Henry VII

Henry VII

Government-He took advice from men who proved their loyalty rather than those who felt that they should govern due to their title and blood. Offered faster decisions through the expanding judicial activity though the king’s council which would develop in to the courts of the Star Chamber and Requests. He also did the same in regions far from Westminster and set up councils to oversee Wales and the north. Justices of the Peace were more numerous and supervised.

His Privy Council included people from a legal background.

Called Parliament less and less during the end of his reign-could show that he was less reliant on them and so more successful. When it was called, it was for money and to be recognised as King. Used for ensuring social discipline. Served the interests of the monarch

Good: Order of the Garter, Feudal Dues (Edward Duke of Buckingham fined), Patronage (Edmund Dudley was rewarded for good service and became one of Henry’s right hand men) Acts of Attainders (brought in lands and wealth for the Crown)

Economics- Used fined for disobedience or for offences against his rights as a means of political control. He expanded crown lands. Drove up customs by encouraging trade and attacking smuggling. He reformed the taxes. He was the first monarch to legislate against enclosure to defend the common people. Henry was also known for squeezing money everywhere.

Solvency was essential for a king to rule. It also helped to fund patronage.

He used the Chamber system to collect ordinary revenue. This meant that all finance was directly under control of him and it was also quicker.

Henry portrayed the image of being rich.

He had a large and extravagant coronation.

He also gave away large amounts of money to Maximilian-Munificence.

When he died he left a surplus.

However he could have come across as avarice.

Bonds and recognizances (written contracts)

1505-£35,000 from B&Rs

Foreign Policy-He tied his family through marriage into the network of European dynasties and had his say in the politics of Italy, France and the Netherlands, pursuing matters that were in England’s interests. He made the first secure peace with France after the Hundred Years War and also with Scotland after the Scottish Wars of Independence.

Brittany Crisis: He managed to avoid all out war with France. He also formed alliances with other European countries to gain a stronger position.

The Treaty of Medina del Campo was agreed which would see their children married.

The French had to pay 142, 000 crowns

However, Henry’s alliances with Maximilian and Ferdinand were not honoured.

Italy: Henry was able to divert attention in Europe from England.

However in the Castilian succession crisis, England was not asked to join the League of Cambrai.

Religion-He was a Catholic

Opposition-

Pretenders, 1487 Lambert Simnel: Aided by Lincoln and Lovell

Good: He reacted quickly to the plot

Bad: Henry left it too late, such that Lambert Simnel was crowned in Dublin Cathedral.

Henry was too lenient-Lambert SImnel could have poisoned him.

Henry also should not have paraded the real Earl of Warwick given that the Earl had a claim to the throne.

1490s Perkin Warbeck: Aid from Margaret of Burgundy as well as Charles VIII of France, Maximilian and James IV. He was also supported by the Lord Chamberlain. Henry was only alerted of the plot due to his spy network.

Good: Henry was able to successfully defeat the plot using alliances with European countries.

Bad: Warbeck was again aided by Margaret of Burgundy. Henry had not stopped that threat she posed.

Henry caused unrest in Cornwall by raising taxes. Luckily for him, there was not a rebellion but it could have provided the grounds for one.

1501 Edmund De la Pole: Got aid from Maximilian. Henry sent vast sums of money to catch him.

Good: Henry was able to enforce trade bans

Bad: Henry spend a vast amount of money trying to get him back; could have come across as desperate.