H7 Domestic

Society in Tudor England before 1485

• Social status dominated society- feudalism

• Church very powerful- controlled people through preaching God’s will

• Great Chain of Being accepted

• Parliament drawn from the gentry- passed laws, raised taxations

Structure of the feudal system

Society pre-Henners 7

• V. small population kept low by disease/infant mortality

• Largely agricultural

• Feudal system- weakened by bastard feudalism

• Catholic- lot of land belonged to Church, landscape dominated by religious buildings- wealth & power

• France enemy, allied w. Scotland- Auld Alliance against England

STRENGTHS of Henry as a potential king

• Faced change & unpredictability during childhood- separated from mother, fled to France

• Experienced growing up in court in Brittany- knowledgeable in functions, observation of court politics

• Leanred about caution, control & order

• French support for 1485 invasion against R3

• Small, trusted circle & good relationship with MB

(MB and Jasper)

• MB married x3- marriage to Lord Stanley

• Intelligent, tactical, pious- played part in conspiracies against R3, direct route to H7’s ear

• Jasper Tudor- Earl of Pembroke- influential member of H6 court, stayed with Henry throughout Brittany- made Duke of Bedford- political role model

WEAKNESS of Henry as a potential king

• weak claim to the throne- didn’t expect to be monarch

• No assertive claim against contenders- paranoia

• Less knowledge of kingship

Henry’s royal blood- claim evaluation

• John of Gaunt- Edward III son (also all other Henries)

• Claim made stronger because H5 and H6 died, strongest Lancastrian

• NOT direct or unchallengeable

• NOT clear and obvious descent

• Other people had stronger claims

1483-84

• 83- set sail for England, wanted to take advantage of Buckingham rebellion & instability- poor weather returned to Brittany

• 84- Duke and R3 deal- exile to France

Bosworth- events

Bosworth —> London

• Proclaimed king, declared reign started 21st August so R3’s men traitors

• awarded 11 knighthoods immediately at Bosworth- decisive leadership

• Act of Attainder- seizing land of ppl. who fought against him, imprison all those

• Slow journey to London, appointing Privy Council- close family, friends, advisors & supporters

• slow journey gained support from the public

Coronation

• 29/10- public procession into Westminster Hall, showing himself to the people

• 30th October 1485

• Grand and prudent- public image but not wasting money, shopped for best

• Careful following of traditon- not appearing extremely unorthodox

• Papal Bull- right to throne in God’s eyes

Parliament

• Before for approval and after coronation so people can’t claim parliamentary interfence

• Declaration of the King’s title- confirming right to be king

• Act of Resumption- reclaiming all H6 lands before WOTR

• Repeal Titulus Regulus claiming R3 right to throne

• Pardon some Yorkists but keep them close at court to keep an eye on them

Marriage to Elizabeth of York

• Sought papal dispensation (distant cousins)

• Uniting York and Lancaster- subdueing factionalism

• Delayed until after coronation- attending to business before marrying

• Eldest daughter of a kibg, well educated- beautiful on coronation increased support

Propaganda

• Tudor Rose- uniting 2 houses, sign of unity and prosperty after years of chaos

• Arthur and in WInchester- ancient, mythical respected- patriotism, other son named after H6 Lancastrian heritage, martyred king- reputability

• Welsh dragon banner and associations with Cadwaladr, ancient heritage

What were Henry VII’s aims?

• Defend throne from threats

• Secure future of dynasty- male heirs & stable marriages

• Exploit available income to crown to cover costs of government

• Maintain acceptable public order

• Provide justice through enforcing existing laws and creating new legislation

• Gain/retain the support of the chruch

Lovell causes and events

CAUSES

Feb 1486- Henry led nobles to the North to show authority + deal with rebels

March- heard of old R3 supporters forming a condpiracy- Francis Lovell- attainted old confidante of R3- led rebellion with Sir Stafford, thought nothing to lose

Motivated by loyalty to Richard and fear of losing local power

EVENTS

Spring 1486- Lovell attempted to raise support in N, Staffords in West Midlands- thought 2 threats at once, aimed to seize York

Lack of support from Northern families, little local support- seen as too self interested, no foreign aid

RESPONSE- quick, marched towards York, joined by Northumberland and some Richard Yorkshire knights

Arrived in York 20/4, then went to Nottingham

Commissioners seized Safford brothers whoo sought sanctuary, dragged and H executed- all rebels fled or pardoned- little loyalty

Lovell rebellion- consequences

• Showed possibility of unrest against Henry- inspiration due to rumours E of Warwick would join Lovell

• Quick response coordinated against L- H dominant, demonstrating strength

What constitues a threatening rebellion?

