3.5 - Agrarian discontent: Kett's rebellion 1549 Flashcards
1
Q
What were the rebels’ initial reactions to Warwick?
A
rebels were reluctant to accept this but were prepaWilling to negotiate and offer pardon to everyone but Kettred to welcome Warwick’s messengers into their camp
2
Q
What did the gov messenger encourage to take place in Norwich after 21st July 1549?
A
->mayor and city fortified against rebels -> rebels also acquiring weaponry - hauled cannons in from coast 22 July, rebels offered mayor a truce, council refused, provoked a successful full-scale attack by rebels, led to capture of the mayor. Rebels withdrew to safety of the camp at Mousehold
3
Q
Who was Edward VI’s ‘protector’?
A
Duke of Somerset -> protector of Edward, 11 years old when rebellion broke out
->Somerset Henry’s uncle acted as guardian and regent -> made decisions for the country on Edward’s behalf
4
Q
What was the medieval premise for the use of land, for agriculture?
A
Open-field system of agriculture -> land divided between inhabitants of a village and used for subsistence farming of crops and animals
->Common land was used by all, animals could graze
5
Q
What industry acted as motivation for enclosure?
A
cloth trade, sheep = necessary
->sheep farming needed little man power brought in large profits and led to large-scale enterprises
6
Q
Example of a sheep-farming enterprise?
A
Sir William Fervour of Norfolk, owned 17,000 sheep
7
Q
What was enclosure?
A
erecting walls or hedges which ‘enclosed’ an area of land for the landlord’s use -> practice since 15th century. Some landlords enclosed village common lands, which affected the poorest members of a community, most reliant on land to graze their animals. Led to a knock on effect, common grazing provided manure for the village crops, without this, it was hard to grow food to survive
8
Q
What was engrossing?
A
Amalgamating two or more farms, buildings on these farms, left to decay, while former occupants were forced to move elsewhere
9
Q
What was rack-renting?
A
Practice by landlords of rapidly increasing rents so that the tenants, unable to pay, could be evicted, helped landlords to increase their profits
10
Q
Who were the most vulnerable to enclosures?
A
Copyhold tenants -> leases most open to challenge
-> the landless, reliant on the common lands for survival - most likely to be forced out of homes and into poverty
11
Q
Who were contemporary thinkers that opposed enclosure?
A
Thomas More and John Hales -> blamed enclosure for social problems
12
Q
What did the opposition from contemporary thinkers to enclosure lead to?
A
led to gov action against enclosure
13
Q
When and what did Wolsey do to try and prevent enclosure?
A
1517, Wolsey issued a commission of inquiry into illegal enclosures
14
Q
What was the Sheep and Farms Act?
A
1533 -> tried to restrict number of sheep kept per farmer to 2,400
-> engrossing allowed but max two farms
15
Q
When was a tax on sheep introduced?
A
March to November 1549
16
Q
What was the aim of the speech?
A
introduced to attempt to restrict the size of flocks and discourage landlords from turning to sheep farming
17
Q
What were entry fines?
A
Fixed sum paid to owner by tenant of property to renew tenancy
18
Q
What was enclosure like in East Suffolk, North West Suffolk and North Norfolk?
A
attitudes to enclosures ambiguous -> tension heightened when landlords challenged tenants enclosures.
19
Q
What was enclosure like in central Suffolk and south east Norfolk?
A
landlords often the ones enclosing tenants’ land
20
Q
What was fold course?
A
Allowed landlords to use their tenants’ land and the common land to graze their sheep
->Led to tenants enclosing arable lands to protect from landlord’s sheep
21
Q
Who were the commonwealth-men?
A
Group of thinkers -> often politicians, clergymen and intellectuals with a strong reformer faith, (criticised enclosure)
22
Q
What were the commonwealth men’s opinion on enclosure?
A
Saw it as public nuisance and fundamental source of poverty -> causing unemployment and vagrancy that plagued the Tudor period
23
Q
What did the commonwealth-men want to create?
A
->social reform should happen for good of the commonwealth, not advocating for social equality
->Aimed to create a ‘Godly commonwealth’ wealthy had duty to look after poor, creating a more Christian society
24
Q
Why were the ideas of the commonwealth men significant?
A
-Somerset was influenced by their thinking, introduced commissions/an enquiry into illegal enclosures
-rebels heard of the men’s belief and this influenced their aims and actions in 1549 (when rebelling)
25
What was the main cause of poverty in the 15th century?
