Economic change + its impact under Edward

Question 1

What were the Key Economic issues which caused instability under Edward?

Answer 1

• Population growth, increases in rents due to inflation + declining living standards.

1 - Agrarian + social grievances
(ie enclosures, sheep tax etc)

• Somerset was influenced by writer John Hales who argued enclosure was the root cause of social + economic problems. He agreed to set up a commission to investigate enclosure in his proclamation + then appointed commissioners. However it achieved little but raised expectations of the poor + they believing Somerset had ‘promised’ an end to enclosures which he failed to follow through on (hence rebellion)

2 - Taxation + Spending;
- Much of Scottish war was financed by selling crow lands, monasterial lands + borrowing. This worsened crown finances. As did Somersets continuation of debasement of the coinage - whilst it raised £537,000 it heightened inflammatory pressures + added to social distress

• Somerset introduced a tax on sheep to try to deter enclosures + help crown finances (as ppl were tempted by the idea of profit from the wool trade) however this put pressure on smaller farmers who relied on sheep farming.

Question 2

How did Northumberland deal with the economical issues of Edwards Reign?

Answer 2

Economic Policies under Northumberland;

• Ended wars + thus reduced expenditure + gained £133,000 for the return of Boulogne in the Treaty of Boulogne though for far less than it was worth
• Abandoned debasement of the coinage + melted down church plates for finance
• He commissioned Mildmay to produce a pan for streamlining the financial administration much of what was put into practice by May Tudor.

Question 3

What is significant about the year 1549?

Answer 3

1549 was one of the worst years in the whole of the Tudor period as there were major rebellions in East Anglia + south-west with considerable disorder.

Somerset found it challenging to cope w rebellions due to the restricted resources of the Tudor state.

Religious grevancies also played a large role in rebellions under Edward.

Question 4

What were the Key causes of the Western Rebellion 1549?

Answer 4

Religious Factors (most significant)

• The New Prayer Book of 1549 + removal of images from churches left catholics assured that religion was moving in radical protestant direction.

Religion = central to western rebellion as rebels produced list of articles demanding the reintroduction of Catholicism via the reinstatement of Henry8 Act of Six Articles, use of Latin + Holy Communion.

• Thus the rebels wanted to reverse the reforms which were ‘destroying’ the way people experienced religion

Economic Factors;

• Complaints of sheep tax + cloth generated rumours of further tax on other animals
• Tax on food prices + bad harvests meant food in sort supply

Question 5

How did the Western Rebellion 1549 develop + end?

Answer 5

Took place in Devon + Cornwall by leaders Humphrey Arundel + Robert Welsh

The Western rebellion had support from Local commons who were Catholic + the Clergy

20th June - the two groups merged
2 July - Rebels besige Exeter
28 July - Lord Russel began his advance on the rebels
17th Aug - final defeat of rebels at Stamford

The western rebellion was significant + require military intervention to successfully suppress it. Somerset drastically underestimated the severity of the rebellion + did not act rapidly enough + so was a key issue for government.

3000 were killed overall + Robert Welsh was hung

Question 6

What were the key causes of the Ketts Rebellion East Anglia?

Answer 6

Key grievances;

• Hatred of government officials
• Increaces in rent due to ramped inflation + economic issues.

Somerset’s Policies
- His social policy on enclosuresled rebells to believe he’d promised an end to them. He was perceived as sympathetic to the poor due to agrarian problems they faced + thus believed to encouraged riot.

• Resentment of the abuse of landowners within the Norfolk Foldcourse system

(Fold course = the right to graze sheep on an enclosed piece of common land)

In some villages rights were owned by peasant farmers but problems caused when some landowners claimed access to ford closured + peasants anxious to defend there enclosure rights (which lead to rebellion)

Question 7

How did the Ketts rebellion develop + end?

Answer 7

Country - Northfolk
Leaders = Robert Kett

22 July - Norwich = in hands of the rebels
1Aug- Failure of Northampton to recapture Norwich + crush rebellion
27 Aug - Rebels finally defeated by Earl of Northampton

The Ketts rebellion was a significant threat required military intervention to sucsssfully suppress it.

Ketts = tried for treason + hanged on 26th Nov
Rebels dealt with lawfully + only 48 executed.

Question 8

Overall how much of a treat were the Western + Ketts rebellions during Edwards Reign?

Answer 8

Reasons they were a key threat;

• In some cases, notably Northfolk, Devon +Cornwall the local gentry failed to deal w uprisings so central government had to intervene
• Raising troops was difficult + expensive + gov was reluctant t ask rebellious peasantry for support
• Against his will, Somerset had to bring troops back from Scotland to asset the crisis marking the end of garrisoning policy + shows extent of the threat rebellion posed.

Reasons they were not a key threat;

• Virtually no attempt at cooperation or synchronisation between the two isolated uprisings
• Rebellions were not directed at the monarch
• Notable + significant lack pf aristocracy or gentry leadership or large scale support.

Overall Rebels wanted gov to reform religious change for the Western rebellion whereas enforce promises that had been made by Somerset ie enclosures in Ketts rebellion.