Tudors Chapter 2

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  • Created by: kimid1
  • Created on: 11-12-20 12:13

The Council

Henry  ruled with 'council' of advisers. Helped make key decisions. About 227 men recorded as having attended but actual working council was about 6 or 7 members.

3 main functions: To advise the King, To administer the realm on the King's behalf, To Make legal judgements

3 main types of Councillor: Members of the Nobility(Daubeney), Churchmen(John Morton), Laymen (Edmund Dudley)

During H's reign it had no established rules or procedures. Members sometimes met to discuss key administrative concerns when Henry wasn't present. 'Professional Councillors' like Bray + Dudley who didn't see themselves as courtiers often met when the court + king were elsewhere.     The Importance of the council depended on its members and its offshoot the Council Learned.

You didn't need to hold office to advise Henry.

Arguably his most influential adviser was Lady Margaret Beaufort who held no office.

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The Council Learned in Law

Developed during second half of H's reign. Often met in the office of the Duchy of Lancaster. They investifated feudal rights that were forgotten/had lapsed and enforced bonds and recognisances.

Function: To maintain the King's revenue, Exploit Henry's prerogative rights.

Achieved these by making system of bonds and recognisances extremely efficient and by not being an official court of law so people couldn't appeal.

Empson was Bray's associate, when he died in 1503 he took over and was joined by Dudley. Empson was ruthless and they turned into a feared duo who extracted money from subjects.

They made a lot of enemies, like Bishop Fox and Sir Thomas Lovell. Their downfall made people rejoice in the streets.

Their operations were an expression of the King's will, they maintained his authority and raised his finances.

But their popularity reflected on Henry and they were part of the reason people were so glad to see him go.

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Court and Household

Royal court was centre of government, wealth was power so the court had to be grand. Henry was influenced most by Burgundy and France's courts and other continental examples.The Royal court went anywhere the king went. It was the focus of a personal monarchy and a place for royal ceremony which Henry liked as it demonstrated his power. Through the court reward and status was distributed, you had a paid position or free food. Could get advancement or king/other people's support which is helpful for legal issues.

The Court was physically separated by different levels and rooms, the closer you could get to the kings the more influence you had.

There were two levels:

  • The household proper : had to look after the king, supervised by Lord Steward.
  • Chamber: politically important, presided over by Lord Chamberlain, powerful position that needs trust
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Parliament

Consisted of the House of Lords and the House of commons. Wasn't central to the government.2 main functions: Pass laws, grant taxation to the crown(MPs could also pass on local grievances) Only the King could call Parliament. Henry called a total of 7 in his reign, 5 within the first 10 years and the other 2 in the last 14 years. He usually wanted taxes. His first granted tonnage and poundage for life. First 2 passed many Acts of Attainder

Fractional taxes of fifteenths and tenths were made in:

  • 1487
  • 1489-90(Brittany)
  • 1491-91(France)
  • 1497

1504 was the final parliament, Henry promised he wouldn't try for more extraordinary revenue.

Henry respected Parliament's decisions and a number of private acts were passed in response to local demands for improvements. Little evidence to suggest Henry tried to manage Parliament through his ministers. As the crown got wealthier, he became less dependent on Parliament.

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Star Chamber

Established by the Star Chamber Act in 1487 to deal with threats to England's stability.

They would prosecute rioting, rebellion, retaining and the corruption of justice.

It also heard petitions against rulings from other courts.

It undermined Henry's reputation for justice, especially among the upper classes.

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Justices of the Peace and the Maintenance of Law a

Weren't many magnates left and he had little trust, he had a spy network in place and used bonds and recognisances. Earl of Northumberland murdered in 1489 so he had to release Earl of Surrey from the Tower to rule the North on his behalf, 10 years of effective service. The Stanleys had control in the Northwest.

JPs were appointed in counties anually, about 18 per county as Henry knew local noblemen were more popular than him, he increasingly chose less important landowners. Met 4 times aa year.

Often royal officials would be appointed in counties they had an interest in but mostly they were unpaid gentry for duty, prestige or advancement.Responsible for tax assessments, alehouse regulation, investigation of complaints against local officials etc. Parliament increased their power:

  • 1487: Could grant bail to those awaiting trial
  • 1495: Could vet juries and replace those thought to have been bribed

H restored law and order largely through forcing many subjects to take out b and rs. In a very morally dubious way. He allowed different systems of government for different regions e.g Wales was controlled by the Council of Wales.

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Improving Royal Finances

Bc of BAcon Henry is generally seen as miserly and leaving lots money to Henry VIII. Contemporaries were pleassed by his death. Kings were expected to provide for themselves and manage own income. 

Henry was largest land owner, rental income was big part of Crown revenue. Crown land income had significantly increased during Edward IV's reign, at beginning of Henry's it dropped to c. £12,000 pa because it was collected through the Court of Exchequer. 1492 he decided to revert to Edward;s system through the Chamber, by end of reign it was £42,000 pa, partly bc of effective treasurers like Sir Thomas Lovell.

Increased profits from wardship, 1504 Parliament granted feudal aid. Tonnage and Poundage. Death of a feudal tenant-in-chief. Pension from France £5000 pa.Profits of justice.Extraordinary revenue. 

Total:plate and jewels around £300k and £10k in cash.

Political price: landowners were main victims, he needed theur support if his throne were threatened, a dangerous policy to pursue that didn't end well for previous monarchs.

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