AS FP1 : Government ; councils, parliament + justice Flashcards
(23 cards)
Government under Henry VII - Conceptual Awarness
What is a personal monarchy?
A personal monarchy is a system in which the crown’s power is not limited by a constitution or a parliament, and the monarch rules based on their own will and prerogatorive.
An individual’s power within government depended on their relationship with the king.
Government under Henry VII
Describe the ‘Council’ under Henry VII.
Henry ruled through the council, issuing decrees and proclomations, usually only consulting the inner-core of his council.
A constant stream of messages, orders and reports flowed from the counsel to the Justices of the Peace who controlled the localities.
They advised him, they administered the realm on the king’s behalf, and they made legal judgements.
Through this Council Henry centralised government, bringing more of the government under his direct control.
Method of consolidisation and securing the dynasty in long term.
Government under Henry VII
How many councillors were recording as attending the council during Henry’s reign? Was this true for day-to-day administration?
Around 227 men are recording as having attended the council during Henry’s reign. In practice, however, Henry VII’s actual working council was a much smaller affair with six or seven ministers.
Centralisation of government
Government under Henry VII
What were the three main types of councillor? Can you provide examples for each of these?
The three main types of councillor were :
Nobles, e.g Daubeney and Dynham.
Churchmen, e.g Morton and Fox.
Laymen, e.g Reginald Bray and Dudley.
By including administrative professionals in his council, Henry improved its efficiency ; in this way he secured his position and was able to rely less on the nobility.
Government under Henry VII
Describe the function of the Great Council under Henry VII.
The Great Council was a gathering of the House of Lords without the House of Commons, it had no defined function and was an occassional rather than a permanent body. It only met 5 times throughout Henry’s reign and usually concerned itself with war, rebellion and national security.
Government under Henry VII - Council Learned in Law
What was the Council Learned in Law? When was it fully established by?
The Council Learned in Law was an offshoot of the council that exploited the system of bonds and recognisances in order to maintain the King’s revenue and ensure his pregatorive rights.
It was created under Reginald Bray, headed by Empson and Dudley, and was fully established by 1495.
Government under Henry VII - Council Learned in Law
Why was the Council Learned in law so hated?
The Council Learned in Law was so hated as,
- It was not a recognised court of law and therefore there was no right of appeal against it.
- It acted alone outside of parliament.
- It was headed by 2 members of the gentry and harassed members of the nobility,
- Extorted the nobility through unpopular methods.
Historians argued that the Council Learned caused fear and anger, as it bypassed the normal legal system.
Government under Henry VII - Council Learned in Law
How many illegal cases of extortion were there under the Council Learned in Law?
There was 84 accounts of illegal extortion under the Council Learned.
Government under Henry VII
How did Henry centralise government through the Counsel?
The counsel acted as a link between the king and local government as well as central government. A constant stream of messages flowed from the counsel to the Justices of the Peace who controlled the localities.
Government under Henry VII - Council Learned in Law
How was the Council Learned in Law essential to the king’s authority?
The Council Learned in law was an expression of the king’s will and was thus important for the maintenance of his authoirty as well as the raising of his finances.
Government under Henry VII - Council Learned in Law
Conceptual Awareness : How was the downfall of Empson and Dudley in 1509 recieved?
Empson and Dudley made many enemies amongst the King’s key advisors, such as Bishop Fox and Sir. Thomas Lovell who removed them after the king’s death.
- The downfall of Empson and Dudley brought rejoicing in the streets, this is an indication of just how feared and unpopular their financial control became in the last years of Henry’s reign.
Government under Henry VII
When was the Court of Star Chamber set up, what was its purpose?
The Court of Star Chamber was set up in 1487 to deal with over-mighty subjects, it dealed with maintenance, riots and abuse of priviliges.
Government under Henry VII
What other Councils were set up during Henry VII’s reign? When were they set up?
Other Councils were set up to deal with the outlying regions such as The Council in the North (set up in 1489 following the Yorkshire Rebellion) and The Council in Wales in 1502 following the death of Arthur.
Government under Henry VII
What was the significance of the Royal Court to Henry’s personal monarchy - when and why did this change?
The Royal Court was the centre of government, it was the focus of a personal monarchy where one’s status was determined by their relationship to the king.
Following the Betrayal of his Lord Chamberlain in 1495 Henry remodelled his chamber into the new ‘Privy Chamber’ where he could retreat with his most intimate servants, making it harder to gain the king’s favour.
- However, Henry was also cut off from many of his traditional contacts at court.
Government under Henry VII
Describe the role of Parliament in Henry VII’s reign.
Parliament, both the Lords and the Commons, was primarily called by the King to legislate and grant tax. It was not a permanent institution and was called upon when the King needed it ; however it had a further function in that local grievances could be passed on to the king by MPs.
Government under Henry VII
What does the trend in Parliament meetings reveal about Henry’s style of governance?
First 5 met in the first ten years whereas the remaining 2 were in the remaining 12 ; shows Henry becoming grradually more secure in his position.
- Parliament was mainly called for national security and revenue.
Government under Henry VII
Give specific evidence about Henry VII’s parliament.
Fractional taxes of fifteenths and tenths were made in 1487, 1489-90, 1491-1492 and 1497, yielding £203,000.
Henry’s final parliament managed to limit the demand for extraordinary revenue in 1504.
Government under Henry VII - justice
Conceptual Awarness : Why was the maintenance of law and order important for Henry?
A prime responsability for the king was the maintenance of law and order, at worst problems with law and order could lead to uprisings or rebellion and Henry was always concerned that potential enemies might try and exploit challenges to his authority.
- Henry couldn’t divide the country into spheres of influence like Edward IV as the number of magnates had fallen during the War of the Roses.
Government under Henry VII - justice
Where was magnate control confined to in England?
Magnate control was confined to the North of England, to Henry’s relatives the Stanley’s in the North West and the Earl of Northumberland in the North East.
Government under Henry VII - justice
How did Henry deal with the power vacuum following the 1489 Yorkshire Rebellion?
When Northumberland died in the 1489 Rebellion Henry was left without a magnate to exercise power on his behalf - he solved this problem by releasing the Yorkist Earl of Surrey from the Tower and making him Lieutenant of the North.
Henry faced no further problems in the North following this appointment.
Government under Henry VII - justice
How did Henry control farreaching areas?
In much of the rest of the country Henry had to rely on those whom he did trust, such as the Earl of Oxford and Lord Daubeney, and those whim he had little trust in such as the Marquis of Dorset.
This lack of trust is demonstrated in Henry’s employment of a spying network as well as the imposition of bonds and recognisances.
Government under Henry VII - justice
What was the incentive for people to become JPs?
Though it was quite common for royal offices to be appointed as JPs in counties in which they had an interest, most JPs were local gentry who fulfilled their unpaid tasks either out of a sense of duty or because they percieved that in doing so they might open a path to greater advancement or social prestige.
Government under Henry VII - justice
How did Henry control the JPs?
As JPs superseded the traditional authority of the county sherrif, Henry remained anxious about how effectively the JPs carried out their duties.
- If he became dissatisfied he could leave a JPs name out of the Commission of the Peace for the following year.
- Act 1489, Complaints against JPs.
- 1506, JP manuel.
