The Pursuit of Stability, 1485-1509

Question 1

Who claimed that in 1485 England was ‘little more than a second-rate power’?

Answer 1

J. M. Currin

Question 2

What alliance did Henry VII revive in 1489-1492?

Answer 2

The Plantagenet Anglo-Burgundian-Brenton axis

Question 3

How can we describe early Henry VII’s approach to French ?

Answer 3

As a slow change to a passive approach, yet still wary of French continental dominance and so an effort to counterbalance.

Question 4

What was renewed in July 1486?

Answer 4

Henry VII renewed the Anglo-Breton treaty of commerce and friendship, but refused a defensive alliance

Question 5

Where did Henry VII maintain English neutrality?

Answer 5

In the France .v. Brittany struggle

Question 6

Why does S. Gunn argue studies of Henry VII are hindered?

Answer 6

Because of his liminal (unwarranted) position in historical study, yet we can make virtue of this

Question 7

What can be said about provision of justice under Henry VII?

Answer 7

Provision of justice during Henry VIIs reign was dependent upon county courts

Question 8

What does S. Gunn highlight as a core aim of Henry with regard to parliamentary sessions?

Answer 8

S. Gunn argues that it is plainly apparent that a key aim of Henry VII was to modify English justice mechanisms

Question 9

What is a key characteristic of Henry VII which is disputed between historians?

Answer 9

While medievalists often claim Henry to be weak at record keeping, early modern historians often argue the opposite

Question 10

What is a historiographic debate with regard to Henry VIIs foreign policy?

Answer 10

There is historical debate surrounding the role of warfare in maintaining a healthy domestic body politic

Question 11

Why was Henry VII arguably dependent on delegation?

Answer 11

Arguably Henry VII was dependent on delegated across the kingdom because the era was fraught with civil wars etc

Question 12

What did Francis Bacon have to say about Henry VII?

Answer 12

Francis Bacon said Henry, Ferdinand and Louis were the tres magi of kings in the era

Question 13

What is a central aspect of New Monarchies?

Answer 13

A central aspect of New Monarchies is the accession of new men to power

Question 14

How did Perkin Warbeck characterise new men?

Answer 14

Perkin Warbeck referred to new men as ‘villains of simple birth’

Question 15

According to B. Parker, who did Henry VII ally himself with?

Answer 15

B. Parker claims that Henry VII allied himself with those whose economic interests were infringed upon by wars of the nobility

Question 16

What does S. Gunn argue Henry VIIs relationship with the nobility was?

Answer 16

S. Gunn suggests that Henry VIIs relationship with the nobility was a ‘satisfying model’ of Tudor regimes to come

Question 17

What is an issue with studying political culture under Henry VII?

Answer 17

Political writings lulled under Henry VII and so largely the opinions behind policy have to be indirectly reconstructed

Question 18

How does S. Gunn characterise contemporary commentary on Henry VII?

Answer 18

S. Gunn claims contemporaries such as Polydore Vergil created a cult of the politic prince

Question 19

How does historian J. Watts characterise Henry VIIs governance?

Answer 19

Henry VIIs governance according to J. Watts was unusually detached, legalistic and conciliar

Question 20

What is a source for recognisances?

Answer 20

In the first few months of Henry VII’s reign, Treasurer John Heron recorded 581 recognisances

Question 21

What was the economy like during Henry VIIs reign?

Answer 21

There was an increase in cloth exports and agrarian revival indicative of recovery from the Black Death

Question 22

What does S. Gunn say about the impact of Henry VIIs reign on England as a whole?

Answer 22

S. Gunn characterises the reign as socially tumultuous

Question 23

What are parliamentary sermons under Henry VII indicative of?

Answer 23

parliamentary sermons show a developing England-specific political rhetoric

Question 24

What aspect of medieval politics prevailed into Henry VIIs reign? give an example.

Answer 24

Gift-giving continued into Henry VIIs reign, such as Lord Daubeney’s gift of a ruby rose

Question 25

How does S. Gunn depict Henry VIIs court?

Answer 25

S. Gunn claims Henry VIIs court was inherently chivalrous, yet also uniting humanism with intense piety

Question 26

Outline the education of Prince Arthur?

Answer 26

Educated by Bernard Andre, he studies the ancients and their ‘modern’ counterparts

Question 27

How can we argue that Henry VII had calculated magnificence as S. Gunn claims?

Answer 27

Henry VIIs calculated magnificence can be seen in his travelling court, his £2000 armour

Question 28

What was the relationship between Henry VII and the people?

Answer 28

Henry VII engaged with popular politics, and understood its foundation and capability

Question 29

What is a piece of evidence which shows Henry VIIs engagement with the public?

Answer 29

Henry VII printed a passage in 1496 blaming James for the Scottish War and circulated it

Question 30

What is a way Henry’s reign can be seen as ad captandum vulgus?

Answer 30

Henry VII was the first monarch to have his face on the coinage

Question 31

What is a source for Henry’s depiction of monarchy to the public?

Answer 31

The Great Chronicle of :London ‘newe coynys … which bare but half a fface’

Question 32

Who claims that Royal Commissioners records show the increasing grasp on information in Henry VIIs rein?

Answer 32

I. Arthurson suggests that Royal Commissioners records show Henry VIIs increasing grasp on information

Question 33

What can be said about direct taxation under Henry VII?

Answer 33

direct taxation was levied sparingly, but where it was it was sophisticatedly done

Question 34

What does S. Gunn argue about Henry VIIs relationship with England?

