Causes of Kett's Rebellion

Question 1

Somerset’s policies

Enclosures

Answer 1

• Landowners began enclosing arable land in the 16th century and turned into pasture for sheep - became so profitable that large landowners enclosed common land. It angered villagers and the poorest members of the community relying on the land to graze their animals.
• Additionally, rack-renting, engrossing and entry fines exacerbated discontent towards landlords.
• Contemporary thinkers like Thomas More and John Hales blamed enclosures for social problems, leading to a govt regulated enclosure.
• March-Nov 1549 = sheep tax introduced to try restrict size of flocks and discourage farmers turning to sheep farming.

Question 2

Somerset’s Commission on enclosure

Answer 2

• Issued proclamations against enclosures and sent commissioners to investigate abuses. Through this, Somerset earned the title of the ‘Good Duke’, supporting the commons against the greed and corruption of the Godly commonwealth and sending a message that rebel actions would be condoned. Also alienated landed gentry and nobility (mistake - they were the first line of defence).
• 1548 - Somerset appointed John Hales to lead a six-member commission to investigate enclosure practices - self-interest gentry landowners blocked them, leading to ugly confrontations in Buckinghamshire where people rioted in support of commissioners harassed by landowners.
• Made matters worse by limiting size of leaseholds and a wool tax - angered landlords and commons couldn’t pay

Question 3

Social and economic crisis

Unemployment and inflation

Answer 3

• Steadily rising population) accompanied by a rise in inflation – living standards declined .
• Work became difficult to find, which led to migration from the countryside to the towns.
• Made worse by the growing instability of the Antwerp cloth market, which led to widespread unemployment among textile workers in East Anglia as cloth was England’s biggest industry.
• Debasement of coinage to meet costs of war with France and Scotland in 1540s.
• Grain prices rose rapidly – worsened by below-average harvests of 1548.

Question 4

Social and economic crisises

The Vagrancy Act 1547

Answer 4

• Harshness of legislation showed little concern for the poor – savage attack on vagrants looking for work, who were seen by the government as a cause of riots and sedition
• New law meant that ny able-bodied person out of work for more than three days was to be branded with a V and sold into slavery for two years - so unpopular that many of the county and urban authorities refused to enforce it.
• Although it also proposed housing and collection for the disabled, this measure damaged Somerset’s reputation for humanitarianism.

Question 5

Desire for a better, local govt

Corruption of local government

Answer 5

• Govt - more concerned with avoiding rebellion than with helping the poor and solving economic problems – supported by three proclamations issued in 1548 aimed specifically at maintaining law and order.
• Rebellion began in Norfolk, which was particularly ill-administrated by its traditional magistrates. Many of the rural ruling classes corruptly abusing their privileges (e.g John Flowerdew was an unpoplar escheator).
• Rebels at Mousehold deliberately careful to govern the area fairly, administrating law and order, at the Oak of Reformation, to demonstrate to central government that local government could be run effectively and fairly.

Question 6

Desire for a better, local govt

Social structure and the role of the gentry

Answer 6

• Rebels demanded local government officials should be chosen by the local people in order to ensure someone honest was chosen – radical demand of the time as officials were nominated by the king.
• Article 18 demanded royal officials stop inquiring into the lands of the less wealthy as this meant extra expense for the landowner.
• Articles 14 and 28 refer to Henry VII’s reign, suggesting the rebels were looking back to a time when they felt government was just.
• Wished for hierarchy to remain, but resented the gentry (especially rabbit wardens) and wanted their role to change, preventing them from exploiting the commons.
• Demands reflected a new radical approach to government which was particularly dangerous for Somerset and local gentry.

Question 7

Religion

Answer 7

• Partly a reaction to the slow rate of progressing Protestantism was making in eastern England. There was a strong feeling ministers were not good enough to advance the reformation and they demanded better educated and resident clergy
• Rebels’ demands suggest that the rebels were particularly concerned that some clergymen didn’t serve their local communities well, and were either poorly educated, greedy or corrupt.