AS. Miles - 3. The significance and threat from protest and disorder Flashcards
The causes of rebellion and unrest
Political
-Dynastic issues and the succession.
-Evil advisors
-Factions
-Government intervention in England and Ireland.
Economic and social
-Inflation and social issues
-Taxation
-Enclosures
religious
-Catholic reaction to Protestant reformation.
-Protestant reaction to slow and inadequate protestant reforms.
How do we determine whether a rebellion was a success or a failure?
-Length of the rebellion.
-Proximity to London.
-degree of noble and gentry support.
-extent of rebellions provincialism.
-Military and financial backing.
-Size of popular support.
-Quality of leadership and organisation.
-Government action - suppression or different approach?
What forces of authority were there?
Formal (refers to the crown)
Royal officials:
- Lord Lieutenants – responsible for assembling local armies for the crown (Also – Sheriffs and JPs).
Yeoman of the guard:
- 400 man private army of the crown. All other private armies banned under Henry VII.
Mercenaries:
- Foreign fighters could be called by the crown in times of emergency.
Informal (imagery)
The crown would try to assert power through the scale of palaces, ceremonies and coinage.
The church
-Would relay the monarch’s messages
-Reinforced the ‘great chain of being’.
Reasons for protest
Elites and non-elites.
Non- elites
-These were typically the lower classes, mostly those who didn’t own their own land and would rebel with societal influence.
-There was the normal discontent that would be felt by the most poor people at the wealthier people above them in the great chain.
-Many were upset at the lack of boost in wage.
-Population increase = food prices increased which exacerbated already rife discontent.
-Same thing as the abovementioned with rent.
-Hungry people would be far more inclined to rebel.
Elites
-These were landed people, typically the nobility who would get upset over religious or political changes.
-Their main rebellion was the Wyatt rebellion and the Ketts rebellion.
-Political reasons were usually down to internal power struggles.
-Succession debates could lead to rebellion.
-Religious issues led to rebellion too.
-Upset at Mary’s catholic reformation, protestant nobles rebelled, led by Wyatt.
-Vice versa for Elizabeth’s religious settlement and the northern earls rebellion.
The Pilgrimage of Grace
Causes of POG.
Dissolution of the Monasteries – According to Aske this was the ‘greatest cause’. Rebels demanded the restoration of the monasteries.
Defence of the Faith – The rebels demanded the rooting out of heresy.
Food shortages and agrarian issues – Poor harvests in 1535 and 1536. Other agricultural issues including enclosures and rack-renting.
…pt2
Taxation – Hostility to Cromwell’s initiative of taxing in times of peace.
Opposition to Cromwell’s policies – ‘evil genius’. The Treason Act, Royal Supremacy and heresy all seen as Cromwell’s work.
Aristocratic feud – nobility waned to increase their power. Angry and resentful of the position of Cromwell and Anne Boleyn.
Religious causes
-Concern about the work of three government commissioners (rumours that they were after gold,
jewels etc).
-Dissolution of Monasteries.
-Break with Rome.
Social causes
-Enclosure.
-Taxes on sheep and cattle.
-Entry fines.
-Local effect of dissolution.
-Poor harvests.
-Rack-renting.
Economic causes
See Social causes.
-Statute of Uses (Tax on aristocratic landed
inheritance).
Political causes
-Removal of evil advisors in Cromwell, Cranmer and Riche.
-Restoration of Mary’s legitimacy.
Events of the POG
-The rising began at Louth and spread across Lincolnshire. Government commissioners were present in the county dissolving the smaller monasteries, collecting subsidy, inspecting clergy and enforcing religious changes.
-News of the rising in Lincolnshire soon spread to Yorkshire and other areas of the north and a series of regional armies or ‘hosts’ under the leadership of the lawyer, Robert Aske, soon assembled.
-The rebels were able to seize York and then Lord Darcy handed over Pontefract Castle.
-The size of the rebel ‘hosts’ was far larger than the army Henry sent north. He sent the Duke of Norfolk to negotiate with them.
…pt2
-He asked them for their demands which were drawn up and given to Norfolk.
-Henry offered a general pardon, a parliament to discuss the issues and a truce.
-Aske insisted that the monasteries must not be closed before parliament met. This was agreed and the rebels dispersed.
-Suspicious of this agreement, Sir Francis Bigod to raise another force in early January 1537. This collapsed quickly and he was arrested in Cumberland, where another group had started to attack Carlisle.
-This gave Henry the excuse he needed. Many who were involved were rounded up and executed, including Aske. Death toll reached 178.
How serious a threat was it? - yes
10,000 people joined Lincolnshire rising.
30,000 joined Aske for Pilgrimage of Grace.
Lord Darcy handed over Pontefract castle, the
most important fortress in the North).
Aske provided disciplined leadership. Government were caught off guard.
Support from nobility (Thomas Percy).
No
Aske ensured that all goods were paid for and no murders were committed.
How was it defeated? - Poor leadership - yes
Lincolnshire: Gentry ran for cover and commons collapsed into confusion when Suffolk approached. Sir Francis Bigod’s hare brained scheme to capture Hull and Scarborough was doomed to failure.
Poor leadership - no
Aske provided disciplined leadership.
Government action - yes
Henry wisely played for time, sending delegations to meet the rebels Mass retribution was carried out by Henry after Bigod’s rising.
Government action - no
The government were caught off guard.
Overall main causes.
Defence of the faith
Dissolution of the monasteries
Enclosures and food shortages
Thomas Cromwell’s influence
Gentry aspirations
Overall reasons for failure
Unwillingness to use force against the king
False promises and manipulation by the king
Naivety of the rebels