• Number of participants

• Challenge posed to the throne

• Level of force

• Foreign support

• Geographical focus/ safety of London

• Aims of rebels

• Good leadership/ unifying figurehead

• Timing

• Henry’s response

Simnel causes and events

CAUSES/SUPPORTERS

• John de la Pole (Lincoln) (or Richard Symonds)- Yorkist leader, nephew of R3, successor

• Edward Earl of Warwick leading Yorkist claimant, arrested by Henry and was in the Tower, hadn’t been seen +1y

• Margaret of Burgundy- sister of Yorkist kings- personal + political motivations- outraged by brother usurped, trading rights removed

• Burgundy + York good trading relations, H allied with France, B enemies

EVENTS

• Margaret sheltered Lovell, acknowledged Simnel as her nephew Warwick, raised 2,000 mercenaries to set sail April 1487

• Jan 1487 SImnel lands in Dublin- Lord Deputy Kildare acceoted him, crowned Edward VI

• RESPONSE- not idle- Dec ‘86 summoned Great Council taking action against conspirators

• Simnel in Lancashire- Henry went with troops

• Simnel received little support in north Yorkshire, ev3n tho R3- speed march few troops raised

• 16 June- 8,000 vs 12,000 men- heavy defeat

Simnel consequences

• dominated Henry’s government for months 1487

• Lincoln killed, Lovell soon died

• Simnel captured, later became falconer

• Henry received loyalty oaths and fined offfenders

• only 28 attainders, less land to reward supporters, contrasting R3

• Had to retain Kildare- BUT lenience causes peace

Lovell vs. Simnel

SIMILARITIES

• lacking local support, weakened

• led by Yorkists aiming to depose monarcg

• Fairly unrealistic goals

• Undermining Henry

DIFFERENCES

• Lovell- no foreign support

• Simnel- unifying figurehead

• Henry needed a longer response for Simnel BUT both quick

What problems did Henry face in 1485?

• nobles- power & wealth threatening crown

• uneven Crown control- stronger where densely populated, S&E

• Lack of developed local administration

• Poor crown finances (largely a result of continuous war)

Henry VII’s court and household

• Heavily relied- centre of government- magbificent, generous

• Influenced by continental examples, focys of a personal monarchy, could demonstrate power of the monarch- people could become rewarded and well connected

• Quarters became closer and more trusted closer to the bedchamber e.g. Privy Chamber- intimate, Henry cut off many traditional contacts

What is a personal monarchy?

• Political power of an indiviudal depended on personal relationship with monarch

• Power = access to king, much harder for nobility when Henry so private

Henry’s Counsel/Council

• Advise king, administer the realm, make legal judgements

• working Council small- 6/7 (but 227 in reign)

• Members of the nobility, churchmen e.g. John Morton (legal training, great administration), layman skilled administrators e.g. Reginald Bray

• Permanent body

• (Great Council = House of Lords, only met x5, usually war/rebellion)

John Morton and Reginald Bray

• JM- skilled churchman and lawyer, worked against R3, Archbishop of Canterbury under H7

• RB longtime faithful servant of H7, helped with funds b4 Bosworth, “king’s chief executive”- v. powerful

Parliament

• pass laws and grant taxation- not central

• Only called 7 parliaments, 5 were in first 10 years

• Early parliaments largely national security + revenue, first 2 lots AoAttainder

• Final parliament limited demand for extraordinary revenue, king couldn’t seek more

• Operated effectively, limited interference from Henry

Counsel Learned in the Law

• Developed in second hald of reign, initially under Bray

• maintained revenue and exploited prerogative rights

• entrapped subjects through bonds & recognizances

• “Shady”- not recognised court of law- fear & anger

• Empson- bureaucrat, ruthless approach- joined by Dudley

• Extracrion of funds, creating enemies- unpopular financial control

Counsel for Outlying regions

• set up councils e.g. for the North, Wales- Earl of Surrey Southern, causes discontent

To what extent did Henry change governance?

