Nobility Flashcards
Why would Henry demand financial bonds from a noble or their families?
So that they’d be in debt to the crown, therefore securing loyalty
How would some nobles hide the amount of men they had retained?
They would cover up records of the wages they paid so it was unclear how many workers they had
What did the 1504 Act on retaining do?
Required nobles to obtain a special licence from the king before they could retain large numbers of men, would be fined severely if didn’t have a licence
What is retaining?
The practice by which a nobleman kept a large number of men as his personal staff
How many Acts of Attainders were used by Henry VII?
•138 were passed but 46 were reversed
•Payment was demanded from anybody under the noble rank to reverse attainders. If reversed, would give back titles and land
How did Henry VII use Acts of Attainders?
•Against men who opposed him at the Battle of Bosworth
•Periodically throughout his reign
•Usage increased towards the end of his reign
What could Acts of Attainders do in a legal sense?
Declare someone of being guilty without going through a trial
What did Henry do with vacant lands?
Claimed them under his control rather than giving them away.
What was Henry’s aim with the nobility?
To lessen their power and his reliance on them but keep their support
In what situation would Henry reverse attainders?
If he believed reversing it would secure the loyalty of the nobles
What happened as a result of Henry refraining from making people nobles or giving nobles land?
The amount of nobles fell by around ¼ due to death and attainders
Who did Henry look to when he needed royal agents in a local community?
Men lower down the social ladder who did not own expensive land as they were therefore dependant on Henry for their position and status
How much was the fine for retaining illegally?
£5 a month per illegally retained person
Why did Henry need nobility?
To maintain law and order
