Henry VII's [7th] hatchet men: Empson and Dudley

The History of England ^ | Jul 17, 2017 | David Crowther

[SunkenCiv]

Richard Empson and Edmund Dudley would both earn themselves the reputation as Henry VII's hatchet men -- which is fair enough; but in addition they would be characterised by Polydore Vergil and others to characterize as extortioners... on Henry VII's death in 1509, Dudley was a fall guy for what was essentially his master's policy. He was tried in London in July 1509 and convicted of treason; the ludicrous accusation was that he planned to "hold, guide and govern the King and his Council" with a force of men. He probably did assemble a force of men given the political uncertainty -- but it is highly unlikely he intended a coup d'tat. Dudley was finally beheaded on Tower Hill in 1510...

As chancellor, Empson relentlessly strove to increase the king's revenue. He raised rents, cancelled rebates, ran surveys and audits, investigated feudal dues. As part of the Council Learned he pursued the king's debtors... he imprisoned people to force them to settle fines he issued official summons by privy seal... raised money also by pardons, countersigned by the king, uncovering forfeitures on outlawry; exploiting wards. Where he found wrong doing, the result was usually a fine to the king...

Henry VII trutsed him without doubt; Empson was one of his executors. But after Henry VII died on 21 April 1509, and Empson was arrested just three days later. Treason was read into his summons (for his own protection) of armed men to London as and after the king lay dying. He was charged at Northampton and pleaded his own, but was convicted and sentenced to the death of a traitor. He was attainted in the parliament of January-February 1510, and beheaded, along with Dudley, on Tower Hill on 17 August...

[SunkenCiv]

Author Thomas Penn takes an extraordinary journey into the dark and chilling world of the first Tudor, Henry VII. From his victory over Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth, to his secret death and the succession of his son Henry VIII, this programme reveals the ruthless tactics Henry VII used to win -- and cling on to -- the ultimate prize, the throne of England. Exploring magnificent buildings and long-lost documents, Penn reveals the true story of this suspicious, enigmatic and terrifying monarch.

King Henry VII: Winter King Documentary | Published on Feb 15, 2016

[SunkenCiv]

Painting of Empson, Henry VII, and Dudley:

https://elizregina.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/empsonhenrydudley.jpg

https://elizregina.com/tag/edmund-dudley/

[SunkenCiv]

[colorado tanker]

In actuality, Henry VII was a usurper. He was keenly aware that for a King to hold on to power he needed to be the richest man in the Kingdom. He ruthlessly pursued every avenue be that man and stay on top.

[Larry Lucido]

"Henry the VII I am I am" just doesn't have the same ring to it.

[rintintin]

Yes they were the top IRS agents of their day

[SunkenCiv]

Somethin' tells me he was into somethin' good.

[mass55th]

Richard Empson is supposed to be a great-uncle of mine. His sister Anne Empson is my 14th Great-grandmother. She married a Spencer. I am also related to the Stafford Dudley’s, and Edmund Dudley is probably somewhere in the mix.

[SunkenCiv]

There's an interesting tidbit in the related vid up there -- he had the Commons approve his accession, but it contained the date, a day before the Battle of Bosworth, meaning that anyone who'd fought on Richard III's side had committed treason.

Britains Real Monarch with Tony Robinson

[SunkenCiv]

:^) The Spencers are deeply connected with pretty much everyone living and dead in the various so-called noble houses, along with other families of influence.

[SunkenCiv]

...everything had to work out the way that it did to result in my own rather unremarkable and mostly unremarked existence, so I'm okay with this. :^) *

[Bigg Red]

Mark

[Tuketu]

I knew Pelosi was old but...

[jmacusa]

It’s Baldrick!