• wasn’t innovative, developed existing institutions and relationships from EIV

• Nobles local agents to transmit royal authority

• Increasingly managed oiwn finanxes, crown lands, feudal dues

• Emphasis on dignity of monarch

• bypassed the elites- held governing classes at a distances, focused on accumulating income to avoid dependence

JPs

Role/ position of the nobility

• prioritised taming overpowerful nobility (success- peaceful succession of H8)

• 15th century- provided troops, keeping law and order, solving problems

• Military role- had the power to alter the system of power if wanted e.g H6 increased local influence, also increasing volatility of WotR

• Could exploit power. shifting loyalties (needed for Bosworth)

Henry’s noble aims and attitudes

• needed to maintain relationships but curb ambition

• decisive victory at Bosworth, few nobles had actively participated so probs wanted new king

• several Bosworth deaths = children as heads of fam, also Henry no close male relatives as opposition

• JdlP- Lincoln killed

• Edmund dlP- took a demotion to earl of Suffolk, 1501 fled to Burgundy

• Warwick- remained in tower executed 1499

• Surrey- imprisoned + attainted then 1489 order in the North- close watch

Carroting the nobles

• Patronage- incentive for loyal serice, only came after e.g. Jasper Tudor Dule of Bedford, Edmund Dudley became right-hand man, forming close alliances, RB land +18 counties, over £1000 a year

• Order of the Garter- closest servants- created 37 e.g. Robert Willoughby- gave prestige but no power- couldn’t damage H7

• King’s Council- loyalty to trusted servants reaping rewards e.g. John Morton

• Great Council- meetings of noblemen and gaining support- involving people in decisions so he can transfer blame- didn’t have to fully trust nobles

Sticking the nobles

• Acts of Attainder- not a new policy- loss of rigjt to possess or inheriy land- reversible for good behaviour- incentive for loyalty bc people don’t feel they have nothing to lose- living in servitude e.g. Howard attainted 1486, Eal of Surrey 1489

• Bonds and recognisances- BONDS= written agreements promising to pay a sum of money if people carry out promises, RECOGNISANCES= formal acknowledgement of a debt or obligation, pay money if not met- Thomas Grey- 36/62 noble families vs 1 in \yorkist

• Feudal dues- asserting control over fedual system- profits from wardship and marriage- Duke of Buckingham fined £7,000 in 1498 for inheriting b4 21

• Retaining- noble practice of recruiting gentry followers- limited by h- 1504 special liscences needed to retain- penalty of £5 a month per illegal retainer

• Crown lands- x5 larger than h6

The Willoughby de Brokes

• Robert fought with Henry- Augst 1485 seat in King’s COuncil, became JP for Devon, Cornwall, DOrset + WIlthsire, steward for Warwick + Salisbury lands- respecr for long term allies- immense power to a few infividuals- left chasms when they died

• Distrust —> parzanoia e.g. 1495 Stanley treasin, paranoia- Robert II- focus of crown scrutiny- 1502 vorced to pay large fines, 1505 brought to CliL to prove claim to manors, lost- driven to near bankruptcy

• merciless, finances used as piwer, seemed greedy to the public

Henry & solvency

• Expenditure less than annual income

• H7 inherited bankrupt throne- couldn’t afford coronation, marriage, defeating Lovell

• Wanted power through a secure financial base to control nobility and protect succession

• Funded ordinary + extraordinary income, centralised power, ensured disxipline

• Assistants were hated e.g. Edward Belknap collected £7000 in 7 months

• Anxiety + wisdom —> avarice- maintained majestic appearance but had spent youth as a penniless exile

