How was England governed in 1445?

The King

Powers were not unlimited - could not change the law or raise taxes without the agreement of parliamen

Considerable rights - decided when parliament sat and had resources at his disposal to reward good service via patronage

Expected to lead the army during war

Unwise to directly criticise the King as he was in charge of the justice system and the penalty for treason was death

The nobility

The King relied on the nobility to ensure that law was enforced around the country and that an army was provided when necessary from the tenants who rented land from the lords

Serious outbreaks of law and order led to the King sending out commissions called Oyer and Terminer to hear and determine, punishing those he found guilty

They advised the King, thought if they were aware of a King's weakness/lack of authority they could act outside the law leading to the suffering of the legal system and local feuds

Access to the King was vital for the nobility as they were expected to know the concerns of the people and to report back to the King and this was achieved through the king's household

Kings household

Responsible for looking after the King etc

Lord Chamberlain: most senior person within the household as he controlled access to the King. Access to the King = influence

Those who felt excluded from the king's presence often caused problems if they felt a particular faction was dominant

Parliament

Only met on request of the King, not regularly

Sessions were brief and diffused in the king's business (basically providing him with money)

Made up of Lords (dukes, marquises, earls, viscounts, barons, [arch]bishops, abbots and priors) and the Commons (representatives from the shires and the towns)

Expected that the King should "live off his own" and that the commons should only be asked to agree to taxation in emergencies. Parliament's lower was limited though they did have to give consent if the King wished to amend laws or demand taxes

What was Henry VI like?

Simple, devoutly religious, pious, could be viewed as feeble, uninterested in " vain sports or pursuits"

Given to God though uninterested in handling "worldly and temporal things" which are expected of a king