Population England 2 million (1520); 4 million (1600). 10% of the population lives in towns, and half of this number is always in London.

Government Absolute monarchy.

Dynasty The Tudors: Henry VII (1485-1509); Henry VIII (1509-47); Edward VI (1547-53); Mary I (1553-58); Elizabeth I (1558-1603).

Note: Edward VI is nine years old when he succeeds his father, Henry VIII, so during his reign England is actually governed by a lord protector, first Somerset (1547-49) and then Northumberland (1549-53).

Religion Catholic until the Reformation in the 1530s, then Protestant until Mary I's reign, during which it is Catholic again, and then reverts back to Protestant during Elizabeth I's reign.

Currency Pounds, shillings and pence. The '£' (a fancy L) is used for pound (from the Latin libra, meaning pound weight), the 's' is used for shilling (an ancient English value) and 'd' is used for penny (from the Latin denarius).

The penny is the basic unit of currency. Twelve pence make a shilling and 20 shillings a pound, with 240 pence to the pound.

A huge variety of coins are in circulation: the royal, a gold coin valued at 10 shillings, introduced by Henry VII; the double royal worth 20 shillings, introduced by Henry VIII; the half laurel worth 10 shillings, introduced by Henry VIII; the angel, a gold coin worth 10 shillings, introduced by Edward IV; gold and silver crowns worth 5 shillings; as well as half angels, half crowns and silver shillings, plus silver sixpences, threepences, groats and farthings.

The coinage is debased by the habit of monarchs reducing the amount of precious metals in the coins.

Forgery The penalties for tampering with coins by cutting off their edges and using the metal to make new coins are severe, but do not stop people from doing it.

What is money worth?

Because of galloping inflation during Tudor times, it's hard to give a good indication of what money is worth in today's terms.

• In times of inflation, some men and women do a day's work for board and lodging, with no payment.

• In the 1550s, a labourer can make 1 shilling a day.

• Poor relief in some parishes is 6 pence a week.

• The staple diet of the poor is a halfpenny loaf of bread, which feeds two people.

• A Tudor soldier's daily rations – if they arrive – are 32oz (910g) of meat, 24oz (680g) of bread, 16oz (455g) cheese and 5 pints (2.8 litres) of beer.

• On 6 January 1508, to mark the end of the 12 days of Christmas, the duke of Buckingham gives a feast for 460 people. The menu includes swans, herons and peacocks, 680 loaves, 260 flagons of ale, 400 eggs, 200 oysters, 12 pigs and 10 sheep. The total cost is £7 – more than a year's pay for a labourer.

• In 1597, the year when the poor are in greatest need because of widespread famine, one courtier lavishes £2,000 on his mistress. And Mrs Ratcliffe, one of Elizabeth I's maids of honour, appears at court wearing a dress of cloth of silver costing £180.

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