Role of Monarchy, Nobility, and Gentry

Question 1

Feudal System- Tudor Hierarchy

Answer 1

1. God
2. The Monarchy
3. The Nobility
4. The Gentry
5. Yeomen and Artisans
6. Peasants
7. Vagrants and Beggars

Question 2

What was the role of the Monarchy and Government?

Answer 2

• The monarch ruled England, and although a sensible monarch would take advice, they held ultimate authority.
• Protect from invasion, and defend rights and privileges of their subjects.

Question 3

How important was the Royal court?

Answer 3

• Followed the monarch, important for display and entertainment – informal source of power.
• Ambitious nobility, gentry come to court in order to expand their power through patronage.
• Also important for the monarch – emphasise power and wealth to visitors through elaborate displays.

Question 4

State the Domestic needs of the Royal household.

Answer 4

• Many servants responsible for the monarchs domestic needs – kitchens, laundries, gardens etc.
• Grew and shrank according to personal needs of the monarch.
• Occasional attempts to reform and reduce the size of the Household – Eltham Ordinances in 1526, attempt by Wolsey to restrict access to the monarch.

Question 5

To what extent did the Privy Chamber have personal access to the Monarchy?

Answer 5

• Living arrangements in Hampton Court Palace structured in a way that restricted access to the monarch.
• Privy Chamber was a series of rooms where the king and his family lived.

Question 6

What was the Privy Chamber like in Henry VII’s reign?

Answer 6

-Used Privy Chamber to restrict access to monarch – created the Yeomen of the Guard, used Chamber to collect and store royal income (access to money, but reliant on a monarch’s ability and interest in controlling income).

Question 7

What was the Privy Chamber like in Henry VIII’s reign.

Answer 7

• It became an important political hub- Gentlemen of the Privy Chamber, Groom of the Stool (William Compton), positions filled by trusted friends also employed in ‘formal’ areas of government’ - intimate and physical contact with Henry.
• Opportunity to build power through access to the monarch.

-Access to the Dry Stamp – in the 1540s Edward Seymour and John Dudley gained access, which enabled them to
make alterations to the king’s will in their favour in 1547, bringing them increased power in government.

Question 8

What was the Privy Chamber like in Henry VIII reign.

Answer 8

• It became an important political hub- Gentlemen of the Privy Chamber, Groom of the Stool (William Compton), positions filled by trusted friends also employed in ‘formal’ areas of government’ - intimate and physical contact with Henry.
• Opportunity to build power through access to the monarch.

-Access to the Dry Stamp – in the 1540s Edward Seymour and John Dudley gained access, enabled them to
make alterations to the king’s will in their favour in 1547, increased their power in government.

Question 9

What was the Privy Chamber like in Mary and Elizabeth’s reign?

Answer 9

-Role declined in importance as filled by women, such as Frances Waldegrave and Frances Jerningham (Catholic
sympathies and married to male member’s of the Household).

• Mary kept more control of the Chamber – access to Dry Stamp kept under lock and key.
• Under Elizabeth, members of the Household were members of her Council – political decisions made through.
• Formal body of the Council, rather than an informal Chamber.