Edward IV and Government

The country was bankrupt - debt of £370,000, income of £24,000 compared to £90,000 under Henry VI.  Resulted from costs of maintaining Calais, military campaigns and costs of Henry VI's lifestyle

Edward's solutions:

• Edward introduced Chamber Finance - Effective and professional.
• Coinage revalued - profit of £17500 1464-64
• Clergy - large contributions to wars
• French pension and ransom for Margaret of Anjou provided funds after 1475
• Act of Resumption 1473 - reclaimed royal grants
• Better exploitation of customs revenues and trade

Divisions within government

How siginificant was the challenged posed…