AQA A Level Tudors Essay Plans and Extra Essay
Questions
Henry VII – Essay Plans
Henry VIII - Essay Plans
Mid Tudor Crisis - Essay Plans
Elizabeth I - Essay Plans
,“Henry VII’s financial policies made the most important contribution to his success as a ruler”
Introduction
• Henry VII was able to develop a England from being financially ruined, isolated and a divided country after
the War of the Roses, into a financially stable and united country that sat comfortably within its European
peers.
• Henry was successful in increasing the crowns finances, which is shown by the fact that he had left
£300,000 for Henry VIII at the end of his reign.
• However, Henry’s success as a ruler was not just due to the increase in finances, but also his successful
consolidation of power and foreign policy, and it would be wrong to oversimplify his success down to his
financial policies.
Agree Disagree
Attainders- an act passed by parliament against a person for a crime, or Foreign policy
supported crime, usually reason. It was a way to punish or even
sentence someone to death for a crime without them actually standing § Medina del Campo 1489 - secured
trial. the marriage between Catherine of
§ Issued against people who fought him at Bosworth. He would Aragon and Arthur, agreed not to
reverse them if he felt it would ensure their loyalty. Issued 138 harbour pretenders and not to ally
attainders, withdrew 46 with France, and set up equal
§ Payment needs for reversal, Sir Thomas Tyrell had to pay £1,738 to trading rights for merchants from
reverse his father’s attainder both countries and fixed custom
duties, which tended to favour the
Patronage – the act of granting special favours such as land or positions English merchants.
at court to secure loyalty. Henry = reluctant to use this method = create § Truce of Ayton 1497 - James IV of
to many powerful people. Number of people counted as nobles Scotland didn’t take advantage of
decreased by ¾ England’s weakness during the
Cornish Rebellion and
Attacks on retaining (keeping men for personal armies) impersonation of Warbeck, so
§ House of lords and commons had to swear not to retain illegally signed a peace treaty. There had
§ 1504 nobles had to get permission from the king to get license to been no similar agreement between
retain, fined £5 per month per retainer if not countries since 1328.
Bonds- written agreements where people promised to pay if they failed
to carry out promises. Used to ensure future loyalty
§ Lord Burgavenny was accused of keeping 471 (retaining) and
fined £70,000 however he was placed under a bond of £5000
over 10 years if he was loyal
Recognisances- formal acknowledgement of debt, with understanding
to pay money if obligation is not met. Used to force those who’d
previously shown disloyalty
§ Nobles could be indebted to crown, they must remain loyal or
they’ll get a fine
§ In his last decade, 2/3 nobles in bonds
§ E.g. Thomas grey was seen as untrustworthy, he was required
to transfer all land except 2 to trustees. He is forced to pay
£10,000 recognisance
ordinary revenue Consolidation of power
• Money gained from outside parliament that came in annually. § Dated his reign back to 21 August
• Crown lands income increased from £29,000 in 1485 to £42,000 1485 before the Battle of Bosworth
in 1509. First Parliament - Act of Resumption - took lands for the to justify accusing those who fought
crown taken since 1455. against him of treason.
, • Feudal dues - paid by people who held land from the king but § Coronated on 30 October 1485 in
wished to avoid military service. Funds increased from £450 in London before marriage to
1487 to £6000 in 1507. Elizabeth and summoned
parliament for the first time under
Henry VII in November 1485. AFTER
Henry was already king – shows he
does not need parliament for his
legitimacy
§ Marriage to Elizabeth reduced
Yorkist threat.
§ Embarked on a royal progress April
1486
§ Prince Arthur born in September
1486-
§ Rewarded supporters at Bosworth
§ Dealt with threats-
§ Detained Elizabeth of York
Extraordinary revenue
§ Revenue that came from the duty of his subjects of the king to help
him in times of need. Parliamentary grants - taxes were used for
Battle of Stoke in 1487, to go to with with France in 1496 and to
defend against the Scots and Perkin Warbeck.
COUNTER-ARGUMENT
§ Led to rebellion - Yorkshire rebellion (tax to assist Brittany in 1489)
and Cornish rebellion (campaign in Scotland).
§ In these situations the full amounts were not raised due to the
rebellion e.g. only £27,000 out of the £100,000 granted due to
Yorkshire Rebellion.
Conclusion
§ Henry’s financial policy did contribute to his ability to sustain the throne, leading to a succession rule.
§ However it was not the most successful reason for success as it did lead to rebellion, and other factors such as
consolidation and foreign policies enabled Henry to establish a successful rule early on in his reign.
