A-level History Tudor Government Henry VII

Personal Monarchy

Political power came from personal closeness to the King - such as Lade Margaret Beaufort Henry's mother

The Council

Officially 227 members

'Working Council' of 6-7 men, often learned Gentry (King didn't trust nobility) - such as Sir Bray (lawyer) and John Morton (Archbishop of Canterbury)

Some nobles appointed - Lord Stanley, John de la Pole (both betrayed him)

Sir Reginald Bray

part of Henry VII's trusted advisers, on Council

Led Council Learned 1495-1503

trained lawyer, learned Gentry

John Morton

Archbishop of Canterbury

Also trained administrator/lawyer

on Council, used by Henry more for government matters which took away from Church duties

got Henry Papal Dispensation to marry Elizabeth of York

Great Council

Council of nobility

only met 5 times

met in times of emergency so that Henry would have them and their retainers on side

Star Chamber

Star Chamber Act 1487

used as a court to deal with misbehaving nobles

rarely used - few records

used more under Henry VIII

Council Learned in Law

Formed 1495

Led by Sir Bray until 1503, then Empson and Dudley

exploited the King's 'prerogative rights'

collected taxes...

hated by all - Empson and Dudley executed 1510 by popular demand

Royal Court

In exile for 14 years in Brittany he learned its importance

spent adequately on Court

way to show off wealth and influence

could host for up to 600

The Chamber and Privy Chamber

where the King and courtiers spent time

where people came with queries for the King

Chamber for 100 ish people

Privy Chamber for King and trusted friends

Lord Stanley, Chamberlain of the Household, had control over who entered Privy Chamber

Parliament

Henry had good relationship with parliament

only met 7 times - 5 times in first 10 years

used mainly to pass acts to give Henry more money - granted him tonnage and poundage for life

listened to grievances of MPs

Local Government

Used Nobility for North - Earl of Northumberland in Yorkshire, Stanley's in Northwest

Northumberland killed 1489, replaced by Earl of Surrey

JPs responsible for local government

Gentry volunteers so generally loyal

Sometimes could side with the locals over King as they were also locals

Had Quarter Sessions to standardise justice across to country

Acts of Attainder

convicted someone of treason allowing for the seizing their land and wealth for the Crown

total 138 passed, 54 in last decade, 46 reversed

Sir Thomas Tyrell paid £1738 for reversal

Sir William Stanley's attainder = £9000, 1495, then reduced to bond of £1000 per year

Bonds and Recognisances

2/3 nobility under bonds by end of reign

Earl of Westmoorland under bond of £10000

Attacks on Retaining

lenient law against it 1487

Stricter law 1504 requiring a licence, with a fine of £5/month/illegal retainer

Lord Burgavenny fined £70000 for over retaining 471 men (reduced to bond of £5000/year for 10 years)

Crown Lands

Act of Resumption 1486 reclaimed all Crown Lands given away during Wars of the Roses

income increased from £12000 to £42000 a year

Custom Duties

Henry granted tonnage and poundage for life by Parliament

income increased £33000 to £40000

Feudal Dues

collected £30000 for knighthood of dead son Arthur 1504

income from marriages and wardships increased £350 to £6000 a year

Loans and Benevolences

King's right to ask for financial help in particular emergencies

£48000 raised 1491 for war in France, £9000 was from the City of London (a benevolence from the Great Council)

Parliamentary tax

tax applied in emergencies

taken in fifths and tenths of moveable property

hated - caused Yorkshire (1489) and Cornish (1497) rebellions