Henry VIII

• Nobility

  • Peerage size increased (9 more are end of reign)
  • Achieved rank as a result of successful royal service as soldiers
  • Family connections gained titles (Edward Seymour)
  • Bestowed property to nobles to exert royal authority
  • Expected to have great households
• Gentry

  • 5000 families (1540)
  • Knighthoods conferred as sign of royal favour
  • 200 knightly families (1524)
  • Heralds granted titles
  • JPs increased
• Commoners

  • Little dramatic change
  • Rise in inflation rate led to drop in incomes -> Contributed towards resentment to Amicable Grant
  • Social structure unchanged
  • Outbreaks of disorder more common
• Law in Wales Act

  1536

  Divided Wales into shire countries which operated on same basis as English counterparts

  Gave Welsh shires direct representation in House of Commons

  Brought into same legal framework as England (encouraging permanent ally)
• English Palatines 


  Separate jurisdictions from kingdom

  Lancashire, Cheshire and Durham
• Act Resuming Liberties to Crown

  1536

  Reduced level of independence but not destroyed completely
• Council in North


  Problems of governance

  Huge numbers of support for Pilgrimage

  Re established council as permanent body
• Border Administration

  Anglo Welsh Border: Lands governed as part of Principality of Wales

  Cheap and local access to law

  Main point of patriotism

  Anglo Scottish Border: Difficult to police (remote and inhospitable)

  Cattle and sheep rustling rife (lawless subculture)

  Split into 3 marches