Edmund Dudley: Minister of Henry VII

D. M. Brodie

doi:10.2307/3678645

Edmund Dudley: Minister of Henry VII

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 12 February 2009

D. M. Brodie

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To the historian of the late fifteenth century interest is centred on the transitional character of the times. Throughout Europe medieval thought and institutions were decaying. The dream of Christendom was fading, and the development of non-moral national states was quickened by the policy of despotic rulers in many countries. Medieval “liberties“ appeared only as bars in the path of progress, and in most countries fell before the new centralized administrations. Economic changes spread more rapidly and defeated that apparent inertia which had afflicted the countryside during the rule of the feudal baron. New conditions meant an age of distress and turbulence, and new opportunities meant the rise of strong, vigorous personalities who were left without authoritative guidance to work out their country's salvation. Of such were Henry VII and his council of the “ablest men that were to be found”. They were typical examples of the age; men brought up with medieval traditions, using medieval forms, yet treating many problems in an independent spirit, cautiously feeling their way to a development that is only clear at the close of the sixteenth century when the modern state had been almost created. Of the importance of this formative period there can be no doubt, but not much can be learnt about the men who guided England at this very critical time, for they have left only scattered and often but fragmentary records behind them. For the sake of the light that the Tree of Commonwealth throws on the views that Edmund Dudley must have shared with his colleagues, as well as for its own original and lively expression of opinion on many political and social questions, the work and its author seem to deserve more serious consideration than they have yet received.

Type: Research Article
Information: Transactions of the Royal Historical Society , Volume 15 , January 1932 , pp. 133 - 161

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/3678645 [Opens in a new window]
Copyright: Copyright © Royal Historical Society 1932

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References

^{page 133 note 1} Bacon, , History of the Reign of Henry VII (ed. Lumby, J. R., 1876), p. 217Google Scholar.

^{page 134 note 1} Three manuscript copies exist: (a) Chetham MS. No. 376, from which the privately printed edition of the Tree was prepared in 1859; (b) Harl. MS. No. 2204; (c) Brit. Mus. Add. MS. No. 32091. References are-to the printed edition, but the wording of quotations comes from Add. MS. 32091, which copy is written in a hand resembling that of William Honnyng, Clerk of the Council during the government of John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland.

^{page 134 note 2} Grazebrooke, H. S. in William, Salt Society's Collections, Vol. IX, Pt. 2, pp. 65 et seqGoogle Scholar. Also S. Lee in D.N.B.

^{page 134 note 3} Inquis. P.M., Series II, Vol. 22, No. 12 (10).

^{page 134 note 4} Comm. of Peace, Southampton, 1470; Sussex, 1481–85. Comm. of Array, 12 E. IV and 1 and 2 R. III.

^{page 134 note 5} Comm. of Peace, Sussex, fr. Oct. 1486; Muster and Array, 4 and 5 H. VII.

^{page 134 note 6} Pat. Rolls. 5 H. 7, m. 33 (3).

^{page 134 ntoe 7} Ibid., 1 H. 7, IV, m. 15 (10) d.

^{page 135 note 1} Salt, W. Soc. Collections, Vol. IX, Pt. 2, p. 74Google Scholar.

^{page 135 note 2} L. and P., H. VIII, 2, ff. 4 et seq.

^{page 135 ntoe 3} Baronage (ed. 1675), II, p. 207.

^{page 135 note 4} Inquis. P.M., Series II, Vol. 22, No. 12 (10).

^{page 135 note 5} Wood, Ath. Oxon. (ed. Bliss, 1813), Vol. I.

^{page 135 note 6} Exeter College, Oxford, claims Sir John Fortescue. Sir Robert Rede went to Magdalen College, Cambridge, and Sir Thomas More probably to Canterbury Hall, now absorbed in Christchurch, Oxford.

^{page 135 note 7} D.N.B. and Salt, Wm. Soc. Collections, Vol. IX, Pt. 2, p. 74Google Scholar.

^{page 135 note 8} L. and P., H. VIII, 2, fi. 4 et seq.

^{page 136 note 1} Tree, p. 32.

