20664857
| Question | Answer |
| Central government What were its functions? | - To advise the king over matters of state. - To administer law and order. - To act in a judicial capacity. |
| Central government Who made up of the King's Council? How many councillors were there? | - The king and the men he chose to sit on his council. - Total of 227 councillors, not more than 150 at one time. - Many rarely attended meetings. - When all active members were present, it totalled 40. |
| Central government How was it effective? | - Henry relied on a small, core group of councillors who met with the king regularly. - This included John Morton, Richard Fox, Lord Privy Seal, Lord Treasurer, etc... - These men gave stability to the new regime because Henry kept them in power for so long. (Morton = 14 years, Lord Privy Seal = 22 years) - Henry used smaller committees formed from within the council. E.g. Court of General Surveyors, Council Learn in the Law, etc...) |
| Council Learn in the Law What was it? When was it created? What was its role? What members did the council make up of? | - Small professional body - Most members had some sort of legal training or experience. - Council came into being in 1495. - Defended the king's position as a feudal landlord. - Responsible for keeping up to date with wardship, marriage, and relief and collection of feudal dues that were owed to the king. |
| Council Learned in the Law Why was it widely despised? | - Council operated without a jury. - Hated because of its connection with bonds and recognisances (it supervised the collection of these financial agreements). - Empson and Dudley enforced royal rights. - The harsh enforcement by Empson and Dudley was bitterly resented. - They were so hated that under Henry VIII, they were executed. |
| The personnel of government How were they different under Henry VII? | - Most important members came not from the Church or nobility, but from the gentry. - Some historians refer to the group as 'middle class' (lower in degree than the nobility but higher than the masses) - Steven Gunn dubs them as the 'New men' |
| The personnel of government Clerics | - Largest social grouping (accounted for about half of the total membership between 1485 and 1509) |
| Regional government Council in the North | - Council in the North was closely linked to the main council, enjoying administrative and judicial power that enabled law to be enforced swiftly and efficiently. - Subordinate to the king. - Henry ensured members of the council were appointed by him. - Sever kept regular contact with Sir Reginald Bray in London, with whom he worked closely to ensure the smooth running of the north. |
| Regional government The Council in Wales and the Marches | - Henry appointed his uncle, Jasper Tudor, to govern Wales. - Later, in 1493, he revived the council, appointing his 7 year old son Arthur as its nominal head as Prince of Wales. - His family links and Welsh connections secured his positions and ensured support. - Appointed Welshmen to key positions in Wales. - Henry therefore governed directly, and indirectly, a large portion of Wales. |
| Regional government The Council of Ireland | - 1492: the Earl of Kildare recognised Perkin Warbeck's claim to the throne. - So the king deprived him of his position as Lord Deputy. - 1494: Henry made his infant son Prince Henry, Lord Lieutenant and appointed Sir Edward Poynings as deputy. - Poynings task = to bring the most rebellious areas under the king's control and to impose a constitution that would ensure future obedience to the English crown. - 1494: Poynings succeeded in establishing a constitution. It became known as Poynings' Law. - This meant that the Irish Parliament could pass laws only with king's approval. - Any law made in England would apply to Ireland. - This gave the king greater control over Ireland by destroying the independent legislative power. - This was only effective in the short term. - Soon the plan was abandoned, due to expenses, and so Kildare was reinstated as Lord Deputy. |
| Local government The sheriffs and justices of the peace | - JPs owed their offices to the king - Power of JPs increased, sheriffs declined - Sheriff were to be the eyes and ears of the monarch and had responsibility for the conduct and management of parliamentary elections. - JPs met and dispensed justice in local courts. - For serious offences, the JPs sent criminals to senior courts (Courts of Assize) |
| Weakness of local government | - King dependent on the goodwill of his officials. - His only control over them was the threat of removal from commission of the peace if they acted improperly. |
| Parliament How often was it used? Why? | - 24 years of Henry's reign -> Parliament summoned only 7 times - This is because Henry did not need to ask for war taxes often, he did not wish to stain the loyalty of his subjects, and did not feel the need to initiate legislation on a large scale. |
Want to create your own Flashcards for free with GoConqr? Learn more.