Nobility

What did nobility dominate?

Landownership

What was a peerage?

group of people who held one of the five ranks of aristocracy- landowners and members of the House of Lords

Five ranks of aristocracy

Duke

Marquis

Earl

Viscount

Baron

How many peerage were there?

50-60

Is peerage a closed or open caste?

Closed

Who were peerage families replaced by?

Others who had acquired or bought the king’s favour

What did the Crown rely on the families for?

Maintenance of control in the countryside

What was Henry 7 reluctant to create new peerage titles?

Distrustful of nobility

Who did Henry 7 trust?

Lancastrian military commanders such as the Earl of Oxford and Lord Daubeney

Who didn’t H7 trust?

Earl of Northumberland

What did he trust Northumberland to do?

Control the NE of England on behalf of the Crown

What was Henry’s most important method of controlling the nobility?

Bonds and recognizances

What was bastard feudalism also known as?

Retaining

What was retaining?

Wealthy magnates recruited knights and gentlemen to serve them as administers, accountants or for military purposes

Why did H7 want to limit retaining?

Noblemen could use trained men to bring unlawful influence on others in a court case or use them against the Crown

What were retainers essential to?

Maintaining the Crown’s security

What might retainers receive?

Rewards such as local office, grants of land or direct payments

What was H7 response to retaining?

Parliament passed Acts in 1487 and 1504 that took action against nobles who abused the system

Example of a noble who abused the retaining system

Lord Bergavenny

What happened in 1486 with retaining?

peers and MPs were required to take an oath against illegal retaining or being illegally retained- illegality was not defined

What happened in 1487/1504 with retaining?

1487- a law against retaining was established

1504- the 1487 law was reinforced by an act passed- licenses for retaining could be sought

What was the 1504 act against retaining?

Only the king could grant licenses for retaining- licenses lasted only during the king’s lifetime

Who was a victim of retaining?

Lord Bergavenny- indicated for illegal retaining in 1507 for 100,000