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HVIII - English Society - Coggle Diagram
HVIII - English Society
The Nobility
There was the creation of new peers in which HVIII sometimes bestowed property on nobles, enable them to exert royal authority (Duke of Suffolk after the Lincolnshire Rebellion in 1536)
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The nobility played an important part within English society as they remained critical to local influence and recruitment of armies (Lord Shrewsbury raised over 4000 men for the invasion of France)
Regional Issues
Wales - Before 1536, Wales had been a separate territory to England but due to the Laws in Wales Act (1536) This divided Wales into shire counties as well as giving Welsh shires direct representation in HoC. - Wales became incorporated with England and control over Wales was exercised (Earls of Pembroke)
English Palatinates - 3 (Lancashire, Cheshire and Durham) were separate jurisdictions from the rest of the kingdom
The Act Resuming Liberties to the Crown (1536) reduced the level of independence enjoyed by the bishop but did not fully remove it
Anglo-Scottish border - Was a problem for HVIII as the border was difficult to police and both sides of the border had a reputation for lawlessness.
Henry appointed local officers who came from the gentry class or complete outsiders as they were more likely to to owe complete loyalty to the King and had limited ability to influence the local people
The Council in the North was re-established by Cromwell and Henry after the Pilgrimage of Grace and it held both administrative and legal functions.
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Gentry - There were around 5000 gentry families in England in 1540 and the number of gentry increased during Henry's reign
There was also an increase in JPs
Commoners - There was a decline in economic and political power of great landowners which brought about the disappearance of serfdom and labour services
Peasants took advantage of the availability of land and amassed holdings and many acquired skills and moved up the ranks
HOWEVER
The rise in the rate of inflation did lead to a drop in incomes which contributed to the ill feelings towards the Amicable Grant
Social structure remained the same
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