Henry’s financial systems

• Exchequer system-ran royal finances by employing its own officials- allowed finaces to run when Henry had a lack of financial experience at the start of his reign- shifted from 1493- slow + inefficient

• Chamber system- financial management part of the royal househld, direct supervision, throrough investigation- increased revenue bc. workers took a bond, closest most trusted servants = most important roles

Henry and royal finances

• increasingly avaricious bc paranoid- wise + prudent- small amounts leisure

• maintaining royal image- intellogent- royalty, majesty, honour

• Gave gifts to everyday people

• Unpopular by end of reign, extracting however possible

Henry domestic success- royal finances

• Chamber system- increasing financial competence

• Finance as a tool for power- controlling the nobles, bonds and recognisances

• Finance decreased popularity- Empson and Dudley, Council Learned in Law

• Sources of income- ordinary e.g. crown lands, fedual dues + extraordinary e,g, grants

Henry domestic success- justice/maintaining order

• Largely maintained- increased regional control- JPs, Council for Outlying regions

• Threatened- rebellion SImnel + Lovell- swiftly put down- general support

• Maintaining contrrol over nobles- power broken down, attainted- close network, X bastard feudalism

Henry domestic success- councils + courts

• Councils- increased control- Great Council- implicated nobles

• Privy Council, Couuncil Learned in Law BUT popularity waning

• Churhc/local/king/county courts- enforcing judicial system

What are sumptuary laws?

(Unenforceable) laws attemting to regulate how individuals dressed based on their class to prevents commoners impersonating noblemen

What is peerage?

• Duke/marquis/earl/viscount/baron- aristocracy, considerable power in localities, members of House of Lords

• 50-60 during H7- dominated landownsership

• Not a closed caste- families often died out + replaced based on king’s favour

• relied on peerage for maintaining order in the countryside

• Henry reluctant to create new titles- deep distrust of nobility

Earl of Oxford + Baron Daubeney + Northumberland

• Oxford- John de Vere- most trusted military commander- led troops at Bosworth + Stoke- political influence

• Giles Daubeney- origianlly Yorkist, rebelled 1483- fled to Brittany with Henners- led Crown forces in Cornwall 1497- 1495 succeeded William Stanley as Lord Chamberlain

• Earl of Northumberland- Henry didn’t trust despite his betrayal of R3 at Bosworth- controlled northeast England on behalf of the Crown

Bastard feudalism

• (Retaining)- recuruiting knights + gentlemen to serve as administrators/ accountants- could unlawfully influence court cases/ be used against the Crown

• BUT loyal retainers were needed for Crown security

• 1504 Act- only the king could grant lucsenses for retaining- only lasted the king’s liufetimes

• Lord Bergavenny fined 100,000 in 1507 but paid 1,000 + then pardoned

The gentry

• greater gentry= immeditaley below peerage- often sought knighthoods to confirm their social status e.g. reginald Bray

• 1490- 375 knights- no military obligations but administration of local authorities

• Peers + knights- 15-20% of land

• Esquires/’mere gentry’- esquires usually eldest sons of knights + younger sons of barons etc.

• Gentry not a fixed caste but possessed considerable prestige, income, dominated local office

• lesser gentry- in common with yeomanry- far more modest living- local social horizons

Churchmen

• Church a huge landowner- varied social status of clergy

• Bishops + abbots in House of Lords, often political roles

• Henry governed Church- only appointed men with legal training as bishops e.g. John Morton- valued administration over spirituality- reluctant to appoint aristocrats

Richard Fox

• sevred Henners since exile

• 1487- bishop of Exeter

• Bishop of Bath & Wells, Durham, WInchester, managed Crown transition to H8

Commoners

• Top = ‘middling sort"‘- small number of educated professionals e.g. lawyers, wealthy merchants

• Shopkeepers + skilled tradesmen- artisans- still respected- dominated borough corporations

• Countryside middling sort = yeomen farmers- farmed substantial properties for sophistucated market economy- emerging social group- drop in land values after Black Death- “peasant aristocracy”

Knight : landowner ratio

1 knight : 10 ‘gentlemen’ landowners

Regional divisions

• 75% of population below line of agricultural difference- S+E= mixed farming- more densely populated e/g/N+Sfolk and Kent

• N + W- sparsely populated- pastoral farming- sheep, cattle, horses- some exceptions

• People aware of reguonal differences- Londoners saw northerners as savage, North envious of southern wealth

• Regional identities due to government structures- more county-level justice e/g. county towns with jails + major churches

• Still a greater sense of single identity than b4

What are the two types of rebellion?

