Parliament

Parliament played a role in Henry VII's government, though it met infrequently and was not central to governance. The House of Lords was considered more important than the House of Commons.

Key points about Parliament under Henry VII:

1. Only the king could call Parliament
2. Henry called his first parliament after his coronation in November 1485
3. He called a total of 7 parliaments during his reign
4. Parliament was used less frequently as Henry felt more secure in his reign

Example: Henry called 5 parliaments in his first 10 years, but only 2 in the remaining 14 years of his reign.

Henry's early parliaments were mainly concerned with:

1. National security
2. Raising revenue

Highlight: Parliament passed numerous acts of attainder, where individuals were declared guilty without trial and their property was forfeited to the crown.

Vocabulary: Tonnage and poundage were customs duties granted to the monarch by Parliament, typically for life.

Parliament generally operated effectively under Henry VII, with the king accepting its decisions.

Domestic Policy

Maintaining law and order was essential for Henry VII to prevent uprisings and rebellions. He implemented a system of regional and local government to achieve this goal.

Regional Government:

• Controlled by the nobility
• Great magnates were powerful mainly in the north of England
• Henry VII preferred to rely on lesser magnates

Example: The Stanleys controlled the northwest, while the Earl of Northumberland ruled the northeast until 1489.

Local Government:

• Justices of the Peace (JPs) were responsible for local administration
• JPs were local gentry who met four times a year
• Their responsibilities included routine administration, tax assessments, and maintaining law and order

Highlight: JPs helped Henry VII rule the country by maintaining law and order on a smaller scale and supporting the king.

Definition: Justices of the Peace (JPs) were local officials appointed by the monarch to maintain law and order in their respective areas.

The Council and Council Learned in Law

Henry VII's government relied heavily on advisory bodies to administer the realm and make legal judgments. The main council consisted of 6-7 members, including nobles, churchmen, and laymen.

Highlight: The council was a permanent body, but members often met privately to discuss legal or administrative issues.

The Council Learned in Law was a specialized body that developed during the second half of Henry VII's reign. Its primary functions were:

1. Maintaining the king's revenue
2. Exploiting prerogative rights
3. Implementing the system of bonds and recognizances

Example: Edmund Dudley and Richard Empson, key figures in the Council Learned in Law, were known for their ruthless extraction of money, which caused widespread unpopularity.

Vocabulary: Prerogative rights were special powers and privileges belonging to the monarch.

Court and Household

The court was the center of government and a focus for personal monarchy. A person's power was determined by their relationship with the monarch, and rewards and status were given to deserving courtiers.

The court comprised:

1. The household proper, responsible for looking after the king, courtiers, and guests
2. The chamber, presided over by the Lord Chamberlain

Highlight: After the Lord Chamberlain's betrayal in the Perkin Warbeck imposture, Henry VII remodeled the chamber into the Privy (Private) Chamber.

This change had several implications:

• The king was protected by his more intimate servants when he retreated
• It became more difficult for those out of favor to regain the king's trust
• The king was cut off from many of his traditional contacts at court

Definition: The Privy Chamber was a private area within the royal household, serving as the monarch's personal living space and office.