State control and popular resistance 1509-88 Flashcards
Under a Parliamentary Act of 1543, Which reorganised the Welsh legal system still further after Cromwell’s act of union, the marcher Council were given specific powers for the first time, strengthened because they now rested on the authority of the king and parliament, not solely the Royal prerogative. what did these powers include?
the right to hear legal cases in a manner similar to the English star chamber and to oversee law and order in both Wales and the former Marcher counties. By Elizabeth’s reign, the council had adapted further to include the Lord Lieutenant.
Tudor monarchs had no standing army or police force to help them control their realm. What did this therefore mean?
They were reliant of standing members of the nobility and gentry to act in voluntary and often unpaid roles to enforce local order and keep control.
In which year was the Lincolnshire rising, pilgrimage of Grace and Act of Union?
1536
Which poor law had been in place since 1531?
The Law passed in 1495 which ordered that beggars and the idle poor were to be whipped, put in the stocks for three days and returned to their parish. In this period, poor relief was still based on voluntary contributions by wealthier parishioners to the church Alms fund.
Normally the system of local order worked well because members of landed society had a vested interest in maintaining social order-they had the most to lose if riots or rebellions broke out. However, because this system was so dependant on the cooperation of those with land and power locally, Tudor monarchs faced two big problems, what were they?
If popular rebellion did break out, it was very difficult to put down, Particularly in more remote parts of the country where communication was poor. Secondly, there was always the possibility that members of the landed society might join the rebellion rather than support the monarch.
How did the Statute of Artificers ( 1563) attempt to address some of the issues caused by vagrancy?
it ordered that all men aged 12-60 below the rank of gentleman should look for work and were not to leave their employment without permission. All unmarried people under 30 were to be forced to serve any employer at times of harvest, but they were also to be trained in a craft.
Under Elizabeth, what did the council of the north become responsible for?
combatting recusancy
What was the result of the development of Lord Lieutenants?
An improved system of military organisation, with better records, recruitment and communication. However, the system was to come under increasing strain in the 1590s as the war with spain continued.
Who usually were the Lord Lieutenants?
Usually, either the most powerful nobleman living in the region or a member of the Privy council who had estates locally. Often these were one and the same.
Before 1525, Henry relied on the powerful regional nobility to help him control the North by acting as wardens, The key families were the Dacres, the Cliffords, the Percy Earls of Northumberland and the Neville Earls of Westmorland. Why could they not be relied on to keep the peace.
Because the families were in complex feuds with each other. However, as long as there remained the Threat of invasion from Scotland, these men were needed to provide the first line of defence.
By Elizabeth’s reign, both the amount of business conducted by the JPs and the size of the county benches deeded to conduct said business had increased. members of the local gentry had realised that becoming a JBP was the key to social advancement. What did Cecil have to do as a result of this?
He had to keep an increasingly close eye on the membership of the benches, but he was reliant on the reports of royal judges who only visited the counties twice a year. as a result , there was an element of corruption , through royal control over the county benches was strengthened through the appointment of leading councillors and Lord Lieutenants to county benches.
What was the main cause of poverty in tudor England?
the increase in population beyond a level that could be sustained.
By 1603, there were 309 Acts of Parliament that placed responsibility on the Jps. These responsibilities were both their traditional duties from the start of the period and new ones brought about by religious, political and social change. What were some of their newly acquired powers?
The powers to deal with new felonies introduced by the Govt, including riots, property damage, witchcraft and recusancy . They also had to deal with a wide range of minor offences such as crop damage, swearing, drunkenness, and abduction of heiresses. In addition, they were responsible for the administration of the Tudor poor laws
Why did tudor Authorities tend to use punishment to try and control vagrancy?
Because it was assumed that there were jobs available but the unemployed were too lazy to work.
Ẁhy, as population grew did prices rise?
Because of the basic economic principle of supply and demand. As the population increased, more pressure was placed on resources, particularly food. The more demand there was, the more farmers and merchants could charge for their goods.
