Tudor Government: Structures of Authority in the Sixteenth Century

This book examines the structures of power and jurisdiction that operated in Tudor England. It explains what the institutions of central government were designed to do, and how they related to each other. It discusses how order and obedience were supposed to be preserved in the countryside, and it shows how the offices designed for that purpose worked in practice. In doing so, Professor Loades highlights the complex links between the formal and informal systems of peace-keeping that functioned throughout the country and examines the critical relationship between Church and State, providing readers with an important context for the social and political developments of the age. The book shows the extent to which changes to the monarch's status affected his real power both within the Church and within his kingdom as a whole. It explores the tensions surrounding his position: the king administered the law, but he did not make it; he could claim revenue, but it had to be granted to him; he was head of the government and the Lords Annointed, but limited by innumerable customs and obligations. In unravelling the mysteries of this ancient and cumbersome system of government, Tudor Government offers a valuable introduction to this complex yet pivotal aspect of early modern British history.

Introduction: Theories of Authority. 1. The Central Machinery. 2. The Regions. 3. The Counties. 4. Hundreds and Parishes. 5. Towns and Cities. 6. The Church. 7. Franchises. 8. The Feudal Structures. 9. Networks. Conclusion: The Unitary State. Bibliography. Index.