Henry VII's government: councils and court
- Created by: Beccabucknall
- Created on: 24-04-19 15:49
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- Councils and the Courts.
- The Council
- 3 main functions: to advise the king, to administer the realm on the king's behalf, to make legal judgements.
- 3 main types of councillors
- members of the nobility (although the working council rarely included the great Magnates/ high nobles)
- churchmen such as John Morton and Richard Fox who had legal training and were great administrators
- laymen (either gentry or lawyers) such as Sir Reginald Bray and Edmund Dudley who were skilled administrators.
- no established rules but permanent body with core membership.
- some met separately to deal with administrative concerns without the king.
- these 'professional' councillors like Bray and Dudley didn't see themselves as courtiers
- some met separately to deal with administrative concerns without the king.
- The Great Council
- Gathering of the House of Lords without the house of commons
- no clearly defined functions
- occasional rather than permanant
- Only met 5 times throughout Henry VII's reign, relating to war or rebellion
- The Council Learned in Law
- offshoot of council, developed in 2nd half of reign 1st under Bray's leadership and then Empson (a lawyer and bureaucrat) and Dudley from 1503
- Met in the office of the Duchy of Lancaster
- function: maintain king's revenue and exploit his prerogative rights (rights or powers kings could exercise without consent of parliament)
- made system of Bonds and Recognizances used to control nobility.
- bond= legal doc. bounds individual to complete action or pay a forfeit sum. recognizance= formal acknowledgement of debt or other obligation which could be enforced by financial penalty.
- The Royal Court and household
- The Chamber
- overseen by Lord chamberlain, used for holding audiences and public dining.
- Lord Chamberlain=powerful position and one of considerable trust.
- in 1495, Henry discovered that his Lord Chamberlain (Sir William Stanley) had been involved in a treasonous plot.
- Lord Chamberlain=powerful position and one of considerable trust.
- centre of communications and court patronage.
- overseen by Lord chamberlain, used for holding audiences and public dining.
- Privy Chamber
- king's private quarters for work and leisure
- met personal friends and servants in these rooms.
- created after Sir Stanley's treason.
- made it more difficult for those out of the King's favour to regain his trust as their access was limited.
- Royal court= centre of court. Henry VII heavily influenced by his time at French court. found wherever the monarch was. focus on personal monarchy and royal ceremony.
- power of monarch demonstrated to all of courtiers in attendance. rewards and statuses also distributed here.
- courtiers enjoyed paid postion or free food.
- Personal Monarchy
- political influence of an individual depended on the relationship that person had with monarch.
- access to king= main determinant of power, royal court controlled access
- Levels of court
- Household proper responsible for looking after the king, courtiers and the guests who were being entertained. these personal and catering requirements supervised by the Lord Steward
- The Chamber
- overseen by Lord chamberlain, used for holding audiences and public dining.
- Lord Chamberlain=powerful position and one of considerable trust.
- in 1495, Henry discovered that his Lord Chamberlain (Sir William Stanley) had been involved in a treasonous plot.
- Lord Chamberlain=powerful position and one of considerable trust.
- centre of communications and court patronage.
- overseen by Lord chamberlain, used for holding audiences and public dining.
- Privy Chamber
- king's private quarters for work and leisure
- met personal friends and servants in these rooms.
- created after Sir Stanley's treason.
- made it more difficult for those out of the King's favour to regain his trust as their access was limited.
- The Chamber
- The Council
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