Evaluating The Pilgrimage Of Grace

Question 1

Trusting Henry

Answer 1

The main reason for rebellions failure was Aske’s faith in the king to keep his promises.

Aske didn’t know Henry would break his promises.

He was educated and intelligent and Henry had no reason to distrust him.

Question 2

Reasons for Henry breaking his promises

Answer 2

Henry could not be seen to give into the pilgrims demands as it would weaken his reputation.

It would also be impossible for him to admit the failure of his political and religious reforms.

Question 3

Dissolution after the pilgrimage of grace

Answer 3

Henry actually sped up the dissolution after the pilgrimage as he saw monasteries as a centre for the opposition.

Question 4

Council of the north

Answer 4

Henry increase the power of the Council of the north to deal with any further unrest.

Question 5

Scale of rebellion

Answer 5

Pilgrimage of grace was the largest rebellion any Tudor monarch faced and just showed how unpopular his religious policies were.

Question 6

Strengths of Henry’s army

Answer 6

They were well armed, disciplined and determined.

There were 40,000 of them against only a few thousand of them under Norfolk.

Question 7

Negotiating with Henry

Answer 7

Pilgrims forced Henry to make compromises.

He had to negotiate with them and granted a pardon when he personally wanted to punish them and had to promise to stop the dissolution and hold a northern parliament.