Society

• What was the role of churchmen in society under Henry VII?

  They held significant positions of power and influence.
• Why did Henry VII rely on the church's support?

  The church served as a force of moral dictation.
• Who were bishops and abbots in the context of Henry VII's reign?

  They were important figures with large political influence entitled to sit in the House of Lords.
• What declaration did Pope Martin V make regarding Henry VII?

  He declared that Henry VII governed the church, rather than the pope.
• What type of bishops did Henry VII strategically appoint?

  Bishops with legal training and administrative competence.
• Why did Henry VII value churchmen the most?

  Because of their religious sway which dictated the actions of the lower classes.
• What was Henry VII's attitude towards appointing nobility from aristocratic backgrounds?

  He was reluctant to appoint them due to internalized mistrust.
• How did the church influence daily life under Henry VII?

  It influenced all aspects of daily life from top to bottom.
• Who was John Morton in the context of Henry VII's reign?

  He was a clergy member appointed Archbishop of Canterbury and Lord Chancellor.
• How did the church support Henry VII as king?

  By teaching the duty of obedience to the king at a local level.
• Who was Richard Fox and what roles did he hold?

  He was Bishop of Exeter and Lord Keeper of the Great Seal, later becoming Bishop of Bath and Wells, Durham, and Winchester.
• What was the composition of the nobility under Henry VII?

  The peerage comprised of no more than 50-60 men.
• Why did the Crown rely on noble families?

  For the maintenance of order in the countryside.
• Who did Henry VII trust among the nobility?

  He only trusted Lancastrian military commanders, like the Earl of Oxford.
• How did Henry VII control the nobility?

  By utilizing bonds and recognisances and acts of attainder.
• What is "bastard feudalism" in the context of the nobility?

  It is where wealthy magnates recruited knights and gentlemen to serve them.
• What was the significance of loyal retainers for Henry VII?

  Loyal retainers were essential to maintain the security of the crown.
• Who were the "middling sort" among commoners?

  They were the bourgeoisie, consisting of lawyers and wealthy merchants.
• Who was the Earl of Oxford?

  He was Henry's most trusted military commander.
• What role did commoners play in society under Henry VII?

  They formulated the majority of society.
• What roles did shopkeepers and skilled tradesmen play in society?

  They dominated town councils and played key roles in guilds and lay confraternities.
• What was the role of yeomen farmers in the countryside?

  They farmed substantial properties for an increasingly sophisticated market economy.
• Who were husbandmen in the context of commoners?

  They were independent subsistence farmers.
• What was the status of the gentry by the late fifteenth century?

  They were great landowners in their own right.
• How did commoners sustain themselves?

  They lived off the land of noblemen.
• Who was Sir Reginald Bray?

  He was an important member of the gentry who sought knighthoods.
• How many knights were there around 1490?

  There were around 375 knights.
• What percentage of the country’s land did peers and knights own according to John Guy?

  They owned 15-20% of the country’s land.
• How did the gentry contribute to Henry VII's rule?

  They helped to strengthen his rule and maintain stability and loyalty.