^{page 136 note 2} Ibid., p. 34.

^{page 136 note 3} Foster, , Register of Admissions, 1889Google Scholar.

^{page 136 note 4} p. 309.

^{page 136 note 5} Ibid., p. 271; also Fletcher, , Pension Book of Gray's Inn (1901), pp. xxiiiGoogle Scholar et seq.; Douthwaite, , Gray's Inn (1886), p. 13Google Scholar, gives the date as 21 H. 7.

^{page 136 note 6} De Laud. Leg. Angl., c. XLIX, which forms the basis of this account of legal education in the fifteenth century.

^{page 137 note 1} Smith, , Hist, of Educ. for the Bar (1860)Google Scholar, Pt. I.

^{page 137 note 2} Tottell, Year Books, M. 20 H. 7, Nos. 5, 12 and 14, and Keilwey, Reports, H. 20, H. 7, No. 3, report the case of an executor who redeemed with his own goods a gold cup pledged by the testator. Kingesmel's comment was: “Each vendor by presumption wishes to sell for the biggest price that he can, and each buyer for the lowest that he can secure.” This speech shows little sympathy with the academic theory of a “just price.”

^{page 137 note 3} Tottell, Year Books, H. 9 H. 7, No. 8.

^{page 138 noe 1} Fortescue, , De Laud. Leg. Angl., c. XCVIIGoogle Scholar, and Of the Title of the House of York. Dudley, , Tree, p. 7Google Scholar, and p. 53, where there is a reference to the Jacquerie in France with, in all existing copies, a blank left for the King's name.

^{page 138 note 2} Workes, ed. Rastell, Wm., 1557Google Scholar.

^{page 138 note 3} Fortescue, , De Laud. Leg. Angl., c. IGoogle Scholar, and Dial, between Understanding and Faith; Dudley, , Tree, pp. 37 and 49Google Scholar; More, Dial, of Comfort.

^{page 138 note 4} Tree, p. 9.

^{page 138 note 5} Ibid., pp. 57 et seq.

^{page 138 note 6} De Reg. Princ. ad Regent Cypri, Bk. I, c. VIII.

^{page 139 note 1} M. Deanesley, The Lollard Bible.

^{page 139 note 2} Aveling, F. on Aquinas, St. Thomas in Soc. and Pol. Ideas of Some Medieval Thinkers (1923), ed. Hearnshaw, F. J. C.Google Scholar.

^{page 139 note 3} De Laud. Leg. Angl., c. XIII, where Fortescue uses the arguments of Aquinas to differentiate between “dominicum regale” and “politicum.”

^{page 139 note 4} Bk. II, Ch.III.

^{page 139 note 5} Tree, p. 7.

^{page 139 note 6} Fortescue, Governance, Ch. I; Dudley, , Tree, pp. 10Google Scholaret seq.

^{page 140 note 1} Governance, Ch. XV.

^{page 140 note 2} D.N.B.

^{page 140 note 3} Fortescue, Governance, Ch. VIII; Dudley, , Tree, pp. 9 and 11Google Scholar; More, Utopia, Bk. II, Ch. III. Egidius (Romanus) Colonna, De Reg. Princ, Pt. I, Bk. I, Ch. XII.

^{page 140 note 4} De Reg. Princ, Part II, Bk. Ill, Ch. VIII.

^{page 140 note 5} Dudley, , Tree, p. 8Google Scholar.

^{page 140 note 6} Ibid., p. 11.

^{page 141 note 1} Year Books, M. I H. 7, No. 3; H. I H. 7, No. 1; M. 2 H. 7, Nos. 7 and 9; Trin., 4 H. 7, No. 8.

^{page 141 note 2} History of the Reign of Henry VII (1876), p. 213.

^{page 141 note 3} Tree, p. 12, and cf. Leadam, I. S., Select Cases in Court of Requests (1898), pp. xvii and xviiiGoogle Scholar.

^{page 141 note 4} Tree, p. 12, and cf. Leadam, I. S., Select Cases in Star Chamber (1902), pp. 137 et seq.Google Scholar

^{page 141 note 5} Tree, p. 12.

