The purpose of this study was firsdy, to construct detailed itineraries for King Henry VII and Archbishop John Morton (c.1420 -1500) for the first fifteen years of the king’s reign and include an extensive range of contemporary material presented in chronological order. Secondly, it seeks to undertake a re-evaluation of Morton’s career and investigate the nature of the loyalty he showed to the three kings he served: Henry VI, Edward IV and Henry VII. Thirdly, it looks at Morton’s role in government, particularly between 1485 and 1500, using the information revealed in the database, to examine the significance of his contribution to the establishment of the early Tudor state, in terms of its personal and institutional functionality.
The study begins with a historiographical review of Morton, which reveals the views of contemporaries, near-contemporaries and subsequent historians. His career up to 1485 is then examined in detail. A full explanation of the methodological approaches used to construct the database then follows. This is then used to provide an examination of his career under Henry VII and in a detailed analysis of 1487, the first year of crisis in the new king’s reign. It concludes with a chapter on how the itineraries provide an insight into the nature of early Tudor government.
The itineraries which have been produced are lengthy documents and are appended to this study in electronic form. They reveal the close nature of the working relationship between Henry VII and his chancellor. Morton brought a wealth of legal and political experience to the service of the new king, who was unique among British monarchs, being neither the son of a royal household nor the heir of a great noble. A ward and then a penniless exile, Henry needed the guidance and expert statecraft of his chancellor, who served him effectively and faithfully until his death in September 1500.