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,Foreign policy was the key reason for Henry VII’s consolidation of power
Introduction- judgement and set out factors
Agree foreign policy was the key reason for his consolidation of power
Agree Disagree
Foreign policy enabled Henry VII to consolidate his The key reason for Henry VII’s consolidation of power
power by removing pretenders to the throne was his control over the nobility
1492- treaty of etaples 1. Attainders= passed 138, withdrew 46
1497- truce of ayton 2. Patronage
1496- intercursus magnus= perkin warbeck (biggest 3. Bonds, Lord burgavenny
threat) 4. Recognisance- earl of Westmoreland – 10,000
1506- Edmund de la pole
T.O.E= 159,000 pension = enhanced prestige
Mini conclusion= Evaluate
This was not always successful as main aim was to
secure a lasting tudor succession. But prince Arthur was
compromised
Overall- effective tool= secured lon lasting peace- varied
success
Henry VII’s defeat of opposition and rebellions was
crucial in consolidating his power.
1. Lovell Stafford rebellion
2. Cornish
3. Yorkshire
4.
Conclusion
Foreign policy played a part- helped to overcome the threat of pretenders particularly warbeck who cost Henry
VII £13,000
The control over nobility was far more significant – If henry were to keep the throne he had to keep subjects
under control= immediate threat.
Loyal nobles helped to provide Henry with defence against rebellions, pretenders and consolidate his position.
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,the main reason Henry VII succeeded in establishing the dynasty was due to the strength of his royal
connections. To what extent do you agree with this statement
Agree Disagree
Descended from Edward III Control of the nobility
§ His mother, Margaret Beaufort, was a direct § Henry aimed to reduce the size of the nobility (only
descendant of Edward III by the marriage of his made one Earl in his reign whereas Edward IV made
third son, John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster to 9).
Katherine Swynford. § The peerage shrunk from 57 nobles to 44.
§ The Marquess of Dorset was made to sign bonds for
COUNTER-ARGUMENT £10,000 to ensure his loyalty after he was
implicated in the Simnel plot. When Henry invaded
§ The fact that his claim came through his mother France in 1492, Henry took the Marquess’ son with
made it weak. him as hostage to ensure he didn’t do anything
§ John and Katherines son, John Beaufort, had been whilst Henry was abroad.
born prior to their marriage which weakened any § Henry VII passed laws against retaining in 1487 and
future claim to the throne by this line of descent. 1504. Nobles had to have a licence to keep armed
men and had to prove that they were only to be
used on the Kings behalf.
§ In 1506 Lord Burgavenny was fined £5 a month per
illegal retainer - it came to a bill of over £70,000.
Henry VII was the half nephew of Henry VI Victory in battle
§ Henry inherited royal blood from his father,Edmund
Tudor. • The fact that he defeated and killed King
§ Edmund’s French mother, Catherine, had been Richard III was regarded as a sign that God had
married to Henry V before she became the wife of approved of Henry’s assumption of power.
Edmund’s Welsh father, Owen. • Henry had support from power people e.g. the
§ Edmund was the half brother of the king, Henry VI. Stanley family - had a private army of around
§ Henry VI raised his half brother to the peerage by 6000 men.
creating Edmund, Earl of Richmond. • He sailed from France with around 2000 men
§ Therefore, Henry VII was the half-nephew of the and by the time he reached the battle field he
king of England and a member of the extended had up to 5000 men.
royal family. • Richard was killed on the Battlefield and Henry
was crowned king.
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,“Henry VII’s financial policies made the most important contribution to his success as a ruler”
Introduction
• Henry VII was able to develop a England from being financially ruined, isolated and a divided country after
the War of the Roses, into a financially stable and united country that sat comfortably within its European
peers.
• Henry was successful in increasing the crowns finances, which is shown by the fact that he had left
£300,000 for Henry VIII at the end of his reign.
• However, Henry’s success as a ruler was not just due to the increase in finances, but also his successful
consolidation of power and foreign policy, and it would be wrong to oversimplify his success down to his
financial policies.
