Henry VII and his loyal councillors

Cardinal John Morton (d. 1500)

Centre of Henry’s affairs and rules

death in 1500 - removed a crucial moderating influence of the king - consequences

Reginald Bray (1440-1503)

1465 - household of Margaret of Beauford and Henry Stafford: travelled on their behalf, managing estates and legal affairs

trusted, experiences servant of Margaret Beauford and Thomas Stanley

supported rebellion in 1483: pardoned from Richard III - exiled with Henry VII

clearly trusted by Henry

chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster: delivered revenues to Henry from his most important crown estates: oversight of custom revenue

Omnipresent - Knight of King’s body, member of council, sat on legal counsels, member of bench, King’s Spy Master

King’s man - reputed to get away with disagreeing

Produced money for Henry

Richard Fox (1447-1528)

King’s diploma - lead all king’s major negotiations: Scotland, France, Spain, The Netherlands

utterly loyal to the king - wealth and successful relied on Henry’s favour

Keeper of the Privy Seal

became Bishop of Winchester in 1501

tense relationship with Warham: became chancellor under Henry VIII

Malign influence behind “Morton’s Fork” as a technique for extracting cash

supremely competent statesman, tough negotiator

amused great wealth, used it to build, give it to the poor - establish corpus christi college in oxford

Giles Daubenery (1451-1508)

knight: one of Edwards household men - Richard tried to win over: unsuccessful, rebelled against Richard III in 1483

closeness to king marked his influence: Deputy Chamberlain then Lord Chamberlain

Henry’s military land, alongside John De Vere

Edward Poynings (1459-1521)

part of rebellion in 1483 against Richard - joined Henry Tudor in France

Henry’s trusted man - knighted him at Milford Haven after Bosworth

Soldier and Dipolmay as much as administrator

Send to Ireland to re-establish English position for 1 year - created Poyning’s Law: subordinated the Irish Parliament (King had control) repealed in 1782

comptroller of the king’s household & treasurer of the household, and was regularly part of the king’s council

varied carrier at home and abroad, remarkable challenges taken in his stride, trusted for his history with Henry and his competence - Henry’s closest confidence

Thomas Lovell (1449-1524)

appeared to have been apart of affinity of the woodvile: 1483 - rebellion against Richard III

enthusiastically followed Henry after the period of exile - apart of his inner circle of Henry’s trusted men

chancellor of the exchequer

treasurer of the king’s household

took bonds for payment from many victims

second most regular attender in the star chamber

fees and pensions from offices given by the king had allowed him to buy into land

trusted councilor until his death

Edmund Dudley (1462-1510)

pursued a career as a lawyer (laymen) - specialised in the prerogative rights

speaker of the commons - paid as a councillor

apart of the council learned

Richard Empson replaced Reginald Bray

managed the king’s use of a range of ways to exploit his greater subjects

after Henry VII’s death - 1509 - beheaded on Tower Hill in 1510 for treason (Henry VIII)

Richard Empson (1450-1510)

lawyer

1501: councilor to Henry, Duke of York

1504: apart of the council learned

relentlessly strove to increase the king’s revenue: raised rents, cancelled rebates, ran surveys and audits, investigated feudal dues

imprisoned people to force them to settle fines

raised money by pardons, countersigned by the king

used his position to further his own ends too

trusted by Henry without doubt - one of his executors

after Henry VII’s death - 1509 - beheaded on Tower Hill in 1510 for treason (Henry VIII)