CONCILIAR GOVERMNENT (1509-1515)

PARLIAMENT

what did H8 do?:

• depended heavily on individual ministers

• took key interest at executive level in range of issues (e.g. sanctions upon Duke of Bavaria for fraudulent cloth manufacture in north)

• appointed his council/ministers but assumed role of chief executive when suited

evidence of success/strength:

• was present for 19/27 of parliamentary sessions held during his reign

evidence of failure/weakness:

• when wolsey dominated the political scene, HoC used little more than tool for subsidies

• amicable grant - Wolsey demanded 1/6 of laymen income and 1/3 of clergy income - provoked widespread spontaneous uprisings - H forced to retreat

• hunne case - bishop fitzjames of ldn elevated issue by appealing for clerical immunity for those clergy implicated. Judged found that clerics were intruding upon kings regality - guilty of praemunire.

* wolsey forced to kneel before parliament, beg kings pardon

PRIVY CHAMBER

what did H8 do?:

• established court system - allowed king to calculate public appearances, limit number of people with access to him (only 6)

• however, he desired friends around him so by 1519 privy chamber staff had been elevated socially - by 1546, 20 members

evidence of success/strength:

• brereton (groom of PC) enjoyed 30 royal grants which brought him £1000 a year

• arranged signature could be forged by chief gentleman of the chamber - shows trust

• could rely upon staff to go abroad as ambassadors on his behalf

evidence of failure/weakness:

none in the text

PRIVY COUNCIL

what did H8 do?:

• kept most of H7 councillors

• old methods largely retained as individuals took on responsibility for specific areas of governance

evidence of success/strength:

• H8 allowed council more freedom than H7 to initiate policy, though always within the limits of his trust

evidence of failure/weakness:

• H7’s old councillors strongly opposed new gen of courtiers who sought influence w king, e.g. Wolsey willing to do anything to please king

MINISTERS

what did H8 do?:

• interview and changes mind at will, making ministerial positions volatile

evidence of success/strength:

• Marney had “extraordinary accumulation of positions” turning himself into one of richest office holders in country

evidence of failure/weakness:

• quick to promote men willing to serve at his pleasure rather than those who were talented, step back from H7 meritocracy