Breadth topic 1
Changing the relationship between crown and the nobility: overmighty subjects
1399 -1509
Were major landholders more important as props to the crown or as potential rivals
According to Sir John Fortesque, a leading 15ht century judge, it was the role of the king to ‘maintain
the peace both outward and inward.’ This refers to outward threat of foreign invasion and inward
threat of rebellions, over mighty nobles ect.
A king needed to demonstrate his authority through two different methods:
- Military ability, by personally leading successful armies against rebels within England or
against foreign forces
- Assert his positions as a judge, in the sense as being head of the legal system therefore
crimes committed were against the kings peace.
The personality of the king was important in this period. The reign of Henry VI proved how
inadequate the political system was with an inactive king. It was essential for both inward and
outward peace that delegating authority to others, especially noblemen, was essential. Major
landowners had key roles in terms of communication (keep the king informed about the going on of
that area) and to carry out the the kings wishes as well as making sure they were being enforced.
Nobles were also required to raise troops from their tenants when the king required it.
It could be argued that the changing relationship between lords and their followers have often been
held responsible for the disorder and bloody reputation of 15 th century England.
Land and offices of the state
The personality of the king and the relationship with the leading nobles were at the heart of the
medieval political system, however, there was also a number of key government departments.
- Exchequer: dealt with the matters of royal finance and was headed by the treasurer
- The chancery: legal section of government, wrote up important legal documents such as
royal charters. Head of chancery was chancellor and position was mostly held by bishops
- Office of the pricy seal: reflected growing bureaucratisation of the chancery
- The kings chamber: government department which was headed by a chamberlain who had
considerable control over who could see the king and how royal finances were spent.
These departments dealt with bureaucratic matters, but for decisions of national importance such as
defence, it was expected that the king would take advice from group councillors, mainly made up of
noblemen.
- The great council: made up of any of the lords who serviced in parliament and who were
available to give advice, that meant it was a larger body with upwards of 125 men. This
council could be called at greater speed than Parliament with less formalities.
- The continual council: much smaller group of the kings closest advisors which dealt with
everyday governance of the realm. In 1377, when Richard II came to the throne, the council
seems to have been more formalised.
Key officers of state were appointed by the king and served as members of his household, they
moved around with him but also were landowners in their own right. Many of these roles had
financial responsibility (eg chancellor) but other posts were responsible for security.
Importance of king taking good advice was widely recognised by contemporaries, and it was crucial
that the monarchs did not listen to a narrow set of views
, - In 1406, Henry IV was critisced by parliament and he was pressured to remove knights from
councils and to rely more strongly on landowners.
The advice leading nobles gave was not above criticism and it was considered dangerous is a small
clique was dominating a weak king
- This was one of the major critics of against Henry VI, who was widely regarded as being
dominated by the Duke of Somerset and Suffolk
The king communicated his will to the regions formally through royal proclamation, which was
legally biding. Laws were enforced locally, not only be nobles, but also through the gentry, sheriffs or
Justices of the Peace.
Church patronage:
The church had enormous influence, not only in terms of religion, but also in regard to the control of
land and political influence. The church was an institution that was staffed by two groups; the
regular clergy and the secular clergy.
- As an institution, the church owned large amount os land
- Considerable friction between church and crown due to ability to give sanction for 28 days
as well as having tax exemptions
- The church rain its own law courts, which were often more lenient and could not impose the
death penalty.
Relations with papacy
Prior to the reformation, all churches in England were Roman Catholic and, in theory, the Catholic
clergy’s first allegiance was not to the king but the pope.
- The pope had considerable political influence as he could grant or withhold his religious
approval to a king
- The benefits of papal approved were evident
o In 1485, when Henry Tudor claimed the throne, he was assisted by a legal document
from Pope Clement VII which publicly stated that in the eyes of the Church, he was
the rightful king
- The pope was also important in regard to marrying within prohibited degrees of
consanguinity (marrying blood relation such as cousin)
- Papal dispensation were necessary to ensure these important political matches were legal
Church careers and political advancement
High ranking church positions were often sought after for those seeking a public career. Some
members of the gentry found them particularly useful
- For example, William Wykeham, whose only claim to gentility was being grandson of a
Hampshire knight became bishop of England and chancellor of England through royal and
church patronage
Over- mighty subjects and under mighty monarchs: noblemen as necessary props to the
crown but also potential rivals
