3.5 Kett's rebellion Flashcards
what is enclosure?
-encorporate small land holdings into larger farm
-area often used for profitable sheep farming
what did commonwealth men believe?
-criticised enclosure
-source of poverty, unemployment and vagrancy
-wanted a godly commonwealth
-ideas influenced rebels aims and actions
how did population growth lead to poverty?
-1525-51, growth from 2.3m to 3m
-less food, high prices, more need for land
-encouraged landlords to enclose- harder for poor
-unemployed vagrancy- 1547 vagrancy act punished them
-turn to sheep farming due to European cloth and wool demand- less manpower- further unemployment
what were Somerset’s commissions on enclosures?
-wanted christian commonwealth due to protestantism
-commissions to inquire into illegal enclosures, but didn’t have power to take them down.
-Somerset allowed ploughing up of illegal enclosures, such as Warwick and Norfolk’s lands.
what were 2 consequences of Somerset’s commissions on enclosures?
- alienated gentry who were first line of defence for rebellion. isolated him from elites.
- commons though he was on their side. seen as “good duke”- supporting them against landlords. message that actions would be condoned by him
how did the rebellion originate?
-1st July- meeting at Windsor drew away local gentry and made commons fear they would be targeted
-began in Wymondham in Norfolk-destroyed enclosures of popular landowner Flowerdew
-Kett sided with rebels and ordered his hedges torn down
-by 12th July- set up camp at Mousehold Heath overlooking Norwich
how did the rebellion gather momentum?
-norwich 2nd largest city so gathered gov attention.
-6% of population owned 60% of land- gained sympathy from townspeople.
-local council cooperated with them and provided food and supplies.
22nd June- successfully attacked Norwich the withdrew to Mousehold heath
what was the response by The Marquess of Northampton?
-government weak position- Norwich under rebel control and refused pardon
-army under Parr had Italian mercenaries- angered rebels that foreigners used against own people
-31st July- declared pardon but only 20 rebels accepted
-rest of rebels launched another attack on Norwich
what was the response by the Earl of Warwick?
-army of 12,000 men arrived 23rd August
-rebels raided carts with Warwick’s weapons
-24th- Warwick arrested and hanged some
-26th- 1000 mercenaries helped
-Kett withdrew to Dussindale
-rebels had no experience against royal army
-kett captured and 3000 rebels killed
what were the rebels actions and demands?
-flowerdew attacks showed resentment and he represented kind of gentry that rebels hated. he was an escheator. they resented abuse of power by gentry
-order within ranks as a new model for government. system of government commissions. trials under “Oak of Reformation”. showed they could run government without local gentry.
what were 3 aspects to the rebels’ petition?
- sheep farmers
- ending corrupt government
- state of religion and the clergy
petition aspect: sheep farming
-landlords’ lack of respect for rights of villagers to common land in their pursuit of profit from sheep farming.
petition aspect: ending government corruption
-e.g. escheators and foedary
-lining their own pockets at the expense of government
-demanded officers should pay 4 pence per day for the rest of the rebellion
-local government officials should be chosen by local people
petition aspect: state of religion and the clergy
-move toward protestantism
-concerned about education of clergy
-any clergymen unable to preach properly should be removed from position
-fears that they were poorly educated at best and corrupt at worst
extent of threat: weakness of Somerset
-stretched resources due to Western Rising other end of country- divided resources
-took long to respond giving rebels time to strengthen
-Norfolk had been arrested 1546 so was absent from his region. local gentry lacked leadership
-allowed rebellion to gather momentum
extent of threat: organisation of rebels
-authorities cooperated and used commission system to supply food
-peaceful and organised, so local administrators responded to requests
-success of rival government form was a threat to traditional hierarchy and showed resentment of gentry
-believed actions were condoned by Somerset
extent of threat: counter
-rebellion put down
-social order didn’t break down
-rebels didn’t want to end the system of rank and status
-stayed in camps and didn’t march to London
-didn’t threaten central seat of government
how was Kett’s leadership and tactics?
-sided with rebels and promised to stay and attack the greed of the gentry
-persuasive and organised- soon led army with 16,000 men
-good order in ranks and moral high ground- orders were obeyed
-court of justice- showed central government that local government could be effectively run.
what were Ketts failures?
-not military- no tactical awareness to deal with royal army
-only had upper hand against Northampton due to defensive position overlooking city
-warwick cut off supplies and Kett listened to prophecies of success at Dussindale
-Dussindale flat with no protection so easy for Warwick to use well trained cavalry
what were Somerset’s negotiations?
-actions encouraged rebels- letters made promises and sympathy to complaints
-1549 enclosure commissions continued- main cause of resentment and showed government supporting them against landlords.
how did Somerset worsen the rebellion?
-gave mixed signals by trying to end it but also encouraging it
-resorted to force and the rebels felt betrayed which increased their determination
-led to his downfall in October 1549
