Government under Henry VII
council functions
advice the king
administer the realm
make legal judgements
types of councillors
members of nobility e.g. Lord Daubeney
churchmen e.g. John Morton and Richard Fox
laymen, either gentry or lawyers e.g. Sir Reginald Bray
Council Learned In Law
first led by Bray and Empson, then Empson and Dudley upon Bray's death in 1503
maintained the king's revenue and exploited his prerogative rights, using bonds and recognisances to entrap his subjects
dealt with Crown lands and feudal dues such as wardship and marriage but acted without a jury so wasn't a recogised court of law and was seen as shady
Empson and Dudley created enemies amongst key advisors and general disscontempt from the English people, bringing rejoicing people to the streets upon their downfall
remodelling of the Chamber
in response to the blow from the involvement of Henry's Lord Chamberlain, Sir William Stanley
he created a new Privy Chamber where the king could retreat, protected by the most intimate servants
changed character of the court, making it more difficult for those out of favour to regain Henry's support
he cut himself off from much of the king's traditional contacts at court
parliaments
Henry demonstrated his right to rule by calling his first parliament early in the reign - Nov 1485
star chamber
the early parliaments were largely concerned with issues of national security and raising revenue
5/7 parliaments were called in first 10 years, with 2 in the last 14
138 Act of Attainders passed, declaring the landowners guilty of rebelling, losing the noble title and land, his heirs disinherited and sometimes were beheaded
Tonnage and poundage was customs revenue for the whole reign from imports and exports
46 were reversed if the nobles paid large amounts
created by Star Chamber Act - 1487
responsible for prosecuting anyone who was rebellious or lawless
contain members of royal council so they could summon even great nobilmen before it
however, some historians say that Henry made little use of it, preferring to control subjects financially
maintenance of law and order
low number of magnates due to Wars of Roses and land taken by Crown, leaving Henry without someone to exercise power on his behalf in northeast and Yorkshire after death of Northumberland
Henry released Earl of Surrey from the Tower to rule the north, where he proved his loyalty through effective service for 10 years
he also had a network of spies to report on magnate performance, especially in those whom he didn't trust e.g. Marquis of Dorset
JPs were used in the countryside to maintain peace, law and order
often, local gentry, either out of sense of duty or hope for greater advancement or prestige
various Acts of Parliament were passed to increase the powers and responsibilities
responsible for administration such as tax assessment, investigation of complaints against officials and alehouse maintenance
bonds and recognisances
forcing subjects to take these out was main way of restoring law and order, with some as a result of genuine debts owed to the Crown
yet many were purely political, being used to enforce order and obedience in a morally dubious system
sources of revenue
crown lands
income dropped to £12,000 per year due to income from lands being collected through Court of Exchequer, exemplifying Henry's inexperience with these financial matters
increased to £42,000 per year as he reverted to Edward's system on administration through the Chamber, where it was achieved by Sir Thomas Lovell and Sir John Heron
pursuit of feudal rights were tightened, leading to an increase in profits from wardship and a feudal aid granted in 1504
pensions from other powers including a £5000 pension from France due to 1492 Treaty of Etaples
annual revenue form this increased from £34,000 to £38,000 over the course of the reign
profits of justice: fines from bonds brought income
extraordinary revenue
often represented a potential rather than actual asset
£200,000 was promised to Henry 1504-1507 but not all collected
Henry received over £400,000 from extraordinary taxation
yet it came at a price, provoking rebellions in 1489and 1497
Henry had to promise Parliament of 1504 not to raise any more money in this method
limiting power of the nobility
bonds placed them in debt so they remained loyal
e.g. Lord Burgavenny was convicted and fined £70000 in 1507 and couldn't go on his family lands until it was paid
attainders allowed him to seize the land of suspected disloyal and meant they were declared guilty without trial
retaining allowed nobles to keep a personal staff of enforcers
patronage (land distribution to followers) was reduced
vacant lands were absorbed into Henry's personal domain, making him largest landowner and ensuring no nobles were potential threats
nobility numbers fell 1/4 due to deaths and attainders
laws in 1487 and 1504 made it so they couldn't retain large numbers without a licence from the king
however, some e.g. Northumberland got around the laws as evidence was hard to find
Council Learned in Law acted as a royal debt collector