Depth Study 3 - Agrarian discontent: Kett’s rebellion 1549 Flashcards
How did agrarian discontent lead to ketts rebellion (causes) (2,5)
-The first half of the 16th century saw a rapid growth in the cloth trade, leading to demand for wool
-It thus became more profitable for landlords to switch from arable to sheep
-Sheep farming needed less workers leading to greater unemployment
-Landowners enclosed common land for sheep farming
-Land owners rack-rented (rapidly increasing peasants rent), to force them out
-Without work/land, many peasants left villages to find work and became vagrants/vagabonds
-In many places, peasants rebelled against enclosure
What were the social causes of ketts rebellion (causes) (2,3,1)
-Enclosure was criticised by a group of politicians, clergy and officials
-They saw it not only as a public nuisance, but the fundamental source of poverty, unemployment and vagrancy (it wasn’t)
-In the 1540s, reformers such as government official John Hales, Robert Crowley and Bishop of Lincoln Hugh Latimer wrote about the need for social reform, especially controlling enclosures
-These commonwealth men wanted to create a godly commonwealth, advocating social reform for the good of society
-Protector Somerset (Edward Seymour) was influenced by their thinking to introduce commissions of enquiry into illegal enclosure
-Although many rebels could not read or write, they still heard about the ideas for a more just society and greed of landlords
what were the economic causes of ketts rebellion (causes) (9)
-Enclosure was blamed by many for causing economic problems in tudor society
-Landowners enclosed land for sheep and reduced land used for arable farming for more profits, hurting copyhold tenants and landless, forcing them into poverty
-Rack-renting (rapidly increasing rent prices), entry fines and engrossing (combining farms) all increased poor hardship at the gain of rich
-Population growing from 2.3 million in 1525 to 3 million by 1550 led to more pressure on prices and lower wages
-Increased food supply was needed to cope with higher demand, yet arable farming fell
-Increased unemployment = increased vagrancy = 1547 Vagrancy act, forcing Vagrants to be slaves for 2yrs
-Poor harvests in 1545 and 1549 further increased food shortages and hardship
-Debasement (decreasing value of currency) further increased pressure on prices
-Somerset focused on enclosures rather than the actual problems
What were the political causes of ketts rebellion (causes) (8)
-Duke of Somerset appointed John Hales to oversee socioeconomic reform
-Hales 1548-49 bills failed as parliament represented the landed elite, who supported enclosure
-Hales did introduce a tax on sheep in 1549, and issued a series of commissions to enquire into enclosures, but these didn’t have the power to take down illegal enclosures
-Only one enclosure commission went ahead, in the midlands, but little evidence was found of illegal activity, Hales blaming this on the obstruction of landlords
-Somerset illegally ordered ploughing up illegal enclosures, such as Thomas Howard (Duke of Norfolk) and John Dudley (Earl of Warwick), against the rules of the 1548 commission
-Somerset alienated the landed gentry and nobility, who were the targets of his commission, encouraging a rebellion
-Commons saw Somerset as ‘Good Duke’, who would protect them
-Somerset enclosure commissions encouraged rebels to take direct action to local law branches
What was the western rising (causes) (3,3)
-The 1549 English book of common prayer led to resentment in the religiously conservative south west
-The western rising broke out in June 1549 in Devon/Cornwall, and lasted until August
-Local gentry were overwhelmed, but some joined in
-The Duke of Somerset struggled to quash the rebellion as royal forces were overstretched, already dealing with enclosure riots in the midlands
-Somerset also underestimated the rebels, who were able to besiege Exeter
-Government forced eventually defeated rebels in battle at Sampford Courtenay, where 4,000 rebels were killed
What were the events in the first half of ketts rebellion (ketts) (2,3,3,3_
-Riots against illegal enclosure break out in Norfolk on July 1st, spreading to Essex
-Leading landlords were away at a meeting in Somerset, so these riots were able to gain momentum
-Local community met up at Wymondham, Norfolk, and began to destroy illegal enclosures