^{page 141 note 6} Rot. Parl., 1 H. 8, c. 16.

^{page 141 note 7} Keilwey, Reportes, T. 20 H. 7, No. 10.

^{page 142 note 1} Hist, of Eng. Law, Vol. V, pp. 201–3.

^{page 142 note 2} Winfield, P. H., History of Conspiracy and Abuse of Legal Procedure (1921), p. 107Google Scholar.

^{page 142 note 3} Dugdale, Baronage. Cf. Origines Judiciales, p. 59, where described as “sometime a Serjeant at law and afterward of the Privy Council of HenryVII.”

^{page 142 note 4} Fortescue, De Laud. Leg. Angl., c. L.

^{page 142 note 5} Holdsworth, , Hist, of Eng. Law, Vol. V, p. 340Google Scholar; Bolland, W. C., Manual of Year Book Studies (1925), p. 15Google Scholar, quotes from 11 E. IV, p. 3 (B), case 4, a report which shows apprentices, or barristers, could plead in the absence of Serjeants, even in the Common Bench.

^{page 142 note 6} Stow, , Annales, p. 814Google Scholar.

^{page 142 note 7} Patent Rolls, 20 H. 7, p. 1, m. 13 (24).

^{page 142 note 8} Chancery Warrants, II. 336, 54 (82). Cf. Dudley's will, L. and P., H. VIII, 2, f. 9, where Sir Wm. Sands is included in the group bound, and mention is made of payment to Master Lovell and Master Heron “ before myn atteinder whereby I trust they shalbe therof discharged.”

^{page 143 note 1} Lansd. MS. 127, fi. 36 et seq., refers to Dudley's recognisance of £1,000 for wool bought of the King.

^{page 143 note 2} Exchequer K. R. Inventories, 2 (17).

^{page 143 note 3} Cf. Scofield, C. L., Life and Reign of Edward IV (1923), pp. 418Google Scholaret seq.

^{page 144 note 1} Tree, p. 21.

^{page 144 note 2} Ibid., p. 19.

^{page 144 note 3} Ibid., p. 35.

^{page 144 note 4} Tawney, R. H., Religion and the Rise of Capitalism (1926), p. 31Google Scholar.

^{page 145 note 1} Inq. P.M., Chancery Series II and Exchequer Series II, returns made of manors in the counties of Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, Dorset, Lincoln, Wiltshire, Cambridge and Oxford.

^{page 145 note 2} L. and P., H. VIII, Vol. 2, pp. 4–9, for following quotations from Edmund Dudley's will: “Lands in Lancashery^t I purchased of my Lord Dacreof the South:” “wher I bought of Roger Lewkenorof Sheffelde:” repayment of £100 to Sir David Owen “that I had of his in a bargeyne of londs.”

^{page 145 note 3} Patent Rolls. Marriages and Wardships, 20 H. 7, p. 1, m. 25 (12); p. 3, m. 5 (16). Seneschal, 21 H. 7, p. 1, m. 15 (22); p. 2, m. 4(18); 22 H. 7, p. I, m. 14 (15); 23 H. 7, p. 1, m. 15 (12); p. 3, m. 12 (15). Pension payable from Mich. 20 H. 7 for services as “consilarius noster,” 22 H. 7, p. 1, m. 25 (4).

^{page 145 note 4} V.C.H. for Hampshire, Vol. Ill, pp. 435–6. Cf. law-suits of “Wild Darrell,” H. Hall, Society in Elizabethan Age, ch. I. and passim.

^{page 146 note 1} Inq. P.M., Exchequer Series II, No. 1067: 1.

^{page 146 note 2} Paston Letters, ed. J. Gairdner (1872), I, Nos. 83–90: Tottell, Year Books, H. 9, H. 7, No. 7: Keilwey, , Reportes, P. 23Google ScholarH. 7, No. 6.

^{page 146 note 3} Tree, p. 18.

^{page 146 note 4} Tottell, Year Books, T. 14 H. 7, No. 3. Cf. Leadam, I. S., Select Cases in Star Chamber, p. lxvGoogle Scholar.

