“How effective was Henry VII’s government in maintaining law and order”
Henry’s ascension to the English throne signified the end of the bitter conflict
known as the wars of Roses. As law and order had deteriorated during the civil
war, Henry immediately set about attempting to maintain law and order in
England. He attempted to do so by controlling the nobility and exerting the
crowns judicial authority but some of his decisions such as his financial policies
had unintended consequences that resulted in deeper unrest. Historians debate
the success of his methods towards maintaining order but ultimately conclude
that his government did ensure law and order to a certain extent.
P1 = Control of the nobility
Henry’s government harshly suppressed the powers of the nobility which was
somewhat effective in maintaining law and order. During the wars of the roses
the power of nobility had expanded as their practice of retainment had increased
their finances while decreasing royal coffers and increasing the crown’s reliance
on nobility. When henry ascended the throne, he immediately set about restoring
order with the crown’s strength eclipsing the nobilities via his first parliament in
1485 November 7, where he enacted laws on attainders and resumption. These
laws not only led to henry gaining the lands of Yorkist nobility but returned crown
lands that had been given away during the civil war, enriching royal finances.
Moreover, henry further diminished the powers of the nobility through his acts
against retaining in 1487 and 1504, banning the nobility’s use of private armies.
However, this may have had unintended consequences as his bans not only
resulted in noble resentment, but their private armies were meant to serve the
king, which meant henry had undermined the strength of his own army by doing
so. Moreover, he continued to control all aspects of the nobility, including their
size, by reducing the number of magnates. Once again, by doing so he only
contributed to the crumbling of law and order in England: by reducing the
number of magnates he reduced their spheres of influence which led to a
deterioration of order in regions Henry’s authority could not directly reach.
Nevertheless, his strict control of nobility extended to their marriages as he
proclaimed himself master of Wards in 1503, marrying off many noble daughters
to men of his choosing, ensuring that present and future generation of nobility
would remain loyal to the crown, effectively maintaining law and order within the
country as he established a generation of nobility that would act in his best
interest. Furthermore, his effective financial control generated fear and
obedience amongst the nobility as 36/62 families were bound to the king via
bonds of good behaviour. This resulted in most nobility being forced toa adhere
to the king who they were in debt to as Henry retained the power to financially
ruin them, maintaining loyalty and order amongst the upper classes. Therefore,
while Henry’s severe control over the nobility did breed resentment and
somewhat affect order, his management of the nobility ensured law and order
would be somewhat effectively employed throughout the country.
P2 = severe financial policies on England
However, his severe financial policies were not only restricted to the nobility but
often inflicted on the entire country, which had negative consequences for law
and order in England. Henry’s foreign upbringing emphasised he had not been
brought up to rule, therefore he took time to understand financial policies and
devise his own, suggesting initially his financial policies cannot be a culprit for
the status of law and order in England. However, eventually, his high taxation
Henry’s ascension to the English throne signified the end of the bitter conflict
known as the wars of Roses. As law and order had deteriorated during the civil
war, Henry immediately set about attempting to maintain law and order in
England. He attempted to do so by controlling the nobility and exerting the
crowns judicial authority but some of his decisions such as his financial policies
had unintended consequences that resulted in deeper unrest. Historians debate
the success of his methods towards maintaining order but ultimately conclude
that his government did ensure law and order to a certain extent.
P1 = Control of the nobility
Henry’s government harshly suppressed the powers of the nobility which was
somewhat effective in maintaining law and order. During the wars of the roses
the power of nobility had expanded as their practice of retainment had increased
their finances while decreasing royal coffers and increasing the crown’s reliance
on nobility. When henry ascended the throne, he immediately set about restoring
order with the crown’s strength eclipsing the nobilities via his first parliament in
1485 November 7, where he enacted laws on attainders and resumption. These
laws not only led to henry gaining the lands of Yorkist nobility but returned crown
lands that had been given away during the civil war, enriching royal finances.
Moreover, henry further diminished the powers of the nobility through his acts
against retaining in 1487 and 1504, banning the nobility’s use of private armies.
However, this may have had unintended consequences as his bans not only
resulted in noble resentment, but their private armies were meant to serve the
king, which meant henry had undermined the strength of his own army by doing
so. Moreover, he continued to control all aspects of the nobility, including their
size, by reducing the number of magnates. Once again, by doing so he only
contributed to the crumbling of law and order in England: by reducing the
number of magnates he reduced their spheres of influence which led to a
deterioration of order in regions Henry’s authority could not directly reach.
Nevertheless, his strict control of nobility extended to their marriages as he
proclaimed himself master of Wards in 1503, marrying off many noble daughters
to men of his choosing, ensuring that present and future generation of nobility
would remain loyal to the crown, effectively maintaining law and order within the
country as he established a generation of nobility that would act in his best
interest. Furthermore, his effective financial control generated fear and
obedience amongst the nobility as 36/62 families were bound to the king via
bonds of good behaviour. This resulted in most nobility being forced toa adhere
to the king who they were in debt to as Henry retained the power to financially
ruin them, maintaining loyalty and order amongst the upper classes. Therefore,
while Henry’s severe control over the nobility did breed resentment and
somewhat affect order, his management of the nobility ensured law and order
would be somewhat effectively employed throughout the country.
P2 = severe financial policies on England
However, his severe financial policies were not only restricted to the nobility but
often inflicted on the entire country, which had negative consequences for law
and order in England. Henry’s foreign upbringing emphasised he had not been
brought up to rule, therefore he took time to understand financial policies and
devise his own, suggesting initially his financial policies cannot be a culprit for
the status of law and order in England. However, eventually, his high taxation
