Aspects in Depth: Challenges to Authority - Agrarian Discontent: Kett's Rebellion, 1549.

Question 1

Outline the causes of Kett’s rebellion, 1549..

Answer 1

• enclosure = resentment, increased by engrossing and rack-renting
• 1533 Sheep and Farms Act = 2400 sheep; ineffective
• commonwealth mean advocated social reform and influences somerset to introduce commissions into village enclosure
• need for more land in tillage, pressure and hardship
• debasement
• commissions faced obstruction
• somerset started destroying illegal enclosures, so peasants believed he was on side and the gentry felt alienated

Question 2

How great a threat did Kett’s rebellion pose?

Answer 2

• set up secure base at Mousehold heath, 16,000 strong
  -gove resources stretched
• rebels overcame Marquess of Northampton and royal army
• absence of Norfolk to diffuse
• rebels peaceful, organised and used writs and commissions to undermine gov and gain support
  BUT
• no match for Warwick
• made mistake of fleeing to Dussindale = easier to defeat