Government

• The Great Council was a meeting of the House of Lords without the House of Commons that kept the nobility bound to issues of national security in order to prevent them from rebellion It only met 5 times during Henry VII's reign.
• The Council Learned in the Law was led by Sir Reginald Bray and met in the Duchy of Lancaster.
• The Council learned was responsible for maintaining the system of bonds and recognisances, but were not a recognised body of law, meaning that those accused had no right to appeal.
• After the death of Bray, Empson and Dudley took over leadership of the Council Learned, giving it a reputation for shady work with their actions.
• The Court and Household Government moved with the King and were intended to show off his power and influence. It was a place for entertainment and socialising as well as gaining opportunities of support from powerful people.
• The Privy Chamber was like Henry's personal treasury. Only select few individuals were allowed inside and he often used it to keep a close eye on the country's finances.
• The Court of Starchamber was a Court used to put nobility on trial who wouldn't be convicted in their areas due to their power and influence. It was massively unpopular with the upper classes but popular with the poorer people.
• Parliament was only called 7 times during Henry VII's reign, most often in the first 12 years of his reign. However evidence suggests that he respected its decisions unlike his son.
• In terms of Domestic Policy, Henry's main aim was controlling the nobility and centralising his power.
• Most of the Greater magnates died during the Wars of the Roses, leaving only Northumberland and the Stanleys. Henry released the Earl of Surrey from the tower of London to rule the north on his behalf and this was successful because he remained loyal.
• Mostly, Henry was forced to rely on individuals such as the Earl of Oxford and Lord Daubeney who had less resources than the Greater Magnates did.
• Justices of the Peace were appointed on a county by county basis and met up 4 times a year. Their responsibilities included tax assessments, collecting taxes, investigating local officials, keeping the peace and administering the law.
• Henry VII used Acts of Parliament to increase the number and powers of JP's
• Sources of income included Crown lands, feudal dues, royal prerogatives, custom revenue, profits of justice and extraordinary revenue
• Henry was the largest landowner next to the church
• 1489 Statue of Uses cut out potential loophole for avoidance of charge
• Henry was granted tonnage and poundage for life by parliament early in his reign.
• The Treaty of Etaples pension added £5000 yearly to Henry's income
• He gained £400,000 from extraordinary revenue but had to stop due to rebellion
• Henry gained a Parliament subsidy of £75,000 in 1489 and the Convocation of canterbury added another £25,000 on behalf of the clergy.