How did Somerset deal with economic and social issues in England?

What had increased under Henry VIII?

Rate of inflation - marked reduction in real wages especially for those of the lower pay spectrum

Why had the rate of inflation increased under Henry VIII?

• population increase from 1525 - more food needed, rich richer, poor poorer

• agriculture prices had raised - growth in engrossing

• debasement of the coinage created a short-term artificial bloom in 1544 & 1545 - causing inflation & impacted real wages

• growing number of unemployed

• more homelessness: engrossing

• impact of enclosure - could not be managed even 1534 legislation to limit sheep ownership was ineffective

How did Somerset follow in Henry VIII’s legacy in terms of his economic policies?

continuing of Henry VIII’s legacy of debasing the coin - fund war against Scotland

• raised £537,000 heightened inflammatory pressure and added social issues

What happened in 1548 which led to more pressure on Somerset?

poor harvest

What are 3 economic factors which helped bring about discontent during Somerset’s period of rule?

• inflationary pressure

• agrarian issues - particularly enclosure & harvest failures

• taxation

Who influenced Somerset’s social and economic policies?

John Hales

How did John Hales influence Somerset’s social and economic policies?

claimed enclosure was the root cause of many of the countries social and economic problems

What did Somerset do, similar to Wolsey, about enclosure?

agreed to set up a commission to investigate the problem - issues a proclamation against enclosure

What was the outcome of Somerset’s commission against enclosure?

enclosure commissioners were duly appointed, but little was achieved

• only raised expectations of the poor and annoyed landowners

despite controversy - rate of enclosure seemed to have slowed down

How did taxation cause discontent amongst England under Somerset?

money raised to pay for Scottish war - mostly financed by land sales and borrowing

• added long-term problems of crown finances

How did the Taxation for the Scottish War increase the amounts of enclosure?

perceived that profits which could be gained by converting land from arable to pasture used to graze large flocks of sheep

• provide wool and cloth for the export markets

What did Somerset introduce to try to solve the problem of enclosure?

Sheep tax

When did Somerset introduce his Sheep tax?

March 1549

What was Somerset’s intention with the introduction of a Sheep tax?

intended to deter the conversion of arable land to pasture - as well as enclosure and driving out the poor: application made some social sense

• e.g. East Midlands proved a significant burden to hill farmers who struggled to make a living from sheep farming on highlands such as Exmoor and Part moor