chapter 10- English society Flashcards
what would be the significance of the elites in society?
The nobility would still represent the social elite in the times of Henry 8th.
The nobility-
the size and peerage would increase during his reign, though throughout his reign there would be a little increase of 9 peers throughout his reign. The new peers would receive their titles due to the successful royal service that they would complete. Or this would be due to a close family relationship, this would be evident with the king’s brother-in-law Edward Seymour would be given the title of the earldom of Hertford.
There would only be the Duke of Buckingham when Henry would come to the throne, there would only be Norfolk and Suffolk who would be extended to this title. Norfolk would be given his title, due to the fact that his father would enjoy the same title, and Suffolk would receive his due to his closeness to the family. Henry would also bestow properties on the nobles to allow them to exert royal authority, Suffolk would be given property in Lincolnshire after the rebellion in 1536.
John, Baron Russel would be given peerage and would be given land in Devon to bolster royal authority this would be after the execution of the marquess of Exeter.
Nobles who would openly offer hospitality to their neighbours would lead to suspicion though by nobles having royal household this would be a way to maintain local influence.
was the monarch gaining more control over the nobles?
The monarch would be able to gain more control over the nobles, this would be the case of Baron Dacre of the South, in 1541 he would be tried for murder though he would be convicted and hanged like a royal criminal.
The Duke of Buckingham would be executed for the treason on the vaguest of charges in 1521. This would also be the case with Henry Pole Baron Montague and Henry Courtenay would be executed in 1538.
Henry would also gain control over Lord Darcey and Hussey due to their roles in the 1536 rebellion.
what would be the significance of the gentry in society?
it would be suggested that there would be 5000 gentry families in England in 1540. There would be specific titles such as knighthoods, there would be 200 knightly families in 1524. By 1530 heralds would be unwilling to grant or confirm the title to anyone with lands that would be worth less that £10 per annum or goods worth under £300.
There would be an increase in the number of gentry during the reign of Henry 8th, there would also be an increase in the JP’s. Much of the gentry would also be drawn into unpaid administration on behalf of the crown. it would also be preferred that the sons of the gentry would learn the law as well.
what would be the significance of commoners during society?
There would be little change in the standard of living in the lives of commoners, though the rise in inflation would lead to a decrease of real inflation. This would also be felt by the amicable grant. There would still be a fear of what could take place with the prospects of rebellion.
what was the significance of Wales during the making of a unitary state?
Prior to 1536 Wales would be a separate territory from England, this would change with the law in 1536.
this would divide Wales into shire counties which would operate as the same way as England.
this would give the welsh shires direct representation in the House of Commons.
would bring Wales into the same legal framework as England. This would mean that Wales would become incorporated into England. there would be little survival of welsh language though this would survive in some areas. It would be down to the nobility to help to control Wales.
what would be the significance of the English palatinates in the creating of a unitary state?
This would be Lancashire, Cheshire and durham, they would be separate jurisdictions from other parts of the UK. This would have little effect in Lancashire and Cheshire, though in Durham this would still be separate.
There would be the act of the Resuming Liberties to the crown of 1536 this would reduce the level of independence that would be enjoyed by the bishop.
what would be the significance of border administration?
the anglo-welsh border-
the lands which would be governed as part of the principality of Wales, would come under the jurisdiction of the council of Wales and the marches, this would offer cheap and local access to the law.
The anglo-sottish border-
This would be problematic for Henry, this would be difficult to police and both sides of the border would have a reputation for lawlessness. The border with Scotland would be split into three marches, they would be under the jurisdiction of the warden. There would be the difficulty of who to appoint for the king, for example the use of magnate families would enhance their own power. There would also be the option to appoint local gentry officers that would be such as the Thomas Lord Wharton, or those who were complete outsiders- these would be more likely to owe more obedience to the king.
what would be the significance of the council of the north?
The north of England would pose problems as it would be far away from London, this would be demonstrated with the huge number of supporters that the pilgrimage of grace would have in 1536. This would be a permanent body that would be based in York, this would have both administrative and legal functions.
what was the significance of the of religious change?
