Clear and cohesive summary of Henry VII's and Henry VIII's aims in government and the key aspects of their respective governments. Includes evaluation of each of their governances, including historian opinions.
Henry VII and Henry VIII’s Government Notes
Henry VII’s Government
Fifteenth century government was, in effect, personal government by the King and his advisers at
court.
Henry VII’s overarching aims in government:
1) To establish and secure his right to the throne.
2) To strengthen royal government by better control of the nobility.
3) To strengthen the monarchy and the kingdom for the future by ensuring a strong financial
foundation.
Problems facing Henry’s government
1) Nobles whose wealth and territorial power made them potential rivals to the Crown.
2) The uneven control that the Crown had over the kingdom: stronger in the more populated
areas of the south and east, but looser in the borderlands, especially with the lack of
developed system of local administration.
3) The poor finances of the Crown, which had been depleted by wars at home and abroad.
Parliament
Could pass laws and raise taxation for the crown; could also pass Acts of Attainder, which
declared individuals guilty without trial.
Parliament existed but had a minor role in political life- mainly to pass laws that the King
wanted and to vote him additional taxes; they were primarily called to raise extraordinary
taxation in Henry VII’s reign.
Parliament met infrequently and usually not for more than a few weeks or months at a time;
Parliament was called 7 times, 5 of which in the first 10 years of Henry’s reign, mainly for
issues regarding finance and domestic security.
For most of the time, the King ruled by decrees and proclamations.
Parliament pre-dated his reign to the day before the Battle of Bosworth (21st August) and
encouraged Henry to marry Elizabeth, the daughter of Edward IV.
To cement his power further, Henry summoned Parliament in November 1485 and
embarked on a royal progress to the north in April 1486, allowing him to demonstrate his
royal power and presence to his subjects.
The Royal Council
Consultative body comprised of nobles, councillors and burgesses.
It advised the King and made legal judgements.
Henry’s mum, Lady Margaret Beaufort, also had influence over the decisions made.
Called 5 times by Henry between 1487 and 1502.
The Royal Council met when the King needed it and there were no written rules governing
its procedure. During Henry’s reign, the key development was the emergence of
committees of the council to deal with specific matters of policy.
The Privy Council
, Advised the King on matters of state, administration of law and order.
Varied in number and who was present.
Henry rarely presented himself.
Divided into specific councils or committees as necessary.
The Privy Chamber
Established in 1495.
Massive potential for influence on Henry’s decisions.
Did not consist of members of the nobility.
Henry increasingly drew into the Privy Chamber in the last years of his reign.
The Council Learned in Law
The most in(famous) council.
Established in 1495.
Purpose was to ensure that the King received all feudal dues and entitlements and to
supervise the collection of bonds and recognisances; acted as a royal debt collector.
Not a recognised court of law so the people brought before it could not appeal.
Important for raising finances and maintaining the Kings’ authority.
Richard Empson and Edmund Dudley were in charge of it; they were universally hated.
Court and the Royal Household
Royal court was the centre of government.
Wealth was power, so it was magnificent.
Focus of personal monarchy (relationship with the monarch decided the influence you had)
and royal ceremony.
Created a privy chamber following Perkin Warbeck plot and Stanley’s involvement; a closed
area that the King could retreat into.
Star Chamber
Established in 1487 via the Star Chamber Act.
Established tribunal to hear cases against the nobility.
The Star Chamber was originally established to ensure the fair enforcement of laws against
socially and politically prominent people so powerful that ordinary courts may hesitate to
convict them of their crimes.
However, it became synonymous with social and political oppression through the arbitrary
use and abuse of the power it wielded.
Met rarely and died out, though the Council Learned in Law lasted.
Local/regional government: Justices of the peace (JPs)
JPs were appointed annually from among the local landowners, several per county.
They were responsible for maintaining public order, making sure that laws were
implemented and dispensing justice to criminals brought before them.
Four times a year they met all the Quarter Sessions so that they could try those accused of
more serious crimes- all except treason, which was left to the Crown.
JPs did not receive an income for their work as it was felt that part of the responsibility of
being a landowner was to maintain law and order.
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