1. Political leaders attempting to seize the throne

2. Mass demonstrations- air grievances + force change

Who was Perkin Warbeck?

• Young Flemish boy impersonating Richard Duke of York, son of E4

• ABle to attract patronage from foreign rulers + Yorkists

• Polydore Vergil- “many important men… considered the matter genuine”- even if not actually believed, gave PW support to try and usurp H7

Henry and Perkin: Cat and Mouse

• 1491- Tournai → Ireland- very handsome- Kildare refuses to give backing + Henry dispatches troops

• 1492- Ireland → France- C8 welcomes him- Treaty of Etaples- only about 100 supporters

• 1493- France → Burgundy- MoB tutors him in ways of Yorkist court- Trade Embargo

• 1493- Burgundy→ Maximilian court- names M as his heir

• 1494- Henry discovers conspirators in government

• 1495- William Stanley executed

• 1495- Warbeck tries to land at deal- flees to Ireland, supported by Earl of Desmond, driven out- Poynings

• 1495- Ireland → Scotland- welcomed by J4- pension + Catherine Gordon

• 1496- unsuccessful invasion- Ayton Truce, kicked out

• 1497- Scotland → Ireland- rejected

• 1497- Scotland → Cornwall- received little support, arrested

• 1498-9- Tower of London, executed

Categorise how Henry stopped Perks

• Extending network of informers- able to stop William Stanley joining up with Perks

• Declaring war- 1496- war against Scotland- diverted these troops to Cornwall in 1497 b4 PW joined

• Strengthening Tudor control- new laws for government in Ireland, strengthening northern local militia

• Effective diplomacy- treaties and embargo

Ways Perkin was a threat

• Shapes large part of foreign policy- reactive, needed foreign military support- powerful support e.g. MoB

• Lasted 8 years

• Claimed he would lower taxes and end war with Scotland- appeal + believable story, legitimacy w. J4

• Cost Henry over £13,000- (=6.4 mill)

• Scotland provided 1500 troops, rode alongside Warbeck

• Attracted Irish interest (largely confined to Cork)

• Attracted loyal Henry support- Stanley + Fitzwalter- some foreign + domestic belief that Henry vulnerable

• Cornwall- attracted 6000 supporters (not noble- miners/farmers)

Political/somewhat dynastic threat

Ways Perks was NOT a threat

• Poorly organised- 4 failures- 1496 England 2 daqys, 1495 Deal trap

• No widespread/ significant local English support

• Henry quickly + tactically co-ordinated responses

• No foreign ADEQUATE support- continually limited

• Limited former Yorkist support- 1495 De Facto Act saying service to Yorkist kings not treasom

Overall judgement/ Richter scale of Perki Warbs

• Henry had to actively work to assert his power in order to diminish threat- undermined authority

• Troops raised, government needed to supress BUT military NO threat- political support didn’t manifest into physical

6.5/10

Perkin vs. Lambert: Who was more threatening?

LAMBERT:

• Henry more vulnerable on throne, posed less of a threat

• Greater domestic support- also facilitated by Irish support

• Climate of political instability

• Invasion + Battle of Stoke

PERKIN:

• Both L + poorly organised troops

• H7 couldn’t disprove Duke of York

• undermined Henry’s authority on global stage- domino effect of greater discontent e.g. Scotland → Cornwall rebellion

• Infilitrated Henry’s government- minimising loyalty to Hen

• More of a long-term threat but in some ways benefited Henry

Yorkshire Rebellion: Causes + events

• 1489- economic rebellion

• Yorkshire poor, recent bad harvests- not threatened security by the French

• Earl of Northumberland sent to raise Subsidy Tax for war against France- murdered

• Murder most likely due to resentment of taxation- retainers allowed it by deserting him- punishment for deserting R3

