baseline difference

Henry VII (1485–1509): Foundation & Centralisation

Structure

• Government still medieval in form

• Relied heavily on King’s Council, Royal Household, and personal monarchy

• Used extraordinary finance (bonds & recognisances) to control nobility

• Council Learned in Law (Empson & Dudley) strengthened royal authority

Key Features

• Small, trusted circle of advisors

• Avoided war → strengthened finances

• Limited use of Parliament (only 7 times)

What’s distinctive?

• Government = personal, cautious, financially focused, aimed at securing dynasty

Henry VIII (1509–1547): Expansion, Bureaucracy & Ministerial Government

Structure

• Early reign: similar to Henry VII

• Mid‑reign: massive transformation under Wolsey & Cromwell

• Emergence of specialised departments (e.g., Court of Augmentations)

Key Features

• Privy Chamber became politically powerful

• Privy Council shrank and professionalised after 1540

• Parliament used more frequently (especially for Reformation legislation)

• Cromwell created a more bureaucratic, centralised state

What’s distinctive?

• Shift from medieval household government → modern bureaucratic government

• Ministers (Wolsey, Cromwell) dominated policy

Edward VI (1547–1553): Minority Rule & Factional Government

Structure

• Edward too young → government run by Protectors (Somerset, then Northumberland)

• Privy Council theoretically central, but often bypassed

Key Features

• Somerset ruled autocratically through dry stamps & proclamations

• Northumberland restored council government

• Religious policy driven by reformist councillors

What’s distinctive?

• Government = unstable, factional, dominated by protectors, not the king.

Mary I (1553–1558): Conservative Restoration & Council Overload

tructure

• Mary inherited a reformed bureaucratic system

• Relied heavily on Privy Council (over 50 members — too large)

• Used Parliament to restore Catholicism

Key Features

• Council too big → decision‑making slow

• Relied on trusted advisors (e.g., Cardinal Pole) outside the council

• Spanish marriage created political tensions

What’s distinctive?

• Government = council-heavy but inefficient, with religious restoration dominating policy.

Elizabeth I (1558–1603): Professionalisation & Political Balancing

Structure

• Strong, streamlined Privy Council (around 19 members)

• No Privy Chamber politics (unlike Henry VIII)

• Principal Secretary (Cecil, then Walsingham) became central to government

Key Features

• Used factional balance to maintain control

• Parliament used for taxation + religious settlement

• Lord Lieutenants became permanent + crucial for local control

• Government became more bureaucratic, centralised, and coordinated

What’s distinctive?

• Government = professional, stable, secretary‑driven, with Elizabeth carefully managing factions.

continuity

• Monarch remained head of state

• Privy Council existed throughout

• Parliament used for taxation & legislation

• Nobility still important locally

change

• Henry VIII → Cromwell = biggest structural revolution

• Elizabeth = most stable & professional government

• Edward/Mary = instability due to minority & religious upheaval

• Lord Lieutenants became permanent only under Elizabeth

• Principal Secretary became central under Cecil