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| Privy Council | |
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| Topic Started: Dec 30 2013, 05:40 PM (348 Views) | |
| Katherine of Aragon | Dec 30 2013, 05:40 PM Post #1 |
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REGENT AND QUEEN DOWAGER
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During the reign of Henry VIII and then the Regency and the Reign of Mary Tudor, the Privy Council was the hub of the political system - an elite executive board, if you will - that governed England under the Crown. The Privy Council sat virtually every day. Katherine of Aragon, after becoming Regent, followed Henry’s policy of not allowing one all-powerful minister to dominate the Council's proceedings. Katherine saw first hand how Wolsey monopolized the affairs of state and took decisions privately with Henry VIII before consulting councilors about important policy issues. She is determined that should not happen during her Regency nor during her daughters Reign. The main responsibilities of the Council are: -- Issue proclamations and administrative orders in the name of the Monarch. -- Govern the realm by writing letters or issuing warrants signed collectively by the membership at the board. -- It can issue orders and commands in its own name. -- Advises the ruler and administers the realm. The Privy Council is indeed the superior administrative authority in England, Wales and Ireland, because the Councils of the North, Wales and Ireland allow appeals to be referred from their jurisdictions to the Privy Council. Also, the Privy Council appoints magistrates in the localities, and served themselves as justices of the peace in a wide variety of counties. -- The Privy Council assumes responsibility for the management of national finance. But the Regency made some changes. Because of Henry VIII’s fiscal mismanagement, Katherine of Aragon opted for a more hand on approach concerning the finances and checks accounts page by page in the chamber and privy chamber, and while leaving the Privy Council to manage the finances in conjunction with the lord treasurer and the Chancellor of the Exchequer. -- Manages national defense and fortifications. -- Enforces law and order and regulated economic affairs. -- Privy Council itself examines petitions and investigates crime. Deals especially with crime against property, official maladministration, and perjury in the courts of law, and investigates sedition and treason whenever these were reported . -- The Privy Council manages Parliament through the Lord Privy Seal, in conjunction with the Speaker of the Commons and the Lord Great Chamberlain. After Henry VIII died, Katherine had a problem in her hands. As Regent, she inherited a Council who’s members were all appointed one way or the other by Henry without much opinion on their appointments from Parliament. She knew that she could not get rid of the old guard, so opted to increase the number of members in the Council from 15 to 18, appointing new men who she could trust will be loyal to her daughter once she assumed the Throne. Katherine also changed the positions and responsibilities of key ministers in a way that it looked like promotions but in reality, they were not. So during the Regency, the Privy Council is composed of: PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL: Henry Percy: Earl of Northumberland LORD PRIVY SEAL: Robert Neville: Duke of Northumberland, Earl of Westmorland MEMBERS Charles Brandon: Duke of Suffolk, Lord High Steward, Lord Steward of the Household Thomas More: Lord High Chancellor Thomas Audley: Lord Great Chamberlain (Available) Thomas Cromwell: Marquis of Essex, Baron of Wimbledon, Speaker of the Commons, Chancellor of the Exchequer Thomas Howard: Duke of Norfolk, Lord High Treasurer (Available) George Boleyn: Viscount Rochford, (Available) Edward Seymour: Earl of Hertford Lord High Constable Stephen Gardiner:Bishop of Winchester (Available) Reginald Pole: Archbishop of Canterbury (Available) George Hastings: Earl of Huntington, Lord Chamberlain of the Household Henry Howard: Earl of Surrey, Keeper of the Privy Purse, Royal Secretary. Thomas Seymour Thomas Wyatt |
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3:10 PM Jul 11