henry viii government

what were the governments two main functions before 1530s

• to grant extraordinary revenue

• to pass laws

when did henry summon parliaments before 1529

1510

1512

1515

1523

what was the primary reason for calling parliament in the first part of the reign

to secure revenue

why did governance via councils break down

due to conflict between the kings impulsive personality and that of the conservative councillors

when did the conciliar approach to government last until

1514

what are the four factors that brought conciliar approach to an end

• disenchantment with the reluctance of senior councillors to support a war with France

• henry increasingly asserted his right to control descision making

• henry surrounded himself with like minded politicians who reinforced his suspicions of the old guard

• growingly impressed with organisational skills of wolsey

where did wolseys influence derive from

• the closeness of his relationship with the king

• he complemented the kings ‘hands off’ approach to policy making

what were wolseys main concerns

• formulation of domestic policy

• management of the church

• conduct of foreign relations

how was the role of the privy chamber extended

the kings ‘minions’ became gentlemen of the privy chamber

when did wolsey secure the removal of the minions from the privy chamber

1519

who did wolsey replace the kings minions with and consequences

• his own supporters

• most minions managed to recover their positions

what was significant about the privy chamber

it was the one area of government outside wolseys immediate control

what was wolsey responsible for as lord chancellor

overseeing the legal system

what did wolsey try to use the court of chancery for

• to uphold fair justice

• to deal with problems relating to enclosure, contracts and land left to others in wills

what was the main problem with the chancery court

it became too popular so justice was slow

what was wolseys most distinctive legal contribution

court of star chamber

when did wolsey extend the use of the star chamber and what did it then increase

• 1516

• it increased cheap and fair justice

what did wolsey also encourage the use of the star chamber for

private lawsuits

what was wolsey forced to set up due to the pressure of business

overflow tribunals

how did wolsey change the collection of subsidies

instead of using local commissioners to assess taxpayers wealth, he set up a national committee

when was the amicable grant

1525

what was the amicable grant for

to raise taxation for henry's war in france