OCR Specification focus:
‘foreign relations; finances and relations with parliament; the problem of Lollardy; Henry IV’s illness and factional struggles’
Henry IV’s reign was troubled by persistent financial weakness, political instability, and challenges to religious authority. His governance style, strained relations with parliament, and struggles against Lollardy shaped his reign.
Governance under Henry IV
Henry IV’s authority was precarious from the outset. Having usurped Richard II in 1399, his legitimacy was questioned, and his methods of governance reflected this instability. He relied heavily on trusted nobles such as the Percy family, though their eventual rebellion highlighted the risks of dependence on magnates.
Central administration
Henry continued the use of the royal council as a mechanism for governance. The council often had to mediate between the king and parliament, especially during financial disputes. His reign was marked by attempts to balance competing noble factions while maintaining his own fragile authority.
Relations with the nobility
Henry sought to reward loyalty through patronage, but his limited resources restricted his ability to satisfy magnate ambitions. The Percy rebellion (1403) was a direct consequence of these tensions, and ongoing friction weakened the stability of his rule.
Finance and Relations with Parliament
Henry IV’s reign was consistently undermined by financial weakness.
A set of medieval Exchequer tally sticks, used to record royal income and debts by notches cut into wood. Such instruments underpinned everyday fiscal administration and the Crown’s appeals to parliament for taxation. Clean, labelled artefacts like these make concrete the mechanics behind the “financial problems” in the specification. Source
Unlike his predecessors, he lacked the revenues from overseas possessions that had sustained earlier monarchs.
Causes of financial strain
Loss of royal lands and income due to earlier grants and mismanagement.
Costs of warfare, particularly the ongoing Glyndŵr Rising (1400–1415) in Wales and Anglo-Scottish conflict.
Dependence on parliamentary taxation rather than independent royal income.
Parliamentary dynamics
Henry was compelled to summon parliament frequently to request taxation. This gave parliament greater leverage, allowing it to demand reforms and increased accountability. The parliaments of Henry’s reign were characterised by:
Scrutiny of royal finances, including demands for audits of expenditure.
Resistance to granting subsidies without concessions from the crown.
Growth of a sense that the king was dependent on parliament for legitimacy and governance.
Parliament: The English legislative assembly made up of the Lords (nobility and clergy) and Commons (knights and burgesses), which had the power to grant taxation and advise the monarch.
Henry’s financial reliance on parliament set important precedents for later developments in English governance, particularly the growing role of the Commons in financial matters.
Foreign Relations
Henry’s foreign policy was constrained by his lack of resources. His reign focused more on defensive strategies than on aggressive expansion.
France and Scotland
With France, Henry faced diplomatic hostility as he was viewed as an illegitimate usurper.
The French crown often supported domestic opponents, such as Glyndŵr.
Against Scotland, Henry managed occasional campaigns but lacked funds for decisive victories.
Ireland and Wales
Ireland remained a burden, as English control was fragile.
The Glyndŵr Rising in Wales consumed resources and destabilised the realm, forcing Henry to divert money and manpower to suppress rebellion.
The Problem of Lollardy
One of the most distinctive challenges of Henry IV’s reign was the spread of Lollardy, a religious reform movement inspired by John Wycliffe.
Nature of Lollardy
Lollards challenged the wealth, corruption, and authority of the Church. They demanded an English translation of the Bible and argued for a simplified, scripture-based faith.
Lollardy: A religious movement in late medieval England calling for reform of the Church, critical of clerical wealth, and advocating access to scripture in English.
Government response
Henry IV regarded Lollardy as both a religious and political threat, particularly since some Lollards supported his rivals. In 1401, he passed the statute De heretico comburendo, authorising the burning of heretics.
Identification: Engraving of men tying Sir John Oldcastle to a stake with flames beneath. No modern caption on the image itself, but the file is titled “The burning of Sir John Cobham, Lord Oldcastle…” from the Wellcome Collection. It is the only engraving on the page.
