Lancs and Yorkists Breadth: Changes in Sinews of Power

Why would a King need finance?

Routine spending: maintaining royal estate, defence of borders, financial needs of nobility, maintaining the whole royal family, etc

Extraordinary spending: Processes, funerals, coronations, marriages, war, etc.

What were key Parliaments held from 1386-1509?

1386- Wonderful Parliament, criticised RII’s regime, claiming he was a tyrant and was overspending. Led to Rich II removing De La Pole. CURB

1406- Long Parliament, HIV lost almost all governing powers, giving it up to a council, they insulted his ability to rule because of his ill health. It also meant the early transition of power to Hal. Happened out of fear of French taking English territories in France and because of the WR and Percy Challenege. PROP

1413- HV granted poundage and tonnage for life, being a powerbase of finance. PROP

1415- HV granted taxation to fund his French Campaign. PROP

1459- Parliament of Devils, staged by Margy Anj in Coventry, declared all Yorkists as traitors and issued Acts of Attainders on them (They were guilty of treason without trial) PROP + CURB

1478 Parliament- Attainder for Clarence approved. PROP

1484- approved Richard III’s title of Titulus Regius and declared Ed IV’s sons illegitimate. PROP

1485- Changed HVII’s rule to say before Bosworth, confirmed his title and reverses Yorkist Attainders. PROP

1504- gained tax to prepare for potential war with Scotland but struggled to gain parliamentary support. PROP

When had the crown been financially insecure?

HIV- After the Usurpation, HIV took over an unstable country, giving out lands and titles to gain control, draining the royal coffers.

Along with the WR draining taxation for France, it led to copious amounts of tax revenue being spent on crushing it.

The Long Parliament had also highlighted HIV’s poor management of finances and not granting him taxation.

HVI- The latter stages of the 100 Years War had costed hundreds of thousands of pounds just to yield lost territory.

HVI’s gullible personality led to him handing out titles and land left right and centre, and his lavish spending on things like Eton school meaning the country had poor infrastructure and the crown having poor ability to rule.

By 1450, HVI had accumulated £372,000 in debt, being unable to maintain his household. This resulted in the Cade Rebellion and Acts of Resumption.

Where had a King got finance from?

Custom duties (goods coming in, Wool trade significant)

Feudal Dues (The crown demanding money after a large change in circumstances in lives) HVII relies on Feudal Dues a lot.

Wardship (When a minority was in a role so the king could claim warship and take the profits from it until the child was of age)

Profits of Justice (Fines on nobility, unapproved actions, eg Clarence’s marriage, illegal retaining)

Acts of Attainder/ Resumption

What was the role of the Excheqeur?

Would ensure fines from criminals and crimes were collected.

What was the role of the Chamber?

It was a much faster and manageable way of the king seeing and managing the royal revenue. Instead of it being done through the Exchequer, it went through his own Chamber, used by Ed IV and HVII (though Henry a lot more)

What had England lost in France up until 1453?

Due to Joan of Arc and the treaty of Arras in 1435 and also because of England breaking a truce by attacking Fougeres, it had led to larger amounts of French Nationalism and by 1449, England had lost Rouen and the next year (1450) had lost Cherbourg resulting in them losing Normandy by 1450. With another loss in 1451 when England lost the region of Aquitaine to France and despite a brief conquest attempt by John Talbot, he was defeated in Castillon in 53 and all English territory lost.

What was HVII’s Council Learned of the Law?

Created in 1495, it was a small professional legal committee of the kings council. It had managed the royal finances, collecting bonds and debts, and legislation, being able to bypass the government as they acted as investigator, prosecutor and judge at the same time. It had made the crown secure but had caused distaste among the nobility.