TUDORS
NOTES
, TUDOR –
BREADTH.
,Changes made to the structure an dfunction of the Household
1485-1603
- The Privy Chamber grew in importance during Tudor period.
- HVII: was scared of betrayal à created a Yeomen of the Guard,
who were personal bodyguards + guided him to his rooms.
- Used a Chamber finance system to store royal income à he
personally monitored.
- Future monarchs didn’t have the time or inclination to do this.
- HVIII: Privy chamber became political hub. Chamber had own staff
known as the Gentleman of the Privy Chamber. E.g. the Groom
of the Stool.
- These positions were held by most trusted friends à nobles + gentry.
- They were employed in formal areas of gov too. From 1520-1525
they were sent on diplomatic missions to France and a military
expedition against the Scots.
- 1940s: Privy Council Reform which formalised council.
- Access to the monarch via Privy chamber = power. They could
control the dry stamp, which meant they could put king’s signature
on letters etc.
- In the 1940s, the faction led by Edward Seymour and John
Dudley used members within their factors part of the privy
chamber e.g. Sir Anthony Dennt to control stamp.
- They changed King’s Will in their favour. à more influence.
- Under Edward this was particularly important as he was young.
How did the role of the Privy Chamber change under Mary and
Elizabeth?
- Role changed due to female monarchs.
- Mary: Physical contact roles filled with women not men. Meant it
was typically the wives of male members of the household.
- Examples include Frances Waldegrave and Frances Jerningham
who were married to Edward Waldegrave and Henry
Jerningham (capt of the Guard)
- Charles v Holy Roman Emparor wrote to his ambassador telling
him that the ladies were taking advantage of the queen to gain
favours.
- Mary kept her dry stamp locked.
- Elizabeth: Chamber declined in political importance. Still used
wives such as the Wife of the Earl of Leister. // she carried out
reforms in 1559 meaning that members of her Household were also
, members of her council à decisions determined through formal
channels of Council.
- Secretaries re-emerged. Cecil.
What was the role of the Council:
- Monarch chose who would be on it, didn’t need to listen to advice.
- Council helped with day-to-day running of country and could act as
a judicial court. High profile legal cases, particularly noble cases.
- Council could be divided by factions. Political importance depended
on style of rule.
- Became increasingly ‘professional’ in its role.
What was the role of the council under HVII?
- Larger, more informal.
- Between 1485-1509, over 200 men attended Council meetings (not
at same time).
- Council consisted of nobility, churchmen, royal officials + lawyers.
Included men who served under Yorkists Edward IV and Richard
III à his council included 22 men who served under Edward and 20
under Richard. à v important as he was a usurper + needed to
secure position.
- HVII didn’t hold many parliaments à Councils important. John Morton
had a distinguished career.
- Councils tolf HVII about popular opinion and mood + advised on
policies. Esp with war and tax.
- Held 5 Great Councils between 1487 and 1502. // most of the time
he alr knew what he wanted to do. In 1492, he wanted to end his
invasion of France, so consulted all nobility and made them sign a
document agreeing à hard for them to argue.
- Councils used for unity. E.g. 1487 aftermath of Simnel, 1489 before
war with France and 1496 before action against Scotland à used
when insecure.
The Royal Council under HVIII:
- Doesn’t need to use council for unity.
, - HVII had left HVIII a Council to help him govern as he was nearly 18.
à made up of AB of Canterbury William Warham, Bishop of
Winchester Richard Fox à both high members of church.
- Both didn’t believe in foreign wars like HVII. // HVIII was a warrior +
wanted to prove himself against France + Scotland. à Fox +
Warham therefore got replaced by Wolsey who supported war.
- Wolsey extended role of the Court of Star Chamber. Held nobles
+ local authorutues to account. Legal arm of council, included
committees. à checks + balances. // Wolsey able to put his enemies
in and convict.
- Wolsey dominant in politics until 1529. First of King’s chief ministers
and handled day-to-day of gov. Lord Chancellor (since 1515) à
charge of money.
- Council largely the same. Made of around 40 men, most would not
attend daily.
- In 1526, Wolsey was planning in the Eltham Ordinances to reduce
this to 20 men who wld meet daily. à didn’t work. // by 1940 a Privy
Council emerged + by Elizabeth this was responsible for daily
running of country.
The reform of the Privy Council 1540:
- Geoffrey Elton argued that changes to the council happened in
1536-37 when there was a ‘conscious act of reform designed
to modernise the… council’. He argued this was a part of
Cromwell’s attempts to reform gov.
- // most historians reject this. John Guy argues that although there
were changes in 1536, but these were a temporary response to the
POG. Smaller council was an emergency body w trusted advisors,
only 19. à many filled w Cromwell’s enemies such as the Duke of
Norfolk. à Cromwell woukdnt have made changes that involved
enemies. It was after his fall that real change occurred.
