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.