1.3 Henry's government

Question 1

How many active members were present in the King’s Council?

Answer 1

About 40

Question 2

Who was Lord Chancellor until 1500?

Answer 2

John Morton. He died in 1500

Question 3

What was the Court of Requests?

Answer 3

A court which dealt with legal cases of those who could not afford the normal system.

Question 4

What was the Court of Requests nicknamed?

Answer 4

‘The Court for Poor Men’s Causes’

Question 5

What did the Court of General Surveyors do?

Answer 5

They checked the revenue from the king’s land.

Question 6

When was the Council Learned in the Law established?

Answer 6

1495

Question 7

Who ran the Council Learned when it rose to power?

Answer 7

Empson and Dudley

Question 8

What was the Council Learned in the Law known as?

Answer 8

Just the ‘Council Learned’

Question 9

Give an example of one of the ‘new men’ that Henry appointed?

Answer 9

Edmund Dudley

Question 10

How is Henry’s relationship with the hiring of ‘new men’ characterised?

Answer 10

He relied less on the nobility than his regal predecessors. He hired more members of the gentry.

Question 11

What was the role fo the Council of the North?

Answer 11

To secure the Scottish border and raise an army in times of invasion.

Question 12

Who led the Council of the North?

Answer 12

Earl of Northumberland until his death in the Yorkshire risings (1489). Then Earl of Surrey was appointed.

Question 13

How did Henry control the Council of the North?

Answer 13

Surrey was required to keep in regular contact with Sir Reginald Bray.

Henry appointed new members to the Council, rather than Surrey, to keep an eye on what was said.

Question 14

When did Henry revive the Council of Wales and the Marches?

Answer 14

1493

Question 15

Who ran the Council of Wales?

Answer 15

Prince Arthur

Question 16

Who ruled Wales?

Answer 16

Prince Arthur

Question 17

How did Henry improve the relationship with Wales?

Answer 17

He appointed Welshmen in positions of power.

This made them happy and made Wales less of a headache for Henry.

Question 18

What area of Ireland did England rule?

Answer 18

The Pale

Question 19

What city did the Pale surround?

Answer 19

Dublin

Question 20

Who ruled the Pale?

Answer 20

Earl of Kildare was Lord Deputy

Question 21

When was Kildare demoted?

Answer 21

After supporting Warbeck and Simnel.

Question 22

Who replaced Kildare as Lord Deputy?

Answer 22

Poynings

Question 23

When was Poynings’ Law passed?

Answer 23

1494

Question 24

What did Poynings’ Law do?

Answer 24

Stipulated that Irish parliaments could only be called with prior approval of the king.

Question 25

How effective was Henry in Ireland?

Answer 25

Not very effective. Poynings failed to increase royal authority in Ireland and Henry was forced to restore Kildare as Lord Deputy later on.

Question 26

How did Henry increase the effectiveness of JPs?

Answer 26

He gave them more power and chose second rank landowners who were less corrupt.

Question 27

How did Henry widen the scope of JP power?

Answer 27

They could grant bail to those awaiting trial, reward informers and replace suspect or bribed members of the jury.

Question 28

What limitations were there to JP power?

Answer 28

* Decisions overridden by Court of King's Bench. * Few wanted to be informers to the JPs.

Question 29

How did Henry centralise his control over the country?

Answer 29

* He exploited crown lands to extend his power all over the country. * Increased power of JPs, decreasing the power of major landowners.

Question 30

How many times did Henry call parliament during his reign?

Answer 30

Seven times