The Tudor Court

The Tudor Court cover.

In 1976, in one of his challenging Presidential addresses to the Royal Historical Society, Professor Geoffrey Elton drew attention to the importance of the court as a ‘point of contact' between the Tudors and their subjects. It was, he suggested, a central and essential aspect of personal government, but in many ways ill-defined and little understood. When he said this, he was already aware of the important, but as yet unpublished, work of David Starkey on Henry VIII's privy chamber. That work began to appear in article form in 1977, and since then Dr. Starkey has addressed himself to the subject in a variety of published papers, both general and specific. He has not been alone. Simon Adams, Eric Ives and Maria Dowling have also contributed valuable insights into the working of that complex and sometimes baffling world. Having endeavoured to teach the subject and being acutely aware of the lack of any systematic discussion, in 1986 I endeavoured to describe the court, and to explain its ethos and function in the Tudor Court. Very soon afterwards the subject was further advanced by the appearance of a most stimulating collection of essays, edited by David Starkey and entitled The English Court from the Wars of the Roses to the Civil War. Among those stimulated was Professor Elton, whose sharply critical response set up a controversy which still continues, and seems likely to continue. That controversy focuses upon the role of the courts as the context of government, particularly in the reign of Henry VIII, but it raises a variety of other interesting and relevant issues. No serious student of Tudor politics can any longer ignore the court, any more than the council or the parliament can be ignored. A renaissance prince needed maiestas, just as he needed law and military service. The king's pleasure was honour, just as his wrath was disgrace - or death...