Who attended Henry’s council during his reign?
227 men
His actual working council had six/Seven members
What was the function of the council under Henry?
Make legal judgements
Administer the realm on the kings behalf
Advise the king
What were features of the council under Henry?
Had no established rules and procedures though it was a permanent body with a core membership
Members may meet separately to deal with key administrative concerns when King not present
What was the role of professional councillors like bray and Dudley?
Often met to deal with legal and administrative matters in London when other councillors were with the king elsewhere
Was it essential to hold office as a councillor to advise the king?
No
David Loades- Henry’s most influential adviser was lady Margaret Beaufort
What was the councils main offshoot?
The council learned
When did the council learned develop? Where did it often meet?
During second half of the reign at first under brays leadership
The office of the duchy of Lancaster where it formed a ‘specialist board’ (John guy)
What was he function of the council learned?
To maintain kings revenue
To exploit his prerogative rights
Why are the workings of the council learned seen as a shady operation by historians?
Made the system of bonds and recognisances work so effectively
Not a recognised court of law
Those summoned before it had no chance to appeal
Bypassed normal legal system- causes fear, frustration and anger (Thomas penn)
Who was Brays associate in the council learned?
Richard empson
A fiercely ambitious lawyer and bureaucrat
Who joined empson after brays death in 1503?
Edmund Dudley
What did the downfall of empson and Dudley bring?
Rejoicing on the streets
What was the royal court?
The centre of government
The focus of a personal monarchy
The place for royal ceremony
Where the monarchs power was demonstrated to all the courtiers in attendance
Where rewards and status were distributed
Which royal courts influenced Henry VII’s court?
Those in burgundy and France 🇫🇷
What did courtiers enjoy?
Paid positions or the right to receive free food
What was the household proper responsible for?
Looking after the king, courtiers, guests
What was the politically important part of the court?
The chamber which was presided over by the lord chamberlain
Who was involved in a treasonable plot with perkin Warbeck?
Henry’s lord chamberlain sir William Stanley in 1495
The lord chamberlain position powerful and a matter of considerable trust
How did Henry respond to sir Williams Stanley’s betrayal?
Remodelled the chamber by creating a new privy chamber where the king could retreat, protected by his most intimate servants
This made it hard to regain the kings support
