TUDOR FACTS & FIGURES

This page features a population chart & list of the Lord Chancellors and Keepers of the Great Seals during each Tudor reign; it also explains the duties of those offices


Total Population in Tudor England
includes England & Wales
1524.....2.3 million
1541.....2.7 million
1550.....2.9 million
1569.....3.2 million
1599.....4.0 million

in 1520, 6% of the population lived in urban areas (towns of over 4,000 people)
in 1520, 3% of the population lived in London


Lord Chancellors and Keepers of the Great Seals

Throughout English history government was traditionally 'by the three seals' - the Great Seal of England (held by the Lord Chancellor), the Privy Seal and the Signet.  Under Henry VII and his successor Henry VIII this tradition continued; but under Edward VI, Mary I and (most especially) Elizabeth I, the tradition declined.  Elizabethan England saw the development of government by ministers as a replacement for the medieval government by seals.

What does 'government by seal' mean?  Under Henry VII and his son all the work of government was handled by the officers of the Keepers of the seals - they authorized all decisions by applying the relevant seals.  In other words, they validated decisions by applying the seal.  During Elizabeth's reign, the Lord Chancellor became the principal legal officer of the realm & the keeper of the Privy Seal became secretary-of-state.  In other words, the ministers became more important than the seals.

The following is a list of all LORD CHANCELLORS & KEEPERS OF THE GREAT SEAL under the Tudor monarchs: ***the different colors indicate different reigns (red - Henry VII; green - Henry VIII; gold - Edward VI; violet< - Mary I; blue - Elizabeth I)
***note the stability & length of service in Henry VIII & Elizabeth I's reigns; also note that Elizabeth I had virtually no titled noblemen serve as Lord Chancellor/Keeper of the Seal



And if you have any questions, e-mail me.

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