English society

Question 1

Nobility

Answer 1

-became a noble when a peerage families died out + replaced by others who have the kings favour.
-Relied on them to help maintain peace + security.
-Henry was deeply distrustful of them
-Only 50-60 nobles

Question 2

How did Henry maintain control over the nobles?

Answer 2

-Act of attainder
-Order of the garter
-Bonds + recognisances
-Crown lands
-Feudal dues.
-Retaining
-Patronage.

Question 3

Carrot + stick policy

Answer 3

Carrots:
-Patronage
-Kings council
-Order of the garter

Question 4

Carrot + stick policy : sticks

Answer 4

-Act of attainder
-Bonds + recognisances
-Feudal dues
-Retaining

Question 5

Patronage

Answer 5

giving positions of power, land, titles etc; was effective as they remained loyal to receive more rewards e.g. earl of oxford became major landowner in east anglia. Used to buy loyalty

Question 6

Kings council

Answer 6

a position as the kings councillor was a sign of the kings confidence: was effective as it gave them a sense of superiority + title e.g. Richard fox became keeper of privy seal

Question 7

Order of the garter

Answer 7

-An honour award for his closest servants
-Effective as it showed how Henry equally favoured those who worked closely + were loyal e.g. Henry created 37 knights of garter
-Ultimate mark of favour.
-Gave prestige without giving away power + land.

Question 8

Act of attainder

Answer 8

Acts that led to a family losing the right to possess land, + the right to inherit any land.
-effective as it ensured they behaved well so they could reverse the attainder.

Question 9

Bonds + recognisances

Answer 9

Bonds were written agreements which people promised to pay a sum if a promise was broken.
Recognisances- the formal acknowledgement of debt, pay money if not met

Question 10

Feudal dues

Answer 10

Numerous commissions to establish rights in ward ship, marriage, livery, relief + escheats
Henry took most profits

Question 11

Retaining

Answer 11

-Wealthy nobles recruiting knights + gentlemen to be administrators, accountants or for military purposes.
-Henry tried to limit retaining through legislation

Question 12

Bastard feudalism

Answer 12

-leading magnates recruited knights + gentlemen to serve them
-Created an affinity (following of men) of locals + knights who were paid by the noble.
-Destabilised the monarchs position

Question 13

Quasi kings

Answer 13

-Nobles profiting off the fact the war of roses disrupted natural order of society.
-taking law into their hands.

Question 14

Gentry

Answer 14

-Great landowners e.g. Sir Reginald Bray- one of the most important members of gentry who sought knighthood.
-1490- 500 knights.
-Peers + knights own 15-20% of England’s land.
-wasn’t a fixed caste.
-could be identified by: possession of knighthood, coat of arms authenticated by college of arms, considerable income.
-Possessed considerable social prestige,

Question 15

Churchmen

Answer 15

-Social status of clergy varied.
-Lowest parish level- curates + chantry priests were rewarded modestly, dealt w/ spiritual needs of ordinary folks.
-Bishops + abbots of larger religious houses were important figures- entitled to sit in HoL, had political roles to undertake.
-Martin V Pope from 1417-1431- declared the king of England rather than the pope governed England .
-John Morgan + Richard Fox

Question 16

Commoners

Answer 16

Top of commoner = middling sort= rich merchants + craftsmen
-Educated professionals e.g. lawyers
-Shopkeepers + skilled tradesmen: dominated the borough corporations + played key roles in organisations like guilds—> common feature of urban life.

Question 17

Yorkshire rebellion 1489

Answer 17

Causes:
-Sparked by resentment in taxation which was granted by parliament in 1489 to fund the army for the Brittany campaigns
Events:
-Earl of Northumberland was isolated + murdered
-Rebels asked for pardon but were denied by henry
-Henry needed to re-establish royal control, Earl of Surrey sent by Henry with a large army to put down the rebellion
-Leader of rebellion John A Chambre was hung for treason
Consequences:
-Henry issued pardon for those who didn’t collect taxes

Question 18

Cornish rebellion

Answer 18

1497
Causes:
-Taxation to fund the war with Scotland
Events:
-15000 rebels marched to London, joined by Perkin Warbeck
-Reached Blackheath before being stopped
Consequences:
-Posed a greater threat to Henry’s stability to rule than the Yorkshire rebellion.
-Showed the crown was ineffective in maintaining order in the countryside.
-Made Henry cautious about entering any further into foreign conflicts