Henry VII

Question 1

What did Henry do in October to help secure the throne?

Answer 1

He arranged his coronation for a week before the first meeting in parliament on 7th of November to show his right to the throne was hereditary not just based on parliamentary sanctions
Made key appointments to his councils as household e.g. Sir Reginald Bray as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster

Question 2

What did Henry issue in October to help secure the throne?

Answer 2

Parliamentary Acts of Attainder against Yorkists who fought at the Battle of Bosworth so they’re property became forfeit to the crown

Question 3

Hoe did Henry initially increase his income?

Answer 3

By demanding the customs revenues of tonnage and poundage for life at his first parliament

Question 4

What were Acts of Attainder?

Answer 4

Noble declared guilty of rebelling against a monarch.

lose his title, lands and sometimes his head, heirs were also disinherited

Question 5

What was tonnage and poundage?

Answer 5

The right to raise revenue for the whole reign from imports and exports

Question 6

Who did Henry have to reduce the power of?

Answer 6

The nobles who had caused the previous period of instability to enhance their own authority

Question 7

Why was John de la Pole a threat?

Answer 7

He was a Yorkist claimant.
He was nephew of Edward IV and Richard III
Designated successor of Richard III
Regarded as the Yorkist leader after Bosworth

Question 8

Why was Edward (earl of Warwick) a threat?

Answer 8

He was a Yorkist claimant
He was nephew of Edward IV and Richard III
Imprisoned in tower of London 1485 (aged 10)
Beheaded for alleged conspiracy with Perkin Warbeck , 1499

Question 9

Who were two main threats?

Answer 9

Yorkist supporters (e.g. Lovell and Stafford)
Margaret of Burgundy (sister of Edward IV and Richard III) as she was able and willing to fund Yorkist ambitions

Question 10

What did Viscount Lovell and the Staffords do and when?

Answer 10

1486- Minor rising focused on traditional Yorkist Heartlands of Yorkshire and midlands
Led by Viscount Lovell and Humphrey Stafford with his brother Thomas
Attracted little support and was easily suppressed
Lovell escaped to Burgundy, Humphrey Stafford was captured and executed (Thomas was pardoned)

Question 11

Why was the Lovell rebellion significant?

Answer 11

It showed there was little support for a Yorkist rising at this point

Question 12

Who arranged a Yorkist conspiracy with Lambert Simnel as a figure head in 1487?

Answer 12

Arranged by Earl of Lincoln (John de la Pole) - used Lambert Simnel as a figurehead

Question 13

What did Simnel do?

Answer 13

He impersonated the Earl of Warwick and was crowned as King Edward in Ireland (may 1487)

Question 14

What were the results of the Simnel plan?

Answer 14

Henry exhibited the real Earl of Warwick in London
Lincoln fled to the court of Margaret of Burgundy and joined Lovell - persuading Margaret to support Simnel and pay for a force of mercenaries (hired soldiers who work for pay with no commitments to the cause) to invade England

Question 15

Where did the Simnel rebels land and what was the outcome?

Answer 15

Landed in Cumberland supported by 2,000 German mercenaries provided by Margaret of Burgundy, and crossed the Pennines and tried to muster support in the Yorkist heartland but they failed to attract followers
Henry’s army defeated the mercenary army at the battle of stoke field (June 1487)

Simnel captured but Henry recognised him as harmless and employed him in the royal kitchens

Question 16

Who was killed at the Battle of Stoke?

Answer 16

The earl of Lincoln

Question 17

For what two reasons did Henry’s support grow?

Answer 17

His lenient treatment of the rebels won over some Yorkists who had previously opposed him
He began to use the policy of bonds of good behaviour

Question 18

What was the Perkin Warbeck imposture?

Answer 18

Imposture of a cloth trader from Flanders who claimed to be Richard - duke of York (one of Edward IV’s sons and one of the two murdered princes in them tower)

Question 19

What happened with Warbeck in 1491 and 1492?

Answer 19

1491- Warbeck began to impersonate Richard in Ireland
Brief period in France but forced to flee
1492- He fled to the court of Margaret of Burgundy - was trained as potential Yorkist prince and began to draw English courtiers into his conspiracies

Question 20

What happened with Warbeck in 1495 and 1496?