Answer 34

S. Gunn argues that Henry VII interacted with all levels of the polity in order to articulate county leaders to the centre

Question 35

What does J. Guy characterise Henry VII political rhetoric as?

Answer 35

J. Guy characterises Henry VII political rhetoric as of virtue and god governance

Question 36

What were the three responsibilities of early modern monarchs?

Answer 36

The three responsibilities of early modern monarchs were to keep peace, to dispense justice, and to uphold the church.

Question 37

What must be remembered about Henry VII as a ‘New Monarch’

Answer 37

It must be remembered that although Henry VII is known for the rise of new men, the ‘natural’ counsellors still held great significance

Question 38

What was one humanist concept which emerged in Henry VIIs court?

Answer 38

The humanist concept of the Classic ‘vir civilis’ - active citizen - emerged as the Renaissance counsellor

Question 39

What is something often criticised about the traditional interpretations of Henry VIIs reign?

Answer 39

It is often criticised that traditionalist historians rely too heavily on contemporary commentaries such as Francis Bacon which revere Henry VII

Question 40

How can Henry VIIs meticulous nature in foreign affairs be exemplified?

Answer 40

Henry VIIs meticulous nature in foreign affairs can be seen in his spending 4 hours pouring over a letter from Spain in July 1498 regarding marriage

Question 41

What can be said about Empson and Dudley?

Answer 41

Empson and Dudley were Henry VIIs best serving ministers but this also meant they could pursue their own agendas

Question 42

What is a source for Henry VIIs court culture?

Answer 42

John Skelton’s Bowge of the Courte (1499) linked courtiers of Henry VII to traditional medieval vices

Question 43

What was the nature of the courtier role under Henry VII?

Answer 43

The role of the courtier under Henry VII was fluid- they often carried out several roles informally

Question 44

What was the role of the court in English politics?

Answer 44

The court acted as a honey pot for noble men- and thus incredible power for Henry VII

Question 45

Where was Henry VII more welcoming to traditional counsel?

Answer 45

Henry VII was more trusting of young noblemen than those who’d been in the old regime

Question 46

How did Henry VII placate ambition?

Answer 46

Henry VII inflated membership of Royal Chamber Servants in order to interact with ambitious courtiers and thus develop an awareness of the wider body politic

Question 47

When did Polydore Vergil compose his history of Henry VII?

Answer 47

Polydore Vergil wrote his history of Henry VII 1506-7, it was called the Anglica Historia

Question 48

What was stressed in Anglica Historia?

Answer 48

Anglica Historia, a humanist text, stressed the Great Chain of Being

Question 49

What does A. Pollard highlight as an issue with studying Henry VII?

Answer 49

A. Pollard stresses that documents from Henry VIIs reign have often been reprinted several times now, and that this has created contradictions

Question 50

How does A. Pollard argue for Henry VIIs stability?

Answer 50

A. Pollard suggests that plots against Henry VII were isolated incidents rather than indications of widespread discontent

Question 51

What can be said about Henry VIIs personal interpretation of the court?

Answer 51

As A. Pollard claims, ‘suspicion became almost a disease in Henry’s mind’

Question 52

How does A. Pollard support his assertion of Henry VIIs stability?

Answer 52

A. Pollard suggests that the fact pretenders had to turn to the Celts proves how isolated their causes were

Question 53

What can be said about the focus of Henry VIIs policies?

Answer 53

Henry VIIs policies were insular to England from the outset

Question 54

What does K. MacFarlane assert about nobles during Henry VIIs reign?

Answer 54

K. MacFarlane suggests that nobles were less confident in their abilities to sway the monarch

Question 55

What does M. James highlight as the foundation of civil order in the reign of Henry VII?

Answer 55

M. James suggests that the foundation of civil order under Henry VII was the effective internalisation of obedience

Question 56

How can Henry VIIs piousness be seen?

Answer 56

Henry VII built a church (which he now lies in) in an attempt to get Henry VI canonised

Question 57

What was an ecclesiastical change in the fifteenth century?

Answer 57

In the fifteenth century it had become common to argue for royal authority over the church

Question 58

By the early sixteenth century how much was the Church in England being taxed?

Answer 58

By the early sixteenth century the Church in England was being taxed roughly £11,000

Question 59

What must be noted about coronation?

Answer 59

The coronation was ultimately a religious occasion which benefitted the monarchy not the church

Question 60

What does G. Bernard suggest the relationship between the church and Henry VII to have been?

Answer 60

G. Bernard suggests that the church served the crown in return for protection of certain liberties

Question 61

What was the relationship between the Church and political enfranchisement?

Answer 61

G. Bernard suggests that the Church’s monopoly on education and thus literacy rates meant they could control administration and interaction with the wider body politic

Question 62

List three pious and charitable things Henry VII contributed to:

Answer 62

Henry VII built King’s College Chapel Cambridge, Westminster almshouses, and Savoy hospital Charing Cross

Question 63

What did Machiavelli claim in regards to the responsibility of monarchs?

Answer 63

Machiavelli claimed that monarchs ‘must not flinch from being blamed for vices which are necessary’

Question 64

What does A. Pollard suggest about the impact of medieval decay on English politics?

Answer 64

A. Pollard suggests that the decay of traditional medieval institutions helped give rise to a ‘national’ monarchy

Question 65

What is the argument of religion in regards to New Monarchs?

Answer 65

New Monarchs ‘crystallised’ divinity into a political weapon