-Sir John Flowerdew was facing the anger of the riots, and tried to turn attention to fellow landowner Robert Kett
-However, Kett sided with the rebels, ordered his illegal hedges to be torn down and became the leader of the rebellion
-Ketts decided to march to Norwich, and by July 12th had set up camp on Mousehold Heath (a hill) and encouraged other camps to be set up (Downham Market and Bur St Edmunds)
-Threatening Englands second largest city was an easy way to get government attention
-Ketts didn’t seek gentry support, rather getting the poor to rebel against them (6% of people owned 60% of land in the area)
-The mayor/city council tried cooperating with Kett, and they continued to do so until a government messenger came
-Encouraged by the messenger, the mayor started to fortify the city, but the rebels were more prepared and started to bomb Norwich with cannons (too far away to do damage)
-The rebels then offered the mayor a truce, which the mayor declined, and then a full-scale attack on Norwich commenced, where the rebels captured the mayor
What were the events in the second half of ketts rebellion (ketts) (3,3,2,3)
-Somersets weak government offered a pardon, which angered the rebels who saw themselves as loyal subjects doing what he had encouraged
-Somerset then sent an army, led by William Parr, Marquess of Northampton and Italian mercenaries
-This provoked the rebels more (foreign army against loyal subjects), MoN forced to retreat and rebels controlled Norwich for 3 weeks
-Somerset then raised another army, with the earl of Warwick and 12,000 men reaching Norwich in August
-He began negotiations, offering pardons to all bar Kett, but this was rejected
-Rebels showed their organisation by raiding Warwicks weaponry carts
-Warwick now took a hardline approach, arresting and hanging rebels
-Rebels then waged guerrilla warfare against Warwicks troops
-Arrival of 1,000 mercenaries in late August was a tuning point, as Warwick cut the rebels supply lines
-Kett panicked and moved from Mousehold Heath to Dussindale, refused a final negotiation and thus exposed himself to attack
-Experienced army got the better of untrained rebels, 3,000 rebels killed vs 40 soldiers, and Kett was executed in december
What did the rebels want from Ketts rebellion (ketts) (6)
-Enclosure: resentment over illegal enclosures, encouraged by Somersets’ commissions
-Rents/profits: complained about rise of rents and landlords lack of concerns for commoners in pursuit of sheep farming profits
-Bondmen: wanted to free the bondmen, exteme peasants/serfs whos lives were controlled by the lord of the manor
-Religion: They were protestant and sympathetic to Cranmer, but wanted to ensure the education of the local clergy and no corruption
-Structure of society: didn’t want to overthrow the structure, but wanted to stop landed elite exploiting commons and create a godly commonwealth, where groups of society looked after eachother (rebels disliked Rabbit Warrens, as rabbits ate crops)
-Local government: wanted an end to corrupt government, such as escheators (officials ensuring royal rights were upheld) and feodary’s (they would search potential heirs of landowners who held the kings land, open to bribes), and wanted to show they could administrate law/order effectively without gentry
How did revels see themselves as government, why did local authorities cooperate and how were captured gentry treated (ketts) (6,2,1)
-Although wanting to maintain a form of social hierachy, the rebels resented the gentry’s abuse
-Rebels wanted to show they could run government without local gentry, and wanted local government officials chosen by people
-Rebels wanted to show they could administer law, trialling captured gentry under the ‘oak of reformation’
-Rebels saw themselves as creating a new model for local government, using writs and commissions to issue supply of food/drink at Mousehold Heath
-Apart from a few outbreaks of violence, Kett was able to keep the peace/order
-Kett was a “middling sort” landowner, literate and avoiding the 1540’s hardships
-Local authorities cooperated as rebels were peaceful and cooperated at Mousehold Heath
-This shows the resentment of local gentyr, and how powerless the government was (france declared war on them too (unrelated))
