HSB-361- HISTORY OF ENGLAND

UNIT-1
Topic-1
The New Monarchy: Henry VII’s Anti- Baronial
Measures
Historical Background of England
( Internal Conflict between Yorkists and Lancastrians for power)
 The country of England had been suffering from the
chaotic state of affairs for last sixty years. From the later
half of Edward IV reign, there was strong government.
 Due to lack of Governance, there was no law and order and
the country was in the state of anarchy.
 Two ruling parties viz., Yorkist and Lancastrian were
fighting for power.
 They had their own insignia of royalty. Yorkist had White
Rose and Lancastrian had Red Rose as the symbol of their
power. That is why the fight between the two parties for
power is known as the Wars of Roses.
Coming of the Tudor Dynasty; the New
Strong Monarchy
Finally the battle of Bosworth that was fought in 22 August 1485
between Prince Henry Tudor, the Lancastrian and Richard-III, the
Yorkist proved decisive.
Henry Tudor defeated Richard-III and the latter was killed in the
battlefield.
He was the son of Edmund Tudor, the Earl of Richmond and Lady
Margaret Beaufort, the daughter of the Duke of Somerset.
Henry Tudor got the throne of England with the title of King
Henry-VII in November 1485.
 With the coming of Tudor dynasty in power, England saw a new
era of strong government, justice, law and order, peace and
prosperity, new art and learning known as Enlightened Despotism.
Plots/Revolts against Henry VII
 The claim of Henry VII to the Throne of England was not strong.
 By descent young Edward Plantagenet, Earl of Warwick (the son
of Clarence, brother of Edward IV) was the rightful king of
England.
 But the difference was that Henry was sitting at Westminster
wearing the Crown of England which he had got from the battle
of Bosworth. On the other hand, Edward was imprisoned in the
Tower of London.
 Three revolts took place during the early reign of Henry VII.
 Soon after the accession, Henry VII had to face some serious
insurrections by Robert Lovel, Lambert Simnel and Perkin
Warbeck.
Revolts of Robert Lovel, Lambert Simnel and
Perkin Warbeck
The first revolt took place in the leadership of Robert Lovel. He
challenged Henry VII with support of the trained forces of Richard III.
But he was defeated and executed by Henry VII very easily.
The second conspiracy was hatched by Lambert Simnel. He took an
opportunity of a rumour that spread that in London , the real Earl of
Warvick, the brother of Edward IV had escaped the imprisonment.
He had some resemblance to the Earl of Warvick so he claimed that he
was the real Earl and got the support of the Yorkists. He organized a
small force in Ireland hiring some German mercenaries and availed the
secret help of Duchess Margaret of Burgundy. The climax of the battle
took place in 1487 at Stoke.
Lambert Simnel was defeated and captured. Henry introduced the real
son of Clarence to prove that Lambert Simnel was fraud. Lambert Sinel
was appointed as the assistant in the Royal Kitchen by Henry VII.
Revolt of Perkin Warbeck
The final revolt took place during Henry’s time by Perkin
Warbeck.
He advertised himself as the Richard of York, the younger son
of Richard III and got the support of king James IV of
Scotland and Charles VIII of France.
He was also backed by the Duchess Margaret of Burgundy.
He invaded on England in 1492 but could not faced the havoc
of Henry VII and fled to France. Henry chasing him down
reached in France with a large army.
Finding himself in a helpless condition, French king Charles
VIII signed a treaty with Henry in 1492 known as Peace of
Etaples.
According to the treaty of Etaples French monarch promised
not to give any more support to the British rebels and would
further pay a huge war indemnity to Henry VII.
Perkin Warbeck was expelled from France but was supported
by Margaret of Burgundy. With her active support he invaded
England again in 1495.
He could not face Henry and escaped to Ireland and later on
to Scotland.
He was defeated at the battle of Devon in1497 and
imprisoned. He was finally executed in 1499 when found
accused of conspiring against Henry with the Edward of
Clarence.
Anti-Baronial Measures of Henry
VII
The Wars of Roses destroyed the nobility. Henry VII finally
checked their power by introducing new policies against them.
The Law of Livery
The Law of Maintenance
The Court of Star Chamber
Law of Livery was introduced by Henry VII because of Feudal
Lords who were enjoying professional soldiers for their protection.
These soldiers used to wore the uniform having royal badges for
the protection of their lords.
By his Statute of Livery, Henry destroyed the retainers. It was
made illegal to dispense ‘Livery’ the uniform or badge.
 It finished the private soldiers of the Barons/ Feudal lords.
 Law of Maintenance

Just as the Statute of Livery disarmed the rebel, so the Statute of Maintenance crippled
the bully.

For more than fifty years, the law courts had been of little use because no jury dared to
do its duty against a great lord.

When a case in which he was concerned was tried, his men-at-arms used to crowed the
court, ready to intimidate the jury which was called ‘moral’ force. It was made illegal.

Relived from fear, the ordinary law courts were able to impart justice even for the poor.

The Court of Star Chamber

By introducing the Court of Star Chamber Henry VII kept the barons in check. It was a
special committee (remodelled in1487) consisting of the Chancellor, the Treasurer, the
keeper of the Privy Seal, a bishop, a peer and two of the justices.

It was not entirely distinct from the Council till in 1540, the Privy Council and Star
Chamber got their separate clerks.

The Star Chamber’s special function was to deal with the most crying evils of the time. It
judged offences to which the feudal nobles were most prone.
 Barons were keeping liveried retainers and maintaining their followers
causes in the courts by frightening juries, i.e. the two offences known
as Livery and Maintenance.
 By the agency of the Court Star Chamber Henry restored the
supremacy of the central government.
 Henry punished with enormous fines to those nobles who dared to
infringe his laws.
 Henry also revived two other special courts –the Council of the North
and the Council of the Wales to deal with disturbances in the most
distant portions of his kingdom.
 Towards the end of his reign, he employed two lawyers named Empson
and Dudley. They were able to extort money from the king’s subjects
and to enrich their master.
 CONCLUSION
 England was suffering from Civil War, Poverty, Lack of Governance,
Law and Order. He eliminated three pretenders named Robert Lovel,
Lambert Simnel and Perkin Warbeck who were claiming the Throne of
England since they belonged to the Yorkists dynasty. The
Barons/Feudal lords were other major hurdle that was overcame by his
anti-baronial measures. His commercial policies with France and
Netherlands enriched the English economy and his matrimonial
alliances enriched his foreign policies and strengthened the position of
England in Europe. England secured a strong monarchy during his
reign. Rise of New Learning happened and Greek language was
brought in England. The people of England saw the beginning of
Renaissance in England during the reign of Henry VII.