• Initially protest against taxes led by local gentry, never more than gathering of large crowds

• Henry sent large army North under EoSurrey- rebels quickly dispersed

Yorkshire Rebellion: Consequences + threat

• Henry fear of another Yorkist plot rather than genuine anger at taxation- Egremont a Yorkist sympathiser

• Minimal threat, less directly against Henry than Northumberland

Cornish Rebellion: Causes

• 1497- economic- poor county, fiercely independent own language + parliament

• resentment at paying tax for war with Scotland

• coinciding with Warbeck- greater threat

Cornish Rebellion: Events

• Breaks out Penryn in May, joined by Audley in Taunton

• Lord Audley, lawyer Thomas Flamank + Michael the Blacksmith- raised local support, marched to London via Guildford + WInchester- 15,000-40,000

• Troops bigger than diverted royal army from Scotland

• Complained against “evil counsellors” Morton & Bray- blamed for taxation

• Henry played for time- rebels began collapsing, returned to Cornwall after lack of support in Kent

• 14 June- met at Blackheath- 25,000 men, rebels had lost 1,000- Michael, Thomas + Audley executed- other rebels treated with leniency

Cornish Rebellion: Consequences + threat

THREATENING

• Gained support of nobility in south-western counties for lack of wide good treatment to nobility

• Succeeded in aims of no taxes collected Yo/Corn

• Limited support Devon, strength Somerset

• Encapsulated all social classes- determination + skill

• PW tried to exploit situation

• Successful tactics- 10,000 reached Blackheath- more threatening bc. H preoccupied w. Perks

• Henry limited control in far regions

NOT THREATENING/ SUCCESS

• Confused aim- marching on London H7 could claim they were trying to overthrow

• Resulted in Henry diplomacy with Scotland, cautious about future conflict

• Neither directly agaionst Henry- against advisors- not undermining authority too highly

Henry’s domestic economy

• more regionalised, agragrian- 9/10 lived from the land

• Cloth indusry- 30,000 employed (1.3% of pop.) full-time

• Part-time work- cottage industry

• Cloth indutry isnignificant to national economy vs. agriculture- harvest fundamental

• ‘Normal’ decade 1 in 4 harvest deficient, 1 in 6 very bad- violent price fluctuations- volatile, instability

• Population at star of 15th- 2.2 million- majority countryside, relying on some form of farming

• Max. 20 towns 3000+ people- Norwich 10,000- urban areas wool + cloth

• Henry no set economic policy

Agriculture/ the agrarian economy

• move towards sheep farming insread of arable- demand for wool as trade developed and population grew

• Increased efficiency and profitability meant peasants lost access to land as common rights- destitution- more widespread first hald 16th century

• Lowland + Highland zone- 75% lowland- mixed farmung

• Grain areas- open-field husbandry- manor estate, strips of lands w. common rights- threatened increasingly by enclosure

• No significant change 1485-1509

The cloth trade

• 90% of value of English exports- flourished last quarter 15th

• H7 reign- increase ≈ 60% volume cloth exports

• Shift from Merchants of the Staple shipping raw wool to finished cloth- development of ways to supplement agrarian income- weaving/dyeing

• Prosperous cloth towns e.g. Lewes vs. decay of historic towns e.g. Winchester when industry moving to newer, smaller manufacturing centres

• Merchant Adventurers exporting finished cloth- London commercial dominance, commercial axis with Antwerp

• Merchant Adventurers powerful- voice of the industry, negotiation on trade treaties BUT couldn’t overcome privileges of Hanseatic League- sacrificing English commerical imterests for overreactive foreign policy

Other industries

• other industries couldn’t compete with Europe e.g. German metallurgy, Spanish shipbuilding

• most industry small-scale for basic necessities of life e.g. weaving, brewing

• Mining- more capital investment but small-scale- Kent 1496 blast furnace for Iron

• Coal in Newcastle- growing demand for fuel

Economic developments

• little evidence to estimate prosperity/depressuin

• prices and wages fairly steadu

• 1490s- decline in export price of wool/animal products 1490s- decreased farming profitability/ rise in real wages for domestic consumers

• building workers + agricultural labourers best off they would be as Tudors

• 1490-99 purchasing power of agricultural labourer 104 vs 71 1540-49

How did industry change?

