Henry VIII: Government - Reforms Made to Royal Council, Financial Management During 1530s Flashcards

1
Q

Describe the debate around the extent of changes to government in the 1530’s

A
  • Historians debate whether the changes to government amounted to a revolution
  • Geoffrey Elton first argued there was a revolution in 1953, in a book called The Tudor Revolution in Government
  • Writers (including Elton) watered down and modified key arguments
  • Others challenged Elton, especially David Starkey
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2
Q

Describe the changes made to the Royal Council during the 1530s

A
  • Henry VII had large Royal Council but only few members regularly met
  • Contained leading noblemen, clergy and members of King’s household staff
  • During Henry VIII’s reign, a more professional Privy Council emerged
  • Contained no more than 20 members
  • Contained more lawyers and bureaucrats
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3
Q

What was financial management like before 1530s?

A
  • Henry VIII used system introduced by Edward IV - used Privy Chamber instead of Exchequer and Treasury
  • Gave monarchs significant control over daily decisions made on income and expenditure
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4
Q

Describe the changes made to financial management during the 1530s

A
  • Cromwell created new financial institutions due to the break from Rome but still used Privy Chamber

• The Court of Augmentations
- Controlled the land and finances formerly under the control of the Catholic Church.

• The Court of General Surveyors
- Initially handled some of the ex- monastic land, but was soon amalgamated with the Court of Augmentations

• The Court of First Fruits and Tenths
- Collected money previously sent to Rome.

• The Court of Wards
- The King had the ancient feudal right to collect money from the estate of a minor, under the age of 21, who had inherited

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5
Q

What impact did these changes have on financial management by 1540?

A
  • Increased specialism introduced to royal finances
  • Cromwell recognised great importance of Privy Chamber and continued to work using it
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6
Q

Describe how the King’s advisers changed throughout the 1530s

A
  • Due to bureaucratic changes, professional administrators rather than untrained members of nobility and clergy needed to maintain system
  • Bureaucratic - relating to a system of government in which most of the important decisions are taken by state officials rather than by elected representatives
  • Wolsey and Cromwell represented new type of gov. official - hard-working and humble background
  • Unlike nobility, they relied on King for status, making them loyal
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7
Q

How was royal supremacy strengthened throughout the 1530s?

A
  • Act in Restraint of Appeals, 1533
  • Act of Union with Wales, 1536
  • Act against Liberties and Franchises / Jurisdiction in Liberties Act, 1535
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8
Q

What was the Act in Restraint of Appeals?

A
  • Introduced in 1533 by Cromwell
  • Stopped people from making appeals to Rome
  • Wrote that historically, England was an empire and everyone owed the King, ruling under God, total obedience
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9
Q

What did the Act in Restraint of Appeals say about royal supremacy?

A
  • Wrote that historically, England was an empire and everyone owed the King, ruling under God, total obedience
  • Argued Englishmen shouldn’t have right to appeal to Rome, as King was supreme in his own lands
  • England is an empire - independent political body, all power derived from monarch
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10
Q

How did the Act in Restraint of Appeals contrast with the reality of England in 1533?

A

• Pope
- Henry VIII was still subject to Pope’s views wrt religious doctrine
- Henry VIII supposed to seek Pope’s permission when choosing bishops and other high-ranking religious officials

• Power across England
- Parts of England had liberties, giving them semi-independent status
- Prince-Bishop of Durham governed over Durham as semi-independent ruler
- Wales not formally part of English system of gov.

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11
Q

How did Cromwell try strengthening royal supremacy?

A
  • Used break with Rome to extend royal power
  • Break from Rome eliminated need for Pope

• Act of Union with Wales, 1536
- Reorganised local gov. in the principality and borderlands of the marches

• Act against Liberties and Franchises - Jurisdiction in Liberties Act, 1535
- Restricted special powers by regional nobles

  • Cromwell aimed to limit power of magnates and provide consistent application to law
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12
Q

How did Parliament become more important throughout the 1530s?

A
  • Parliament became increasingly important as a legislative body
  • Cromwell called Parliament more often than Wolsey
  • Statute law was seen as highest law in England, but by end of 1530s statute law made by King-in-Parliament represented ultimate authority in England
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13
Q

Describe how the composition of Parliament changed throughout the 1530s?

A

• House of Lords
- After dissolution of monasteries, abbots disappeared, and bishops and peers increased
- Clergy now a minority in House of Lords

• House of Commons
- 14 new boroughs given right to elect MPs

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14
Q

Describe the social class of the members of the House of Commons

A
  • House of Commons made up of members that either represented counties or towns and boroughs
  • County members and some borough MPs were members of lesser nobility
  • Borough members included merchants and royal administrators
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15
Q

What were the benefits of having MPs of different social classes and political beliefs?

A
  • Meant any changes Parliament enacted were likely to be implemented smoothly
  • Resistance from Parliament could be early warning sign there would be trouble implementing King’s wishes
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