English society

Question 1

The Nobility

Answer 1

• Increased during reign of Henry
• England had only one duke when he came to the throne, Edward Stafford Duke of Buckingham.
• Only promoted two non royal ducal titles Norfolk and Suffolk
• Earl of Shrewsbury raised over 4000 men for Invasion of France 1513
• Duke of Buckingham executed for treason
• Kings relatives Henry Montague and Henry Marquess of Exeter both accused of treason
• Lord Darcy and Hussey executed for their roles in rebellion of 1536

Question 2

Gentry

Answer 2

• 5000 gentry families in England 1540
• 200 Knightly families in 1524
• Number of gentry did increase and the increase in JPs also

Question 3

Commoners

Answer 3

• Little change in standard of living
• Rise in inflation lead to drop in real incomes which contributed to ill feeling of amicable grant

Question 4

Wales

Answer 4

• Before 1536 separate state to England
• Wales comprimised marcher lordships
• Changes to Laws in Wales in 1536:
  
  • divided Wales into shire counties
    operated same as England
  • Welsh shires direct representation in
    House of Commons
  • Bought Wales into same legal
    framework as England

Question 5

English Palatinates

Answer 5

• Three counties Lancashire, Cheshire and Durham were separate jurisdictions they fell into royal hands
• Act Resuming Liberties to he Crown 1536 reduced level of independence

Question 6

Anglo-Welsh Border

Answer 6

• Lands governed as part of Principality of Wales
• Bordering counties:
  
  • Shropshire, Hertfordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire
• Came under jurisdiction of Council and Wales. Offered cheap and local access to the law

Question 7

Anglo-Scottish Border

Answer 7

• Difficult to police both sides reputation for lawlessness
• Split into three marches
• Thought of appointing some one from the gentry class

Question 8

Council in the North

Answer 8

• Huge number of supporters of the Pilgrimage of Grace in 1536
• Led Henry to re-estalish Council based in York
• Kept the North quiet until rebellions in 1549

Question 9

Social Impact of Religious Upheaval

Answer 9

• Huge amount of land from the church and taken by the crown by 1547 two thirds of land had been sold off
• Many monasteries noted for educational provision and were lost
• Many monks and nuns rendered unemployed
• Some monasteries played vital roles in the community as well as providing education offered employment and business opportunities

Question 10

Amicable Grant

Answer 10

• Opposition was widespread but mainly occurred in Essex and Suffolk border
• Reported 1000 people gathered at the border
• Dukes in Norfolk and Suffolk faced 4000 taxation resisters

Question 11

Lincolnshire Rising

Answer 11

• 1 October 1536 Anger and violence erupted and Bishop of Lincoln murdered
• At least 10,000 people assembled at Lincoln and several lists of articles were drawn up
• Collaboration of Gentry and commoners broke when Suffolk’s army drew near

Question 12

Pilgrimage of Grace

Answer 12

• Lincolnshire Rising spread and reached Robert Aske on 4 October 1536
• By 10 October Aske was Captain of 30,000 men in York and moving down Pontefract on 21 October
• Government caught off guard and sent a delegation led by Duke of Norfolk
• Rebels presented their five articles
• Truce signed 27 October
• Pontefracts met between 2-4 December and demands in 24 articles

Question 13

Sir Francis Bigod’s revolt and Cumberland Rising

Answer 13

• Aske toured the North trying to sell deal made to the gentry
• Bigod remained unconvinced and planned to capture Hull and Scarborough and force Duke of Norfolk to act as go-between
• 16 January 1537 and collapsed in a few days

Question 14

What caused the rebellions

Answer 14

• Dissolution of monasteries
• Defence of faith
• Food shortages and agrarian issues
• Taxation
• Opposition to Cromwell’s policies