5: Agrarian Discontent: Kett's Rebellion, 1549

Question 1

What were enclosures?

Answer 1

enclosing arable land for sheep farming, angered and affected poorer
members of the community who were reliant on land to graze animals

Question 2

How were the enclosures responsible for the rebellions?

Answer 2

. Problems for copyhold tenants, landless. Rackrenting (increasing rents) and entry fines also exacerbated discontent. 1549 tax on sheep attempted to restrict size of
flocks.
Commonwealth men blamed social problems on enclosures

Question 3

How were somersets policies responsible for rebellions

Answer 3

Somerset issues proclamations against enclosure, earned
title of the “good Duke”, supporting commons against corruption of Godly commonwealth  1548 John Hales leads a sixmember commission to investigate practises.
Limits size of leaseholds, places a tax on wool – alienates and angers landed gentry, outbreak of confrontation/ riots.

Question 4

What were the social economic crisies to blame for the rebelliob

Answer 4

– rising population (2.3 to 3 million between 1525-1551) accompanied by rise in inflation, living standards decline. Work difficult to find, instability of Antwerp cloth market leads to widespread unemployment among
textile workers in East Anglia! Depression has repercussion for country. Debasement of coinage to meet costs of war with France/ Scotland 1540s. Poor harvest of 1548, grain prices rose. 1549 country simmering with discontent, national crisis.
1547 Vagrancy Act – harsh legislation, little concern for the poor

Question 5

How did desire for better govt cause the rebellions

Answer 5

gov more concerned with avoiding riots than helping the poor, three proclamations 1548 aimed at maintaining law and order, ruling classes abusing privileges
John Flowerdew, escheator/ feodary, unpopular for
using power for own gain.
Camp at Mousehold governed fairly e.g. Oak of Reformation, to highlight issues with local government.
Rebels demand local officials chosen by local people. Article 18 stop enquiring into lands of less wealthy. Articles 14 and 28 reign of Henry VII, more just time. Rabbit warrens attacked (represented wealth/ status), demands reflected a new radical approach, gentry to play a different role.
Criticised standard of local clergymen – poorly educated, greedy, corrupt.

Question 6

What was the significance of the support and leadership of the rebellion

Answer 6

/ leadershipWell organised, popular support, sustained rebel camp for six weeks. Seized Norwich – major trading city, 6%owned 60% wealth. Used writs and commissions to persuade officials to co-operate. Strict disciple, government atcamp e.g. gentry tried under Oak of Reformation. Local authorities forced to co-operate e.g. Northampton.
 Mousehold camp was 16,000 strong, other camps at East Anglia and beyond

Question 7

what were failures of the leadership of the rebellions and disadvantages of some aspects of support

Answer 7

Led by commoners not gentry/ nobility – economic rather than political motives
Did not march to London as Cornish rebels had done in 1497 – no threat to central government
Military mistakes of Kett – moved rebel army from Mouseheath to Dussindale

Question 8

What were the strengths of the nature and aims of the rebellions

Answer 8

-Attacked structure of society, challenged role of the gentry! Wanted hierarchy to remain, gentry play different
role. Targeting corruption in society e.g. Flowerdew escheator.
Kett adamant he was not a rebel – did not accept pardons.
 Time of social unrest, economic crisis – weakened central control and loyalty to government/ Crown

Question 9

what were the weaknesses of the nature and aims of the rebelliobs

Answer 9

Loyal subjects – social order was challenged but not broken down, hostile to local gentry of East Anglia but did not resent the social hierarchy, merely wanted gentry to appeal to needs of commons

• ultimately loyal to King, articles had respectful tone
• Focused on agrarian discontent, not direct threat to King

Question 10

what was the government response to the rebellion

Answer 10

Duke of Norfolk had been arrested for treason in 1546 – power vacuum allowed rebellion to gather momentum.
Northampton fails to put down rebel camp e.g. arrives with army of 1,800 men on 30th July but only 20 disperse,
flees at sight of resistance!
 Edward VI was a minor, exacerbated threat. War with Scotland, threat of foreign invasion from France, Western
rebellion in same year…
 23rd August Earl of Warwick John Dudley arrives with 12,000 men, Kett abandons Mousehold health for
Dussindale, Warwick receives 1000 mercenaries, 27th August 3000 rebels killed, November Kett executed for
treason