At the beginning of the reign of Henry 8th there would be no sign that there would soon be fundamental changes to the church, the church would be accepted by the bulk of the people. There would also be people like Thomas Wolsey that would be a successful cardinal and would also aid the church, there would be the dissolvement of some monasteries but it would not be predicted that this would be on mass.
though, in 1530’s there would be major change to the English church as there would be the break with Rome, Henry would become the new head of the Church of England.
There would also be the execution of those who would deny the royal supremacy such as Thomas More.
The dissolution of the monasteries would also be an important event, there would also be a fear that this would extend to parish churches. The pilgrimage of grace that would take place in 1536 would emphasise the anger that would be felt towards the religious change.
what would be the social consequences of the events that would take place?
1, a huge amount of land that would be removed from the church and would be given to the crown. Though, this would seek to extend the power that the king had, the expense of the expensive foreign policy campaign would mean that there would be the sale of church and monastic land at cheap prices. by 1547, almost 2/3 of the monastic land that would be acquired by the crown would have been sold off.
2, many monasteries would be noted for the educational provision that they would provide, this would be lost.
3, many monks and nuns would be unemployed at a stroke. Some monks were able to secure employment as a secular priest and some would also recieve pensions. This would not be the same for the positions of nuns.
4, monasteries would play an important roll in the communities that they were in, they would provide education, employment and business opportunities. Some of the major monastic churches such as durham would also double up as the parish church- the dissolution of the monasteries would be seen as a potential disaster for communities.
Communities would go to great length to protect their monasteries, for example in Hexham in Northumberland, royal commissioners would be prevented from beginning the process of dissolution due to the gathering of armed men.
what resistance to taxation would take place?
This would be evident during the Amicable grant, in 1525 many people would refuse to pay for the Amicable Grant, this was due to the geographic, it would include people in north Essex and South Sussex. The dukes of Norfolk and Suffolk would face 4000 taxation resisters, this would be evident with unemployed cloth workers who would not be able to pay the levy. This matter would be handled sensitively and Wolsey would beg the king to offer a pardon. Henry would not operate in the defiance of the tax payers.
what would be the significance of the Lincolnshire Rising and the Pilgrimage of Grace?
This would comprise the largest rebellion that would take place in Tudor England, the rising would begin in Lincolnshire in early October 1536. The more militant rising would be classed as the pilgrimage of grace, class poverty would be evident from the letters that would be sent out in the name of Captain Poverty.
This would however not change the pace of religious change.
what were the religious motives behind the uprising?
1, the dissolution of the monasteries.
by 1536 the work of dissolving the smaller monasteries would be well under way.
The dissolution would lead to a number of repercussions-
The loss of charitable and educational functions.
The loss of parish churches.
The fear that the north would fall more into poverty by the south gaining the money from the monasteries.
The facilities that the monasteries would offer.
This would be a firm reason behind the rebellions, Robert Aske would be a key supporter of the monasteries.
2, fear for the parish churches and traditional religious practices.
The 1536 injunctions that would be drawn up by Cromwell would be seen to be attacking traditional religious practices.
The celebration of locally important saints would be discouraged.
This would link to the idea that pilgrimages would not be liked.
There would be rumours that church plates and jewels would be confiscated.
what would be the significance of the pontefract articles?
This would be the most comprehensive set of rebel demands, which were both widespread and specific. They would express a range of religious grievances, there would be anger that would be directed towards Cromwell. Anger would be directed against Cromwell and members of his circle.
what were the secular motives behind the uprising?
1, ordinary rebels would be motivated by economic issues such as the resentment of taxation.
2, There would be attempts by the crown to impose the Duke of Suffolk upon Lincolnshire.
3, A rumour that was said to be encouraged by the councillors of Catherine of Aragon that was said to have princess Mary return as heir. These would be able to exploit the northerners to put pressure upon the king.
4, The extension of the rebellion west of the Pennines into Cumberland and Westmorland has been linked in particular to tenants grievances.
