Henry VIII: Society - Regional Issues and the Social Impact of Religious Upheaval - Causes of the Pilgrimage of Grace

Question 1

What religious motives were there behind the Pilgrimage of Grace?

Answer 1

• Concern over dissolution of the monasteries
• Fear for parish churches and traditional religious practices

Question 2

Why were people concerned over the dissolution of monasteries?

Answer 2

• By early autumn of 1536, the dissolution of smaller monasteries was well under way
- Lead to loss of charitable and educational functions
- Possible loss of parish churches which were monastic properties
- Fear the north would be impoverished by monastic land being handled by southerners

Question 3

What economic motives were there behind the Pilgrimage of Grace?

Answer 3

• Bad harvest of 1535
• The Statute of Uses 1536
• Fear of taxes - Subsidy Act 1534

Question 4

Why were people unhappy with the Statute of Uses?

Answer 4

• The Statute of Uses was passed in 1536
• It forced gentry to pay tax on inherited land

Question 5

How did the bad harvest of 1535 and taxes lead to support for the Pilgrimage of Grace?

Answer 5

• Led to higher prices of food
• Subsidy Act was passed by Cromwell in 1534, justifying tax during peaceful times and during war
• This combined with the higher prices of food, made many people angry