Answer 20

1495- He attempted to land in England but was quickly defeated as Henry had been informed of his intentions by royal agent Robert Clifford and fled to the court of James IV of Scotland
1496- He tried to invade England with a small Scottish force - this soon retreated and James IV agreed to Marry Henry’s daughter, Margaret

Question 21

What happened with Warbeck in 1497 and 1499?

Answer 21

1497- He tried to claim the throne by exploiting the Cornish rebellion- his forces were crushed - Warbeck surrendered he was treated leniently at first but tired to escape so confined to tower
1499- He was tired and executed a long with the Earl of Warwick

Question 22

What was the significance of the Perkin Warbeck imposture?

Answer 22

Patronage from foreign rulers made Warbeck a potentially serious threat and demonstrated how fragile Henry’s position was considered to be by foreign rulers
The involvement of William Stanley (Head of the royal household and was Lord Chamberlain) showed Henry’s vulnerability even within his own household

Question 23

What was the function of the council learned?

Answer 23

To maintain the king’s revenue and to exploit his prerogative rights.
It made the system of bonds and recognisances work effectively therefore helping to ensure loyalty and finance

Question 24

What was the council learned not recognised as?

Answer 24

A court of law so there was no right of appeal against and it bypassed the normal legal system

Question 25

What were Empson and Dudley known for and what happened to them?

Answer 25

Known for their ruthless extraction of money from the king's subjects - this made them unpopular and feared and created enemies out of some of the king's other advisors They were removed and executed after Henry's death

Question 26

What was the royal court? | What was a persons power determined by?

Answer 26

The centre of Government - and a system in which a person's power was determined by his relationship with the monarch

Question 27

Who presided over the chamber?

Answer 27

Presided over by the Lord Chamberlain (a powerful courtier who was also a member of the king's council and often spoke for the monarch

Question 28

What happened to the chamber in 1495 after the involvement of sir William Stanley in the Perkin Warbeck conspiracy?

Answer 28

Henry remodelled the chamber as the Privy Chamber - he could retreat into this protected by him most trusted servants.

Question 29

What did 2 bodies did parliament consist of (still exists today) and was it important?

Answer 29

House of Commons and the House of lords (more important) | It met infrequently so was not central to government

Question 30

Who could call parliament and how often did Henry do so? | When and why was it most frequent?

Answer 30

Only the king could call it Demonstrated power by calling it early November Only called it 7 times in his reign (five in the first 10 years and only 2 in the last 14 years) - showing when Henry felt more secure parliament wasn't needed

Question 31

How effective war parliament under Henry?

Answer 31

The king appeared to accept its decisions and operated fairly effectively but was used very little

Question 32

How much did income did Crown lands generate?

Answer 32

£12,000 at the start of the reign (collected by inefficient court of Exchequer) By the end of the reign = £42,000 per year

Question 33

What were some other methods used by Henry to grand revenue?

