HENRY
VII (r. 1485-1509)Although supported by Lancastrians and Yorkists alienated
by Richard III's usurpation, Henry VII's first task was to secure his position.
In 1486 he married Elizabeth of York, eldest daughter of Edward IV, thus uniting
the Houses of York and Lancaster. Henry's reign (1485-1509) was troubled by revolts,
sometimes involving pretenders (such as Perkin Warbeck and Lambert Simnel) who
impersonated Edward V or his brother. In 1485, Henry formed a personal bodyguard
from his followers known as the 'Yeomen of the Guard' (the oldest military corps
in existence today).Henry strengthened the power of the monarchy by using
traditional methods of government to tighten royal administration and increase
revenues (reportedly including a daily examination of accounts). Royal income
rose from an annual average of ?52,000 to ?142,000 by the end of Henry's reign.
Little co-operation between King and Parliament was required; during Henry's reign
of 24 years, seven Parliaments sat for some ten and a half months.
Henry
used dynastic royal marriages to establish his dynasty in England and help maintain
peace. One daughter, Margaret, was married to James IV of Scotland (from whom
Mary, Queen of Scots and her son, James VI of Scotland and James I of England,
were descended); the other daughter married Louis XII of France. Henry spent money
shrewdly and left a full treasury on his death in 1509
.