H7 dealing with nobility

who were nobility

The most respected and highest members of society, they were second to the King

Duke was the highest noble title, there were other titles such as Earl, Marquis and Viscount

You were born into nobility or awarded it by the king

how many noble families were there in 1485 and 1509

In 1485 there were 62 noble families but in 1509 there were only 42

why did Henry want to decrease size of nobility

1. A smaller and limited noble class would be easier to manage

2. With fewer people receiving peerages they became a prized honour

3. Noble titles come with a large amount of land (usually Crown Land), this would create a loss of income for Henry VII

Why was nobility a problem

• Noble men could quell a rebellion and act as a mediator between people and central government

• Noble men could ignore him, threaten him and provoke disorder and rebellion

What was patronage

• incentive

• The giving of positions of power, land, titles - traditional way to buy loyalty. Rather than giving this to win loyalty, Henry used it to reward those who had already been loyal.

give two examples of patronage

• Jasper Tudor was made Duke of Bedford and was restored to his Welsh estates and given extra land. This was for his support at Bosworth.

• Lord Giles Daubeney was promoted to the peerage for his help in leading royal forces against the Cornish rebellion.

What were bonds and recognisances

• threat

• Bonds were written agreements in which people promised to pay a sum of money if they failed to carry out their promise

• Recognisances were a formal acknowledgement of a debt or obligation, with the understanding to pay money if this obligation was not met. Became more severe as Henry's reign went on.

give an example of bonds and recognisances

Thomas Grey, Marquis of Dorset was required to transfer all his land except two manors to trustees, give a recognisance for £1000 and find others who would give recognisances of £10 000 on his behalf.

How many families gave bonds and recognisances during Henry's reign

Between 1485 and 1509, 36 out of 62 noble families gave bonds and/or recognisances - only 1 during Yorkist rule.

What was the King's council

• incentive

• A position on the Council was a sign of the King's confidence. 5 of his key councillors had all aligned themselves with Henry before Bosworth.

What was retaining

• threat

• Henry limited retaining - the recruiting of gentry who could be used as a fighting force

• 1485 and 1504, Henry passed laws to ensure nobles went through the proper channels in order to retain. Those who did not, were fined.

give an example of a retaining fine

Earl of Devon, gave a recognisance not to retain illegally in 1494. He broke this promise in 1506 and had to pay part of the sum due.

What were acts of attainder

• threat + incentive

• Parliamentary acts which punished families by taking their land and their right to inherit. This would mean financial ruin. - - Attainders could be reversed - they were thus used as both threats and incentives

How many acts of attainder were passed between 1501 - 1509

51, shows harsher treatment of nobles towards the end

Give an example of an act of attainder

• Thomas Howard, Earl of Surrey, who had fought for Richard III

• Initially Howard was imprisoned and attained, but in 1489 he was released and restored to his title, having promised Henry loyalty

• He was put in charge of law and order in the north. He gradually won his lands back - although he was not allowed to become Duke

What was the order of the garter

• Incentive A significant honour reserved for the King's closest servants

• Henry created 37

• Effective because it gave the recipient prestige, not power or land

What were feudal dues

• threat

• Henry sent out numerous commissions of inquiry to re-establish his right to:

• Wardship (taking control and profits from land held by minors)

• Marriage (king could profit from arranged marriages)

• Livery (king was paid to recover land held by wardship)

• Relief (king was paid when land was inherited)

• Escheats (payments made when land reverted to the Crown)

Give an example of feudal dues

Katherine, Dowager Duchess of Buckingham, was fined £7000 in 1486 for marrying without the King's license.

Henry increased profits in this area massively

What was the income per year from wardships and marriages between the start and end of his reign

1485: £350

1509: £6000

more fines towards end of reign, massively increased profits