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CH 4. SOCIETY (STRUCTURE (3. CHURCH (Largest landowner! And responsible…
CH 4. SOCIETY
STRUCTURE
Had not changed from medieval fuedal system - land held in return for service. Apex under monarchs: great landoweners, senior churchmen. Bottom: labourers
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1. NOBILITY
Dominated land ownershp, top of society!
VII was not anti noble - relied on their support to control localities, and some were companions at court (Oxford, Shrewsbury) BUT was suspicious
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Did not make extensive use, feared they would become too powerful
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Bastard Feudalism
Nobles able to retain immense power due to 'bastard fuedalism' - reciporacle relations between magnate and retainers, who served as administrators/accountants/milita - 19th century Victorian historians saw it as abusive, BUT late-medieval historian McFarlane says system could be seen as natural response to changes of the period - BF was only a threat to society when the monarch's position was insecure
Noblesmen could have unlawful influence in court, or use retainers against the Crown = VII wants to limit military power
CONTROL of magnates:
Introduced legislation against retaining in 1487/1504, BUT knew loyal retainers were essential to maintain royal security
Only major victim was Lord Bergavenny in 1507 - fined £100,000 but only paid £1000 and was pardoned by Henry VIII
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2. GENTRY
Non noble landowners, inc. Sir Reginald Bray - most important members had knighthoods (375 in 1490), implied military obligations
ROLE: Assisting in administration of localities, often as JPs (magistrates)
JOHN GUY: Said Nobles and Genrty owned 20% land, formed 'homogenous elite' - 500+ gentry also forced to give recognizances! VII used both nobility AND genrty to control
Esquires and 'mere' gentry - less well off, usually owned small farm and did not have administrative role, STILL considered elite as land = power in 15th century!
3. CHURCH
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HIGHER LEVELS: Bishops/abbots etc, sat in HoL, had political roles! eg. Cardinal Morton, Bishop Fox)
INDY organisation, governed by the Pope, had its own laws/courts, NOT subject to royal taxation
VII appointed bishops based on ADMIN abilities/legal training, NOT social status = higher clergy becomes less socially exclusive
4. COMMONERS
URBAN HIGHER LEVELS: 'Middling sort' ie. bourgeosie, AND some educated professionals (mainly lawyers) had influence, in collab with wealthy merchants $$ - Oftn ran coorperations/held seats in Parliament
COUNTRYSIDE HIGHER LEVEL;S: Yeomen farmers (independent small landowners) - emerged as a result of low population (Black Death!) = value of land drops = 'peasant aristocracy'
URBAN MIDDLE LEVELS: Shopkeepers/tradesmen ec, dominated borough corporations (town councils), key role in guilds and confraternities (common in pre-Reformation England)
COUNTRYSIDE LOWER LEVELS: Farm labourers, dependent on income of produce, insecure position
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Traditionally, magnates controlled regions, BUT WotR shows dangers of overpowerful nobles to the king
VII still relied on great nobles (eg. Bedford in Wales, Oxford in East Anglia) BUT lesser extent that Edward IV
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VII extended royal; authority by recruiting network of support amongst gentry = reduced danger of overpowerful nobles and consolidates royal control nationally! = social stability :smiley:
REGIONAL DIVISIONS
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Regions governed locally, no emphasis on national government. Local nobles dominated politicallu, JPs administered justice, local saints cults important
NORTH/SOUTH divide! Southerners saw northerners as uncivilised, northerners resented wealth of the South (and believed Londeners interfered in royal government!)
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SUMMARY:
Socially, England was relatively stable, since people at bottom of heirarchy were considerably well off
Most of the population did not support uprising/pretenders - implies lots accepted VII and were peaceable
BUT 2 major rebellions - were exceptional to social stability, and easily suppressed once military force involved