Gentry

"Nobilitas Minor", Knights of the Shire and Squires. Under the Tudors the gentry developed into the backbone of the country. The special system of "Squirearchy" made sure that morals, religion, politics, the law and the organisation of the military often could be found in one hand: that of the local squire. James II tried to meddle with the strong basic structure of local government in his policy of re-Catholicising England. This, together with the Seven Bishops' Case, brought the gentry against him and led to the events usually known as the "Glorious" Revolution.