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Henry VII and the Role of Parliament

Apr 27, 2025

Parliament & Henry VII: A-Level History

Overview

  • Focuses on the role of Parliament during the reign of Henry VII.
  • Explores how Parliament was used to consolidate Henry VII's power after the Battle of Bosworth.

Parliament in Tudor Times

  • Parliament's organization remained largely unchanged under the Tudors.
  • It could be summoned and dissolved at the monarch's discretion.

Henry's First Parliament

  • Helped Henry VII consolidate control after Bosworth.
  • Granted Henry customs duty for life, a standard practice at the time.
  • Passed an act pre-dating Henry's reign before Bosworth:
    • Enabled Acts of Attainder against those who fought Henry at Bosworth.
  • 1486 Act of Resumption returned land granted away since 1455 to the Crown.

Acts of Attainder

  • Necessary after events such as:
    • Battle of Stoke (1487)
    • Northern Rebellion (1489)
    • Against Sir William Stanley (1495)

The Crown's Control Over Law and Order

  • Star Chamber Act 1487 primarily impacted the nobility.
  • Laws against Livery and Maintenance in 1487 and 1504:
    • Limited the number of retainers nobles could have.
  • 1495 law gave Justices of Peace (JPs) more powers.
  • 1489 and 1491 laws tightened controls on benefit of clergy.

Extra Taxation

  • Only Parliament could authorize extra taxation.
  • Authorized for Henry's foreign policy:
    • 1489 (Brittany)
    • 1491-2 (France)
    • 1497 (Perkin Warbeck)
  • The more financially sound Henry VII became, the less he relied on Parliament.

Key Points

  • Henry VII used Parliament strategically to strengthen his rule.
  • Acts of Attainder played a crucial role in dealing with opposition.
  • Financial independence decreased reliance on Parliament over time.
  • Legislation under Henry VII had a significant impact on the nobility and law enforcement.