Pilgrimage of Grace

Assessing the level of threat
1. The numbers of rebels involved
2. The geographical extent of the rebellion
3. Role of the local gentry and nobility
4. The rebel's demands
5. The ability of the govt to respond to the threat
Causes
1. Dissolution of the Monasteries
  1. The rebels tried to restore 16/55 monasteries
  2. Feared the social and economic consequences of the dissolution - pilgrim's ballads in 1536 suggest this
2. Wider social and economic concerns in the north of England
  1. Pontefract Articles complained about enclosure, unfair rises in rent and the corrupt activity of the local officials
  2. Asked for remission from the 1534 subsidy
3. Views of members of clergy that joined the rebellion are also reflected in the articles in complaints about govt attacks on trad privileges of the Church - e.g benefit of clergy
4. Leader - Robert Aske (educated lawyer) able to convey the rebel's concerns clearly - encouraged idea of a pilgrimage
  1. But, rebels actions clearly show the majority of complaints were due to religious changes enforced by the govt
    1. Wanted an end to the heresies of Luther, the restoration of the powers of the pope and the reversal of the dissolution of the monasteries
Level of threat
1. By Oct 16, the rebellion in East Riding had attracted 10,000 followers and the rebels were able to take over the city of York
2. Oct 19 - captured the port of Hull and Pontefract Castle
  1. Lord Darcy persuaded to join them
3. East Yorkshire rebels making great gains - North Riding of Yorkshire also rose up
  1. Support from leading members of the local nobility and gentry, Lord Latimer and Sir Christopher Derby
4. North Yorkshire rebels captured Barnard's Castle before meeting up with Aske's rebels in York
5. Rebels rising up in Westmorland and Cumberland
6. 30,000 rebels at peak
  1. Well trained fighters with military experience against Scotland
7. By late Oct, 9 well-armed and organised rebel hosts
8. Only region they were less successful in was Lancashire as the Earl of Derby stayed loyal to Henry - given huge powers
9. Began on the 10th Oct in the East Riding of Yorkshire
  1. Connected with Lincolnshire rising - were communicating with them as early as 2nd Oct
  2. Leader Robert Aske has been involved in the Lincolnshire RIsing
Events and Govt supression
1. Duke of Suffolk still restoring order in Lincolnshire and Henry had sent his second army home
  1. Rebels had 3 weeks to gather and prepare a strategy
  2. Situation made worse by the many northern gentry that had joined
2. 23rd Oct, the Duke of Norfolk and the Earl of Shrewsbury marched north with an army of 8,000 men
  1. Outnumbered by rebels - little choice but to negotiate
    1. Norfolk sent a letter to the rebels asking for a meetings
      1. Aske agreed and a meeting took place 27th Oct.
        Rebels presented a list of five articles and it was agreed that two representatives would take it to the king and that a truce would be called
        Henry initially wants to write an angry response but Norfolk persuades him to offer the rebels further negotiations in the hope that their momentum would decline
        Rebels accepted offer and drew up a second set of 24 complaints to give to Norfolk
        Second meeting between rebels and Norfolk at Doncaster on 6th Dec - rebels ask for King's pardon, Norfolk able to grant, together with a promise of a parliament and further negotiations on the fate of the monasteries
        But, King no intention of keeping his agreement
        Former rebels realise Henry's plans - Jan 1537, there was a short unsuccessful rising led by Sir Francis Bigod and a former pilgrim, John Hallam, who briefly captured Beverley (East Yorkshire)
        Renewed unrest in West Riding of Yorkshire, Cumberland and Westmorland - put down near Carlisle
        Unrest gave Henry an excuse to punish the rebels - 144 executed including Aske, Sir Thomas Percy, Bigod and Hussey
        Longer term response - Henry reorganised the Council of the North
        Resentment of his policies continued in the north - In 1541, there was a plot to kill the president of the council of the North and capture Pontefract castle - quickly discovered and put down by the council itself

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Pilgrimage of Grace

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	Created by Poppy B about 7 years ago