The Council Learned [in the law]

• An offshoot of the council, this body developed during the 2nd half of Henry's reign, initially under Bray.
• Its function was to maintain the king's revenue and exploit his prerogative rights.
• It made the system of Bonds and Recognisances work effectively, thus helping to ensure loyalty and raise finance.
• It was not a recognised court of law and there was no right to appeal against it.
• This council was important in maintaining Henry's authority as well as raising finance.
• Bray's associate in the Council Learned was Sir Richard Empson - a fiercely ambitious lawyer and bureaucrat.
• After Bray's death in 1503, Empson was joined by Edmund Dudley.
• Empson and Dudley were able conscientious bureaucrats (trained at Gray's inn), whose ruthless extraction of money from the King's subjects made them feared and unpopular, and created enemies out of some of the King's other advisers. They were removed and executed in 1510 after Henry's death...