he Wars of the Roses the nobles used their private armies to force JPs and judges to do what they wanted. But this was the last time the nobility in Britain tried to destroy the authority of the king. The JPs remained the only form of local government in the countryside until 1888.They still exist to deal with small offences. [4, pp.61-62]
.4 Tudor Absolutism and the Decline of Parliament
historical parliament saxon witenagemot
During the Tudor period (1485-1603) the changes in government, society and the economy of England were more far-reaching than they had been for centuries. But the most far-reaching of all were the changes in ideas, partly as a result of the rebirth of intellectual attitudes known as the Renaissance, which had spread slowly northwards from its beginning in Italy. In England the nature of the Renaissance was also affected by the Protestant Reformation and the economic changes that followed from it. [4, p.79] century of the Tudor rule is often thought as the most glorious period in English history. Henry VII built the foundations of a wealthy state and a powerful monarchy. His son, Henry VIII, kept a magnificent court, and made the Church of England truly English by breaking away from the Roman Catholic Church. Finally, his daughter Elizabeth brought glory to the new state by defeating the powerful navy of Spain, the greatest European power of the time. During the Tudor age England experienced one of the greatest artistic periods in its history.is, however, a less glorious view of the Tudor century. Henry VIII wasted the wealth saved by his father Henry VII. Elizabeth weakened the quality of government by selling official posts. She did this to avoid asking Parliament for money. And although her government tried to deal with the problem of poor and homeless people at a time when prices rose much faster than wages, its laws and actions were often cruel in effect. [9, p. 124] Tudor monarchs did not like governing through Parliament. Henry VII had used Parliament only for law making. He seldom called it together, and then only when he had a particular job for it. Henry VIII had used it first to raise money for his military adventures, and then for his struggle with Rome. His aim was to make sure that the powerful members from the shires and towns supported him, because they had a great deal of control over popular feeling. He also wanted to frighten the priests and bishops into obeying him, and to frighten the Pope into giving in to his demands. [4, p.79]
.4.1 The Age of Henry VII Tudor «s Reign (1485-1509) expropriation of the peasant lands created a dangerous tension in the country so it was only natural that the expropriator, the nobles, wanted security and protection from the peasants » wrath. Feudal feuds plagued the country to the detriment of economic and industrial development; a centralized state with a strong reigning hand at the wheel was at the moment an alternative to feudal brawls. The merchants were clamouring for trade development: foreign trade had suffered from the futile wars, its interests were to be promoted. Well aware of whatwas expected of him, supported by the gentry, new nobles and newer bourgeoisie, Henry VII settled down to business preparing to live up to the requirements. From what historians say of him, one can see that feudal ferocity and bo...