In the North, the threat of invasion and the border with Scotland were so large that the Northern Marches did what?
Split into three: the Western middle and Eastern Marches. they were controlled by wardens who were responsible for their defence and keeping order.
Given responsibility to oversee the war effort of a specific county, Lord Lieutenants had far-reaching powers. What were they ordered to do with these powers?
To arrange the defence of their counties and the muster of all men who were available and eligible to serve in the army, to ensure they were armed and well trained, and enforce discipline.
Under the 1572 poor law, how did attitudes toward the able-bodied poor begin to change?
Punishment remained severe: boring a hole through the right ear or whipping for those under 14 Despite this , the government recognised that there was not enough work , so encouraged parishes with the extra poor relief funds to build ‘ houses of correction for vagrants and beggars
in 1534, Cromwell began a series of permanent changes to government of Wales. He began by appointing Rowland Lee to act as the Lord President of the council of Wales, allowing him to do what?
He was given Sweeping powers to tackle crime and disorder in the region.
Because the Lieutenants were also privy councillors, member of the North and the Marches and senior noblemen, what could they do?
They provided an important link between the regions and central Govt.
When was the Amicable Grant protest?
1525
When was Wyatt’s Rebellion?
1554
In the 1540s, the MArcher council was reorganised to take account of Cromwell’s changes. What did it become?
A more formal body with a president and vice-president who were appointed by the monarch.
When did the act for the relief of the poor make JPs responsible for supervising the collection of poor-relief donations?
1563
When was the Statute of Artificers?
1563
A poor Law was passed in 1531 what did it order?
That Vagrants and beggars were to be whipped, and impotent poor were to be licensed by the JP’s and allowed to beg.
How did parish funds for poor relief recieve a considerable boost under the Act of Uniformity?
The 12d per week recusancy five was put towards parish poor relief.
When did the Statute of Artificers make JPs responsible for fixing local wages?
1563
As the Vagrancy Act was so harsh, it was repealed in 1550. What replaced it in 1552?
A new poor law. this Act required the impotent poor to be registered and that parish priests placed more pressure on those reluctant to make voluntary contributions to Alms in the parishes.
When were the JPs ordered to enforce the second book of common Prayer?
1552
What were the Marches?
A militarised zone where England borders Wales and Scotland
As the traditional feudal role of the nobility declined under the tudors, a replacement was needed for their role in providing the monarch with an army. What was this replacement?
The system of Lord lieutenants, which first appeared as an experiment in the late 1540s-50s, becoming a permanent feature if the tudor Govt in 1585 when England went to war with Spain.
Controlling the North was a very challenging problem for the tudor monarchs. Why?
Geographically remote with poor communications. it was also under threat of invasion from Scotland.
The government of Wales and the Marcher Regions Gloucestershire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire remained out of step with the government of England, thought there was no longer a threat of a hostile Welsh invasion. Although the Crown controlled the Principality of Wales, before 1530’s Wales had it’s own Legal system, which still depended on the local marcher lords’ power and control. What did this mean?
In Wales and its Marcher regions it was still possible to commit a crime in one lordship and then escape justice by fleeing into another one. As a result, the area was hard to control and had a tendency to lawlessness.
Until the 1570s how did Tudor laws distinguish between different ‘categories’ of poverty?
The ‘impotent ‘ poor were to be cared for, but ‘able bodied’ poor were considered to be ‘idle’ and ‘sturdy beggars’ who could work but chose not to.
When did Parliament make JPs responsible for listing the poor in each parish?
1572
How did the influx of gold and silver from the new world into Europe cause poverty?
It led to price revolution and more inflation.
In 1563, how did the Act for the Relief of the Poor show that attitudes towards poverty were changing?
It moved towards making payment to poor relief near-compulsory. Special collectors of alms were appointed to ‘gently ask and demand of every man and woman what they of their charity will be contented to give weekly towards the relief of the poor’. refusal to contribute could lead to imprisonment but they could choose how much they would contribute.