Population growth = more pressure on job market, wages fell and prices rose, as demand and inflation rose
26
How much did the population grow by between 1525 and 1551?
Grew from 2.3 million to 3 million
27
How did population growth affect the food supply?
larger population = greater demand for food, hard to ensure adequate food supply
->greater demand for food = rapid price rises = more pressure on the land which was needed to grow more crops -> increased usage of land, even greater push to outlaw enclosure
28
How did population growth affect the job market?
increased competition for jobs and more unemployment -> unemployed reliant on charity or 'poor relief'
->those who were unable to find work often turned to vagrancy or begging
29
When was the Vagrancy Act introduced?
1547
30
What did the Vagrancy Act aim to tackle/do?
punished vagrants severely, led to the growing resentment felt by the poor
31
When were there poor harvests?
1545 and 1549 -> exacerbated food shortages and rising prices
32
What was the debasement of coinage?
-> gold and silver of coinage melted down and mixed with less expensive metals -> mixture used to make more coins, used for war with France
33
Why did debasement devalue the British currency?
-> quick and easy way for gov to raise money = economic problems
-> mixed metals in coinage, reduced confidence in British currency, merchants put up prices and inflation worsened.
34
Who did Somerset appoint to oversee government reform?
John Hales, 1548-9, Hales tried to introduce a series of bills encouraging social and economic reform
35
What was the only success of Hales?
sheep tax, 1549
36
Were Hales' bills successful?
all the bills failed as parliament represented the landed elite, profited the most from enclosures and sheep farming
37
What were the 1548 commissions?
Hales and Somerset issued a series of commissions that enquired into illegal enclosures
38
Why did the commissions fail?
-didn't have the power to order illegal enclosures to be taken down or punish those involved
-June 1548, commissioners appointed
-only one commission went ahead, in Midlands led by Hales, little evidence of illegal enclosure
39
Who were the nobles targeted by the illegal enclosures commissions?
Thomas Howard, Duke of Norfolk and John Dudley, Earl of Warwick
40
Why did Somerset's additional enclosures commission in 1549 fail?
Commissioners told that illegal enclosures should be destroyed -> however order was illegal, wasn't in terms of the commission set out in 1548
41
What impact did the commissions have on encouraging rebellion?
-commons of England thought Somerset was on their side -> Somerset embraced Godly commonwealth
-portrayed as the 'Good Duke' -> enclosures commission only further compounded this -> sent message to rebels that he would condone action taken against those breaching enclosure laws
42
How did the commission anger the nobility/landed gentry?
-> target of the commission usually group were first line of defence against rebellion -> Somerset reliant on group for support in the government of his country
43
Why was the support of the Duke of Somerset from the commons a threat to him?
isolated Somerset from the rest of landed elite -> encouraged a rebellion that would spiral out of control
44
What was the Western Rising?
First serious rebellion to break out in 1549 -> took place in Devon and Cornwall
45
What was the cause of the Western Rising?
local resentment over introduction of a new English Book of Common Prayer -> conservatives of South West resented
46
Why was the Western Rising difficult to put down?
-Some gentry joined rebellion
-gov forces already overstretched, worsened by Somerset not taking it seriously
-Western rebels able to march to Exeter, army didn't relieve until 6 August 1549
47
When were the Western Rising rebels finally defeated?
finally defeated until battle at Sampford Courtenay 16 August, 4,000 rebels killed
48
What ddi the Western Rising mean for Kett's?
rebellion, at opposite end of the country made it hard for the gov to respond to Kett's rebellion
49
What was the duration of the Western Rising
Began in June 1549, ended on 16 August.
50
What were the origins of Kett's rebellion?
-Social and economic crises of late 1540s and in 1549
-riots against illegal enclosure of common land broke out, spread quickly through Essex into East Anglia
51
What happened on the 1st July 1549?
meeting called by Somerset at Windsor Castle, to discuss rebellion in West Country -> added unease to commons, feared they would be target of severe gov response
52
Where did Kett's rebellion begin?
Began in market town Wymondham, Norfolk
53
Which events in Wymondham led to the beginnings of Kett's rebellion?
-> local community had met to partake in festivities, traditional feasting -> escalated = Sir John Flowerdew targeted
54
Who was Sir John Flowerdew?
Local landowner -> had tried to destroy the local abbey
55
Who did Flowerdew try and turn the people against?
