Henry VII - Government

• Made up the core of English Government
• Advise the King over matters of state + adminster law and carry out justice against the Nobility
• About 40 members
• Henry relied on a small group of Coucilers which met more reguarly than previous yorkist Kings
• Chancellor - Morton
• Lord Privy Seal - Fox
• Treasurer - Dynham
• Set up a leagal council in 1487 - court of request - restored from Richard III reign
• 1487 - court of surveyors - check revenues from Crown lands

• Set up 1487
• Setup Tribunals against Nobles to create preserve judical system to enforce laws on retaining
• Court goes out of use by 1509
• ultmiatley the court was there to consider judical matters
• was not a seperate court - part of the kings council

• Setup 1495
• Small but highly proffesinal and effeicent coucil
• most figuers had a high degree of legal training
• Began in the council of the duchy of Lancaster - grew rapidly to encompas all the crowns rights
• operated without a jury - presented real threat to nobility
• headed by Empson and Dudley
• Mainly focused on the Bond and Recongisances and the Feudal Dues - saw that the nobility paid 
• Became far more effective and tyrannical after 1503 - death of Elizabeth
• Hated by the nobles - Dudley + Empson both excuted in 1509 under Henery VIII

• Based in York
• To ensure good government in the north - which was to far away from London to be effectily dealt with
• To prevent and deal with the threat of Scotland - Especially the border raids
• 1486 - Henry gave it to Percy -  Yorkist by high levels of Expirence + to Surrey in 1489
• Unlike traditon Henry appointed members of the council insted of Leuitenat

• Wales was never truly united with England -  Remained seperate part with own admistrative system
• Run by the March Lords - existed scince 1282
• Edward IV set up council in 1471 to govern Wales
• Henry appointed Jasper Tudor in 1485 + Authur in 1493
• Authur ineffective due to his young age
• Sir Rhys ap Thomas governed South Wales
• Henry gained control of half of March Lordships through inheritence + Purchaes marking it more centeralised than Ever

• Irish Parliament could only pass laws with the approval of the King
• Only the Pale expirenced effective Royal authority
• rest of Irish rulers were Anglo-Irish lords from English settlement
• No English King had ever been able to dominate the Irish lords
• Lord Deputy - Kildare  (removed 1492) and Chancellor were critical offices

Reorginsing Irish Government

• started in 1494
• Made Henry VIII lord leiutenat of Ireland
• Pyonnings law - Irish parliament could only pass laws with the kings approval
• As well any Law in England apllied to Ireland
• Ulster (rebelious state) was bought off for a temporary peace
• The law was a disaster and failed to properly work = Kildare was reinstated as Lord Deputy in 1496

• JP's Appointed annualy from local landowners
• They functioned as Police
• Defending Public order
• Implemented statues
• dispensing justice to criminals - meet 4 times a year to try criminals
• 1461 - Edward gave them powers of Sherrifs - try crimminal offences
• 1485 - law to alllow them to deal with Poachers
• 1487 - power to grant bail
• Not Paid

It weakend the Power of the Magnates - strengthening Henry

However as they were not paid, required goodwill of the officals to ensure proper justice