Society/domestic

• What was the role of the nobility in Henry's reign?

  They were the main landowners and helped control the countryside.
• What was the role of churchmen in Henry's government?

  Some bishops were used for administration and finance.
• What was the situation of commoners in Henry's reign?

  They lived insecure lives, often dependent on finding work.
• What was the state of living conditions for the poor in the 15th century?

  Living conditions improved, but inflation caused problems.
• What triggered the Yorkshire Rebellion in 1489?

  It was sparked by anger at taxation for the Brittany campaign.
• What was the outcome of the Yorkshire Rebellion?

  Henry issued pardons to the rebels and moved the Earl of Surrey to keep watch.
• What caused the Cornish Rebellion in 1497?

  It was triggered by raised taxes to pay for an army against Scotland.
• How did Henry respond to the Cornish Rebellion?

  He withdrew soldiers from the Scottish border and crushed the rebellion.
• What were the three types of farming in England?

  Mixed farming, pastoral farming, and arable farming.
• Who were the Gentry?

  • Gentlemen who lived in large houses in the country
  • Provided armies for war
• Who were Yeomen?

  • Farmers
  • They owned or rented land in the country
• Who were citizens?

  • Rich merchants and craftsmen in towns
• Who were Laboureres?

  • Workers for citizens/yeomen/shopkeepers
• Who were Archbishops?

  • Very powerful men
  • Part of Government
• Who were Bishops?

  • Important
  • Some held government office
• The Black death caused increase in social mobility and sumptuary laws
• What are Sumptuary laws?

  • Laws that attempted to regulate how individuals should dress, depending on their social status
• • Nobles dominated landownership
  • Around 50 to 60 men
  • Henry saw them as distrustful and only trusted members had political influence
• • Henry controlled nobles through bonds and recognisance
  • nobles favoured bastard feudalism, which why Henry limited military powers of nobles
• What is bastard feudalism?

  • Nobles to recruit knights/gentlemen to serve them and sometimes for military purposes
  • Could retain men unlawfully to influence court and against the crown
• What did Henry want to do about the nobles?

  • Pass acts in 1487 and 1504 to take strong action against individual nobles who abused the system (e.g Lord Bergavenny in 1506)
  • However such actions had to be balanced with the realisation that nobles were powerful and social forces
• What were the limitation Henry put in place for nobles?

  • 1486: Peers and MPs were forced to take an oath to not illegally retain or be retained. (This had little effect)
  • 1487: A law was put in place against retaining
  • 1504: An act was passed to enforce this law, by needing a license to retain.
• Knights and peers together owned 15 to 20% of the country’s land
• • The Church was important spiritually and due to landowning
  • Social status of the clergy varied tremendously
  • Henry appointed bishops who had training and administrative compete rather than spiritual beliefs (Due to Martin V, the pope, famously stated the king had greater power than the Pope)
  • Henry was also reluctant towards aristocrats
• Commoners?

  • 1: Merchants and Craftsmen (rich)
  • 2: Lawyers (rare but very influential and worked with merchants)
  • 3: Shopkeepers and Tradesmen (respectable, dominated corporation and urban life)
• Yeoman?

  • Due to Black death land value decreased causing problems for their income