-tried to turn the people against Robert Kett, landowner who had also enclosed -> Kett sided with the rebels
-tried to turn the people against Robert Kett, landowner who had also enclosed -> Kett sided with the rebels
56
What happened on the 12th July 1549?
Kett rebels set up a camp on Mousehold Heath -> hill overlooking Norwich
57
Why did the rebels focus their attention on Norwich?
->Second largest city in England -> sharp divide between rich and poor
->rebels exploited this to gain sympathy of townspeople,
->important administrative centre, would gain attention of gov
58
How much of Norwich's wealth was owned by 6% of its population?
60%
59
Outside of Norwich, where else were rebel camps set up?
Downham Market (Norfolk), Bury St Edmunds (Suffolk)
60
Why did the rebels not want to recruit the gentry in Kett's rebellion?
landowning elite were the group that they were rebelling against, inviting would contradict their aims
61
Why did Norwich cooperate with Kett and the rebels?
Size of rebel camp at Mousehold meant that Kett had the upper hand in the dealings with town officials
62
How did Norwich cooperate with Kett/rebels?
mayor and city tried to cooperate with Kett, helped provide for the rebel camp by organising the collection of food and supplies
63
When did the arrangement with Norwich continue until?
Arrangement continued until 21 July when gov messenger reached Norwich
64
Was the rebels use of cannons successful?
Before pardons could be offered to rebels -> began to bombard Norwich but... cannons too far to do any damage
65
When did the rebels offer the mayor a truce?
22 July, rebels offered mayor a truce, council refused
66
What did offering the mayor a truce allow for the rebels to do?
provoked a successful full-scale attack by rebels, led to capture of the mayor
67
How did the rebels react to the initial pardon at Norwich?
Refused the pardon -> felt inflamed by it, saw themselves as loyal subjects of Crown, not rebels
68
How did Somerset follow up the refusal of the pardon at Norwich?
Turned to more forceful approach -> sent army under William Parr, the Marquess of Northampton
69
What did Parr's army contain/result?
Italian mercenaries -> use of foreigners to fight provoked the rebels
70
What did William Parr offer upon his arrival in Norwich?
31 July declared a pardon for anyone who would surrender
71
How many rebels took Parr's pardon?
20
72
What did the rebels do instead of surrendering?
rebels launched another attack -> Parr forced to withdraw and remaining local gentry fled
73
How much longer was Norwich in the hands' of the rebels after Parr's retreat?
3 weeks
74
When did Parr arrive in Norwich?
30 July
75
What was Somerset's response to Parr's failure?
Somerset forced to raise a second army -> new army under control of the Earl of Warwick
76
How many men did Warwick's army possess?
12,000 men
77
When did Warwick reach Norwich?
23 August and negotiations began -> offer angrily turned down
78
Who did Warwick offer pardons to?
All rebels but Kett
79
What did the rebels do on the night of the 23rd August?
rebels showed their discontent by raiding carts carrying Warwick's weaponry -> captured guns which they used against his army
80
When/how did Norwich's approach become more hardline?
24 August Warwick entered Norwich -> arrested and hanged some of the rebels - they continued to resist
81
What type of warfare did the rebels wage?
used the narrow streets of Norwich to wage guerrilla warfare, used arson and ambush
82
How many troops were sent to Warwick on the 26 August?
Arrival of 1,000 mercenaries -> provided back up to Warwick who cut off rebels' lines of supply (caused Kett's leadership to waver)
83
Where did Kett move to and what followed for the rebels?
Moved from the hill at mousehold to dussindale, Warwick made final attempt at negotiation on the 27 August
84
How many rebels were killed when Kett was captured?
3,000
85
When was Kett executed for treason?
December 1549
86
What were some of the main reasons/aims of the rebellion?
trigger = resentment over enclosure, coupled with Somerset's 'encouragement'
->rebels demands were result of social/economic difficulties, and resentment towards perceived corruption of East Anglian gentry
87
Why did the locals show anger towards Flowerdew at the beginning of Kett's rebellion?
-anger towards enclosed lands in east Anglia -> represented type of gentry that the commons disliked
-flowerdew = lawyer -> able to use legal skills to gain power locally, upsetting established local community at Wymondham
-Flowerdew = escheator -> allowed him to gain money through bribes... other unpopular gentry also had property attacked
88
What was an escheator?
Oversaw that royal rights/laws were uphold
89
What was an example of violence from the rebels towards the gentry, prior to Kett's rebellion?
