Essay : Stuart Literature - How Did The Tudors Pay For Government?

Tudor Parliaments were an essential aspect of English government and administration in the sixteenth century. In fact, 16^th century government did less than 21^st century governments because they are the Reformation Parliament of 1529-1536. They have existed longer than any previous Parliament by enacting a serious of statutes, which transformed the relationship between the English Crown, the English people and the Church, as well as formally incorporating the principality of Wales into the kingdom of England. 

In 16^th century, tax was smaller proportion of Gross National Product (GNP) for public sector, i.e. tiny bureaucracy or civil service and so forth. The biggest expenses in peace time are that king or queen and family, household, palaces, defence and other things. Although law and order were an obvious part of government, it was in the hands of unpaid officers. It is clear that they were not realised when armies had to be raised for war or to suppress their disorder.

Tudor monarchs were expected to live off their own income, i.e. crown lands, feudal dues, and customs duties. Their subjects were expected to pay ‘extraordinary’ revenue in emergencies, such as war scare or rebellions. That revenue was ordinary, but it was not enough. In form of direct taxes were assessed on property and income. Even in peace time, Elizabeth needed such grants from Parliament. Although 16^th government were increasingly under-financed in her reign, that revenue was not keeping pace with inflation.

Extraordinary revenue, such as forced loans, benevolences and tax granted, which was needed by Parliament didn’t cover war costs. King Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth had to use own resources and borrow their money heavily. This has put a long-term burden on future income. Tudors made no permanent additions to Crown’s financial resources. But, monarchs could not access the financial resources of better off citizens. Incomes of rich heavily is also under-assessed when direct taxes were granted in the end of 16^th century. Moreover, indirect tax is lower than other of European states.

Local government finances unlike those of 21^stcentury. The example of what local government finances have done badly was regular rate payments in 16^th century limited to poor relief, especially charity was funded, which is the most of it. During 16^th century government, ordinary income has been risen from £100,00 to £300,000. Prices has been quadrupled in the same period. King Henry VI has dissipated the royal demesne, which was the land held by the Crown. The Yorkist kings and King Henry VII also has continued restoring it. Crown lands and customs revenues has been established as the most important sources of revenues.

King Henry VII has ensured that none of his feudal dues were overlooked, i.e. wardship, marriage and relief. He has also received the ‘profits of justice’, which was the fines from law courts, fee farms from corporate towns in return for their privileges, and the profits from royal mint. These profits were traded on his own account. Moreover, he has accepted the French pension from French Government and exploited his right of purveyance.

After all, King Henry VII’s government were not well-endowed so they have made a surplus gradually by restrained spending especially avoiding wars. Even as early parliament gave extraordinary have been granted and there was a forced loan. These were mainly to pay for struggle against Simnel and Warbeck and to pay for expeditions to Scotland, Brittany and France. These payday loan has been alarmed by the Cornish rebellion of 1497, which was a popular uprising by the people of Cornwall. They have wanted to raise money for a campaign against Scotland. Until the 2^nd half of his reign, he has felt that it was better to ‘live of his own’.

King Henry VII has actually funded from subsidy, plundered in the Church and the Great Debasement. His main costs were wars and palace building, which was a part of subsidy. That subsidy has been introduced as a more productive tax alternative to the ‘fifteenth an tenth’, which was a tax on movable property granted by parliament on special occasions. Royal attempts to tax individual incomes have rarely been allowed by parliament until 1513.

‘Subsidy’ has been firstly granted to pay for King Henry’s first French war. Subsidies has also been granted in addition to ‘fifteenth and tenth’, which must be covered for only 1/3 of war’s costs. Since 1334, ‘15^th and 10^th century’ had declined to fixed amounts for each locality. But, subsidies has not represented the ability of the rich to pay. In the 1522-1525, Henry VII has been collected any forced loan for second war. Subsidies has been granted since 1523, but so far it is short of what Wolsey has wanted. This affected a subsequent demand for gift of ‘Amicable Grant’, which has been withdrawn due to protest.

Not just that, defence spending has also risen in 1530^th century due to break with Rome. In 1536, Cromwell’s solutions were to confiscate the Church property. He has set up the Court of Augmentations to receive the proceeds. Since 1536-1544, he has taken the amount of money, which were the average of £112,000 per annum from his former monasteries. Many wars of 1540s has led to sale of much monastic lands, which were rapidly consumed. So Henry VII has thrown away for a chance to permanently double an ordinary Crown income.

In 1542-1546, the last war cost were £2 million. Extraordinary incomes has been provided for £1 million, i.e. subsidies, forced loan and two benevolences. The balances have been acquired through ordinary revenue, loan from Antwerp exchange and sale of monastic land. This has started the Great Debasement of coinage to make money for the war. Moreover, Duke of Somerset also has continued these money in reign of Edward VI. Duke of Northumberland’s peace policy has also led to measure of financial recovery and reduction of government debt.

Queen Elizabeth I’s finances has been enhanced by the new Book of Rates, which were compiled at end of Mary’s reign. These finances were created by increasing the customs duties and extended number of dutiable goods. Customs revenues were £29,000 in 1556-1557 has risen to £83,000 in 1558-1559. The new reign has not continued such financial enterprises. Actually, Queen Elizabeth and Lord Burghley were stabilisers, not innovators.

