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Henry VII Domestic policy - chapter 2 - Coggle Diagram
Henry VII Domestic policy - chapter 2
maintenance of order
problems with law and order could lead to uprisings or rebellions and Henry was always concerned about potential enemies exploiting weaknesses to challenge his authority
relied on well placed members of the nobility to exercise power on his behalf
number of magnates had been reduced in the wars of the roses and their land had fallen into the hands of the crown.
magnate control was largely confined to the north of England - had the Stanleys in the north west and the earl of northumberland in the north east and Yorkshire (although he was killed by an uprising, Henry placed the earl of Surrey in that area
Henry had to rely on some who he did not trust - marquis of Dorset, and his lack of trust was demonstrated in the spying network to monitor magnate performance and the imposition of bonds and recognises
Justices of the peace
local level
maintained law and order in countryside
appointed on a county basis, met four times a year to administer justice through quarter sessions
most JPs were local gentry who fulfilled their unpaid tasks either out of a sense of duty or because they believed that doing so would open the path to greater advancement or local prestige.
various acts of parliament were passed to increase the powers of JPs - became responsible for tax assessments, alehouse regulation, investigation of complaints against local officials and maintenance of law and order
Bonds and recognisances
bond - legal document which bound an individual to another to perform an action or forfeit a specified sum of money if they failed to do so.
recognisances - a formal acknowledgement of a debt or other obligation which could be enforced by means of financial penalty
judicial system - areas of jurisdiction
church courts - church adiministration, offences committed by clergy, proving of wills, marriage issues, moral offences
manor courts - landowning, rights and responsibilities of landlords and tenants, use of common land
borough courts - medieval training standards, specific judicial rights
kings courts at county level - assizes: held twice a year to deal with major criminal and civil cases, presided over senior Westminster judges. quarter sessions: held four times a year, presided over by JPs, less important criminal cases as well as civil and admin affairs. Special commissions: set up on an ad hoc basis to deal with major issues such as rebellion
kings common law courts- kings bench: superior criminal jurisdiction. common pleas: dealt with major civil cases. exchequer: dealt with issues relating to royal revenues.
chancery and other equity courts: exercised jurisdiction on the basis of equity(fairness) rather than on a strict reading of the common law
improving royal finances
sources of royal income
crown lands
profits from feudal dues
exercise of the royal prerogative
customs revenue
pensions from other powers
profits of justice
extraordinary revenue