How effectively were the localities governed?
RELATIONS WITH THE LOCALITIES
1) WALES:
- Was not always under control of the English Crown.
- Marcher regions = along English-Welsh border = Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire =
developed their own laws + customs = were the first line of defence.
Hard to maintain English law + order in Wales as they had their own legal system which depended on the
local marcher lords’ power + control.
- Nobility who owned these regions had huge political/ legal/ military power.
E.G. Edward Stafford, Duke of Buckingham = threat to the throne as he had a claim + landed estates in
Wales = he visited his estates with 400 armed men = Henry VIII’s suspicions led to Stafford’s execution.
- Council of Wales = based at Ludlow Castle = secured control of marcher regions + was led by the most
trusted Tudor nobility.
Jasper Tudor, Duke of Bedford = became head of Council in 1490.
- Henry VIII wanted to erode powers of strong nobility in Wales = extend power of the Crown:
Sent Prince Arthur in 1502 = to enhance royal control by creating a permanent presence = failed as Arthur
died.
Sent Princess Mary in 1525 = as a figure-head for the Council of Wales + was given her own court based at
Ludlow Castle = unsuccessful as she returned to London in 1528.
Both failed to enhance any royal control in the locality.
2) THE NORTH:
- Furthest away from the Crown = geographical challenge to exert control.
- Northern marcher lands = 3 zones = western/ middle/ eastern = hard to control = geographically remote +
poor communication = threat of invasion from Scotland.
Northern marches controlled by wardens responsible for defence + maintain order= cross-border raids
made job difficult.
- Closer to Catholic Scotland.
- Threat of Scotland + France as they formed Auld Alliance.
- Problem for Henry VII = North was closer to York (than the Crown) which had loyal Ricardian support = he
usurped Richard III in Battle of Bosworth = worsened his instability + vulnerability to invasions from rivals.
- 1489 revolt = North was suffering from economic hardship + tax revolt in Yorkshire led to murder of Henry
Percy = Henry’s first line of defence + in charge of money collection for the region.
Henry VII advantage from Percy death = created Thomas Howard as lieutenant in North = representative
of the King = increased Henry’s control in this locality.
- Key Northern families = Dacres/ Percy Earls of Northmberland/ Cliffords/ Neville earls of Westmoreland.
Involved in complex feuds with each other = not peaceful.
- 1525 = Henry created Council of the North = Henry Fitzroy as president = was illegitimate + a child = died as
a child = low impact.
- Rebellions forced Henry to make more permanent + direct royal intervention in the North = E.G. 1536 PoG.
The Law in Wales Act 1535: Henry VIII
- Introduced by Thomas Cromwell, passed in 1536 by English parliament.
- Transformed the structure of the Welsh government:
Abolished the Principality of Wales = Welsh land conquered in 13 th century given to the Prince of Wales
(heir to the English throne).
Introduced English style of local government.
Banned use of Welsh.
Ended power of military + marcher lords.
- Law + order improved.
- Wales now a smaller threat to English political stability.
RELATIONS WITH THE LOCALITIES
1) WALES:
- Was not always under control of the English Crown.
- Marcher regions = along English-Welsh border = Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire =
developed their own laws + customs = were the first line of defence.
Hard to maintain English law + order in Wales as they had their own legal system which depended on the
local marcher lords’ power + control.
- Nobility who owned these regions had huge political/ legal/ military power.
E.G. Edward Stafford, Duke of Buckingham = threat to the throne as he had a claim + landed estates in
Wales = he visited his estates with 400 armed men = Henry VIII’s suspicions led to Stafford’s execution.
- Council of Wales = based at Ludlow Castle = secured control of marcher regions + was led by the most
trusted Tudor nobility.
Jasper Tudor, Duke of Bedford = became head of Council in 1490.
- Henry VIII wanted to erode powers of strong nobility in Wales = extend power of the Crown:
Sent Prince Arthur in 1502 = to enhance royal control by creating a permanent presence = failed as Arthur
died.
Sent Princess Mary in 1525 = as a figure-head for the Council of Wales + was given her own court based at
Ludlow Castle = unsuccessful as she returned to London in 1528.
Both failed to enhance any royal control in the locality.
2) THE NORTH:
- Furthest away from the Crown = geographical challenge to exert control.
- Northern marcher lands = 3 zones = western/ middle/ eastern = hard to control = geographically remote +
poor communication = threat of invasion from Scotland.
Northern marches controlled by wardens responsible for defence + maintain order= cross-border raids
made job difficult.
- Closer to Catholic Scotland.
- Threat of Scotland + France as they formed Auld Alliance.
- Problem for Henry VII = North was closer to York (than the Crown) which had loyal Ricardian support = he
usurped Richard III in Battle of Bosworth = worsened his instability + vulnerability to invasions from rivals.
- 1489 revolt = North was suffering from economic hardship + tax revolt in Yorkshire led to murder of Henry
Percy = Henry’s first line of defence + in charge of money collection for the region.
Henry VII advantage from Percy death = created Thomas Howard as lieutenant in North = representative
of the King = increased Henry’s control in this locality.
- Key Northern families = Dacres/ Percy Earls of Northmberland/ Cliffords/ Neville earls of Westmoreland.
Involved in complex feuds with each other = not peaceful.
- 1525 = Henry created Council of the North = Henry Fitzroy as president = was illegitimate + a child = died as
a child = low impact.
- Rebellions forced Henry to make more permanent + direct royal intervention in the North = E.G. 1536 PoG.
The Law in Wales Act 1535: Henry VIII
- Introduced by Thomas Cromwell, passed in 1536 by English parliament.
- Transformed the structure of the Welsh government:
Abolished the Principality of Wales = Welsh land conquered in 13 th century given to the Prince of Wales
(heir to the English throne).
Introduced English style of local government.
Banned use of Welsh.
Ended power of military + marcher lords.
- Law + order improved.
- Wales now a smaller threat to English political stability.
