ENGLISH SOCIETY AND STRUCTURE OF THE 15TH
CENTURY NOTES.
- Society is ‘stratified’ not rigid like in Spain
- Similar to the old feudal system- monarch, tenants in chief and
large landowners, senior churchmen with laborers at the
bottom
- Monarch, nobility, gentry, yeoman, merchants, laborers
- Professional & mercantile bourgeoisie in London and major
cities e.g. Norwich
- Remnants of feudalism were still there but the black death
increased social mobility and sumptuary laws were ineffective.
- Sumptuary laws, people of different classes were not allowed
to wear certain styles/colours. But these were ineffective.
- Nobility large landownership. Peerage- 50-60 families
- Crown relied on peerage to run counties but Henry VII reluctant
to make new powerful men
- Trusted military commanders- earl of oxford and lord Daubney
had influence under Henry- although relied on Northumberland
to control North East. Reluctant to make any opposition for
himself
- Henry uses bonds and recognizance to control the nobility
- Retaining gave Nobels power- Henry tried to limit numbers but
loyal retainers (people whom you pay to stay loyal for you- like
a mini army= power) needed to support the crown. Acts in
1487 and 1504 and action vs lord bergavenny.
CENTURY NOTES.
- Society is ‘stratified’ not rigid like in Spain
- Similar to the old feudal system- monarch, tenants in chief and
large landowners, senior churchmen with laborers at the
bottom
- Monarch, nobility, gentry, yeoman, merchants, laborers
- Professional & mercantile bourgeoisie in London and major
cities e.g. Norwich
- Remnants of feudalism were still there but the black death
increased social mobility and sumptuary laws were ineffective.
- Sumptuary laws, people of different classes were not allowed
to wear certain styles/colours. But these were ineffective.
- Nobility large landownership. Peerage- 50-60 families
- Crown relied on peerage to run counties but Henry VII reluctant
to make new powerful men
- Trusted military commanders- earl of oxford and lord Daubney
had influence under Henry- although relied on Northumberland
to control North East. Reluctant to make any opposition for
himself
- Henry uses bonds and recognizance to control the nobility
- Retaining gave Nobels power- Henry tried to limit numbers but
loyal retainers (people whom you pay to stay loyal for you- like
a mini army= power) needed to support the crown. Acts in
1487 and 1504 and action vs lord bergavenny.
