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society and economy under Henry VIII - Coggle Diagram
society and economy under Henry VIII
rebellions
Lincolnshire Rising and Pilgrimage of Grace
began as rising in Lincolnshire in October 1536 that spread into East Riding of Yorkshire and West Riding with second militant rising in Richmond that spread west to Cumberland, north to Durham and southwest to West Riding of Yorkshire
these rebels were more radicalised and hostile to gentry due to class antagonism
dissolution of monasteries meant a loss of charitable and educational functions, possible loss of parish churches in monastic lands and fear that north would be impoverished by southerners controlling monastic land created resentment for government with
Robert Aske
as a rebel leader
1536 Injunctions seen as attacking traditional religious practices with celebration of saints and pilgrimages being discourages and rumours of parishes being amalgamated
there were also secular motives such as resentment of taxation, particularly from ordinary rebels (not leaders) and imposition of Suffolk in Lincolnshire
also may have been brought about by courtly conspiracy by councillors supporting Catherine of Aragon and wanting Princess Mary restored as an heir so exploited religious and economic concerns of northerners to put pressure on king
the Lincolnshire rebellion collapsed when faced with forces of Duke of Suffolk but northern rebels occupied York and Hull and captured Pontefract Castle, alarming the King and his ministers
Henry sent an army under Norfolk north but he was hugely outnumbered in Doncaster so sought a pardon and promise of monastical restoration so most rebel forces dispersed
Henry had excuse to go back on his word when rebellion renewed in Feb 1537 in Cumberland and East Riding
Norfolk surpassed the renewed rebellion, declared martial law and hung 74 rebels, with rebel leaders e.g. Darcey and Hussey brought to London, tried and executed
this shook Henry, with his poor record ignoring warnings about increase in resentment, simply fortunate in Norfolk's flexibility and sense
did not however, slow pace of religious change
Resistance to Amicable Grant taxation
there were complaints in Yorkshire, mainly upland areas, about subsidy to raise money for Henry's campaigns in 1513
many refused to pay Amicable Grant with the stronger of the widespread resistance in north Essex and south Suffolk as 100 people gathered at the border, resisting payment
Norfolk and Suffolk faced 4000 taxation resisters, particularly unemployed cloth workers who could not pay, but they handled it sensitively and Henry backed down
Wolsey ensured leaders of resistance were treated leniently and Henry clearly could not operate in defiance of taxpaying classes
state of the nobility and gentry
peerage increased in Henry's reign, but only 9 more at the end than the beginning, with most promoted due to successful royal service as courtiers or soldiers
Henry occasionally bestowed property on nobles to enable expert royal authority in particular areas e.g. Suffolk endowed property in Lincolnshire after 1536 rebellion and moved to ensure authority in person
nobles were expected to have great households and offer hospitality to their affinity but they also remained critical of maintenance of local influence and recruitment of royal armies
number of gentry also increased during Henry's reign, with many also training their sons to become JPs
regional issues and border admin
English 'palatinates' became less of an issue as jurisdiction in Lancashire and Cheshire had fallen back into royal hands and the Act Resuming Liberties to the Crown 1536 reduced independence of bishop in Durham
Laws in Wales act of 1536 divided Wales into shire counties operating same as English and so with direct representation in HoC and brought Wales into same legal framework as England
Anglo-Scottish was problematic as it was remote and often inhospitable with reputation for lawlessness on both sides so Henry put a warden into the 3 marches of the border, appointing from either gentry class or complete outsiders
Anglo-Welsh border was under jurisdiction of Council of Wales and Marches which offered relatively cheap and local access to the law and so was a benefit to the area
north of England posed problems due to distance from London governance, demonstrated in large numbers involved in Pilgrimage of Grace 1536
so Henry re-established the Council in the North as a permanent body with administrative and legal functions
trade
wooden cloth exports almost doubled during Henry's reign, export of hides and tin increased and there was a increase in wine imports
most trade was sent from London to Antwerp to Central Europe and Baltic customers
biggest change was increase in cheaper fabrics e.g. kersey
70% cloth exports were English merchant transport by 1550s but before this it was in foreign hands
there were profits to be made by rich clothiers who could acquire wealth and enhance their social status
extent of depression
positive
population grew from 1525 with a decline in mortality rate
from 1520s agricultural prices rose, increasing farming incomes also enhanced by engrossing
debasement of coinage created short-term artificial boom in 1544-46 but long-term cost to living crisis
negative
bad harvests e.g. 1520-21 and 1526-29 led to increases in food prices, with them doubling across the reign
real wages began to decline, at its worst when effects of coin debasement were evident
assessment for subsidies indicated urban poverty
evidence of growing unemployment among rural labourers and over 5000 migrants, adding to London's population
some people were made homeless due to engrossing
enclosure created a moral problem of poor having to leave homes and Wolsey launched enclosure commission in 1517 after More's
Utopia
to ascertain scale of the issue but most damage was from conversion before 1485
population growth was main cause of economic distress due to the strain caused on the food supply and made worse by stagnating wages