Agree Disagree
Attainders- an act passed by parliament against a person for a crime, or Foreign policy
supported crime, usually reason. It was a way to punish or even
sentence someone to death for a crime without them actually standing § Medina del Campo 1489 - secured
trial. the marriage between Catherine of
§ Issued against people who fought him at Bosworth. He would Aragon and Arthur, agreed not to
reverse them if he felt it would ensure their loyalty. Issued 138 harbour pretenders and not to ally
attainders, withdrew 46 with France, and set up equal
§ Payment needs for reversal, Sir Thomas Tyrell had to pay £1,738 to trading rights for merchants from
reverse his father’s attainder both countries and fixed custom
duties, which tended to favour the
Patronage – the act of granting special favours such as land or positions English merchants.
at court to secure loyalty. Henry = reluctant to use this method = create § Truce of Ayton 1497 - James IV of
to many powerful people. Number of people counted as nobles Scotland didn’t take advantage of
decreased by ¾ England’s weakness during the
Cornish Rebellion and
Attacks on retaining (keeping men for personal armies) impersonation of Warbeck, so
§ House of lords and commons had to swear not to retain illegally signed a peace treaty. There had
§ 1504 nobles had to get permission from the king to get license to been no similar agreement between
retain, fined £5 per month per retainer if not countries since 1328.
Bonds- written agreements where people promised to pay if they failed
to carry out promises. Used to ensure future loyalty
§ Lord Burgavenny was accused of keeping 471 (retaining) and
fined £70,000 however he was placed under a bond of £5000
over 10 years if he was loyal
Recognisances- formal acknowledgement of debt, with understanding
to pay money if obligation is not met. Used to force those who’d
previously shown disloyalty
§ Nobles could be indebted to crown, they must remain loyal or
they’ll get a fine
§ In his last decade, 2/3 nobles in bonds
§ E.g. Thomas grey was seen as untrustworthy, he was required
to transfer all land except 2 to trustees. He is forced to pay
£10,000 recognisance
ordinary revenue Consolidation of power
• Money gained from outside parliament that came in annually. § Dated his reign back to 21 August
• Crown lands income increased from £29,000 in 1485 to £42,000 1485 before the Battle of Bosworth
in 1509. First Parliament - Act of Resumption - took lands for the to justify accusing those who fought
crown taken since 1455. against him of treason.
, • Feudal dues - paid by people who held land from the king but § Coronated on 30 October 1485 in
wished to avoid military service. Funds increased from £450 in London before marriage to
1487 to £6000 in 1507. Elizabeth and summoned
parliament for the first time under
Henry VII in November 1485. AFTER
Henry was already king – shows he
does not need parliament for his
legitimacy
§ Marriage to Elizabeth reduced
Yorkist threat.
§ Embarked on a royal progress April
1486
§ Prince Arthur born in September
1486-
§ Rewarded supporters at Bosworth
§ Dealt with threats-
§ Detained Elizabeth of York
Extraordinary revenue
§ Revenue that came from the duty of his subjects of the king to help
him in times of need. Parliamentary grants - taxes were used for
Battle of Stoke in 1487, to go to with with France in 1496 and to
defend against the Scots and Perkin Warbeck.
COUNTER-ARGUMENT
§ Led to rebellion - Yorkshire rebellion (tax to assist Brittany in 1489)
and Cornish rebellion (campaign in Scotland).
§ In these situations the full amounts were not raised due to the
rebellion e.g. only £27,000 out of the £100,000 granted due to
Yorkshire Rebellion.
Conclusion
§ Henry’s financial policy did contribute to his ability to sustain the throne, leading to a succession rule.
§ However it was not the most successful reason for success as it did lead to rebellion, and other factors such as
consolidation and foreign policies enabled Henry to establish a successful rule early on in his reign.
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,“Despite the need to secure his dynasty, it was the desire to expand England’s overseas trade that underpinned
Henry VIII’s foreign policy”
Introduction
§ Overseas trade was important due to the positive impact it had on the English economy.
§ However, it was less significant than Henry’s want to secure the dynasty and stop pretenders.
Agree Disagree
Overseas trade Foreign policy as a means of stopping pretenders
§ 1489 Treaty of Medina del Campo allowed equal • In 1493 Henry initiated a trade embargo with the
trading rights for merchants between Spain and Netherlands because of its support of Perkin
England and fixed customs duties at a rate that Warbeck.
proved favourable for English merchants. • This led to a severe depression in the cloth industry
§ Maintaining the cloth trade with Burgundy also and hindered English trade and prosperity.
remained a high priority, and the most significant • This suggests that preventing the threat of
set he made towards this was the Intercursus pretenders was a greater desire than improving
Magnus agreement (1496). overseas trade.
§ The Navigation Acts (1485-86) were passed in • Treaty of Etaples: Henry invaded France, despite his
attempt to promote and protect English trade and aversion to war, in order to secure a promise from
thereby break the monopoly enjoyed by the German Charles VII that he would to aid any English rebels,
Hanseatic League. particularly Warbeck.
