peerage (nobility) comprised of no more than 50 or 60 men

peerage families died out on a regular basis but were replaced by others who had acquired or bought the kings favour

Earl of Northumberland wasn't trusted by HVII but relied on him to control the north east of England

• 1486 - peers and MPs to take an oath against illegal retaining

• 1487 - law against retaining was established and this was reinforced by and Act in 1504 where licences for retaining could be sought

more important members of the gentry such as Sir Reginald Bray sought knighthoods as confirmation of their status

the lesser gentry had more in common with the local yeomanry

churchmen were hugely important - both spiritual and great landowners

lower parish level - curates and charity priests were rewarded for dealing with spiritual needs of the ordinary folk

bishops and abbots of the larger religious houses were often important figures who were entitled to sit in the House of Lords

towns and cities - the small number of educated professionals exercised considerable influence (mostly lawyers)

shopkeepers and skilled tradesmen were considered respectable

in the countryside - the middling sort were known as yeomen farmers who farmed substantial properties for an increasingly sophisticated market economy.

below yeomen came husbandmen who kept smaller farms than the yeomen - can be described as 'peasant'

labourers had a very insecure position as they were dependent on the sale of their labour for their income

a line that split the country virtually in half (from Weymouth to Teesmouth) showed the difference in farming - mixed farming or pastoral farming

regional identity was enforced by local government structures

justice was administered at a county level and county towns often contained jails and major churches