- After Cromwell’s fall, needed to restructure HVIII’s gov so that it cld
work without him. He had been secretary and wielded power over
HVIII.
- HVIII’s rule before 1540 was dominated by personalities + influence
of Thomas Wolsey and Thomas Cromwell. à both from humble
backgrounds + power resented.
- New Privy council was a ‘chief minister’ in which all decisions were
collective. Norfolk insisted that anybody wishing to conduct business
w the Council should write to the group not infividual. à power not
concentrated like Cromwell.
, - Under Elizabeth, William Cecil deliberately avoided name ‘chief
minister’ and instead used his position as queen’s Secretary to have
power.
To what extent did the membership of the Council and its
relationship with the monarch change from 1540?
- After 1540, membership small and very selective. Contrast with
HVII’s council which had 227 members. Also contrasted w HVIII’s
before 1536, which had 120 members.
- Under Elizabth this narrowed even further.
- //Edward had a growing council due to his age. Also, Edward
Seymour controlled him and therefore made decisions using men
from his own housegold such as Sir John Thynne. à loyal to
Seymour and were given key household roles for Edward.
- E.g. Sir Michael Stanhope (Seymour’s brother in law) was
chief gentleman of the Privy Chamber + Groom of the Stool +
controlled dry stamp but never was in council. à //council still able to
reassert itself showing its importance.
- In 1549, Kett’s rebellion broke and Earl of Warwick (later
Northumberland) (council member) led attack and won rebellion. +
Northumberland later became Edward’s protector and reasserted
control towards the council à increased numbers.
- // Historian Dale Hoak showed there were only around 21 active
members suggesting power was still w monarchy.
- Decision to remove Mary Tudor from succession + promote Mary
Jane Gray was the work of only Edward and Northumberland.
- Under Mary: she wanted to be inclusive à number increased. //
only core group met regularly.
- Meetings run by experienced administrators e.g. William Paget. à
like 1540s.
- Average attendance in 1555 was 12, only 8 members went to 50%
of meetings.
- Elizabeth’s reign then solidified changes as permanent. Council
permanent, small group, and focus of their work + role all changed.
- Work of council more varied. It could now issue collective
proclamations + orders in monarchs name + didn’t have to wait for
explicit instructions to.
- From 1540, had own Clerk to record meetings.
- Had its own seal. Didn’t override dry stamp.
NOTES
, TUDOR –
BREADTH.
,Changes made to the structure an dfunction of the Household
1485-1603
- The Privy Chamber grew in importance during Tudor period.
- HVII: was scared of betrayal à created a Yeomen of the Guard,
who were personal bodyguards + guided him to his rooms.
- Used a Chamber finance system to store royal income à he
personally monitored.
- Future monarchs didn’t have the time or inclination to do this.
- HVIII: Privy chamber became political hub. Chamber had own staff
known as the Gentleman of the Privy Chamber. E.g. the Groom
of the Stool.
- These positions were held by most trusted friends à nobles + gentry.
- They were employed in formal areas of gov too. From 1520-1525
they were sent on diplomatic missions to France and a military
expedition against the Scots.
- 1940s: Privy Council Reform which formalised council.
- Access to the monarch via Privy chamber = power. They could
control the dry stamp, which meant they could put king’s signature
on letters etc.
- In the 1940s, the faction led by Edward Seymour and John
Dudley used members within their factors part of the privy
chamber e.g. Sir Anthony Dennt to control stamp.
- They changed King’s Will in their favour. à more influence.
- Under Edward this was particularly important as he was young.
How did the role of the Privy Chamber change under Mary and
Elizabeth?
- Role changed due to female monarchs.
- Mary: Physical contact roles filled with women not men. Meant it
was typically the wives of male members of the household.
- Examples include Frances Waldegrave and Frances Jerningham
who were married to Edward Waldegrave and Henry
Jerningham (capt of the Guard)
- Charles v Holy Roman Emparor wrote to his ambassador telling
him that the ladies were taking advantage of the queen to gain
favours.
- Mary kept her dry stamp locked.
- Elizabeth: Chamber declined in political importance. Still used
wives such as the Wife of the Earl of Leister. // she carried out
reforms in 1559 meaning that members of her Household were also
, members of her council à decisions determined through formal
channels of Council.
- Secretaries re-emerged. Cecil.
What was the role of the Council:
- Monarch chose who would be on it, didn’t need to listen to advice.
- Council helped with day-to-day running of country and could act as
a judicial court. High profile legal cases, particularly noble cases.
- Council could be divided by factions. Political importance depended
on style of rule.
- Became increasingly ‘professional’ in its role.
What was the role of the council under HVII?
- Larger, more informal.
- Between 1485-1509, over 200 men attended Council meetings (not
at same time).
