Henry VII's Control of the Nobility
Henry VII employed various methods to control the nobility and consolidate his power after the Battle of Bosworth. These methods can be categorized into financial measures, legal actions, and strategic appointments.
Financial Measures
Henry VII's government utilized several financial tools to exert control over the nobility:
- Feudal dues: The king enforced traditional feudal rights, including payments for marriages or knightings of royal sons. For example, Katherine, Duchess of Buckingham, was fined approximately £7,000 in 1496 for marrying without a license.
Example: Revenue from wardship and marriage increased from £350 in 1487 to £6,000 in 1507, demonstrating the growing effectiveness of this policy.
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Bonds: These were legal documents that enforced individuals to perform specific actions or pay a certain amount if they failed to do so. The Marquis of Dorset, for instance, was given a £10,000 bond after suspected involvement in the Simnel plot.
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Recognisances: These were formal acknowledgments of debt or other obligations that could be enforced with financial penalties. After the Battle of Bosworth, several earls were fined £10,000 if they showed disloyalty.
Highlight: Henry VII issued 191 recognisances in the first ten years of his reign, indicating the extensive use of this financial tool.
Legal Actions
Henry VII's reforms in government included the use of legal measures to control the nobility:
- Acts of Attainder: These laws allowed the king to charge landowners guilty of rebelling with an Act of Attainder, resulting in the confiscation of their lands and titles. Henry passed 138 Acts of Attainder, with 46 later reversed.
Example: Thomas Howard, Earl of Surrey, was imprisoned and attainted in 1486 for supporting Richard III at Bosworth. However, his loyalty during the Simnel rebellion led to a partial reversal of his attainders in 1489 and a full reversal in 1492.
- Laws against Retaining: Henry passed 51 laws against retaining between 1494 and 1509. Retaining was the practice of nobility recruiting common folk as armed followers and servants.
Vocabulary: Retaining Henry VII refers to the practice of nobles maintaining private armies, which Henry VII sought to curtail through legislation.
Strategic Appointments and Rewards
Henry VII used various methods to reward loyalty and ensure the nobility's support:
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Order of the Garter: This prestigious honor was bestowed upon loyal nobles, such as the Earl of Oxford in 1486 for his support at the Battle of Bosworth.
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Patronage: Henry was more conservative in creating new titles compared to his predecessor, Edward IV. He created only 2 viscounts and 8 barons, with just 3 new peerages including land grants.
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King's Council: The council comprised nobility, churchmen, and laymen, with only 6-7 members on the working council. It met four times a year and played a crucial role in governance.
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Justices of the Peace: These unpaid local gentry worked for prestige and duty to the king. Their powers were increased during Henry's reign, including the ability to arrest poachers and hunters (1485), grant bail (1491), and vet juries (1495).
Highlight: The number of Justices of the Peace increased from 62 in 1485 to 42 in 1509, indicating the expansion of local governance under Henry VII.
In conclusion, Henry VII's reforms in government were limited in scope and success, but they effectively consolidated his power and control over the nobility through a combination of financial, legal, and administrative measures.
