English Society Flashcards
What was the social hierarchy?
God-King-Clergy-Nobles-Gentry-Merchants-Commoners-Servants-Paupers
Who did the King rely on?
He relied on the support of the noble families in order to maintain law and order.
How many Earls did the King create and what did this do?
He created 3 Earls in his reign and this made the accolade special and ensured the loyalty.
What happened with the social status of the clergy?
It varied. Curates, chantry and priests were at the lower level of the clergy and attended to the spiritual needs of the commoners. Bishops and abbots were more important and had seats on H7’s council.
Who were two important clergymen?
John Morton and Richard Fox
How many nobles were there?
Over 50 and they owned large areas of land as well as providing power and influence in the localities.
What did important nobles do?
They maintained large and extensive households. Richard Duke of Northumberland had 187 household members in 1503-04.
What was the gentry?
They were often great landowners by the end of the 15th century. The important members sought knighthoods like Sir Reginald Bray.
How many knights were there in 1490?
375
What did the knights do?
They imposed military obligations upon its holders
Where were the commoners on the social scale?
They were lower down on the social scale such as shopkeepers and skilled tradesmen. However, lawyers exercised traditional influence.
How did the commoners suffer?
They suffered badly as a result of changes in agriculture like enclosure and the increase in prices. The top of the commoner group was the ‘middling sort’.
What did commoner groups tend to dominate?
Town councils
What key role did the commoners play?
They played a key role in guilds and lay confraternities.
What were the three types of peasants?
Villeins, smallholder and cottages
