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Society, Henry VIII (The Gentry (Number increased with about 5000 families…
Society, Henry VIII
The Gentry
Number increased with about 5000 families in 1540, according to John Guy
Knighthoods also increased, with 200 families by 1524
Royal Heralds were allowed to certify gentlemen to bear a coat of arms, with those with land worth more than £10 a year or goods worth more than £300 a year often being preferred
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Gentry were keen for their sons to be involved in legal training, allowing them to gain employment and income
Regional Issues
Wales
Wales was a separate country before the 1536 act of union, being controlled by border lordships. The act divided Wales into separate counties, with Welsh shires represented by MPs. Earls such as Earl of Pembroke were gradually more responsible for peace keeping and law enforcement. Many local Welsh gentry became Anglicised
English Palatinates
An area within a country where there is a leader other than the king, holding certain powers - in England there were three, with Durham Lancashire and Cheshire. The latter of the two had their powers regained by the king, whilst the bishop still held large powers in Durham. The Act of Resuming Liberties to the Crown in 1536 limited the powers, but didn't end them
Anglo Scottish Border
Was very difficult to police, being barren and remote. Both sides of the border were basically lawless, with violence, cattle and sheep rustling common. Henry split the border into 3 areas known as marches, each under control of one warden
Henry found the appointment of these wardens hard, as he had poor relations with local nobles such as Percies and Dacres, so he chose to appoint members of the gentry who were also local officers, so appointed Lord Wharton in 1542, a new member of the peerage. Local people felt less ready to assist with these new nobles, but the appointment was more likely to be effective
Anglo Welsh Border
Lands governed as part of Wales and the four border counties of Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Shropshire all came under control of the Council of Wales in Shropshire, and this was both cheap and effective
The Council in the North
The pilgrimage of Grace lead to this being re established, with a permanent staff and body being based in York. It had both administrative and legal functions, and was effective in 1549
Humanism
Reached the very top? - James K McConica stated - "humanism was never far from the royal family itself"
John guy suggested that humanism was "split", with many such as More believing in the "supremacy of faith" and therefore it was an unpopular belief with the King
The Nobility
Changes
Size of peerage increased by 9 due to deaths and acts of attainders, as those who served loyally were appointed. These included Earl of Hertford, Edward Seymour's brother
Dukes of Suffolk and Norfolk were appointed, accompanying Duke of Buckingham as a dukes
Nobility was becoming more controlled, with Thomas Fiennes the Baron Dacre of the South being tried in 1541 for the murder of a neighbours servant, and hung like a common criminal
Continuation
Henry gave land to those loyal to him and also those who needed to control and assert authority. Suffolk gained significant land in Lincolnshire after the 1536, with Baron Russel also gaining lands and peerage title in Devon after the execution of there Marquess of Exeter
Nobles main role was still to assert royal authority, whilst providing hospitality and men for war, such as the Earl of Shrewsbury who provided 4000 men for the 1513 French war.
Nobles had always been blamed and executed for rebellions and failings - Buckingham was executed for spying, with Lords Darcy and Hussey executed for roles in the Pilgrimage of Grace, and Henry's relatives Henry Pole Baron Montague and Henry Courtenay Marquess of Exeter being executed in 1538
Rebellions
Amicable Grant, 1525.
Caused by anger at the amicable grant, with distress of the cloth workers who were economically struggling being fuelled by this tax
The Pilgrimage of Grace
Serious?
Aske lead about 30,000 people, along with Darcy, Hussey and Thomas Percy who were nobility
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Clear demands and aims unifying all groups, who spanned over a vast area
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Not serious?
Pardon calmed the rebels massively, with Aske quelling them
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Main leaders included:
- Lord Hussey - elderley, with dwindling authority but linked with the Aragon faction
- Lord Darcy - keeper of Pontefract castle
- Lord Dacre - remained distant but allowed his sons to be active, he was the most senior noble in the north
- Aske - one eyed younger son of a Yorkshire gentleman
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Causes
Dissolution of the monasteries?
- Asks claimed it was the "greatest cause"
- Northerners relied on religious houses for food, clothing and protection for travellers and the poor, as well as safe houses for goods
Fear for their faith?
- Rebels sang songs and used propaganda about religion and the faith, with the Pope asked to be renamed head of the church on both articles
- Many believed crimes had been committed in the taking away of goods and valuables from churches, many donated by parishioners.
Poverty?
- Food shortages were widespread due to poor harvests in 35 and 36
- Taxation of sheep was unpopular, along with the 34 Subsidy Act and the Statute of Uses, a tax on aristocratic inheritance
- Areas such as Cumberland sent letter with the name of "Captain Poverty"
Opposition to Cromwell?
- Treason Act and Act of Supremacy both seen as heresy, calling for the trial of him and Richard Riche
Aristocratic Opportunism?
- Elton most prominently, believed that the uprising was an attempt by disaffected nobles to increase power and influence
Events
2nd of October - tensions rise and the rising begins in Louth, Lincolnshire. This is caused by three government commissions operating in the county and dissolving small monasteries, inspecting the clergy and enforcing new religious laws, as well as collecting taxes and taking some looting gold and jewels
By mid October, the rising spreads, with rebels in Horncastle murdering the chancellor of the diocese of Lincoln. They are lead by shoemaker Nicholas melton, nicknamed Captain Cobbler
By 7th of October 10,000 plus gather at Lincoln Cathedral and draw up their first list of demands
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By the 10th of October it has spread to the West Riding, with the Duke of Suffolks army drawing closer to Lincoln and leading to the dispersal of those rebels
On the 20th of October, Pontefract Castle spreads to the rebels, and tensions spread to the Pennines and the Lake District
Norfolk meets the rebels on the 26th of October, and he is heavily outnumbered
The East and West Riding rebels gradually disperse after November, with a proclamation pardoning them in circulation after the 3rd of December. Sir Francis Bigod renews the rebellion in January but is very easily crushed
Commoners
Rise of inflation and fall of wages lead to suffering, with few families owning anything or having prospects of regular employment