Editing Henry VII of England (section)

===Law enforcement and justices of the peace===
Henry's principal problem was to restore royal authority in a realm recovering from the Wars of the Roses. There were too many powerful noblemen and, as a consequence of the system of so-called [[bastard feudalism]], each had what amounted to private armies of indentured retainers ([[mercenaries]] masquerading as servants).<ref>{{cite journal|title=Bastard Feudalism, Overmighty Subjects and Idols of the Multitude during the Wars of the Roses|first=Michael|last=Hicks|journal=History|date=2000|volume=85|issue=279 |pages=386–403|doi=10.1111/1468-229X.00153 }}</ref> Following the example of Edward IV, Henry VII created a [[Council of Wales and the Marches]] for his son Arthur, which was intended to govern [[Wales]] and the [[Welsh Marches|Marches]], Cheshire and [[Duchy of Cornwall|Cornwall]].<ref name="odnb">{{cite ODNB | url=http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/705 | title=Arthur, prince of Wales (1486–1502) | year=2004 | access-date=7 October 2013 | last=Horrox |first=Rosemary | doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/705}} {{Subscription required}}</ref><ref name="griffiths">{{Cite encyclopedia |title=Wales and the Marches in the Fifteenth Century |encyclopedia=Fifteenth Century England, 1399–1509: Studies in Politics and Society |publisher=Sutton Publishing |location=Bristol |last=Griffiths |first=Ralph |date=1972 |author-link=Ralph A. Griffiths |editor-last=Chrimes |editor-first=Stanley |pages=145–172 |isbn=978-0064911269 |editor1-link=S B Chrimes |editor2-last=Ross |editor2-first=Charles |editor2-link=Charles Ross (historian) |editor3-last=Griffiths |editor3-first=Ralph |editor3-link=Ralph A. Griffiths}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Chrimes|1999|pp=249–256}}</ref>
[[File:King Henry VII from NPG.jpg|thumb|left|Late 16th-century copy of a portrait of Henry VII]]

He was content to allow the nobles their regional influence if they were loyal to him. For instance, the Stanley family had control of Lancashire and Cheshire, upholding the peace on the condition that they stayed within the law. In other cases, he brought his over-powerful subjects to heel by decree. He passed laws against "livery" (the upper classes' flaunting of their adherents by giving them badges and emblems) and "maintenance" (the keeping of too many male "servants"). These laws were used shrewdly in levying fines upon those that he perceived as threats.{{Citation needed|date=October 2020}}

However, his principal weapon was the [[Court of Star Chamber]]. This revived an earlier practice of using a small (and trusted) group of the [[Privy Council]] as a personal or Prerogative Court, able to cut through the cumbersome legal system and act swiftly. Serious disputes involving the use of personal power, or threats to royal authority, were thus dealt with.{{Sfn|Williams|1973|page=178}}

Henry VII used [[justices of the peace]] on a large, nationwide scale. They were appointed for every shire and served for a year at a time. Their chief task was to see that the laws of the country were obeyed in their area. Their powers and numbers steadily increased during the time of the Tudors, never more so than under Henry's reign.{{Sfn|MacCulloch|1996|pp=39–42}} Despite this, Henry was keen to constrain their power and influence, applying the same principles to the justices of the peace as he did to the nobility: a similar system of bonds and recognisances to that which applied to both the gentry and the nobles who tried to exert their elevated influence over these local officials.{{Citation needed|date=October 2020}}

All Acts of Parliament were overseen by the justices of the peace. For example, they could replace suspect jurors in accordance with the 1495 act preventing the corruption of juries. They were also in charge of various administrative duties, such as the checking of weights and measures.<ref>{{cite book|title=Early Tudor Government|first=Kenneth|last=Pickthorn|date=1949|page=65}}</ref>

By 1509, justices of the peace were key enforcers of law and order for Henry VII. They were unpaid, which, in comparison with modern standards, meant a smaller tax bill for law enforcement. Local gentry saw the office as one of local influence and prestige and were therefore willing to serve. Overall, this was a successful area of policy for Henry, both in terms of efficiency and as a method of reducing the corruption endemic within the nobility of the [[Middle Ages]].{{Citation needed|date=October 2020}}