Henry VII and Justice, Finance and Policies Flashcards
The Star Chamber
The Star Chamber was created by the Star Chamber Act in 1487. It was established to prosecute rioting, rebellion, retaining and the corruption of justice. The Star Chamber also heard petitions (appeals) against rulings from other courts. The Star Chamber (as well as the Council Learned in Law) undermined Henry’s reputation for justice, especially among the upper classes.
The Court of Chancery
The Court of Chancery heard cases on feudal land disputes and complaints about mistakes made by the Crown. Although the king could not be sued, sometimes mistakes were acknowledged. The Court of Chancery dealt with them and gave compensation if necessary. But the Council Learned in Law became much more powerful where feudal dues were concerned.
The Court of Equity
The monarch could dispense justice if the law was unable to deal with a crime adequately. One example would be if the defendant was very powerful locally making juries scared to convict.
Justices of the Peace (JPs)
JPs were responsible for the implementation of laws, government policies and public order. There were about 18 per county. JPs were given more powers under Henry VII. For example, from 1487 JPs could grant bail to people awaiting trial. From 1495, they could vet juries and replace jury members thought to have been bribed.
Henry VII appointed JPs annually and increasingly chose less important landowners rather than bigger landowners.
Bonds and recognisances
Bonds and recognisances were payments made to guarantee good behaviour. They were usually applied to members of the nobility whose loyalty was uncertain. The Council Learned in Law enforced bonds and recognisances.
Ordinary revenue
Parliament granted customs duties for the monarch’s lifetime at the start of the reign.
Profits of justice included fines and fees for legal documents. Ordinary revenue also included:
- Feudal dues, which included relief (a tax paid upon inheriting land), wardship (control of the lands and revenues of underage heirs) and livery (paid by wards when they took control of their lands).
- The rents, sales of crops and resources from Crown lands.
Increased ordinary revenue
Henry VII used the 1486 Act of Resumption and attainders to increase Crown lands. He never fully reversed acts of attainder, always keeping some land. Henry did not give much land away in grants to family and friends. He improved the management of Crown estates. The Council Learned pursued feudal dues and bonds and recognisances.
Extraordinary revenues
Extraordinary revenues included:
- Bonds and recognisances.
- Loans and benevolences. Benevolences were ‘gifts’, given without expectation of repayment.
- Feudal dues that were due on specific occasions, such as the marriage of the monarch’s daughter or knighting of his son.
Special taxes agreed by parliament for specific needs. They were based on property and goods.
Increasing extraordinary revenues
The Council Learned in Law investigated and enforced long-forgotten feudal dues. It also enforced bonds and recognisances. Henry VII introduced the Surveyor of the King’s Wards to investigate wardships.
Improved administration
Henry VII used the Chamber system more than the Exchequer. This was because it was more efficient and he had more control over it. He kept a close eye on royal accounts, checking all entries. He introduced the Court of Audit to monitor wider government spending.
Promoting trade
Under the 1485 Navigation Acts, no English merchants were to use foreign ships to transport goods if an English ship was available. This boosted English shipping. In 1489, the export of English raw wool was limited. In 1496 Henry VII signed Magnus Intercursus, an important trade deal with Burgundy.
Improving law, order and stability
Henry VII increased Justice of Peaces’ powers. For example, they could arrest poachers or hunters in disguise or replace jury members who had been bribed. Henry VII used bonds and recognisances to control over-mighty nobles. The Star Chamber was established to deal with threats to England’s stability, although it was not used often under Henry VII.
Illegal retaining
Henry VII cracked down on illegal retaining. Retainers were men who served the leading nobles. They wore clothes in the noble’s colours called livery. Some nobles had hundreds of retainers who behaved like private armies. Keeping retainers was called maintenance. Acts were passed against Livery and Maintenance. Henry VII set down quotas for nobles and required them to pay licences.
Increasing Crown revenue
Henry VII used Council Learned in the Law to exploit long-forgotten feudal dues. He increased Crown lands through the Act of Resumption, attainders and the Council Learned in the Law. He improved financial administration through the Chamber.
