2. Gaining the cooperation of the localities
❖ Involving the localities in governance 1485-1603
❖The crown and the country 1485-1603
Involving the localities in governance 1485-1603
Relations with localities
The government of Wales under Henry 7th and 8th
Under Henry 7th, some of the most distant and harder-to-control regions were the areas that
had borders with Wales and Scotland.
→ The marcher regions (regions on wales and scottish borders which were the first line of
defence against invasion. Because of this, they had their own legal system) developed their
own laws because they were the first line of defence against invasions. The nobles that
controlled these areas gained much legal and military power.
The changes to the position of Wales already began before Henry 7th reigned.
→ Wales had been conquered by England so there was no threat of Welsh invasions.
➔ although the Crown controlled the Principality of Wales (historic Welsh territory ruled by
princes. Later, it came under English control, and the title "Prince of Wales" is now given
to the British heir), before they had their own legal system. This meant that it was
possible to commit a crime and then escape by fleeing into other marcher regions.
➔ The control of Wales and marcher regions were vital for Tudor monarchs because
it was possible for powerful nobles to use these regions to build their own power bases,
which could be used to challenge the monarch.
THIS CAN BE SEEN IN HENRY 7TH→ His family estates were in South of Wales. He used his
estate to raise army when challenging Richard III.
HENRY 8TH→ There were powerful nobleman who had a claim to throne (Buckingham) and
when he tried to visit his estate with 400 armed men, Henry 8th’s suspicion led me to execute
him for treason.
Therefore, this suggests that nobles raising an army against the monarch was a possibility.
Before 1530s, Henry 7th and 8th attempted to secure control of Wales and the marcher regions
by using the Council of Wales.
The council was filled with members of royal family and nobles. Henry 7th son, Prince Arthur
was the prince of Wales and was supposed to enhance royal control by creating a more
permanent presence in the region. Although it was unsuccessful due to his death in 1502,
Henry 8th tried a similar tactic with his daughter, Mary.
➔ She was sent to Wales and like Arthur, she was given her own court
, ➔ It wasn’t until the rise of Cromwell when a more longer-term solution of extending
royal authority in Wales occurred.
Government of the North 1485-1537
Controlling North was a problem for the monarchs.The Scottish border was so extensive that
the Northern Marches were split into 3: Western, Middle and Eastern Marches. These were
controlled by wardens.
Henry 7th→ he faced problems in controlling the North because him being a usurper made him
more vulnerable to invasions. Regions like the North (like Yorkshire) were loyal to Richard III
and they also suffered economic hardships.
Henry 8th→ Key noble families were Cliffords, Percy's etc and couldn’t always be relied in
keeping peace as they were in complex feuds with each other. It wasn’t till Pilgrimage of Grace
where royal intervention in the North government became more direct/permanent.
Law in Wales Act 1535
In response to the limitation of royal authority in Wales and its Marches. Cromwell began a
process that led to permanent changes in the region.
→ He appointed Lee to become President of the Wales Council, and was given powers to tackle
crime there
This Act overall transformed the structure of the Welsh government:
➔ Principality of Wales was abolished and replaced with 12 English-style counties
➔ Each area had 2 MPs
➔ Banned use of Welsh in courts, only english speaking. However, majority of Wales
gentry spoke english, so didn’t affect them
➔ Introduction of sheriffs, coroners, JPs etc (english-style system)
MAIN RESULT WAS TO END THE TRADITIONAL MILITARY POWER OF THE MARCHER
LORDS.
(law and order improved and regions became less of a threat to political stability).k
Law in Wales Act 1542
Although Cromwell fell from power in 1540, his work continued.
→ This introduced the system of English law into Wales, bringing an end to the traditional
Welsh system.
- In order to enforce English law, a new system of law courts was introduced called
‘courts of great sessions’. These were sessions that were held in each Welsh area
twice a year. They tried criminal cases
- The Wales Council became a more formal body, with a president and vice president
appointed by the monarch→ they had the power to hear legal cases and oversee law
and order
Under Elizabeth→ the Marcher Council included Lord Lieutenants
❖ Involving the localities in governance 1485-1603
❖The crown and the country 1485-1603
Involving the localities in governance 1485-1603
Relations with localities
The government of Wales under Henry 7th and 8th
Under Henry 7th, some of the most distant and harder-to-control regions were the areas that
had borders with Wales and Scotland.