Lord Sheffield captured 31 July -> brutally beaten to death
90
Why did Kett's rebels remain mostly peaceful?
Only few outbreaks of violence in Norwich -> Kett careful to keep order between the ranks
91
What did the rebels want to demonstrate through their peaceful tactics?
rebels looked to create a new model for their gov locally -> rebels wanted to demonstrate that they could administer law and order effectively
92
What was the Oak of Reformation?
Members of the gentry who were captured put on trial before Kett under tree
93
what did the Oak of Reformation look to demonstrate?
rebels attempting to show that they could run local government peacefully and effectively without the local gentry
94
What was the most important issue for the rebels besides enclosure (economically)?
Enclosure didn't dominate complaints -> more important issue = abuse of fold course
->anger directed at sheep farmers... resented larger landlords' power/lack of respect of the rights of villagers
->also complaining about rising rents
95
What were the rebels' social grievances, that sparked Kett's rebellion?
The rebels wanted an end to corrupt gov by local gentry (such as escheator and feodary) accused of using corruption, demanded officers involved in this should pay four pence per day of the rebellion. Suggested that local gov officials should be chosen by the local people
96
What did article 16 and 18 dictate in the demands of Kett's rebels?
16=rebels had sense of responsibility/tradition to look after
poor/vulnerable (Norfolk had misused servants/peasants on estate)
18=Aimed to stop royal officials enquiring into lands of less wealthy landowners, extra expense for landowners (inspired by 1381 rising)
97
What did the rebels' reference to Henry VII suggest?
looking back to when they felt government was more just -> demands also symbolised new radical approach to gov (particularly dangerous for Somerset and the local gentry)
98
What were the attitudes of Kett's rebels towards religion?
rebels = sympathetic towards Somerset's move towards Protestantism... used new book of Common Prayer introduced in 1549
->Some concerns related to clergy and education of local clergy -> Clergy who didn't preach well to be removed
->suggests rebels were concerned that clergymen did not serve communities well or were poorly educated/greedy
99
Why did the rebels not see themselves as traitors?
-> did not seek to completely overthrow gov/change hierarchy... keen to insist they were loyal to Edward - wording of articles reflected this, 'we pray that'
->also didn't look to destroy nobility/gentry, some articles preserved their status -> wanted role within society to change and greater consideration for the commons
100
Why was Kett's rebellion a threat to Somerset's gov?
-Rebellion was large, 16,000 strong at Mousehold
-Gov resources already stretched, due to western rising, forces at opposite ends of the country, gov took longer to gather themselves and their troops
-Rebels saw off professional soldiers that arrived with Marquess of Northampton
-Sent Northampton because DoN was in prison for treason, local gentry lacked leadership
101
How did Kett's organisation help the rebels?
-Well-organised -> sustained large camp for 6 weeks
-Local gov cooperated with rebels -> appeared well organised and peaceful, used same system as central gov, local administrators responded (churchwardens sent money to Mousehold)
-Mousehold = new centre of administration for the region
-success of rival gov, demonstrates how resented gentry were
102
What foreign conflict coincided with Kett's rebellion?
8 August 1549, France declared war on England, putting gov under even greater strain, French started to besiege the English-held town of Boulogne
->Kett's rebellion = complete breakdown of social order, gov powerless most of July and August
103
Why did the rebellion fail?
-didn't want to end system of rank and status, felt they were protecting ruler from corruption
-rebels chose to stay in camp and didn't march on London like the Cornish rebels of 1497, didn't threaten central seat of gov
-Soldiers no match for trained soldiers, Kett made decisions that made rebels vulnerable to attack
-Rebellion put down with ferocity
104
Why did Kett gain so much support?
-Agreed with the rebels that he had illegally enclosed land, volunteered to destroy the fences himself
-An idealist with strong sense of social justice, sided with rebels over local landowners, promised to stay with rebels until they achieved their aims
-charismatic leader, able to persuade rebels to join him, 16,000 strong.
-Possessed skills of persuasion and organisation
105
What did Kett aim to show central government?
Aimed to show that local gov could be run effectively and fairly -> aimed to embarrass gentry and highlight their mismanagement of local affairs
106
What led to the downfall of Kett and the rebellion?
-Warwick cut off rebel supply lines without supplies the rebel camp couldn't survive, Kett begins to panic
-Kett listened to prophecies that the rebels would be victorious at Dussindale
107
How did Edward Seymour rise to power?
