Central Government under Henry VII

Overview

• Focus on the role and organization of the central government under Henry VII.
• Part of a series on Henry VII's government.

Hierarchy

1. The King

   • Henry VII at the top.
   • Belief in divine right: power comes from God.
   • King above both government and Parliament.

2. The Council

   • Offers advice to the king.
   • Administers law on the king's behalf.
   • Controls local governments and maintains peace and stability.

Structure of the Council

• Made up of:
  • Nobility
  • Churchmen
  • Laymen
• Permanent body with core membership.
• Can meet separately when the king is absent.

Key Figures

• Reginald Bray: Key counselor until 1503.
• Edmund Dudley: Became key counselor after Bray's death in 1503.
• Richard Empson: Worked with Dudley.

The Council Learned

• Subgroup of the council.
• Advised the king on war and foreign policy.
• Collected feudal dues and taxes.
• Unpopular due to systematic use of bonds and recognizances to extract money from nobility.

Financial Aspects

• Bonds and Recognizances: Method used to collect money from nobility.
• Became more unpopular under Dudley and Empson's leadership.

The Great Council

• Meeting of the House of Lords, excluding the House of Commons.
• No regulated functions and met very infrequently (5 times between 1485-1509).

Key Takeaways

• Hierarchical structure with the king at the top, followed by the council.
• The council's role in law administration and local government control.
• The development and workings of the Council Learned.
• The limited role and functions of the Great Council.