Nobility in Society

Question 1

What had society witnessed a growth of in London and the major provincial cities such as Norwich and Bristol

Answer 1

growth of a professional and mercantile bourgeoisie

Question 2

Where had the growth of a professional and mercantile bourgeoisie have an increasing importance?

Answer 2

in London and the major provincial cities such as Norwich and Bristol

Question 3

What is a feudal system?

Answer 3

This is the medieval system by which society was structured depending on relationships in which land was held in return for some form of service

• land was held of the monarch in return for military service
• serfs were required to give labour services to their landlord in return for lords protection

Question 4

What were sumptuary laws which were implemented by the conservative-minded members of the upper class to uphold traditional values but which were however unfordable?

Answer 4

laws that attempted to regulate how individuals should dress depending on their social status

Question 5

Who were the peerage?

Answer 5

groups of persons who held one of the five ranks of the aristocracy

Question 6

How many men did the peerage comprise of ?

Answer 6

no more than 50 to 60 men

Question 7

What is a caste?

Answer 7

a class or a group of people who inherit exclusive privileges or are seen as socially distinct (i.e. the nobility)

Question 8

The peerage was not a closed caste and peerages families died out on a regular basis.(inherited) How did peerage families continue?

Answer 8

They were replaced by others who acquired or bought the kings favour

Question 9

Why was Henry V11 reluctant unlike his predecessor and successor to create new peerages?

Answer 9

as he was distrustful of the nobility as a class

Question 10

Which 2 trusted Lancastrian military commanders had much political influence under Henry?

Answer 10

Earl of Oxford

Lord Daubeney

Question 11

What was Henrys most important method of controlling the nobility?

Answer 11

through bonds and recognisances

Question 12

Who led Crown forces against the Cornish rebels in 1497?

Answer 12

Lord Daubeney

Question 13

What was retaining?

Answer 13

this is used by wealthy magnates by which they would recruit knights and gentlemen to serve them as administrators or accountants or sometimes for military services

Question 14

Why did Henry limit the military power of the nobility through use of legislation against retaining? (2)

Answer 14

• they used them to bring unlawful influence on others

- could have used them against the crown

Question 15

Although Henry legislated against retaining what did he remain conscious of?

Answer 15

the fact that loyal retainers were essential to maintain Crown security

Question 16

In which 2 years did Henry have Parliament pass Acts against illegal retaining?

Answer 16

1487 and 1504

Question 17

Who is an example of a noble who illegal retained in 1506?

Answer 17

Lord

Bergavenny

Question 18

What was the penalty for illegally retaining?

Answer 18

£5 per month, per man

Question 19

How much was Lord Bergavenny fined for illegally retaining in 1506?

Answer 19

£100,000

Question 20

In what year were peers and MPs required to take an oath against illegal retaining?

Answer 20

1486

Question 21

In what year did licences to retain have to be sought granted only by the king?

Answer 21

1504

Question 22

By the late fifteenth century who were the gentry?

Answer 22

great landowners in their own right

Question 23

Who was the most important member of the gentry?

Answer 23

Sir Reginald Bray

Question 24

In 1490 how many knights were there?

Answer 24

375

Question 25

According to John Guy, what % of the country’s land did the gentry and knights together own?

Answer 25

15-20%

Question 26

What status did the gentry possess in society?

Answer 26

considerable social prestige such as in dominating local office

Question 27

Who were Orders of the Garter given to?

Answer 27

the nobility or gentry

Question 28

How many new Knights of the Garter did Henry install during his reign?

Answer 28

37

Question 29

How many noble families were placed under bonds?

Answer 29

2/3rds

Question 30

Why was the Council Learned in Law hated by the nobility?

Answer 30

as they were responsible to collect bonds in the country

Question 31

What did yeomen farmers do?

Answer 31

they farmed substantial properties for an increasingly sophisticated market economy

Question 32

What had reduced the demand for land which result in the drop of land values?

Answer 32

the Black Death in 1348 and 1349

Question 33

Who were the husbandmen what did they do?

Answer 33

They kept smaller farms than yeomen and supplemented their farming incomes though employment by yeomen or gentry

Question 34

What can yeomen and husbandmen together be described as?

Answer 34

peasant