Secure dynasty through marriage
§ Treaty of Medina Del Campo (1489) Arthur and
Catherine of Aragon.
§ Treaty of Ayton (1502) James IV of Scotland and
Margaret Tudor.
§ These marriages helped secure the succession
because the Spanish and Scottish royal families had
a personal connection with the Tudor dynasty.
§ It shows Henry had been accepted internationally as
the rightful king of England, thus consolidating
authority.
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,“Henry VII showed himself to be a capable ruler in his dealings with Spain in the years 1485 to 1509”
Introduction
Henry did many things to provide evidence for is capable dealings with Spain.
He knew Spain was a powerful state and wisely choose to develop good relations with Ferdinand and his wife
Isabella of Spain.
Agree Disagree
Treaty of Medina Del Campo 1489 Spain:
§ Henry agrees with Spain to begin a joint war § After Arthur died Henry suggested that Catherine
against the French. Marriage between Prince married his second son, Henry VIII.
Arthur and Catherine of Aragon § However, Ferdinand was quite reluctant as the
§ Gave him the international peace he wanted as marriage was now of little use to him, and to have
the two countries agreed on mutual protection in the marriage, a papal dispensation was required.
the face of attack. § This was a rather costly problem.
§ it also ensured neither of them would harbour § Henry didn’t pay much attention to the problem,
pretenders or rebels, which helped secure Henry’s as Ferdinand became less significant of a political
dynasty. figure due to the death of his wife Isabella.
§ It also arranged a marriage between Arthur and
Catherine of Aragon which took place in 1501.
Johanna and Philip of Burgundy Johanna and Philip of Burgundy
§ Burgundy And The Netherlands:1493 Following § Philip died suddenly.
Margaret support for Perkin Warbeck, Henry broke § This allowed Ferdinand to claim that Johanna was
trade relations with burgundy. He was more mad with grief, and it eventually ensured that
concerned with securing is Dynasty then protecting Ferdinand was the regent of Castile.
the commercial interests of London and east coast § Henry had misjudged the power play and had
merchants but embargo harmed both English and ended up diplomatically outsmarted and isolated
Flemish economies by a major European power - shows he is not a
§ Burgundy And The Netherlands: 1496 – Intercursus capable ruler.
Magnus - Due to the Burgundian support for Perkin § Ferdinand also ensured Henry and Catherines
Warbeck Henry VII imposed a trade embargo marriage would not take place until Henry VII’s
against Burgundy in 1493 – English wool was now death, which could have been seen as Ferdinand
imported onto Continent through Calais, Philip of undermining Henry’s right to rule and his autority.
Burgundy retaliated by imposing a trade embargo
against England. As a result, Henry was able to
coerce Philip to sign the Intercursus Magnus in
1496, which secured a more favourable trade deal
between England and the Netherlands, and ended
the trade embargo between the two countries.
One of the key terms of the treaty was that
Margaret of Burgundy could no longer offer
support to English pretenders for fear of losing her
lands within Burgundy.
§ Burgundy And The Netherlands: 1506 – Treaty of
Windsor and Intercursus Mallus - Philip of
Burgundy and Joanna of Castile were shipwrecked
in England in 1506.
§ Henry entertained them for 3 months – secured
advantageous trade deal for England called the
Intercursus Mallus- condition Henry supported
Joanna’s claim to Castile. This was part of a bigger
, treaty which was signed between the nations called
the Treaty of Windsor.
§ By the treaty of Windsor, Henry recognise Phillips
claim to Castille and they promised to assist one
another against rebels
§ Philip handed over the Yorkist Earl of Suffolk who’d
been sheltering in Burgundy to Henry
§ A marriage was arranged between Henry and Philip
sister Margaret this came to nothing. However due
to Philip’s death in 1506, the treaty was never fully
implemented and the Intersercus Magnus was
restored
§ Burgundy And The Netherlands: 1506 Phillips death
lead Ferdinand to deprive his daughter Juana of her
inheritance. The marriage between Catherine and
Henry was jeopardised and did not take place until
June 1509 after Henry VIII’S death
§ Burgundy And The Netherlands: 1507: A third
treaty reverted to the terms of the first Intercursus
Magnus
§ 1508 Henry seventh was diplomatically isolated by
not being a signatory to the league of Cambrai
which was formed by the holy Roman empire,
Spain, France and the papacy
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