Popular Politics Flashcards
What was the nature of the franchised population?
The franchised population in Tudor England had to be male landowners worth >48 shillings
How were state affairs communicated to the whole body politic?
State affairs were communicated to, and understood by, the body politic through the church and printing
What was the role of verbal communication in popular politics?
Royal Heralds and Town Criers could announce proclamations, while as long as there was one reader the rest could be communicated via the vernacular
What existed in both High and Low politics and what was the difference?
Gossip and rumour existed in both high politics as a mechanism for self interest and low politics as a safety valves
How were commoners perceived by contemporaries?
Contemporaries saw commoners as the rabble, mob, many headed beast- all of these highlight the acknowledgement of their threat to high society
How was the many headed beast placated?
The many headed beast was placated via obedience- directly through oaths and indirectly through public transcripts
What two concepts did J. Scott put forward for popular politics?
J. Scott put forward the ideas of public transcripts and weapons of the weak
What were public transcripts?
Pubic transcripts were contemporary commentaries infused with rhetoric of the body politic which aimed to legitimise society’s nature
What were weapons of the weak?
Weapons of the weak were where public transcripts meticulous layout of social responsibility was mobilised as an invisible transcript to criticise governing classes
What does E. Shagan argue about the impact of the Pilgrimage of Grace?
E. Shagan argues that the Pilgrimage of Grace intertwined politics with religion, however L. Wooding says these are always co-dependent
How were the Pilgrim’s grievances legitimised?
The Pilgrim’s grievances were legitimised by harking back to tradition to make the grievances appear warranted and beneficial for all
What were the political, economic and religious grievances of the Pilgrimage of Grace?
The political grievances of the Pilgrimage of Grace were to restore Catherine and Mary; the religious grievances were the fears that dissolving the parishes would follow the monasteries; the economic grievances were the enclosures and loss of monasteries
What was the evil councillor trope?
The evil councillor trope was a traditional popular politics tactic of attributing blame to advisers of the monarch to avoid outright insurrection
Why, despite the application of the evil councillor trope, could the Pilgrimage of Grace be seen to directly challenge Henry?
The Pilgrims in the rebellion alongside using the evil councillor trope also reclaimed monasteries- the lands of which had become Crown Property and could thus be seen as a direct challenge, indeed Henry saw the monasteries after this as a crucial threat
How can we exemplify the rebels’ knowledge of the power of imagery?
The Pilgrims used the Five Wounds of Christ, the Northern Rebellion restored icons in Durham and held Mass
What was the common reaction to popular insurrection?
The common reaction to popular insurrection was to execute ringleaders and pardon participants- as the first practise active opposition, whereas the latter largely “constructive” (as they see it) criticism
What is a curious aspect of the 1536 Pontefract articles?
Curiously, the 1536 Pontefract Articles of the Pilgrimage of Grace demanded a parliament in the north, highlighting centre-periphery tensions
Outline Sir Thomas Smith’s De Republic Anglorum (1583):
De Republica Anglorum (1583) by Sir Thomas Smith is a meticulous elucidation of each social position, their use, and their interconnectedness within the social hierarchy
What does A. Wood assert about Sir Thomas Smith’s De Republic Anglorum (1583)?
A. Wood asserts that De Republic Anglorum (1583) presents unchallengeable contemporary assumptions- with authority flowing from the Crown and thus God
What does A. Wood assert about the commentaries written by Sir Thomas Elyot?
A. Wood highlights that Sir Thomas Elyot consistently denied politico to the plebs, suggesting that to franchise them would create chaos
How many treason laws were passed by Tudor parliaments in total?
Tudor parliaments in total passed 68 treason laws- including the 1532 act which policed thought
What is an example of a High Politics attempt to regulate Low Politics, and what can it also imply?
The 1553 Act against unlawful and rebellious assemblies attempted to regulate low politics- and it implies an attempt to increase control from the centre
Briefly outline the 1553 Act against unlawful and rebellious assemblies:
The 1553 Act against unlawful and rebellious assemblies also made mocking rhymes punishable
What can be said about local regulation of political discontent?
Local regulation of political discontent prohibited anarchy, but fabricated restricted spaces where discontent could be aired