^{page 146 note 5} Inq. P.M., Exchequer Series II, No. 962: 17; cf. Inq. P.M., Chancery Series II, No. 72, for a second account.

^{page 147 note 1} Tree, p. 19.

^{page 147 note 2} Ibid., p. 20.

^{page 147 note 3} Cf. Tawney's, R. H. introduction to A Discourse Upon Usury (1925), pp. 22–6Google Scholar.

^{page 147 note 4} Rot. Parl., 2 H. 7, c. 8.

^{page 147 note 5} Tree, p. 18.

^{page 147 note 6} Ibid., pp. 50–57, preaching of Arrogancy.

^{page 147 note 7} Ibid., p. 19. Cf. Egidius (Romanus) Colonna, De Reg. Princ, Pt. II, Bk. II, Ch. XVIII; Eng. Works of Bishop Fisher, E.E.T.S., Extra Series, XXVII, p. 290; SirMore, Thomas, Life of Pico., Eng. Works (1557). PP. 1Google Scholaret seq.

^{page 148 note 1} Tree, pp. 21–2. Analysis of frauds practised by wool and cloth merchants and proposals for a commission of experts to undertake reforms.

^{page 148 note 2} Chronicles, “The Union of the Families of Lancastre and Yorke “ (1809), reign of VII, HenryGoogle Scholar.

^{page 148 note 3} Angl. Hist., Liber XXVI (1555).

^{page 148 note 4} Pat. Rolls, 17 H. 7, p. 1, m. 11 (20) d.

^{page 148 note 5} Ibid., 22 H. 7, p. I, m. 25 (4).

^{page 148 note 6} Ibid., 21 H. 7, p. 2, m. 5 (17) and 18 (4).

^{page 149 note 1} Angl. Hist, Liber XXVI.

^{page 149 note 2} C.L. Pleadings, Chancery, Bundle I, Nos. 14, 36, 38, 40, 41, 47, 49–53.

^{page 149 note 3} Ibid., Nos. 30 and 32.

^{page 149 note 4} Cf. Hall, H. on the use of bonds, Select Cases on the Law Merchant (1932), Vol. Ill, pp. xivGoogle Scholaret seq.

^{page 149 note 5} Tottell, Year Books, M. 10 H. 7, No. 14.

^{page 149 note 6} Chancery Warrants II, No. 343.

^{page 149 note 7} Newton, A. P., in Tudor Studies, ed. by Watson, R. W. Seton (1924), p. 232Google Scholar, speaks of “the last and, in some ways, the most far-reaching outburst of Chamber and Household activity under Henry VII,”

^{page 150 note 1} Cf. Holdsworth, W. S., Influence of the Legal Profession on the Growth of the English Constitution (1924), pp. 20—2Google Scholar.

^{page 150 note 2} Tree, p. 12.

^{page 150 note 3} Ibid., pp. 15–16. Cf. Italian Relation of England (1847), p. 34.

^{page 150 note 4} L. and Papers of Henry VIII, ed. Brewer, Vol. I, No. 1.

^{page 150 note 5} Hall, , Chronicles, pp. 505Google Scholaret seq.

^{page 150 note 6} Baga de Secretis, Pouch IV.

^{page 151 note 1} K. R. Inventories 2 (17).

^{page 151 note 2} Tottell, Year Books, M. 2 H. 7, No. 7, records debate at White Friars as to whether Sir R. Croftes, Treasurer of the Household, and Sir R. Corbet had broken their sureties for good behaviour by appearing with swords, daggers and bucklers in the Hall of Westminster.

^{page 151 note 3} Dugdale, Baronage.

^{page 151 note 4} Rot. Parl., 1 H. 8, c. 20.

^{page 151 note 5} Inq. P.M., Chancery Series II and Exchequer Series II, returns made of manors in the counties of Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, Dorset, Lincoln, Wiltshire, Cambridge and Oxford.

^{page 152 note 1} L. and P., H. VIII, Vol. 2, ff. 4 et seq.

^{page 152 note 2} Hall, , Chronicles (1809), Reign of Henry VIII, pp. 505Google Scholaret seq.

