Henry VII

• Lambert Simnel (1487)

  The aim was to replace Henry with Yorkist rule

  Impersonated the Earl of Warrick and was crowned King in Ireland in May 1487

  Henry minimizes the threat by reinstating the Earl of Northumberland and developed a policy of using bonds for good behavior which won over some Yorkists.

  Henry then won the Battle of Stoke Field in 1487 which effectively ended the War of the Roses and made his position more secure.
• Perkin Warbeck (1)


  In 1491 he impersonated Richard, Duke of York

  1495 he attempted to land in England but failed and then fled to James IV

  1496 he attempted to invade with a small Scottish army but retreated and James IV agreed to marry Margret. Truce of Ayton in 1497.
• Perkin Warbeck (2)


  1497 tried to exploit the Cornish rebellion but failed and he was sent to the tower of London and then 1499 he was executed by the Earl of Warrick.

  The patronage given to Warbeck made him a serious threat and showed how fragile Henry’s position was considered by foreign rulers. Involvement with the conspiracy of Sir William Stanley shows how vulnerable Henry was even within his own household.
• The Nobility and Retainers


  Many of them had stronger claims to the throne than Henry.

  With the Nobility having so many retainers it meant they weren't fully controlled by the Crown and would mean that Henry VII had less power over them making him look weaker as a leader.

  Henry passed an act through parliament called 'Act of Retainment'.

  This was a good way of maintaining control, however too much was at stake for the crown if it went wrong
• The Nobility and Acts of Attainder


  This was where he would reduce the estates and land of Yorkists that had fought against him in Bosworth and build up the Crowns land.

  Moreover, Henry VII reduced his amount of patronage. This lack of generosity resulted in him having more land and meant he could reward Nobility with generosity for loyalty.

  Too much resumption would make them unhappy.

  Henry had no control over marriages between two wealthy families. This kept the land in the family rather than it being forfeited to the crown – this caused a lot of land that Henry had no control over.
• Succession


  Henry needed to establish the line of succession.

  He arranged his coronation for a week before the first meeting of his parliament to show his right to the throne was hereditary and not just based on Parliamentary sanction.

  He married Elizabeth of York to unite the Lancastrian and Yorkist houses and then used royal propaganda to exploit the union of the houses of Lancaster of York.

  Finally in September 1486 he had an heir Prince Arthur
• Marriage of James IV and Margret 


  Support could not be guaranteed, supported France.

  1486 arranged three-year peace with James III.

  Perkin Warbeck was a huge threat to Henry, and he fled to Scotland.

  In 1496 he invaded with a small Scottish army and England retaliated with an invasion of Scotland leading to the Cornish rebellion. 1497 Truce of Ayton.

  Henry diminished the threat of Scotland by arranging a marriage between James IV and his daughter Margret in 1503. Treaty of perpetual peace 1502.
• Marriage between Catherine of Aragon and Arthur


  Protect himself against France. Treaty of Medina Del Campo in 1489

  Offer support to each other, not harbor rebels and not to make agreements with France without consulting the other.

  A marriage between Arthur and Catherine of Aragon

  Perkin Warbeck threatened England, which showed how fragile Henry’s position was considered by others. Fernando didn’t want to go ahead with the unrest in England.

  The marriage happened in 1502, but was successful after Isabella of Spain died Henry had no interest in relations with Spain.
• Exploration


  Navigation acts in 1485 and 1486 which was within a year of Henry coming to the throne which shows how high priority this was.

  Exploration would help establish a Tudor legacy and Henry wanted to increase this.

  He supported the adventures of Sebastian and John Cobot however this achieved very little.

  Furthermore, he supported English merchant adventures.

  To boost England’s ship building industry he made it so only English ships could bring certain goods to English ports.
• Trade


  Aimed to defend English trading interests

  England was largely agricultural

  The coal and iron industries were small compared to the cloth trade (90%)

  Cloth was exported to the Netherlands and Henry recognized the importance of trade so maintained good relations.

