Henry V Extract 4 Analysis

Both extract 3 and extract 4 describe Henry’s finances and his attitude towards them, despite the difference in detail within both. Extract 3 is more descriptive in its wording, whilst extract 4 focuses more heavily on statistics and fact. Despite this, extract 3 is a more convincing interpretation of Henry VII’s attitude to finance as it presents more of an idea about Henry’s personal attitude to finance than extract 4, which is more impersonal.
Extract 3 shows Henry’s desire to have personal control over his finances, especially in the line “most of [his treasure of state] in secret places under his own key and keeping.” This reflects the evidence that Henry was incredibly meticulous about personally appointing each member of the chamber upon its reinstatement in 1487. This, along with the fact he

Both were key figures of the Council Learned, especially Empson who eventually chaired it. This Council Learned in Law was established during the second half of Henry’s reign in order to maintain the king’s revenue and to exploit his prerogative rights (the powers a monarch could exercise without the consent of Parliament). However, it became widely disliked due to its abuse of the system of bonds and recognizances, all of which, to paraphrase the historian Thomas Penn, was the cause of ‘fear, frustration and anger’ because of its ability to bypass the legal system. Despite this, Empson and Dudley’s work is described as “more to be marvelled at,” which presents the idea that Henry only employed the best and most successful financial minds in order to make as much money as possible. This demonstrates quite clearly Henry’s personal desire to improve royal finances, even at the cost of appearing