Henry vii

• What were the dates of Henry's reign?

  1485-1509
• What problems did Henry have when he came to the throne?

  Some nobles were incredibly wealthy and powerful so they rivalled him; drained the crown's finances; there was poor local administration in some areas and he had a weak claim to the throne.
• What were Henry's aims when he came to the throne?

  Legitimise his claim, rebuild finances, strengthen government and regain control over nobility, and secure the future of his dynasty.
• What did the Council Learned in Law do?

  -deal with financial problems concerning royal lands and rights

  -important in enforcing bonds and recognisances
• How much did Henry use Parliament and why did he use it?

  He used it very little and he used it to help pass controversial policies. and ask for money to fund wars. He only used it 7 times, 5 of which in the first 10 years and none coming in the last 5.
• What was the Star Chamber and when did it begin?

  It was responsible for prosecuting anyone suspected of rebellious activity. It was made up of members of the Royal Council so it could try anyone and generally worked in favour of the king.
• When did Henry's two sons and wife die?

  Edmund died in 1500, Arthur in 1502 and Elizabeth in 1503.
• Give an example of how successful wardships were for increasing crown wealth

  Revenue from wardships went from £350 in 1487 and £6000 in 1507.
• What were attainders?


  Attainders declared individuals of treason without trial, giving all possessions and titles to the King
• Give an example of how successful Henry's economic policy was

  From the beginning to the end of his reign, annual revenue went from £52,000 to £142,000
• Why was Henry so unpopular towards the end of his reign?

  After Henry's sons and wife died he became paranoid about securing his dynasty's future. He was incredibly harsh on the nobles.
• Give an example of how bonds showed the change in Henry's rulership in his final years

  In 1493 bonds brought in £3000 and in 1505 they brought in £35000
• How many attainders were passed during Henry VII's reign and how many were reversed?

  138 were passed and 46 were reversed as he felt he could use it to ensure loyalty.
• Stat to show how successful Henry was at weakening the nobility


  The number of nobles fell by a quarter during his reign
• Who was Warbeck impersonating?

  Richard, Duke of York
• What can be learned from the Simnel rebellion?

  Simnel pretended to by the Earl of Warwick. He struggled to get support in the north which showed how many people were weary of war. Margaret of burgundy supplied 2000 troops which showed she was a threat. Kildare was also proven to be a threat from Ireland given the fact they crowned Simnel Edward VI
• When and what was the Lovell rebellion?

  1486 and Lovell and the Stafford brothers tried to start a rebellion but failed to get support.
• When and what was the Yorkshire rebellion?

  1489 - Parliament granted a tax to raise money for war but those in the north opposed it and killed the Earl of Northumberland when he came to collect it. The Earl of Surrey and his army then put down the rebellion.
• When and what was the Cornish Rebellion?

  1497- Parliament granted taxes to raise funds to defend against invasion from the north (James IV and Warbeck). Got all the way to London with noble support before being put down by Lord Daubney.
• What was Henry's initially approach with foreign policy?

  He wanted to get recognition and he wanted to stabilise his position by forming truces with potentially dangerous neighbours.
• What happened during the Breton crisis in 1489?


  Henry asked for a £100,000 loan from Parliament and took 3000-6000 men to help defend Brittany. In return, France sent more troops to Brittany and received Warbeck.

  • Henry then took 26,000 troops into Brittany, banking on France not wanting a long war because of their increasing involvement in Italy.
• What did Henry do initially to help trade?

  • To the benefit of the Merchant Adventurers, Henry tried to limit the control of the Hanseatic League on trade. The 1485-6 Navigation Acts encouraged the use of English ships to carry goods (e.g only English ships could import wine from France).
• When and what was the Intercursus Magnus?

  • 1496 Intercursus Magnus meant English merchants could trade freely with all parts of Burgundy except Flanders.
• How much had Henry improved trade by the end of his reign?

  • By 1509, English merchants were shipping more than half the cloth exported to Europe and 60% more cloth was being exported then at the start of his reign.
• How did Henry increase trade in Florence and Venice?

  • 1490 treaty meant English wool could be imported to Pisa, the main port in Florence.

  • In fear of losing out on trade to Florence, the Venetian government lifted import duties on English goods which was excellent for trade.
• What was an example of the threat posed by Warbeck in terms of foreign policy?

  • Ferdinand was unwilling to agree to the marriage of Arthur and Catherine due to the threat of Warbeck.
• When and what was the League of Cambrais?


  • 1508 League of Cambrai was an alliance between Spain, France and the Netherlands which isolated England. This could have been a massive threat but fortunately for Henry, they were focusing their attention on Venice.
• Sources of Ordinary Finance

  Crown lands - increased them by taking nobles' land if they died without an heir. Used 1948 Act of Resumption to take back land given away since the War of the Roses

  Tonnage and Poundage - Tax on imports raised £4,000 annually

  Custom duties, feudal dues and profits of justice
• Sources of Extraordinary Finances

  Parliamentary grants, loans and benevolences, clerical taxes, feudal obligations, the French pension and bonds and recognisances
• Henry's aims 


  Domestic - legitimise his claim, rebuild finances, regain control over nobility and secure the Tudor Dynasty

  Foreign - Wanted recognition and confirm position with truces with powerful countries - France, Scotland, Hasberg Empire, Spain
• Sour Relations with Scotland after 1488


  • Accession of James IV ruined 1486 alliance
  • Scotland harboured Warbeck 1495-1497
  • 1497 Truce of Ayton improved relations following Scottish invasion of North England
• Treaties of Henry's reign

  • 1489 Medina Del Campo with Spain - Equal trading rights and fixed customs duties. Agreed marriage of Arthur and Catherine of Aragon
  • 1489 Treaty of Dordrecht with the Habsburg Empire - Ally against France
  • 1492 Treaty of Etaples with France - Henry would leave France for 745,000 crowns
  • 1496 Holy League of Venice - Against France, gained recognition from the Pope.
  • 1497 Truce of Ayton with Scotland - 7-year peace treaty, improved relations
  • 1502 Treaty of Perpetual Peace with Scotland - extended peace
• Simnel Rebellion 1487

  Pretended to be the Earl of Warwick(POTT). Henry had imprisoned Warwick in the Tower, so he was able to parade him around the streets. Simnel's supporters were crushed in the Battle of Stock Field in 1487.