Answer 33

``` Ordinary revenue - Customs revenue Legal systems and profits of justice (includes fines and incomes from bonds) Bonds and recognisances Clerical taxes and grants Loans and benevolences Parliamentary grants Pensions from other powers (Treaty of Epales in France 1492 = £5000 per annum) Crown lands . ``` Extraordinary revenue - Henry received over £400,000 from extraordinary taxation Profits of Justice (including bonds) 1504-07 at least £200,000 was promised but not all was collected

Question 34

Who controlled the north west? | Who controlled the rest of the North/North East

Answer 34

The Stanleys controlled the north-west The earl of Northumberland ruled the north east until 1489 until the Earl of Surrey was released from prison and sent to the north - surrey then served loyally for ten years

Question 35

At a local level who did Henry gradually increase the powers of?

Answer 35

Justice of the peace (JPs) who together with the sheriff (responsible for elections to parliament and peacekeeping) were appointed to each county to maintain law and order in the countryside

Question 36

Who were JPs and what were they responsible for?

Answer 36

They were unpaid and mostly local gentry (sense of duty or hope of advancement) - a few were royal officials They were responsible for routine administration e.g. tax assessment, complaints against local officials and maintenance of law and order

Question 37

What could the Court of King's bench overturn?

Answer 37

Could overturn the decisions of the lesser courts

Question 38

What was the Great Council?

Answer 38

A gathering of the House of Lords. Only met 5 times in total in Henry's reign. Usually concerned itself with issues relating to war or rebellion. It was a means of biding the nobility to key decisions relating to national security.

Question 39

What price did Henry's extraordinary revenue come at?

Answer 39

Helped to provoke rebellions of 1489 and 1497

Question 40

How much money did Henry leave?

Answer 40

In total, he left plate and jewels worth around £300,000 and £10,000 in cash

Question 41

What did Henry's Privy chamber mean for his traditional contacts of court?

Answer 41

Made it more difficult for the kings favour to be gained and cut Henry off from many of the King's traditional contacts of court

Question 42

Which acts proved that Henry was focused on national security early on?

Answer 42

His first two parliaments passed numerous acts of attainder - individuals could be declared guilty without trial

Question 43

Which acts proved that Henry was concerned with finance in parliament?

Answer 43

His first parliament granted tonnage and poundage for life and others granted extraordinary revenue ( one off payments - allowing king to wage war)

Question 44

What were Profits from wardship? | How much did he earn from it?

Answer 44

(when property was held by a minor) In 1487, wardships provided Henry with just £350. By 1507, wardships were earning Henry £6,000 a year.

Question 45

What was feudal aid and when was it granted?

Answer 45

Feudal aid granted in 1504 (The crown's right to impose taxes for certain services)

Question 46

what happened in 1489 with Brittany and France?

Answer 46

Henry summoned Parliament to grant him extraordinary revenue to raise an army against the French. Treaty of Redon- Henry agreed to support the claim of Duke Francis' young daughter, Duchesse Anne (who would pay for a small English army to defend Brittainy) although he was conscious not to antagonise the French

Question 47

What happened in 1492 when Henry learned that France were in Italy?

Answer 47

Based on intelligence that Charles was more interested in invading Italy than fighting the English henry raised two parliamentary subsidies and invaded France with 26,000 men. The French rapidly sought peace

Question 48

What was signed in November 1492?

Answer 48

The Treaty of Etaples - Charles agreed that he would no longer assist any pretenders to the English throne - Henry also received a pension of £159,000 paid in annual instalments of £5,000 a year as compensation for the expense of having a recruited an army for invasion - and this was 5% of Henry's annual income (Dynastic +national interests + increased finance )

Question 49

What was the problem with the Netherlands/Burgundy and who controls them?

Answer 49

Margaret, Maximillian and Philip supported the pretenders to Henry's throne (Simnel and Warbeck) so relationships deteriorated

Question 50

What did Henry do in 1493 following Margaret's support of Perkin Warbeck? Who did this effect the most in England?

Answer 50

Trade Embargo with Burgundy in 1493 as he was more concerned with securing the dynasty than protecting the commercial interests of London, Decision was unpopular with London and east-coast merchants who's interests were sacrificed )

Question 51

What did Henry VII and Philip IV agree in 1496?

Answer 51

The intercursus magnus in 1496 which ended the trade embargo. Margaret recognised Henry's position as King (after Warbeck left Burgundy this was signed)

Question 52

What treaty was signed in 1507 between England and Burgundy?

Answer 52

A third treaty reverting to the terms of the first intercursus magnus

Question 53

In 1508 how was Henry diplomatically isolated?

Answer 53

By not being signatory to the League of Cambrai which was formed by the HRE, France, Spain and the Papacy

Question 54

What was signed in 1489 with Spain? (F+I)

Answer 54

The treaty of Medina del Campo agreed a marriage alliance between Catherine of Aragon (F+I's youngest daughter) and Arthur, they agreed not to harbour rebels or pretenders and the two monarchs offered mutual protection in the event of an attack

Question 55

