11

Who did Warbeck pretend to be who was killed in the “princes of the tower” conspiracy?

Answer 11

The Duke of York who was one of the princes killed in the Tower

Question 12

How did Simnel threaten Henry?

Answer 12

He was supported by Ireland, Margret Burgundy and Edmond de la Pole and confronted Henry at Stoke in 1487

Question 13

How did Henry resist Lampert Simnel?

Answer 13

Raised an army to confront Simnel at Stoke in 1487 and won

Question 14

How did Warbeck Threaten Henry?

Answer 14

He had international support from France and Margret of Burgundy. He was able to marry James IV’s cousin. He was long lasting but not a direct threat

Question 15

How did Warbeck fail?

Answer 15

Unsuccessful at the Scottish border and failed to coincide with the Cornish rising giving himself up in 1497 until being executed in 1499

Question 16

Who was Edmond de la pole?

Answer 16

Richard III’s nephew who challenged Henry

Question 17

How did Edmond de la pole fail in 1506?

Answer 17

Margret of Burgundy was convinced to hand him over

Question 18

Why were powerful Nobels an issue for Henry?

Answer 18

A powerful Nobel could overthrow him

Question 19

Name two ways Henry controlled the nobility

Answer 19

Inducements
Sanctions

Question 20

Name an inducement used by Henry

Answer 20

Patronage in return for loyal service. Nobels had to prove they were loyal

Question 21

Name a sanction used by Henry

Answer 21

Limits on retainers (people who maintained noble land)

Question 22

How were sanctions used on Lord Burgavenny?

Answer 22

He was fined £70,000 for not respecting retainer limits

Question 23

What were bonds and recognisances?

Answer 23

Nobles who had offended the king had to pay him

Question 24

How many Noble families were involved in bonds and recognisances?

Answer 24

50% with 36 of 62 families being involved

Question 25

What are two reasons why Henry needed strong finance?

Answer 25

He needed to raise forces to put down unrest
Money would help his son when he came to the throne

Question 26

Where were the two oppositions to Henry brought about through taxation?

Answer 26

Yorkshire
Cornwall

Question 27

When was the Yorkshire tax revolt?

Answer 27

1489

Question 28

Why did the Yorkshire tax revolt happen?

Answer 28

Henry needed to aid Brittany against France however Yorkshire rejected the tax as northern counties are exempt given the cost of defending the Scottish border

Question 29

What were the results of the Yorkshire tax revolt?

Answer 29

Henry did not negotiate resulting in the tax collector being murdered. Henry crushed the rising but no tax was collected as Henry compromised

Question 30

When was the Cornish rising?

Answer 30

1497

Question 31

What caused the Cornish rising?

Answer 31

Henry wanted the west to pay for Warbeck’s invasion from the north.

Question 32

What happened during the Cornish rising?

Answer 32

15,000 rebels marched to London before being crushed by a royal army of 25,000. The leader of the rising were executed

Question 33

What was Henry’s method of financial administration?

Answer 33

Initially used the Exchequer but realised its inefficiency changing to the chamber system in 1487 giving Henry greater control over finance

Question 34

What was Henry’s ordinary revenue?

Answer 34

Ownership of Crown Lands

Question 35

What increased the amount of Crown Land under Henry?

Answer 35

1486 Act of Resumption restored crown lands

Question 36

What part of the economy was Henry less successful with?

Answer 36

Customs as income dropped from £70,000 to £40,000 due to lack of exploitation

Question 37

What had income risen to during the later years of Henry’s reign?

Answer 37

£113,000

Question 38

Was Henry successful with the economy?

Answer 38

Yes as the Crown was debtless by 1509

Question 39

What was the background of Henry’s chief advisors?

Answer 39

They were lesser landowners but of professional class such as lawyers

Question 40

What were regional governments and why were they used?

Answer 40

Bodies of government in different areas used to enforce Royal will where authority was less strong

Question 41

Where were the three Regional governments located?

Answer 41

Council of the North
Council of Wales
Ireland

Question 42

What were Justices of the Peace?

Answer 42

Lesser gentry who enforced royal will in their local areas

Question 43

Name two features of a JP

Answer 43

Rewarding informers
dispensing justice

Question 44

Which of Henry’s councils took parliaments role of court of law?

Answer 44

The Council Learned in Law

Question 45

How many times was Parliament used under Henry VII?

Answer 45

7 times

Question 46

Why did Henry use parliament?

Answer 46

To pass acts of Attainder and uphold his claim to the throne

Question 47

How many Bonds and resonance’s did Henry use and how many failed?

Answer 47

Henry issued 138, 46 of which were removed