Hello everyone and welcome back to the history of England, episode 70, Lord's Knife's

Gentry. Last time we had a bit of a rambling chat about the magnates and some of the things

that were important to them and so completely fell off the plan. A few weeks ago we looked at the

economic changes in the countryside from the point of view of the peasantry, so now I'm going

to look at it from the point of view of the aristocracy. Then we'll take a look at some of the broader

changes that impact the aristocracy in the period, namely the developments of bastard feudalism

and the first sign of the emergence of that most English of institutions, the gentleman.

Okay, so two principles in mind before we get into it, at risk or indeed the recent certainty of

repeating myself. Number one, land is king, the ultimate source of wealth, power and security.

And number two, price inflation throughout the century, which means fixed rents are bad,

therefore take the mainland back into direct management. Just to put price inflation into context,

over the period grain prices grew by something like 50%. Point number one has an important

political and social angle as well as economic. Everyone is out there in a massive bonfire trying

to get themselves land. So the 13th and early 14th century includes a rather brutal competitive

dance where everybody is at it from puffed up magnate to scaperous peasant. The magnates of course

having power and influence already are in the best position and grab up land pretty well.

In particular they buy a debt. Eleanor of Provence, wife of Henry III does exactly the same thing.

They buy up the debt for knights and peasants from Jews in particular but also by lending directly.

And then if anyone steps out of line, Wambam, thank you Sam, I'll be having that land please.

This most certainly doesn't make the magnets popular. Eleanor of Provence dies unregretted

by pretty much everyone who's not called Henry or Edward. But then none of the magnates were

interested in a popularity contest. So no doubt these magnates were deeply cultured,

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