What did James IV of Scotland do between 1495 and 1496?

Answer 55

Supported the pretender Perkin Warbeck (he stayed for two years at Scottish court and received not only a pension but an aristocratic marriage to the King's cousin, Lady Catherine Gordon) and provided a small army to invade England in 1496- war was threatened

Question 56

When did Scotland and England make a truce and what was it called?

Answer 56

1497 - Treaty of Ayton (became a full peace treaty in 1502) as the Cornish rebellion of this year shook Henry and made it evident it was in the interests of both E and S to secure am immediate truce (few miles North of the English border stronghold of Berwick upon tweed)

Question 57

What happened in 1501-1503 regarding Scotland?

Answer 57

It was agreed that James IV should marry Henry's daughter Margaret In 1502 this was sanctioned by a formal peace treaty (The Treaty of Perpetual Peace) and the marriage took place in 1503 The improvement in relations lasted until the end of H's reign (successful in ensuring security of the dynasty)

Question 58

Who rules Ireland?

Answer 58

Henry rules only part of the 'pale land' around Dublin and the rest was ruled by independent chieftains from the descendants of the Anglo-Norman barons who had settled there in the 12 century (most important = Fitzgerald's and Butlers)

Question 59

Who was the Earl of Kildare (Lord deputy of Ireland) and why was he a threat to Henry?

Answer 59

The leader of the Fitzgerald's/ Geraldine's | Due to his Yorkist sympathies. He crowned Lambert Simnel king of Ireland in 1486 and supported Perkin Warbeck in 1491

Question 60

What was Henry's response to Kildare's actions?

Answer 60

Instead of relying on the established Irish aristocracy, who were cheap but unreliable, he attempted the most costly approach of rule of the 'pale' through an Englishman, backed by armed forces He appointed his infant son (Henry) as Lieutenant of Ireland and appointed with Sir Edward Ponyings as his deputy

Question 61

What did Edward Ponyings then do and was he successful?

Answer 61

Initially successful in establishing royal authority by means of the threat of force and bribery He got the Irish Parliament to pass the 'Ponyings' law' of 1495 which declared that Irish Parliament needed the approval of the English monarch before it could pass laws(also attempted to implement English law in Ireland) He also tried to subdue the Irish by force

Question 62

What was Kildare later persuaded to do and what were the consequences?

Answer 62

Persuaded to abandon the Yorkist cause (having decided there was no benefit in supporting it) and was reinstated in 1495 He served Henry loyally and secured the submission of various Irish Chieftains By 1500 Henry had established a reasonable level of control and cheap authority over Ireland Although H was fortunate that Kildare proved so amenable, the fact Kildare was able to use his office to rebuild his family fortunes made him eager to support his former enemy

Question 63

What were the two reasons for Henry wanting to raise an army against the French in 1489 and help Brittany?

Answer 63

His sense of obligation to the Bretons | His fear that direct French control of Brittainy could increase a potential French threat against England

Question 64

What did Henry try to strengthen at the same time as the treaty of Redon in 1489 and how?

Answer 64

His position by an alliance with Maximillian (the HRE- elect) - A widower, Maximillian had contracted a marriage-by-proxy (one or both the individuals being untied is not physically present, usually represented by another person) with Anne so had no desire for the Duchy of Brittainy to fall into French hands

Question 65

What were Anglo-Scottish relations like from 1498 onwards and what was the outcome?

Answer 65

They were significantly improved and because of this, James no longer had any diplomatic use for Warbeck who had become tiresome, Warbeck was executed in 1499

Question 66

What was Henry's problem with the strategy of using Ponyings and what was the outcome?

Answer 66

It was too expensive and the financial problems were made worse when Warbeck returned to Ireland in 1495 and amassed a force which besieged the town of Waterford Henry (who was short of money due to threat of invasion from the Scots) was forced to recall Ponyings and once again had to depend on the cheap option of using Kildare as his deputy

Question 67

What was mined where in England? Where was coal shipped from and to? What enabled greater production in in Durham, in 1486? (1480's had some growth)

Answer 67

Tin was mined in Cornwall. Lead mined in upland areas like the high Pennines. Coal mined in Durham and Northumberland Much coal shipped from Newcastle to London to meet demand - also small export to Germany and the Netherlands. Development of basic pumping technology, first recorded in county Durham in 1486 enabled greater production

Question 68

What was the biggest problem for trade that Henry was forced to implement? How were traders forced to combat this?

Answer 68

Embargo on trade with Burgundy which he imposed in 1493, as a result of the fear and insecurity brought about by Margaret of Burgundy's support of Perkin Warbeck . Instead of trading directly with Burgundy, merchants were required to direct their trade through Calais - this was retaliated by the Netherlands

Question 69

What/When was the intercursus malus and why was it never fully implemented?

Answer 69

1506 Allowed English cloth to be exported without duty, seen too generous for England and reverted in 1507

Question 70

What was the Treaty of Etaples?

Answer 70

