Churchmen, nobles and commoners Flashcards
What three parts made up the Gentry ?
1) Knights (greater gentry)
2) Esquires (greater gentry)
3) gentlemen (lesser gentry)
Around how many knights were there at the time of Henry’s reign ?
500
Around how many Esquires were there at the time of Henry’s reign ?
800
Around how many gentlemen were there at the time of Henry’s reign ?
5,000
Along with the nobility, how much of the population did the gentry makeup ?
1%
Why did Henry deliberately involve the gentry more in local and royal administration ?
to reduce his dependance on the powerful, often rebellious nobility.
In 1490, How many knights were expected to assist in the administering of their local areas ?
375
Between the nobility and the Greater gentry, how much land did both groups own in England and Wales ?
15-20%
Give an example of a member of the gentry who increased their status and prestige due to their involvement of royal administration.
Sir Reginald Bray
Give 3 examples of why Sir Reginald Bray (a member of the gentry) had such prestige and status.
1) was made Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
2) led the council learned in Law
3) said to be more powerful than most nobles
Under Henry, which church dominated beliefs and society in England ?
the Roman Catholic church
How much clergy did the Roman Catholic church have in the reign of Henry VII ?
10,000
How much secular (makes no profession and follows no religious rule) clergy did the Roman Catholic church have at the time of Henry VII ?
35,000
Who governed/ controlled the church of England ?
the King
Who did Henry appoint as Bishops in the church ?
Bishops who had better legal training than they were spiritual leaders
Who were the most important clergymen in Henry’s reign ?
John Morton and Richard Fox
Why did Henry want to appoint Bishops who had better legal training than they were spiritual leaders e.g John Morton and Richard Fox ?
This is because they could use the Christian faith to help control society and maintain law and order.
Henry appointed fewer higher clergy from the _____________ making them less socially exclusive than they were previously.
aristocracy
Give specific evidence to show How Henry did appoint less higher clergy from the aristocracy.
only around 12% of Bishops under Henry were from the nobility or higher gentry class.
Commoners were the largest social class with around __ million living a the time of 1500.
2
What was there a rise of in the social class of the ‘commoners’ at the time of Henry’s reign ?
The ‘middling sort’
What was the ‘middling sort’ within the social class of the commoners ?
This was the top level of the commoners and could often be known as the bourgeoisie.
Who were the ‘middling sort’ of commoners in rural areas ?
These were the Yeomen
What were the yeomen ?
These were landowners who farmed substantial properties and had benefited from the impact of the Black Death. (1348-49)
What group was the next level down below the yeomen in rural areas within the social class of commoners ?
Husbandmen
Who were Husbandmen
These were commoners who typically kept smaller farms than the yoemen, and added to their income by working for the yeomen or the gentry.
What group was the next level down below husbandmen in rural areas within the social class of commoners ?
Labourers