^{page 152 note 3} Stow, , Annales (1592), p. 815Google Scholar.

^{page 152 note 4} Ibid., p. 810.

^{page 153 note 1} Cf. Tottell, Year Books, M. 10 H. 7, No. 14.

^{page 153 note 2} Westminster Abbey MSS., Nos. 9260 and 12249.

^{page 153 note 3} Chancery Warrants, II, No. 360.

^{page 154 note 1} Westm. Abbey MSS., No. 12249. Lansd. MS. 127, ff. 46 et seq.

^{page 154 note 2} Rot. Parl., 1 H. 8, c. 9 and 10. For the Customs, see the works of Gras and Hall.

^{page 154 note 3} Vol. I, f. 102.

^{page 154 note 4} Rot. Parl., 1 H. 8, c. 18. Cf. Leadam, I. S., Trans, of R. Hist. Soc, N.S., Vol. XIX, pp. 279Google Scholaret seq.

^{page 155 note 1} Bacon, , Hist, of the Reign of Henry VII (1876), p. 209Google Scholar.

^{page 155 note 2} Governance of England, ed. Plummer, C. (1885)Google Scholar, Ch. V and IX.

^{page 155 note 3} Ibid., Ch. X.

^{page 155 note 4} Ital. Relat., p. 37: “And if the King should propose to change any old established rule, it would seem to every Englishman as if his life were taken away from him…“

^{page 156 note 1} Fortescue, Governance, Ch. VI; Dudley, , Tree, p. 16Google Scholar.

^{page 156 note 2} Ley, , Treatise concerning Wards and Liveries, p. 77Google Scholar.

^{page 156 note 3} Pat. Rolls, I H. 7, p. 2, m. 15 (11) d.

^{page 156 note 4} Ibid., I H. 7, p. 4, m. 15 (10) d.

^{page 157 note 1} Pat. Rolls, 2 R. 3, p. 3, m. 24 (d).

^{page 157 note 2} Ibid., 17 H. 7, p. I, m. II (20) d.

^{page 157 note 3} Ibid., 24 H. 7, p. 3, m. 17 (4) d. Cf. Excheq. Spec. Comm., P. Record Office, for methods of such commissions in the sixteenth century onwards.

^{page 157 note 4} Bundle I.

^{page 157 note 5} Ibid., Bundle II.

^{page 158 noet 1} Inquis. P.M., Series II, Vol. 22, No. 12 (10).

^{page 158 note 2} Patent Rolls, 24 H. 7, p. I, m. 3 (33).

^{page 158 note 3} Bacon, , Hist, of the Reign of H. VII, p. 217Google Scholar.

^{page 159 note 1} Pat. Rolls, 23 H. 7, p. 3, m. 24 (3).

^{page 159 note 2} Rot. Parl., 1 H. 7, c. 17.

^{page 159 note 3} L. and P. of H. VIII (Brewer), Vol. 1, No. 2.

^{page 159 note 4} Vergil, , Angl. Hist. (1555)Google Scholar, Liber XXVI, for account of rebellion of 1497 and of Bray's death in 1502.

^{page 160 note 1} Stow, , Annales, p. 812Google Scholar.

^{page 160 note 2} Westm. Abbey MSS., Nos. 9260, 12249, 4942, 952, 940, 1266.

^{page 160 note 3} Annales, p. 814; 21st Report of the Deputy Keeper, App. 45. Pleas in the Exchequer of Chester.

^{page 160 note 4} Patent Rolls, 2 H. 7, p. 1, m. 6.

^{page 160 note 5} The passage was omitted in the printed edition of the Tree, as it is badly confused in both the Chetham and Harleian MSS.

^{page 160 note 6} Tree, pp. 5–6; also p. 22, an urgent plea for peace.

^{page 160 note 7} Ibid., p. 31.

^{page 161 note 1} Tree, pp. 3, and 7 for quotation. My sincere thanks are due to Mr. R. H. Brodie for his help in solving many difficulties in the text of the Tree, and to Dr. H. Hall, who suggested many improvements during the revision of this essay.

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