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England in 1485, and Henry's consolidation (What was England like?…
England in 1485, and Henry's consolidation
What was England like?
3 million people, with 90% living in rural communities. Towns were small with large towns such as Norwich only inhabiting 12,000 people. Some counties such as Suffolk had no large towns. London had a population of 60,000 people.
Farming
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Enclosure, the fencing off of fields, was just beginning
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Industry
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Monarch gained money through customs duties, as cloth was exported to Netherlands, Spain and Venice.
Monarch
Great Chain of Being had been ordered by God, and this was widely accepted, though the Divine Right theory hadn't been fully set out
Nobles were relied upon, with just over 50 at this time
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Church in 1485
Community
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Louth in Lincolnshire raised £305 to build their church, with 2/3 of churches being built or rebuilt in the 15th century
Church helped to bring the community together, with every villager often attending. The Church introduced days when the routine was broken, these often involving drinking and dancing
Clergy were often corrupt, with pluralism and the vows of celibacy being broken. Many were also ignorant, not able to recite the Lords prayer
Politics
The church used their own laws and trials to decide the fate of the guilty, or whether those accused were guilty. This was used for the clergy and some criminals. Sanctuary could also be claimed
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Churchmen often worked as administrators due to their education, with many advisers to the King also being clergymen
Henry VII
Character and Aims
As G. Elton said, Henry was 'undoubtedly shrewd, calculating and long headed'. He was also 'eager for money', though not a 'miser', with 'high intelligence and determination'.
Consolidation
Henry was instantly declared king after his victory over Richard the third at the Battle of Bosworth by Lord Stanley
He declared that he had been king on the 21st of August, one day before the victory, so he could punish his enemies using acts of attainder
He first rewarded his supporters after their victory, then sent royal proclamations, also sending Sir Richard Willoughby to capture Warwick and Elizabeth of York
He then stopped at St Albans to prepare for a triumphant entrance into London, and appointed Yorkists such as Thomas Rotherham, who was archbishop of York, into positions of power. Rotherham was treasurer.
Strengths of these actions?
- Yorkists being appointed ensured a smooth transition of power as they were experienced, and ensured unity.
- Proclamations being sent straight away showed his power and intent
- Immediate threats were quashed when Warwick and Elizabeth were captured
- Marriage to Elizabeth of York
Henry had promised to marry her in 1483, but finally married her in 1486, 5 months after his coronation. This shows his self assured feelings, along with the importance of his other tasks.
They were blood relations - distant cousins - so needed permission to marry from the Pope and bishops
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Henry married her on the 18th of January 1486, and she was crowned in 1487 after the birth of Arthur
Strengths of these actions?
- Marrying into the York house, unifying the two houses
- Papal permission showed how pious he was
- Popular marriage unifying the houses after so much war
- Dynastic - heirs!
Took place on the 30th of October - done very early, showing his intent and authority.
His coronation was very much like Richards before him, with a very grand appearance, wearing robes and fancy decorative items such as ostrich feathers
Despite this show, royal accounts show he looked for the best prices - willing to spend and save
His coronation followed strict traditions with the Archbishop of Canterbury dining with the king a few days before - grand processions also took place to the Tower of London, where it was traditional of the king to stay.
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Strengths of these actions?
- Shows his divine power, winning on the battlefield and being coronated. As a usurper, Henry was worried.
- Shows understanding of kingship with traditions
- Grand event shows he is a true king with the image of a king
- Rewarding his loyal supporters
Although he copied Richards traditional coronation, Richard was unpopular - a coronation didn't mean everything!
Held in November after his coronation, he needed parliament to pass Acts and Oaths. It lasted 5 weeks.
Henry had issued for parliament early in order to show his intent, but he also needed parliament to confirm his rule
Parliament did a number of things for Henry:
- They made a statement that Henry was king by divine appointment and title
- Reversed laws made by Richard that made Edwards children illegitimate for the throne, meaning that he could have a stronger claim to the throne after marrying Elizabeth
- Acts of Attainder were placed on enemies
- Financial acts were passed, allowing Henry to reclaim land owned by Henry VI before the war, and passed the Act of Resumption, allowing Henry to live off customs duties Tunnage and Poundage
- Passed oaths of loyalty, the final act asked Henry to marry to secure a dynasty
Strengths of these actions?
- Quick acting - intent
- Declared by parliament he is king
- Enables him to gain a stronger claim to the throne, strength and land
Punishes enemies
- A more peaceful time for England - Henry looking for stability
Rebellions and security
Lovell Rebellion, 1486
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Aims - possibly to overthrow Henry and put a Yorkist king on the throne, but their aims were vague
Events - The supporters of Richard fled after Bosworth and Lovell attempted to gain support in the North Riding of Yorkshire while the Staffords tried in the Midlands. Both strong Richard III/Yorkist areas
Outcome - Staffords were both arrested with Humphrey being executed. Lovell met Jasper Tudor but was crushed, managed to escape to Europe
Serious?
- Lovell a very staunch Yorkist
- Rebellion early in reign away from kings seat of power
Not serious?
- Yorkists were surprisingly unwilling to give their support
- Both minor nobles with no figurehead, aim, large army or foreign support
Lambert Simnel
Led by Simnel, posing as the War of Warwick, along with John de la Pole and the Earl of Lincoln
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Events - Lincoln flees from Henry's court to join Lovell at Margaret of Burgundy's in the Netherlands, persuading 2000 mercenaries to invade England, being paid for by Margaret. Kildare also agrees to donate some troops. They land in Lancashire and march to Stoke where the battle takes place
Outcome - rebels defeated by the Earl of Oxford, Lincoln dies and Lovell shortly after
Serious?
- Foreign support from Kildare and Margaret, the latter of who hates Henry
- Gains reasonable support from the north, with high noblemen
- 8000 well armed troops
- Lasting months and ending with a battle
Not serious?
- Earl of Oxford lead 12000 men into battle, inflicting a heavy defeat
- Yorkists still not very enthusiastic due to Kildare support - rivalry between English and Irish
- Warwick was held by Henry and displayed, making Simnels claim illegitimate
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