1. The Government of Henry VII
Governing The Realm
The Government of Henry VII

2. Parliament Called intermittently, as needed
Acts of Parliament – statue laws – best laws
Agreement of lords spiritual, temporal and key commoners
Established part of government
But not necessary for King to govern
Called intermittently, as needed
Primarily to raise extra-ordinary taxation
Also granted customs duties for life
Pass Acts of Attainder
Pass important laws – consent of political classes

3. Henry VII’s Parliaments
7th November 1485 – 4th March 1486
Customs duties for life
Establish Henry VII’s reign from 21st August 1485
Acts of Attainder (after Bosworth)
9th November – 18th December 1487
Acts of Attainders (after Stoke)
Establish new court
‘Star Chamber’ (misnomer)

4. Henry VII’s Parliaments
13th January 1489 – 27th February 1490
England went to the aid of Brittany
Against France
Taxation led to …
Northern Rebellion
Acts of Attainder
17th October 1491 – 5th March 1492
Funding for Expedition against Charles VIII of France
Concerns over Perkin Warbeck

5. Henry VII’s Parliaments
14th October – 21st / 22nd December 1495
Perkin Warbeck
After attempted landing in England and being chased from Ireland
De Facto Act
Duties of JPs extended
To help them keep control of their localities
16th January – 13th March 1497
Raising extra-ordinary taxes to defend north from Perkin Warbeck
25th January – 1st April 1504
Reinforcing previous Acts against liveried retainers

6. The Great Council Consultative body Called five times by Henry VII
All nobles, councillors and burgesses
Representatives of political classes of whole country
Called five times by Henry VII
Between 1487 and 1502

7. The Privy Council
Advised King on matters of state, administration of law and order
Varied in number and who was present
Whoever was available when necessary
Henry rarely present himself
Loyalty most important attribute for members
Divided into specific councils, or committees as necessary

8. The Privy Chamber Established 1495 At heart of Household
After treason involving high ranking member of Henry VII’s Household
Sir William Stanley etc
At heart of Household
Saw king at most private, intimate
Massive potential for influence his decisions
Chamber servants low status
Not members of nobility
Henry VII increasingly withdrew into Privy Chamber

9. Committees / Councils Various established to tackle specific issues
Most (in)famous: Council Learned
Established 1495
Ensure king received all feudal dues and entitlements
Supervised collection of bonds and recognisances
Operated without jury/ chance of appeal

10. Royal Commissions
Established as necessary to investigate and deal with specific issues
Oyer and Terminer was permanent
Power to hear certain judicial cases
As thought necessary by King
Commission of the Peace
Supplement other courts as necessary
No legal training necessary to be named as part of commission
Though usually had one or two lawyers

11. JPs Henry II’s circuits now twice yearly
Meantime JPs dealt with law and order and enforcing King’s will
Important local link between Crown and counties
Chosen by the King
Directly accountable to him
Chosen from second tier of landowners
First Tier: Nobles dukes, earls, lords
Second Tier: Gentry Sir ….
Third Tier: Yeomen Master (Mr)

12. Star Chamber 1487: Star Chamber Act In practice met rarely
Established tribunal to hear cases against nobility
Especially who broke law against Livery & Maintenance and Retaining
Also complaints against abuses of privilege
In practice met rarely
Died out
But Council Learned in Law lasted
And oversaw punitive measures against leading subjects
Bonds and recognisances

13. Regional Councils Council of the North Council of the Western Marches
Governed the north of England
Although most of north governed by council established in midlands
Run by Margaret Beaufort
Council of the Western Marches
Oversaw Welsh borderlands
Western Marches nominally run by Prince Arthur
But Lord Stanley exercised a lot of control there

14. Chancery & Equity Equity
Court at Westminster
Feudal land disputes
Petitions of right
Although King couldn’t be sued, mistakes were acknowledged
Chancery dealt with them and king would make voluntary restitution
Equity: king’s right to dispense justice when common law deficient
E.g. when defendant very powerful locally
E.g. in grey areas between canon and common law