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Topic 4- Henry VII society: - Coggle Diagram
Topic 4- Henry VII society:
A. Structure of Society
Nobility
the peerage compromised of no more than 50 or 60 men
H7 Was distrustful of the nobility
Only Lancastrian military commanders such as Oxford and Lord Daubenay had much political influence under H7
even northumberland who swung the BoB was never really trusted
H7 distrusted Bastard Feudalism- so passed laws against retaining 1487
even fined Oxford £10,000 for retaining
Gentry
were landowners, and most important members sought out knighthoods
1500 there were 500 knights, 800 esquires, and 5000 gentlemen
peers and knights together owned around 15-20% of land
could be classed as gentry on 3 factors: knighthood, income or possession of a coat of arms
elected members sit in the HoC
lesser gentry had much more in common with local yeomanry, living far more modest lives than the gentry
Churchmen
consisted of regular clergy (10,000) and secular clergy (35000)
had its own laws and courts
church important for its spiritual role but also as largest landowner
bishops were powerful people who were entitled to sit in the HoL
bishops John Morton and Richard Fox served as royal councillors
Commoners
there were 2 million peasants in 1500
50% lived at or below the poverty lines
these were the labouring group, many lived in rural areas
at top level was the 'middling sort'- consisted of a small level of educated professionals
lower down the scale but still respected were shopkeepers and skilled tradesmen
a minority of commoners were able to rent/buy land which enabled them to rise in economic terms
these are called husbandmen
B. Regional Divides:
north of england governed through the Council of the North based in York
Wales and western counties in England governed through the Council of Wales and the Marches based in Ludlow
cornwall had Stannary law (and fervently saw themselves as quasi-independent)
Ireland governed by Council of Ireland in Dublin
Calais governed by a captain appointed by the King
H7 drive to centralise power for himself and local govt created tension
C. Social Discontent and Rebellions
the second half of 15th C saw living conditions of the poor improving, with real wages improving
the end of 15th C saw inflationary pressures increasing
Cornish Rebellion 1497
started due to high taxes for war against Scotland
rebels reached Blackheath, outside London
was concerning as nobody attempted to stop the rebels
pitched battle (the battle of Deptford bridge)- 10,000 rebels vs 25,000 troops
rebels supported by Lord Audley and Warbeck
Yorkshire Rebellion 1489:
sparked by anger to taxes granted by parliament for involvement of england in Brittany against France
became notorious because of the murder of Northumberland by the rebels