Amicable Grant

Question 1

what was the context of this rebellion ?

Answer 1

.administrative change (religious change and tax)
. Scottish was and desired a war with France
. 4 subsidy taxes in the run up to the AG, raising 260,000 in forced loans and raised 800,000 overall
. Taxes were not sanctioned by parliament and therefore harder to justify - links with More dependence on MPs to pass through laws
. 12% Reduction in income and 60% increase in food prices

Question 2

what kind of support and leadership did the rebellion have ?

Answer 2

.No noble or gentry leader - commons asked of their leader, to which they named poverty

. non-violent tax rebellion

.sympathy form royal council , and Suffolk and Norfolk wrote to the King telling him of the commons grievances

. 4000 at least

Question 3

what is the narrative of the rebellion ?

Answer 3

. Rebellion escalated quickly across Essex, Kent, Norfolk etc

.4000 riot in Lavenham and dukes of norfolk and suffolk sent to out down rebels, but failed

. burnt bridges to stop rebels and 60 rebels stopped at Bury St Edmunds - dukes appeal to the king and refuse to fight

. King reversed grant , and maintains that he was not aware the extent of it - blame to Wolsey

.

Question 4

what increased the threat of this rebellion ?

Answer 4

.Suffolk and Norfolk would not attack the commons, and were originally outnumbered
. cross class - clergy , leity , commons )
. rising fueled itself once began and spread quickly - kent ,norfolk, essex, warwickshire
.Government backed down and rebel resistance increased - threatening government authority
. London would not pay taxes and Wolsey halved them
. Henry’s authority undermined - royal council and dukes sympathetic

Question 5

what was the government response ?

Answer 5

Writing letters to JPS, and demanding that they deal with rebels, or nobles had to

. Did not give into negotiation, and used propaganda eg. said the tax was a gift giving exercise for war , and maintained that Henry did not know of the tax as was not passed through council

. Dukes burn Bridges

. London grant halved

. Wolsey proposes that grant is paid on affordability rather than fixed rate

Question 6

what reduced the threat?

Answer 6

. Two tax rebellions had taken place under Henry VII already, and therefore there was a good understanding of tax rebellions and governments were kept updated , and concessions could be made before battle

. Norfolk and Suffolk took grievances to the King and persuaded him of the need to act quickly

. Henry was increasingly dependant on clerical councillors, and could blame grievances, therefore, on Wolsey - no direct threat to the crown