Henry VII : AQA Q2 – How was England Governed at this Time?

Central Government:

Parliament:

  • Met 7 times 1485-1509.
  • 5 Times 1485-1495.
  • 227 attended 1485-1509, only 6-7 on the working council.
  • Passed legislation.
  • In Henry VII’s time, ‘King and Parliament’ – Didn’t have much real authority.
  • Passed 138 acts of attainder.
  • Nov 7th 1485 – Pass 28 attainders on Richard III supporters at B.o.B, grant Henry tonnage and poundage for life, 138 in total, with 46 being reversed. Edward passed 140 and reversed 42.
  • March 1486 (End of Parliament) – Passed Act of Resumption, returning all crown land that had been lost since 1455.
  • Granted taxes – 15th and 10ths, 1489 – Passed £100,000 in taxes for war with Brittany (caused Yorkshire rebellion). 1497 – grants £120,000 for war with James IV and Warbeck (causes Cornish rebellion). 1504 – only granted £40,000 of the £90,000 Henry asked for.
  • 10% of all statutes (Written laws passed by a legislative body) dealt with control of the provinces. Other acts included the 1495 act to lay down rules on wages and hours.

Kay Dates in Parliament:

  • 1485-86 – To confirm Kingship, pass attainders.
  • 1487 – To deal with lawlessness and financial matters after the Battle of Stoke.
  • 1489-90 – To fund the Royal Army for the expedition against France.
  • 1491-92 – Again to fund the expedition against France.
  • 1495 – To manage the threat of Warbeck.
  • 1497 – To fund the possible war against Scotland.
  • 1504 – To raise two levies for Princess Margaret’s marriage to James IV and Arthur’s posthumous knighthood.

The Court:

  • Central to Henry’s ‘personal monarchy’, power dependent on relationship with monarch, not position held.
  • Being favoured at court could result in influence over the King, paid positions and increased status.
  • Levels of court:
    • Household Proper – Looked after King and Guests, supervised by Lord Stewart.
    • Star Chamber
    • Privy Chamber – Established after Stanley’s betrayal, cut Henry off from many contacts at court, made it more difficult to regain the favour of the King.

King’s Council:

  • 227 Councillors.
  • Incorporated Nobility, Churchmen and Laymen.
  • Around 50% of the council was made up of clerics.
  • Core Group:
    • John Morton (Archbishop of Canterbury 1486-1500)
    • Richard Fox (Secretary).
    • Reginald Bray (Chancellor of the Duchy and Lancaster).
  • Nobles who served the King loyally were appointed, Earl of Oxford was Great Chamberlain, Jasper Tudor became the most powerful Noble in Wales, Thomas Howard was made Lord Treasurer in 1501.

Council Learned in Law:

  • Est. 1495, replaced use of Star Chamber (est. 1487) to control the Nobility.
  • Maintained the Kings Revenue and Feudal rights, and to exploit his prerogative rights.
  • Led by Bray until his death in 1503. 1503 – 1509, ran by Empson and Dudley, who were resented for their work not being recognised in a court of law, and that those summoned were granted no right of appeal. Thus Henry VIII executed them to win favour with the people.
  • Small body of legally trained professionals.

Other Committees:

  • Committee to implement Acts of Livery.
  • Council of General Surveyors – Audited the revenue from Crown Lands.

Local Government:

Provincial Councils:

  • Wales since 1301 ruled by King’s eldest son. In 1471, council set up, Henry delegated Jasper Tudor for the role, Arthur named Prince of Wales.
  • Ensured Henry’s personal government was felt in every part of the kingdom.
  • Chose representatives he could trust.
    • 1494, reorganised Irish courts.
    • North- controlled by Percy and then Earl of Surrey, Thomas Howard.
    • Ireland, ran by Edward Poyning.

Wales:

  • Split into the Principality and the March.
  • March recognised as separate, members of March counties did not attend Parliament.
  • King’s Writ did not run in the March.
  • Edwards IV’s council, established in 1471, was revived by Henry in 1493, 7 year-old Arthur appointed nominal head.

Ireland:

  • Not ruled by a council.
  • Jasper Tudor Lord Lieutenant in 1485 – honorary position, actual ruling carried out by Lord Deputy.
  • English influence was only felt in the Pale, 50 mile strip of land north of Dublin.
  • Irish chieftains ruled the rest, most influential being the Geraldine and Butler families.
  • Leader of the Geraldine family – Earl of Kildare, in 1492 he recognised Warbeck’s claim to the throne, and was stripped of title of Lord Deputy.
  • 1494 – Prince Henry appointed Lord Lieutenant, Sir Edward Poynings Lord Deputy.
  • Set up Poynings’ Law – Gave much more authority to the Crown.
  • Expense of trying to rule Ireland was too high, gave up and reinstated Kildare as Deputy.

JP’s:

  • Appointed on a county-by-county basis, met 4 times annually to administer justice.
  • 18 per county on average.
  • 1485- Powers of arrest covered poachers and hunters.
  • 1491- Power to grant bail.
  • 1495- Power to vet juries, allowed to decide on all criminal matters except murder. More difficult cases were referred to the assize court.

Sheriffs:

  • Managed parliamentary elections.
  • Used for peacekeeping and detention of criminals.