Caption: The burning of Sir John Oldcastle (1418), a prominent Lollard sympathiser. While later than Henry IV, it demonstrates the practical enforcement of the 1401 statute De heretico comburendo, which criminalised persistent heresy with death by burning. This visual reinforces the syllabus focus on Lollardy as a political-religious problem. Source
This marked the first formal use of capital punishment for heresy in England.
The statute strengthened the alliance between crown and church but also demonstrated Henry’s need to secure legitimacy by supporting ecclesiastical orthodoxy.
Henry IV’s Illness and Factional Struggles
From around 1405 onwards, Henry suffered from recurring illnesses, including debilitating skin conditions and possible epilepsy. His poor health reduced his capacity to rule directly and increased reliance on councillors and factions at court.
Consequences of ill health
Power was increasingly exercised by his son, Prince Henry (the future Henry V), particularly in military matters.
Rivalries between noble factions grew, as the king’s weakness created opportunities for political manoeuvring.
Royal authority was often undermined by the perception that the king was incapacitated.
Factional divisions became particularly acute in the later years of the reign, with disputes between supporters of Prince Henry and those aligned with other court figures.
The final years
Henry’s declining health and persistent financial crises weakened his control. Nonetheless, he managed to suppress rebellions and maintain the throne until his death in 1413, leaving his son to inherit a more stable, if still financially strained, kingdom.
Key Themes
Governance under Henry IV was characterised by insecurity and factionalism.
Finance remained a chronic problem, forcing dependence on parliament.
Lollardy introduced a new dimension of religious dissent, met with harsh repression.
Illness weakened the king and fuelled factional struggles at court.
FAQ
Richard II benefited from greater inherited resources and more lucrative royal estates, but his extravagance created discontent.
Henry IV’s position was weaker: his usurpation limited his control over Crown lands and he relied more heavily on parliament. Unlike Richard, Henry’s wars in Wales and Scotland drained resources consistently, giving him fewer opportunities to build independent revenue streams.
Parliament’s leverage increased because Henry needed taxation almost annually to fund campaigns and suppress uprisings.
MPs demanded accountability, such as auditing of royal finances.
The Commons began to link subsidies to political concessions.
This frequent bargaining accelerated the growth of parliamentary confidence in shaping governance.
From 1405, Henry’s recurring illnesses reduced his visibility and personal authority.
Prince Henry increasingly took on military responsibilities, particularly in Wales and France, and began to act as a substitute leader. This created tension, as Prince Henry gathered supporters who sometimes clashed with the king’s advisers, deepening court factionalism.
The church strongly supported Henry IV’s repression of heresy, as the crown’s backing reinforced ecclesiastical authority.
Bishops promoted legislation such as De heretico comburendo.
Church courts identified heretics, while secular authorities carried out executions.
This alliance strengthened the king’s legitimacy by aligning him with religious orthodoxy.
The rising required continuous campaigns in Wales, diverting men and money that could not easily be recovered.
Supplies, fortifications, and garrisons imposed heavy costs. Moreover, Welsh forces received French support, forcing Henry to commit even more resources.
The rebellion’s longevity (lasting well beyond Henry’s death) ensured that expenditure remained a constant burden during his reign.
Practice Questions
Question 1 (2 marks)
What was the statute passed in 1401 that authorised the burning of heretics, and which religious movement did it target?
Mark scheme:
1 mark for identifying the statute as De heretico comburendo.
1 mark for identifying the movement as Lollardy.
Question 2 (6 marks)
Explain two reasons why Henry IV faced financial difficulties during his reign.
Mark scheme:
Up to 3 marks per reason explained.
Credit should be given for:
Loss of royal income (e.g., grants of land, weakened Crown resources) with explanation of how this limited Henry’s ability to fund government and reward loyalty.
Costs of warfare (e.g., Glyndŵr Rising, conflict with Scotland) with explanation of the drain on resources and necessity of repeated taxation.
Dependence on parliament for taxation, explained in terms of how this created political strain and restricted Henry’s freedom of action.
Award 1 mark for a basic identification, 2 marks for developed explanation, 3 marks for a fully developed explanation with clear linkage to Henry IV’s financial problems.