POSITIVE

• Merchant Adventurers increased commercial dominance

• Comercial axis with Antwerp

• Increase in 60% of volume of cloth export

• Shift to finished cloth creates part-time work

• Prosperity of cloth towns e.g. Lewes

NEGATIVE

• Some historic towns suffering e.g. Winchester

• Henry sacrificing commercial interest for foreign policy- Hanseatic League, trade embargo

• other industries couldn’t compete with Europe

How did agriculture change?

POSITIVE

• Increased profitability- sheep farming for wool

• 90% of population- employment

• Open-field husbandry- common rights for peasants

NEGATIVE

• Enclosures beginning to appear

• decreased profitability in arable lands

• violent price flcutuations- volatile harvests

• overall no significant change

How did living standards change?

POSITIVE

• prices and wages fairly steady, prosperity for agricultural/building labourers

• rise in real income for domestic workers

NEGATIVE

• 1490s- decreased profitability in farming

What was the significance of the Church to English people?

• central to lives- parish church centre of religious experience- festivals provided enjoyment

• guilds + confraternities- promoted charity, people could contribute to their local community

• social elites could maintain power- emphasis on obedience and the good of the community

• some could politically advance themselves- Wolsey

What was the function of the Church and churchmen?

• political role internationally + domestically- People held power e.g. Henry seeking papal dispensation for marriage

• Erastian- State had authority over the church- papacy had no objection to Henry’s use of Church wealth to reward churchmen in high office

• 2 archbishops, 17 dioceses- some had considerable wealth

• Senior clergy often political power e.g. John Morton, Richard Fox

• Clergymen monopolised some offies of state- Henry highly valued legal and administrative competency

Religious community, belief and services

• church provided structure to community life- shaped individual’s thoughts, behaviour and actions

• 7 sacraments (Catholic)- people submitting to Church authority at important moments

• Only priests had access to the Bible- LATIN

• Purgatory escaped through sacraments + faith in God

• fear of eternal damnation

What was the social role of the Church?

• largely lay peole who paid for objects in services

• dying often left money- reduce purgatory, enhance beauty, rememrance for benefactor- left for foundation of chantries where Masses for dead souls- intercession

• Confraternity- charity works, providing for funeral costs, socialise- some ran almshouses, maintained infrastructure

• Charity combined with community- church-ale festivals

Pilgrimage

• again could reduce time in purgatory

• visiting saints’ tobs/ reported visitations

• evidence Thomas Becket Canterbury losing popularity- increased criticism of pilgrimage but vast number of sites so pilgrimage exuberant

• Rogationtide- whole community walked across community to ward off spirits- parish key focus of local community

• increased importance of individual RE

Monastic orders

• 1500- 1% of adult men monks- 900 religious communities across country

• Benedictines- many B houses large, some also operated as cathedrals of diocese- monks in larger houses often wealthier

• (also Cisterians + Carthusians- more remote rural areas)- monks often recruited from localities

• Nunneries- less prestige- mostly women deemed unsuitable for marriage

Anticlericalism: The Lollards/ Heresy

• Lollardy- founded by John Wycliffe late 14th century

• Emphasis on understanding Bible- wanted translation to English, sceptical of transubstantiation, considered CathChurch corrupt

• Considered heretical, found in southern England- wanig popularity- geographically restricted

• Anticlericalism- opposition to Curch’s role in non-religious matters- likely widespread but specific outbursts rare, most laity supported priests

Humanism

• development of the Renaissance

• concerned with reliable Latin and Greek translations to purify ideas of religious texts- intellectual

• political, economic and religious- Xian humanism = when this approach applied to biblical texts

Erasmus + More + Colet

ERASMUS

• grew up religious, intellectual academic ability

• emphasis on personal relationship with God instead of restrictive orders

• Influenced by European Renaissance ideas

• scholar- intellectual movement

• humanaspects of religion, Catholic Church too focused on order

MORE

• childhood- spent some time in John Morton’s household (so was in H8’s time but shaped by H7 church)