→ The marcher regions (regions on wales and scottish borders which were the first line of
defence against invasion. Because of this, they had their own legal system) developed their
own laws because they were the first line of defence against invasions. The nobles that
controlled these areas gained much legal and military power.
The changes to the position of Wales already began before Henry 7th reigned.
→ Wales had been conquered by England so there was no threat of Welsh invasions.
➔ although the Crown controlled the Principality of Wales (historic Welsh territory ruled by
princes. Later, it came under English control, and the title "Prince of Wales" is now given
to the British heir), before they had their own legal system. This meant that it was
possible to commit a crime and then escape by fleeing into other marcher regions.
➔ The control of Wales and marcher regions were vital for Tudor monarchs because
it was possible for powerful nobles to use these regions to build their own power bases,
which could be used to challenge the monarch.
THIS CAN BE SEEN IN HENRY 7TH→ His family estates were in South of Wales. He used his
estate to raise army when challenging Richard III.
HENRY 8TH→ There were powerful nobleman who had a claim to throne (Buckingham) and
when he tried to visit his estate with 400 armed men, Henry 8th’s suspicion led me to execute
him for treason.
Therefore, this suggests that nobles raising an army against the monarch was a possibility.
Before 1530s, Henry 7th and 8th attempted to secure control of Wales and the marcher regions
by using the Council of Wales.
The council was filled with members of royal family and nobles. Henry 7th son, Prince Arthur
was the prince of Wales and was supposed to enhance royal control by creating a more
permanent presence in the region. Although it was unsuccessful due to his death in 1502,
Henry 8th tried a similar tactic with his daughter, Mary.
➔ She was sent to Wales and like Arthur, she was given her own court
, ➔ It wasn’t until the rise of Cromwell when a more longer-term solution of extending
royal authority in Wales occurred.
Government of the North 1485-1537
Controlling North was a problem for the monarchs.The Scottish border was so extensive that
the Northern Marches were split into 3: Western, Middle and Eastern Marches. These were
controlled by wardens.
Henry 7th→ he faced problems in controlling the North because him being a usurper made him
more vulnerable to invasions. Regions like the North (like Yorkshire) were loyal to Richard III
and they also suffered economic hardships.
Henry 8th→ Key noble families were Cliffords, Percy's etc and couldn’t always be relied in
keeping peace as they were in complex feuds with each other. It wasn’t till Pilgrimage of Grace
where royal intervention in the North government became more direct/permanent.
Law in Wales Act 1535
In response to the limitation of royal authority in Wales and its Marches. Cromwell began a
process that led to permanent changes in the region.
→ He appointed Lee to become President of the Wales Council, and was given powers to tackle
crime there
This Act overall transformed the structure of the Welsh government:
➔ Principality of Wales was abolished and replaced with 12 English-style counties
➔ Each area had 2 MPs
➔ Banned use of Welsh in courts, only english speaking. However, majority of Wales
gentry spoke english, so didn’t affect them
➔ Introduction of sheriffs, coroners, JPs etc (english-style system)
MAIN RESULT WAS TO END THE TRADITIONAL MILITARY POWER OF THE MARCHER
LORDS.
(law and order improved and regions became less of a threat to political stability).k
Law in Wales Act 1542
Although Cromwell fell from power in 1540, his work continued.
→ This introduced the system of English law into Wales, bringing an end to the traditional
Welsh system.
- In order to enforce English law, a new system of law courts was introduced called
‘courts of great sessions’. These were sessions that were held in each Welsh area
twice a year. They tried criminal cases
- The Wales Council became a more formal body, with a president and vice president
appointed by the monarch→ they had the power to hear legal cases and oversee law
and order
Under Elizabeth→ the Marcher Council included Lord Lieutenants
