Privy Council

  • Represent senior nobles and their influence
  • Respected statesmen appointed by the King to advise him
  • They only provide advice, they have no power in the King’s absence

The Privy Council consists of senior Statesmen whose role is to advise the King. What notice the King takes of their advice is his own business.
While a role on the Privy Council is powerful and exclusive, they do not have any formal legal power in their own right and they do not rule in a King’s absence. In a King’s absence he appoints at Regent to rule in his absence who takes on his full legal powers and the Privy Council advises them. Henry has only ever appointed Queens as Regents, as is the custom.
Some members of the Privy Council may have titles that grant them specific powers at court. These will be enforced by guards and functionaries where needed.

Responsibilities at the event

  • Influence and advice policy rather than dictate
  • Meet 10:30am on Saturday

Privy Council has little formal power but a lot of influence. At 10:30am on Saturday they have a meeting to discuss Rome’s offer with Henry.

Chancellor

  • Member of Privy Council, first among equals
  • Meets with Henry on Friday night
  • Can arrest people, arrests will not long or boring

The Chancellor, Thomas Wriothesley has the ability to arrest people and hold them in the dungeon until trial. He requires a signed warrant by King Henry to do this. 
Wriothesley will meet briefly with Henry early on Friday night.

Lord Privy Seal

Charles Brandon was the Lord Privy Seal until his recent death.

  • Carries the Great Seal of King Henry
  • The Great Seal is used for sealing court documents such as Acts of Parliament.
  • The position is currently vacant.

Members of the Privy Council

Thomas Wriothesley, Lord Chancellor
Bishop Stephen Gardiner
Francis Bryan
Edward Seymour
Thomas Seymour
John Dudley
Thomas Howard
Henry Howard