Strengthening Royal Government

Question 1

What were the main problems facing H7 after he became King?

Answer 1

• Nobles whose wealth and territorial power made them potential rivals to the Crown
• Uneven control crown had over Kingdom = stronger in more populated areas of South and East but looser in borderlands
• Poor finances of the Crown that has been depleted by wars at home and abroad

Question 2

How did H7 tackle the main problems he faced after becoming King?

Answer 2

• Had no master plan, often reacted to situations as they arose
• Determined to manage gov himself instead of delegate too much power to advisers
• Acted firmly and occasionally took harsh measures (but they have H7 poor reputation)

Question 3

Why was managing the nobility so important for H7?

Answer 3

Needed their support whilst controlling their power and arrogance

• Depended on nobility to maintain law and order in areas where they held land and estates
• Nobility gained much land during Wars at expense of Crown = nobility v powerful and wealthy

Question 4

How were attainders used to manage the nobility?

Answer 4

• Special laws passed by Parliament allowing someone to be declared guilty of treason without trial
• Used to seize titles and possessions of nobles suspected of disloyalty
• Used against opponents of Battle of Bosworth
• H7 could reverse them and restore lands and titles for future loyalty
• 138 attainders passed during his reign, 46 reversed

Question 5

How was patronage used to manage the nobility?

Answer 5

• H7 largely abandoned Edward IV’s policy of distributing lands to loyal followers
• Number of ‘nobles’ fell by 1/4 during his reign through deaths and attainders
• Vacant lands became Henry’s = H7 became largest landowner in country
• When needed royal agents in local communities, looked to men lower down social scale with no extensive lands = dependent on H7 for position and status

Question 6

How were attacks on retaining used to manage the nobility?

Answer 6

• Retaining = noble man kept large number of men as personal staff (theory = household servants / reality = gang of enforcers)
• Retainers could pressurise tenants slow in paying rent or juries to give desired result
• Laws passed 1485 and 1504 against illegal retaining
• 1485 Parliament = lords and Commons swore they wouldn’t retain illegally
• 1504 Act = required nobles to have special license from King before could retain large numbers of men, with sever fines if they did not
• BUT nobles found ways to avoid getting license, like covering up records of wages paid to servants so no one knew how many men were retained

Question 7

How were financial controls used to manage the nobility?

Answer 7

• H7 demanded financial bonds from individual nobles or families = family in debt to crown = loyalty
• H7 established Council Learned in Law to act as royal debt collector

Question 8

How did H7 manage local and regional government?

Answer 8

• Royal control over kingdom all over place so H7 didn’t try to create on system of local gov
• Local gov in England conducted through Justices of the Peace
• Nobles had special privileges in lands along English-Welsh border

Question 9

How did H7 manage national government?

Answer 9

• Parliament had minor role in politics = passed laws King wanted and voted him additional taxes
• King ruled directly through decrees and proclamations
• H7 used Parliament sparingly
• H7 believed all power derived from monarch so Parliament only met on his terms
• H7’s Royal Council (most trusted supporters) particularly important