the use of spies and bonds Flashcards
How was a more modern form of government brought about
tighter and effective controls over the nobility and over financial
matters. Henry VII subsequently created peace and stability, which was a real change from the strife of
the Wars of the Roses.
A feature of the early Tudor regime that has given rise to the
image of Henry VII as a despotic ruler was
his use of spies.
Why was use of spies not a complete innovation
previous monarchs also made careful use of secret agents and
informers in various guises.
Communication network: ideal vs reality
the social structure itself formed a communication network
between a monarch and his people: according to theory, nobles
communicated with and advised the king about difficulties in
the kingdom and the king used the nobility and gentry as a
mouthpiece for proclaiming his will to the people.
Why did a monsrch still need extra info
monarch could not always trust the leading landowners of the
day and all kings had relied to an extent on secret information to
ensure that they were well informed of plots against them.
use of spies and scouts was particularly established
prior to battle,
to gain knowledge of the enemy’s position, proposed tactics
and strength.
Example of spy deception
the duke of Clarence and the earl of Warwick rebelled against Edward IV in 1470, they deceived the king by sending him a
series of letters, purportedly from his own spies, which gave false
positions.
Example of HENRY using spies for info
using scouts to keep him informed of the Cornish rebels’ movements. 1497
Why was Henry getting information from other royal courts important
foreign involvement, especially from France and Scotland, was an
important factor in assisting a number of rebellions or invasions
of England during the Wars of the Roses. In particular, it was useful when mobilising a spy network to gain information about the Scots, as France and Scotland had traditionally been allies against the English.
How did Henry stay informed on other royal courts
Many continental governments placed resident ambassadors in
foreign royal courts, and these individuals kept their homeland
closely informed of the latest gossip, news and information in
order to inform diplomatic policy. The English used their only
remaining French holding, Calais, to considerable effect as a
base for espionage.
Proof other leaders used spies
Even the unworldly Henry VI, for example, paid for political intelligence in the mid-1450s, Edward IV paid Scottish informers during the 1460s to keep him informed of the movements of Henry VI and Margaret of Anjou. It was also thanks to Edward IV’s spy network that Henry VI was ultimately captured in 1466.
Henry VII also had a particular concern with the Low Countries. Why?
Margaret, dowager duchess of Burgundy, was
Richard IIl’s sister and a strong supporter of all Yorkist plotting
against the Tudor regime. Therefore, Henry VII sought to infiltrate
her court during the 1490s to obtain intelligence about plots
against his throne from the dissidents gathered there.
this system of
espionage was particularly successful in assisting Henry against
Perkin Warbeck and Edward, earl of Warwick during the 1490s,
allowing Henry to act while plans were still being made, rather
than once they had developed.
two areas of espionage in which the Tudor regime was innovative
Firstly, it was not until 1505 that ciphers were routinely used by the
English government. Secondly, and more significantly, he placed a great
deal of financial pressure on the nobility to ensure they acted
as informers, willing or otherwise.