  1496 Magnus Intercuraua, trade treaty that also closed the Netherlands to Henry's Dynastic rivals, a major treaty
• Yorkshire Tax Rebellion 


  1489

  Henry sent 12K troops to Brittany and Parliament granted him 100K.

  Response to the taxes needed to fund Henry's war in Brittany.

  War in Brittany did not effect them directly and the rebellion was in response to the high level of taxation that would not affect them.
• Cornish Tax Rebellion


  1497

  High taxes were needed to fund northern marches against James IV invasion from Scotland on behalf of Warbeck. This was a geographical factor as the locality to Scotland was the cause of the problem and the reason for rebellion.

  Parliament granted Henry £120K and 2 fifteenths and tenths which was the largest sum ever levitated by the King.

  The local issue with this was that he interfered with the tin mining industry which was central to local industries and authorities.
• Attainders


  Special laws passed by parliament without a trial.

  Henry used these against any nobles who were suspected of any disloyalty.

  Would have land taken away which would increase the finances of the Crown.

  Also reversed Attainders as he believed this would secure the future loyalty of the Noble.
• Patronage


  Less common under Henry VII.

  Henry only used this method a few times to reward the supports of the battle of Bosworth.

  Didn't want to reward too many people so he didn't have new nobles with power.

  Led to the number of Nobles falling.
• Retaining


  Henry did many attacks on retaining.

  Where Nobles kept many men who did what the Nobles wanted.

  Nobles had to gain a special license, for every Noble hidden a £5 fine was placed.

  Many Nobles found ways of avoiding fines.
• Financial Controls


  Demanded a financial loan from many of the Nobles.

  By the end of his reign 36 of the Noble families were under bonds.

  These placed for Noble in debt so they had to remain loyal to the crown in future.

  The Council Learned in Law was set up to deal with fiscal matters but later used as a legal device to investigate and collect debts.
• Farming


  90% of the population lived in rural areas.

  Much of agriculture was under the system of open field husbandry.

  Where it was divided into strips where people could keep animals and crops.

  However, the issue of enclosure where land was fenced off ended the common right of Land.

  Anti-enclosions law in 1489 which made little difference but enclosed land did not increase.
• Farming


  After the black death income from land had decreased.

  There was a lack of profit from arable farming and had to go to sheep farming due to the demand for wool but it left many peasants very poor.
• Government


  Monarchy was at the center of the Tudor Government.

  Next part was the Council of around 6 or 7 people. Included members of Nobility, Gentry, Churchmen or Lawyers.
• Functions of Council


  Advise the King

  Make legal judgements

  Look after the Countrys
• Council


  Importance many relied on key members and the offshoot Council Learned of Law.

  No official rules in the Council but it was a permanent body.
• John Morton


  Helped warn Henry about Richard III.

  Made Lord Chancellor when Henry became King.

  1486 became Archbishop.

  1493 became Cardinal.

  Extremely talented in financial matters and encourage the Nobility to offer loans to the crown.
• Sir Reginald Bray 


  Had been faithful to Henry VII for a very long time.

  Helped him raise money for the battle of Bosworth.

  Chancellor of the dutchy of Lancaster. Significant property that offered extra revenue to the crown.

  Administered Henry's Will
• Sir Richard Empson and Edmund Dudley


  Member of the Kings Council from 1494

  Chaired the Council Learned in Law and became the Duchy of Lancaster in 1504.

  Him and Edmund Dudley created a network of spies and informers who looked for misdeeds among the wealthy. This would make the rich suffer financially which would benefit the Crown.
• The Great Council


  House of Lords and House of Commons

  Met up very infrequently.

  Not an essential part of the Council
• Council of Learned in Law


  Extremely effective

  Designed to manage the King's fiscal matters

  Also designed to exploit the King's perogative

  Introduced the system of Bonds but many of these cases were falsified

  Although this was effective it was illegal
• Royal Court


  Center of the Court