- Council consisted of nobility, churchmen, royal officials + lawyers.
Included men who served under Yorkists Edward IV and Richard
III à his council included 22 men who served under Edward and 20
under Richard. à v important as he was a usurper + needed to
secure position.
- HVII didn’t hold many parliaments à Councils important. John Morton
had a distinguished career.
- Councils tolf HVII about popular opinion and mood + advised on
policies. Esp with war and tax.
- Held 5 Great Councils between 1487 and 1502. // most of the time
he alr knew what he wanted to do. In 1492, he wanted to end his
invasion of France, so consulted all nobility and made them sign a
document agreeing à hard for them to argue.
- Councils used for unity. E.g. 1487 aftermath of Simnel, 1489 before
war with France and 1496 before action against Scotland à used
when insecure.
The Royal Council under HVIII:
- Doesn’t need to use council for unity.
, - HVII had left HVIII a Council to help him govern as he was nearly 18.
à made up of AB of Canterbury William Warham, Bishop of
Winchester Richard Fox à both high members of church.
- Both didn’t believe in foreign wars like HVII. // HVIII was a warrior +
wanted to prove himself against France + Scotland. à Fox +
Warham therefore got replaced by Wolsey who supported war.
- Wolsey extended role of the Court of Star Chamber. Held nobles
+ local authorutues to account. Legal arm of council, included
committees. à checks + balances. // Wolsey able to put his enemies
in and convict.
- Wolsey dominant in politics until 1529. First of King’s chief ministers
and handled day-to-day of gov. Lord Chancellor (since 1515) à
charge of money.
- Council largely the same. Made of around 40 men, most would not
attend daily.
- In 1526, Wolsey was planning in the Eltham Ordinances to reduce
this to 20 men who wld meet daily. à didn’t work. // by 1940 a Privy
Council emerged + by Elizabeth this was responsible for daily
running of country.
The reform of the Privy Council 1540:
- Geoffrey Elton argued that changes to the council happened in
1536-37 when there was a ‘conscious act of reform designed
to modernise the… council’. He argued this was a part of
Cromwell’s attempts to reform gov.
- // most historians reject this. John Guy argues that although there
were changes in 1536, but these were a temporary response to the
POG. Smaller council was an emergency body w trusted advisors,
only 19. à many filled w Cromwell’s enemies such as the Duke of
Norfolk. à Cromwell woukdnt have made changes that involved
enemies. It was after his fall that real change occurred.
- After Cromwell’s fall, needed to restructure HVIII’s gov so that it cld
work without him. He had been secretary and wielded power over
HVIII.
- HVIII’s rule before 1540 was dominated by personalities + influence
of Thomas Wolsey and Thomas Cromwell. à both from humble
backgrounds + power resented.
- New Privy council was a ‘chief minister’ in which all decisions were
collective. Norfolk insisted that anybody wishing to conduct business
w the Council should write to the group not infividual. à power not
concentrated like Cromwell.
, - Under Elizabeth, William Cecil deliberately avoided name ‘chief
minister’ and instead used his position as queen’s Secretary to have
power.
To what extent did the membership of the Council and its
relationship with the monarch change from 1540?
- After 1540, membership small and very selective. Contrast with
HVII’s council which had 227 members. Also contrasted w HVIII’s
before 1536, which had 120 members.
- Under Elizabth this narrowed even further.
- //Edward had a growing council due to his age. Also, Edward
Seymour controlled him and therefore made decisions using men
from his own housegold such as Sir John Thynne. à loyal to
Seymour and were given key household roles for Edward.
- E.g. Sir Michael Stanhope (Seymour’s brother in law) was
chief gentleman of the Privy Chamber + Groom of the Stool +
controlled dry stamp but never was in council. à //council still able to
reassert itself showing its importance.
- In 1549, Kett’s rebellion broke and Earl of Warwick (later
Northumberland) (council member) led attack and won rebellion. +
Northumberland later became Edward’s protector and reasserted
control towards the council à increased numbers.
- // Historian Dale Hoak showed there were only around 21 active
members suggesting power was still w monarchy.
- Decision to remove Mary Tudor from succession + promote Mary
Jane Gray was the work of only Edward and Northumberland.
- Under Mary: she wanted to be inclusive à number increased. //
only core group met regularly.
- Meetings run by experienced administrators e.g. William Paget. à
like 1540s.
- Average attendance in 1555 was 12, only 8 members went to 50%
of meetings.
- Elizabeth’s reign then solidified changes as permanent. Council
permanent, small group, and focus of their work + role all changed.
- Work of council more varied. It could now issue collective
proclamations + orders in monarchs name + didn’t have to wait for
explicit instructions to.
- From 1540, had own Clerk to record meetings.
- Had its own seal. Didn’t override dry stamp.