-Became Lord Protector of Edward VI when Henry died in 1547
-made himself Duke of Somerset -> rose to power because he was Edward's uncle
-Took on role as protector against Henry's will
108
What significance did the rebellion pose to Somerset?
Protector's power reliant on cooperation of supporters and ability to control Edward -> severely shaken by rebellion
109
What role did Somerset's policies have in the rebellion?
Somerset's policies played key role in creating an atmosphere for rebellion to begin, encouraged Kett's rebels to think that they had gov support
110
How did Somerset like to portray himself to the poor?
Liked to seem like a friend to the commons, anti-enclosure policies etc
111
What court did Somerset set up/impact?
What court did Somerset set up/impact?Set up his own court, where the poor could seek justice, this sent the message to the rebels that he was on their side, his actions therefore alienated the landed elite
112
How did Somerset fuel Kett's rebellion (promises/concessions)?
-Endangered social and political order by negotiating with the rebels and offering them concessions
-Somerset made promises that made him seem sympathetic to rebel complaints
-Enclosures commission reissued, sent message that the gov was supporting rebels over landowners
-Promised rebels that meeting with gov would be moved forward and discussed more quickly, 4 Nov -> 4 Oct
113
How did Somerset make the situation (the rebellion) worse in the summer of 1549?
-Gave mixed signals to Kett's rebels -> appeared to be encouraging them but also trying to end rebellion
-First offered a pardon (rejected) -> had to resort to force
-rebels felt betrayed by Somerset, and violent end down to Somerset's mishandling
114
Why did the failure of the rebellion lead to Somerset's downfall?
Council resented Somerset's power -> blamed him for the serious political/social crises threatening England
->had him arrested and removed from position, replaced by Earl of Warwick
115
Who was John Dudley, the Earl of Warwick?
-experienced military commander
-admiral of the King's navy and served in Henry VIII's wars with Scotland and France
-promoted to Earl of Warwick after supporting Somerset as protector
116
When did the Earl of Warwick turn on Somerset?
turned on him in 1549 and instrumental in removing him from power
117
What was Warwick's attitude to the rebellions and how did this aid him?
-Kept ambivalent attitude -> concerned with securing own position at court
-recognised the threat that rebellions posed to Somerset
-had no desire for rebels to succeed but didn't want to prop up Somerset's position as protector
118
How did Warwick initially respond to the rebels?
-Followed a similar strategy to the Duke of Norfolk in 1537 -> considerable panic when Warwick's army was seen coming
-Willing to negotiate and offer pardon to everyone but Kett
119
What were the rebels' initial reaction to Warwick?
Wary but welcomed his messengers into their camp
120
Who was shot after Warwick began rebel negotiations/what was the impact?
An incident between the rebels and Warwick's troops, resulted in a young rebel boy being shot and killed, this hardened attitudes on both sides, Kett was dissuaded from negotiating with Warwick
121
What did Warwick do following his initial failure?
-Ordered gates of Norwich to be opened -> army opened fire on gates when rebels refused
-Strong army meant he was able to break through city gates, able to overrun the city, captured and executed rebels
-Not native to Norwich, allowed rebels to counter-attack, left much of the city on fire, Warwick and his troops were able to resist
122
How did Warwick succeed in defeating the rebels?
-Helped by the arrival of Swiss mercenaries, and reduction of rebels' supply lines, increasingly desperate
-Kett's rash decision to move from Mousehold hill to Dussindale, offered a final pardon and then Warwick's men charged
123
How many rebels were killed at Dussindale vs. Warwick's men?
3,000 rebels
40 of Warwick's men
124
How many rebels were hanged at the Oak of Reformation, what happened to their bodies?
9 rebels hanged, drawn and quartered at the Oak of Reformation
->heads of these men displayed on city walls -> bodies sent to local communities involved in the rebellion
125
How many rebels was Warwick willing to hang?
49
126
How was Robert Kett treated after capture?
Taken to Newgate jail in London -> paraded through streets of the city
->found guilty of treason to be hanged in London but taken back to Norwich as an example
->Hanged in chains from the walls of Norwich Castle, body left to rot
127
What were some of the peaceful tactics used to face the rebellion?
-Inspired by DoN in 1536
-Somerset reassured through letters that the rebels' pardon was genuine, Warwick restrained local gentry from further violence against the rebels
-Church service held in Norwich post-rebellion, Warwick thanked God for ending the rebellion, propaganda used to persuade people that rebelling was against God
-Thomas Cranmer preached against the rebellion