Even though the prices of it have risen, they have allowed the vital sources of income to stagnate. But, the yields has been declined in real terms, the rents for Crown tenants has not been increased in line with inflation. Not just that, Crown lands has also been sold for quick cash so future revenues might be decreased. Fortunately, Elizabeth has come to rely on subsidy to manage well as even in peace time.

In contrast to her timing, the value of subsidy has felt. This affect to the shire tax assessors, who were reluctant to correctly assess income of rich neighbours. Despite inflation, nobility has been assessed at less than under Henry VIII. Thus, it has been needed for grants of subsidies in war for years after 1585. Of which it, four subsidies have successfully been granted over as many years. These subsidies, forced loans and benevolences have been covered less than half and half cost of war. Beside of these, other revenues, such as vacant sees, recusant fines, prize money and other unpopular devices such as ship money, purveyance and sale of monopolies have also been covered.

But, Parliament government has failed to properly tap its major income sources. Lack of means were forced by Queen Elizabeth to strictly economise. In lieu of many salaries that she used for various forms of patronage to reward her household and government employees. The example of rewards were gifts of land, tax farms, wardships and monopolies. Patronage sometimes regarded as tantamount to revenue for the Crown, i.e. it has reduced salary bill. Even there was never enough to satisfy all aspirants. These gifts sometimes could be reduced by Crown resources and in case of monopolies could have serious political repercussions.

Central government has not been funded by regular guaranteed income because they have not been protected against inflation. The ordinary and extraordinary income have varied in amount. King Henry VII only was a Tudor monarch, who has not died in debt. The major cause was the wars, which royal subjects have reluctant to fund. Modest but frequent subsidies, which it has been granted even for Queen Elizabeth’s ‘popular’ war against Spain might be resented, especially to the subjects, who had to provide ships or ship money and ‘coat and conduct’ money for the English armies.

In the war and peace, parliament government has financed according to how much money the people could be persuaded to surrender. Not all parliament grants were collected due to passive resistance. Tudors had few means of coercion because its government has feared resistance. Tudors have relied on unpaid officers to govern the regions, e.g. the sheriffs, the Justice of Peace or JPs and the constables. This might be serviced by the ruling classes, which were one reason for not asking them to pay higher taxes because their support was indispensable.

Until in the 1536, monarchs were happy for local affairs to be largely controlled by local men, who were supervised by Privy Council. As a result, they have gotten the only rate, which was a poor rate. That rate has been levied only in emergencies. The Borough and parish authorities have made levies from well-off for specific local purposes, such as militia, road, bridge repairs and other things, which were no regular funding. It is very clear that Tudor ‘paternalism’ has been a parental interest in subjects’ well-being. Absolutely, it has been derived from concern for law and order.

It is concluded that Tudors have paid for government in response to rebellion by doing the five ways that involved:

1    1.    Buy Time means Tudor governments had limited resources available to them, e.g. no police force and limited money. Their main weapon was their claim to be legitimate ruler anointed with holy oil and chosen by God. Therefore, the traitors were also condemned as sinners. Governments sought to buy time until they have enough troops to call the rebels’ bluff and then they would declare battle. More battles were expensive and uncertain, however they were generally avoided. Therefore, many pardons were offered often on the eve of Battle. 

     The example of it were rebels at Stoke (Simnel) and Blackheath (Cornish) were offered pardons on the eve of battle. Pilgrimage of Grace 1536, King Henry VIII allowed the Duke of Norfolk to negotiate. Western Rebellion has been led by Duke of Somerset, who sent a series of letters to the rebel camp urging them to desist offering them a free pardon if they did.

2.      Propaganda was widely used by governments in trying to persuade rebels to give up and return home. Beside of it, they have also used written propaganda, which it had limited impact as most could not read. Instead, it was designed to reinforce moral of the government. 

Examples are that Cromwell has employed a team of writers to condemn rebellion in 1536. King Henry VIII personally has replied to the letters where he has defended his policies. But, the Cranmer has attacked the rebels during 1549 and the Somerset has also sent preachers to appeal at their camp on Mousehold Heath, near Norwich.

3.      Pre-emptive Measures were used by Monarchs to weaken the power of rebels before they became too dangerous. Examples are that King Henry VII has used a papal bull to ex-communicate the rebels on the eve of the Battle of Stoke and Blackheath to encourage many rebels to surrendered rather than risk eternal damnation. Queen Mary has also sent letters prior to the outbreak of the Wyatt rebellion denouncing the plot. Queen Elizabeth has heard some rumours in the summer in 1569 that there are several disgruntled nobles. Then, Queen Elizabeth has acted quickly and Norfolk has denied permission to marry. Mary has also moved 30 miles south to Coventry.

4.      The decision to raise troops was not taken lightly. It was expensive and if they were not paid they were as much a threat as the rebels themselves. They always relied on the nobility and gentry to provide retainers. The examples of what they has been doing were the Somerset had to carefully deploy his troops as he faced rebellion across the country. They had to focus on those near London, which is why the Western and Kett’s took so long to suppress. This was also why he was the only ruler to employ foreign mercenaries. King Henry VII also took action against retaining as for him, it threatened his throne in those years immediately after war.

5.      Trials and retribution were two reasons that those rebels who indulged and knew that the penalty, were death, but not all rebels were subsequently executed. The examples of it were King Henry VII was quietly lenient often using bonds, recognisances, attainders and fines. In the reign of King Henry VIII, Amicable Grant 18 have taken for trial and then might be released and paid for their compensation. In Elizabeth’s reign,  300 villages has burned and 450 of 700 rebels has been executed in New England.