-Members of local gentry were put on trial at the court of justice under the oak of reformation, Kett passed judgement. and they’d be imprisoned when found guilty
Why were rebels able to repel government forces, how did Kett fail, why was Warwick able to win and what was the governments response (ketts) (4)
-Rebels were able to repel Northampton due to 16,000 strong at MH, government stretched and Duke of Norfolk in prison
-Kett failed as he wasn’t a military man, lacking tactical awareness, and his panic move to Dussindale losing MH’s high ground
-Warwick defeated rebels, 3,000 kills with only 40 deaths as he was an experienced military commander with mercenaries and capitalised on Dussindale
-Government responded with 49 hung at Norwich, 3,000 killed at Dussindale, 9 hung drawn and quartered at the Oak of Reformation and Kett left to rot, although pardons were offered and other camps were dissolved without violence
How did the leadership/organisation of ketts threaten/not threaten the government (leaders) (3,3,3,2)
Leadership:
+Kett was a well regarded leader and commanded the respect of 16,000 troops
+Gained cooperation of local authorities, established local governments and ensured rebels remained well disciplined
+Kett defeated Northampton and frequently rejected pardons
-Kett wasn’t a military man and couldn’t defeat warwicks well trained army
-Kett made a huge mistake in moving from Mousehold Heath to Dussindale, increasing their vulnerability to attack
-Warwick cut off supplies and used cavalry well
Organisation:
+Rebellion prolonged due to poor government response (government also had a war with france)
+Rebels were disciplined and well organised (issued warrants, destroyed enclosures, supplied food and weapons)
+Mousehold heath had a strong defence o a hill, and was able to withstand royal forces
-Warwick crushed rebellion and restored order with a measured response
-no further rebellion took place in East Anglia
How did rebel aims/tactics and government weaknesses of ketts rebellion threaten/not threaten the government (leaders) (2,3,3,3)
Aims/tactics:
+Rebels used Mousehold Heath to show an example of how local government should be ran
+Peaceful tactics/non-radical aims (didn’t want to overthrow Edward) gained cooperation of local authorities
-Rebels did not see themselves as traitors but rather loyal to the government
-Rebels chose to stay in camps instead of marching to London
-Rebels challenged social order but didn’t want full change
Government Weakness:
+Somerset initially encouraged rebels through negotiations and enclosure commissions
+Somerset’s move to force betrayed rebels, pardons refused and Northampton was defeated
+Governments slow response gave the rebels prep time, and forces were overstretched
-Warwicks intervention led to forces crushing the rebellion
-Cutting rebel supply lines pressed Kett into mistakes, where calvalry could be used
-Warwick’s measured response once over avoided antagonising commons into further discontent
How dangerous was ketts rebellion (ketts) (6)
-Power/effectiveness of rebel leadership was originally very dangerous, as Kett organised well, but as it went on he made mistakes
-Aims of rebels slightly dangerous, didn’t want to overthrow Henry/religion but wanted radical reform
-Extent of English support fairly dangerous, had a lot in east anglia but not a lot elsewhere
-Chances of plans succeeding very dangerous, took control of norwich, defeated government forces and seymour wanted what they did (godly commonwealth)
-Impact of foreign support N/A
-Reaction of government originally very dangerous, as seymour encouraged then underestimated, but Warwick wasn’t dangerous
What was the impact of ketts rebellion (ketts) (4,2,3)
-Somerset fell from power and was replaced by the earl of Warwick
-Most nobility lost confidence due to his incompetance in the rebellion, and fellow councillers turned on him
-With an army and victory, Warwick replaced Somerset as head of government
-In October 1549, Dudley assumed power as lord president of the council and gave himself the title Duke of Northumberland
-Somersets social reform programme, especially enclosures, was wound up
-Many landowners resented and actively opposed enclosure commissions
-3,000 deaths had huge socioeconomic ramifications on the region
-Increases in poverty exacerbated problems faced
-However, Warwick avoided antagonising populations, enforcing law humanely post rebellion