Trading restriction which had existed since Edward IV's reign, were removed in 1486. They were reimposed the following year as a result of Henry's support of Brittainy but removed again by the treaty of Etaples in 1492 While not primarily a trade treaty it did encourage Anglo-French commercial relations. The French payed £159,000 and £5,000 per annum. Most of the remaining trade restriction were removed in 1497

Question 71

What did Henry's trading policies/attitudes show?

Answer 71

He rated foreign policy and dynastic priorities than the interests of English merchants / trade While interested in maximising customs revenue, he was prepared to sacrifice revenue and trade in order to secure the dynasty so was also happy for parliament to legislate in favour of sectional interests (interests of a particular group within a country)

Question 72

What/when were the two rebellions and what triggered them both?

Answer 72

Yorkshire rebellion- 1489 Cornish rebellion- 1497 Both sparked by taxation

Question 73

What happened during the Yorkshire rebellion?

Answer 73

Sparked by resentment of the taxation granted by parliament in 1489 in order to finance an army for the Brittany campaign The earl of Northumberland was murdered by his tenants/ the rebels when his retainers deserted him (in April in the North Riding of Yorkshire

Question 74

What happened in the Cornish rebellion?

Answer 74

Arose from a tax needed to finance a campaign against Scotland - Cornish people saw this war as irrelevant to them The people blamed the king and ministers such as Morton and Bray

Question 75

What were the effects of the rebellion?

Answer 75

In the short term it forced Henry to remove Lord Daubeney and his troops from the Scottish border to crush the rebellion The rebellions were easily crushed and the three leaders e.g. Lord Audley, were executed (most rebels leniently treated) Made Henry ensure Anglo-Scottish tensions were eased and made him cautious about entering further foreign conflicts About 1,000 of the rebels were killed at the so-called Battle of Blackheath. Some were taken prisoner but many of the rebels simply fled.

Question 76

What did both the rebellions involve that made them a threat?

Answer 76

The involvement of the nobles made it a greater threat because of their level of power and the fact they were meant to support the King

Question 77

What was key to the nobles power?

Answer 77

The system which became known as bastard feudalism (or retaining) by which wealthy magnates (leading and most wealthy members of the nobility) recruited knights and gentlemen (retainers) to serve them as accountants or administrators or sometimes for military purposes Potentially noblemen could use their retained men to bring unlawful influence on others in a court case or use them against the Crown so Henry sought to limit the military power of the nobility through legislation (but remained conscious that loyal retainers were essential to the Crown's security

Question 78

What was Henry's response to bastard feudalism?

Answer 78

Passed acts to take action against nobles abusing the system (had to be careful as nobles = powerful) In 1486 - Peers and MPs required to take an oath against illegal retaining or being illegally retained (illegality here remains undefined) 1487 - law against retaining was established 1487 law reinforced by act passed in 1504 under which licences for retaining could be sought

Question 79

What was the 1504 act regarding retaining?

Answer 79

Stated that only the King could grant licences for retaining. This lasted only for the duration of the king's lifetime Lord Bergavenny was the significant victim of this act who was indicated for illegal retaining in 1507 and fined £100,000 (but probably paid no more than £1000 as Henry VIII pardoned him shortly after coming to the throne)

Question 80

Who were the two most important clergymen in H's reign and what did that show?

Answer 80

John Morton and Richard Fox (both examples of administrative competence being valued above spirituality) King also reluctant to appoint those of an aristocratic background so the higher clergy were becoming less socially exclusive

Question 81

Who were the peerage?

Answer 81

Groups of people who held one of the five ranks of the aristocracy (duke, marquis, earl, viscount, baron), they were usually considerable landholders, exercised considerable power in their localities and were members of the HoL

Question 82

What were the regional differences in agriculture?

Answer 82

South and east of the line, mixed farming predominated in the more densely populated counties (especially Norfolk, Suffolk and Kent) In more sparsely populated areas in the North and the West, pastoral farming dominated with the rearing of sheep, cattle and horses Exceptions to this rule - Pastoral farming dominated in the Fens and grain farming and fruit growing in Herefordshire and the Welsh border counties

Question 83

What were the outcomes of the Yorkshire rebellion?

Answer 83

Easily crushed by earl of Surrey Henry offered pardons to many of the rebels The new Earl of Northumberland was only a minor and the Earl of Surrey was made Lieutenant- Surrey had no reason not to be loyal to Henry as his own social and political advance rested with the king. Henry faced no more problems in the north though he failed to collect the region’s tax quota for the Brittany campaign.

Question 84

What were other causes of the Cornish rebellion?

Answer 84

Henry had issued new regulations on tin mining and suspended the privileges of the Stannaries – the local Cornish court and parliament. This hit both at the key contributor to the Cornish economy and at local independence from the centre Cornwall had previously been exempt from tax in Scotland because of the distance Cornwall had to pay a disproportionately large amount of the tax