• acholar, close to Erasmus but devout Catholic- heavily opposed to Henry’s split with Rome

JOHN COLET

• believed Bible only route to holiness, attacked abuses and idolatry in church- anticipated Reformation

Developments in education

• elementary education for the very young- “song schools” and “reading schools”

• 53 new grammar schools 1460-1509- limited access, geographically dependent unless wealthy

• Uni- Oxford and Cambridge- Cambrifge new colleges- Margaret Beufort Christ’s and St John’s

Developments in drama

• most popular art form

• plays sometimes with church-ale festivals, troupes toured country

• mystery plays at feasts of Corpus Christi- festive occasions

• moral and religious messages- connection of church and festivity

Developments in music

• local → cathedral level enjoyment of music

• ‘renaissance’ of music- polyphonic choral music

• 2 important composers had close links with Henry’s politics- Thomas Browne in Earl of Oxford’s household, Robert Fayrfax benefited from h7 and MB’s patronage

Developments in art & architecture

• high level of building/rebuilding parish churches#

• Gothic perpendicular style- traditions of northwest Europe

• printing- new industry- focused on medieval culture- Cacton’s printing press Chaucer

• by 1509, Humanist influences reaching England

Evaluation: Henry’s character + experience

STRENGTHS

• Experience- growing up in Brittany courts- training, wisdom

• Hardworking, careful- direct control, ending bastard feudalism

• Administrative skill

WEAKNESSES

• Experience- not raised to be a king

• Paranoia → miserliness

• Hostility from the nobles

Evaluation: Henry’s consolidation

STRENGTHS

• Creation of dynasty- 23.5 years and uncontested succession of son

• Continuation of many policies creates stability

• Propaganda/ tradition e.g. coronation

• Putting down rebellions shows force

WEAKNESSES

Evaluation: Henry’s interpersonal skills

STRENGTHS

• Can limit the power of the nobility- creates stability, banning retaining

• Successful foreign policy- relative peace, avoids costly war- restraint, intelligence

WEAKNESSES

• Harshness towards nobility→ isolation

• Excessive fining- bonds and recognisances, Council Learned

• Constant threat of pretenders- domestic or foreign support

• Prioritising foreign policy can sacrifice domestic interests

• Overly reliant on small group- untrusting, advisors v. unpopular

Evaluation: Henry’s finance

STRENGTHS

• restraint- prudence, direct involvement, careful spending

• Chamber System- efficient, signs each page of account book

WEAKNESSES

• increasingly avaricious

• money-grabbing Empson + Dudley- 2 taxation rebellions

Evaluation: Henry’s government

STRENGTHS

• Focus on Royal Household- centralised power, Privy Chamber

• Wise use of parliament- made to pledge alleigance

• Strengthened lower gentry- made into JPs

• Control of enemies, compromise- Earl of Surrey into N, had no lands there

• Public image of court as extravagant- popular

WEAKNESSES

• Increasing reliance on Empson and Dudley

• Increasing demands for extraordinary revenue, had to be blocked by Parliament

• Dependence on fining- Crown lands, feudal dues

• Health declining increases erratic decisions, hostility

Evaluation: Henry’s change/ initiative

STRENGTHS

• Initiative- responsive to threat of pretenders- travelling to York, foreign policy

• Creates stability, continuing existing policies e.g. just increasing bonds and recognisances

• focus on continuation rather than innovation to ensure strength of rule

• initiative in royal finance

WEAKNESSES

• Cost of weakening the peerage- unpopularity, decreased stability on throne

• decreased control at a local level

• changes secured technically but weakened socially

• ll attempted changes successful e/g/ HRE

• laying foundation for future change rather than implementing change himself

3 main strengths, 3 main weaknesses

STRENGTHS

• Careful + direct control to stabilise throne

• consistency

• successfully reactive instead of too proactive

WEAKNESSES

• Paranoia + distrust- increased throughout reign

• Avarice

• Too small trusted circle- created problems when betrayals e.g. WIlliam STanley 1495