English Society

• elites and commoners- overview


  • 8's reign was a dynamic period where remnants of feudalism lingered but there was a growth of the commercial bourgeoisie. however traditional nobles still represented a social elite, wielding considerable social, political and economic influence
  • however traditional nobles still represented a social elite, wielding considerable social, political and economic influence
• nobility


  • the size of the peerage increased, though by the end of the reign only 9 more peers existed than at the beginning
  • the creation of new peers was largely offset by natural wastage (died innit) and number of attainders during the reign
  • most acheived their rank through successful royal service, being given it as patronage. like edward seymour (yeah that edward seymour)
  • england only had one duke, buckingham, who 8 executed in 1521. and henry only promoted two more, norfolk and suffolk. norfolk was restored to the title and suffolk was promoted because of their close relationship.
• nobility 2


  • nobles were expected to have great households and offer hospitality, but too open was suspicious. noble households were critical to maintaining local influence and accruing armies, eg the earl of shrewsbury raised over 4000 men for france 1513
  • the nobility was still under crown control. thomas fiennes, baron dacre of the south was tried for the murder of a neighbours servant and executed like a common criminal. this was unheard of.
  • more like DoBuckingham for vague treason 1521 and the 8s relatives like henry pole, baron montague were executed for treasonable conspiracy 1538
• the gentry


  • about 5000 famlies by 1540, increased in 8s reign
  • also an increase in justices of peace who administered locally
  • many other gentry members were drawn into unpaid admin on behalf of the crown
  • gentry were increasingly keen on legal training, which made them better able to take on roles to advance their career as there was a switch from clergymen to layman to be crown administators
• commoners


  • little dramatic change in the standard of living for commoners in the first half of the reign.
  • real wages dropeed and caused inflation, causing increased anger towards the amicable grant.
  • but the social structure remained unchanged, vast majority of people owning little with scarce chance at stable employment.
  • outbreaks of disorder were common.
• regional issues


  tudor society was not only divided by class and titles, it was also regionally divided with local loyalties being stronger than national ones. to bind the country into one nation, measures were taken to create a single unified state
• regional issues- wales


  • before 1536 wales was a separate territory, though it was basically under english control.
  • comprised marcher (border) lordships and Principality of Wales.
  • had no unified administraton + formal political link with england.
  • this changed with the Laws in Wales Act of 1536 which divided wales into shire counties like england; welsh shires got representation in house of commons; brought wales into english legal framework.
  • incorporated it into england with little identity except the welsh language. control was exercised by aristocracy on the crown's behalf.
• regional issues- the english palatinates


  • three english counties, lancashire, cheshire and durham were technically platinates (seperate jurisdictions). l + c were under royal hands but durham was still technically seperate, ran by the bishop.
  • the act resuming liberties to the crown of 1536 reduced the level of independence enjoyed by the bishop but didnt destroy it completely
• regional issues- anglowelsh border administration

  • lands governed as part of the principality of wales and the four bordering english counties (shropshire, herefordshire, worcestershire, gloucestershire) came under the jurisdiction of the council of wales and the marches.
  • based in ludlow shropshire which offered relatively cheap and local access to the law, benefiting the area under it's jurisdiction
• regional issues- angloscottish border administration


  • anglo-scottish: remained a problematic area for 8 as it was difficult to police, remote and inhospitable in winter. both sides of the border having a reputation for lawlessness.
  • the border was split into three marches (buffer zone between borders) all under a warden.
  • henry also had to be careful who he appointed, nobles could exploit their office to enhance their own power at the kings expense but local gentry officers, while loyal, might had limited ability to control local people who were loyal to the local magnate.
• regional issues- the council in the north


  • the north of england posed problems of governance to a regime based far away in lonndon. this was shown by the pilgrimage of grace.
  • led to 8 and crumb re-establishing the council of the north as a permanent body based in york with a professional staff. it had both administrative and legal functions and hsowed its worth by helping keep the north quiet during the summer of rebellions in 1549
• social impact of religious upheaval

  • there was no real way to predict the fundamental changes to the english church
  • there had been occasional complaints but the church appears to have fulfilled the requirements of the bulk of those who it ministered. there had even been some improvements in the quality of the clergy and wolsey dissolved some redundant monasteries, using their endowments for educational purposes.
  • after the break with rome it was clear there was no popular support for the changes, more being executed for denying royal supremacy
• social impact of religious upheaval

  • monasteries were an important feature of the appeal of the pre-reform church.
  • cromwell's dissolution began in 1536 and his royal injuctions attacked many traditional catholic practices- holy days, pilgrimages and veneration of relics
  • this provoked fears that these reforms might escalate to attacks on parish churches.
  • the most important consequence was the pilgrimage of grace
• long term social impact of religious upheaval

  • a huge amount of land was taken by the crown, theoreetially making 8 more powerful. however, the expense of late foreign policy led to the widespread sale of monastic property, often at lower prices than their worth, increasing the size and wealth of the gentry. by 1547 almost 2/3 of monastic land had been sold or granted away
  • most monsatic schools were lost
• long term social impact of religious upheaval

  • monks and nuns became unemployed. monks were able to secure employment as secular priests and recieved pensions, but nuns were not aided in the same way
  • monasteries played a considerable role in the community. providing education, employment and business opportunities. many doubled as cathedrals or as the local parish church. some communities went to great lengths to protect their monasteries, at hexham in northumberland royal commissioners were prevented from starting dissolution by gatherings of armed men