3.1 Major Landholders

Authority of the Crown

Medieval political system was based on the individual role of the monarch

Kings were born to rule through hereditary right → Chosen by God

→ To disobey the King was a sin as well as a crime

Undermined by:

• 1399 Usurpation by Henry Bolingbroke

  Publicly demonstrated an unpopular King could be deposed by a powerful noble

  Undermined principle that an annointed King’s position was inviolable

• 1450s - clear that Henry VI was mentally incapable

  Threw the system of personal kingship into chaos

Expectations of Medieval Kingship

‘To maintain the peace both outward and inward’

Defending from foreign invasion and against rebellion or offences against law & order

Demonstrated authority by:

1. Military ability by personally leading successful armies

   Ex. ‘Good Kings’ = Edward III’s victory at Crecy 1346 & Henry V at Agincourt 1415

2. Judge

   As head of the legal system, crimes were offences against the king’s law, disturbing the king’s peace

   Crucial to settle quarrels among leading noblemen

Both roles summarised on the Great Seal, which contained images of the KIng as a warrior on horseback, and as a judge w/ orb & sceptre

Exchequer

Dealt w/ matters of royal finance

Headed by a Treasurer

Primarily involved in collection of revenues, notably from taxes

Chancery

Legal Department

Clerks wrote up important legal documents, like royal charters

Held the Great Seal, needed to authenticate these documents

Led by the Chancellor, which was largely held by a Bishop

→ reflects important role of Church in gov

Office of Privy Seal

Reflected growing bureaucratisation of Chancery, which held the Great Seal semi-permanently

→ The King needed a Seal for his personal use which touring his realm

Key Official was Keeper of the Privy Seal, held by a senior clergyman

Typically travelled w/ King & was a key advisor

King’s Chamber

Reflects personal nature of kingship

Effectively a government department

Headed by a Chamberlain, who had considerable control over who saw the King & how royal finances were spent

Great Council

Made up of any lords who served in Parliament & were available

Large body of 125+ men

Could be called at shorter notice & w/ less formality than Parliament

Speedier for dealing w/ emergencies → usually called for important matters of state, war, or key gov policy decisions

Informality reduces usefulness of recordkeeping

King had greater influence over individuals who could be called to these meetings, whereas in Parliament it was a matter of lordly status

Continual Council

Smaller group of the King’s closest advisors

Dealt w/ everyday governance

Formalised in 1377 when Richard II ascended as a child-king

Key members included Chancellor, Treasurer & keeper of Privy Seal

They were appointed by the King & served as members of his household, travelling w/ the King as he toured England.

Key offices of State had financial responsibilities

Role of Key Officeholders

Appointed by the King & served as members of his household, but typically held their own landed estates

Many had financial responsibility (Chancellor & Treasurer)

Other posts were responsible for security

→ Ex. Constable of the Tower of London, usually held by a leading lord, responsible for the safety of the treasure-house & royal palace

→ Ex. Captain of Calais

Managed substantial English army based there, in a significant military role

Offices gave additional income & access to the King, whom they were expected to advise on important matters of state

Importance of Advising

That the King took good advice was crucial:

• Monarchs who lisitened to a narrow set of views were unpopular - Richard II

• Unpopular if the King was seen to favour the advice of lesser nobles over a magnate’s guidance

  • Parliament criticised Henry IV in 1406 for this

  • Pressured him into revocing knights & escquires from his council, leaving him dependent on great landowners

• Reflects innate medieval class consciousness but was also practically important as magnates held local loyalty

Highly-successful & established monarchs took advice of lesser men without criticism - ex. Edward III but this wa sunlikely for Henry IV as a recent usurper

Advice from leading nobles could be considered dangerous if a small clique dominated a weak king

→ Ex. Henry VI was widely seen to be too dominated by dukes of Somerset & Sufolk in 1440s

Law Enforcement

King communicated his will via royal proclamations, which were set out to regions by messengers

• Legally binding

Laws were enforced locally by nobles & lesser landowners (gentry)

Law-enforcement officers = Sheriffs or Justices of the Peace

The King could always call parliament, which advised the King & passed laws - essential for taxation

Role of the Church

Enormous influence in terms of religion, control of the land and politics

Staffed by two groups:

1. Regular Clergy (the religious)

   Monks, nuns or friars who took vows of chastity, poverty & obedience, living in religious orders

2. Secular Clergy

   Priests or deacons living in parishes or cathedral chapters, mixing with the population more freely

Church owned large amounts of land, largely controlled by monastic houses

Causes of tension between Crown & Church

1. Clergy claimed tax exemptions on their income

2. Church rain its own law courts

3. Significant legal privilege called Benefit of the Clergy

   Right to request a trial in a church, not secular court, avoiding death penalty

4. Clerical Appointments

   Famous clashes under Henry II & King JOhn

Relations w/ Papacy

Catholic’s clergy’s first allegiance was to the Pope, not King,

Pope had spiritual authority over church doctrine And political influence by granting/witholding approval

ex. 1485 Henry Tudor claimed the throne holding a document from Pope Clement VII, stating that he was the rightful King of England

ex. papal dispensations for important political matches 1486 Henry VII & Elizabeth of York

Clerical Appointments

Reached an informal compromise after famous clashes (King Henry II & King John)

After a bishop’s death, clergymen (called cathedral chapter) elected a suitable candidate

Then subject to approval of the King, his ecclesiastical superior & the man himself

Theoretically, the King should only object on grounds of real significance, but usually imposed their choice on the Church for political expediency

Loyalty of Bishops was important due to their significant political role

• Automatic seat in Lords

• Often involved in gov offices (ex. Chancellor)

Church Careers & Political Advancement

Given their potential political use, high-ranking positions were often sought after by those seeking a public career

Particularly advantageous for gentry

Ex. William of Wykeham grandson of knight, became Bishop of Winchester & Chancellor of England under Edward III then Richard II

Ex. John Morton became a canon lawyer then joined royal service. After Bosworth, he was made chancellor by Henry VII, then pope allowed him to be made Archbishop of Canterbury

Church was useful to being a political career, BUT to move to great offices of state royal approval was crucial

Not all clergy were ambitious gentrymen,

Ex. Henry Beaufort - illegitimate grandson of Edward III

Ex. Thomas Bourchier, legitimate great-grandson = E.III