Interpretation - Western rebellion Flashcards
1
Q
Was the Western Rebellion a religious uprising?
A
- Timing – followed introduction of new prayer book
- The banner was the five wounds of Christ
- Religious nature of rebels demands, the restoration of the Six Articles, the ceremony and ritual of Catholicism and holy bread and water
- They attacked the protestant belief in communion
- The rebels wanted the return of cardinal pole, but as a POLITICAL leader
- No direct request to restore papacy although the first of the Exeter articles challenged the legality of secular authorities to implement religious reform
2
Q
Was the Western rebellion a social and economic uprising?
A
- Demands drawn up by clergy so bound to have religious dimension
- Original demands have not survived but we know from other evidence that they contained social and economic concerns
- Both areas involved in the rebellions faced economic hardship.
- Unemployment was on the increase and inflation was high.
- Rebels involved in both rebellions were unhappy about enclosures and concerned about increased taxation.
- Economic and social discontent had gradually been growing throughout the Tudor years.
3
Q
Was the rising evidence of class divisions in western society?
A
- Actions taken by rebels on the gentry, killed William Hellyons, the only member of the gentry who resisted
- Attacked and robbed the gentry on St. Michael’s mount
- Cry at Bodmin of ‘kill the gentlemen’
- Government forces also appeared to show that the rebellion had a class element by setting fire to rebel defences at Crediton – Beer – “the charred barns stood as a grim reminder of the widening cleavage between the landowning gentry and the masses of working men and women”.
- During the siege at Exeter the government was worried the poorer elements would let the rebels in so they organised poor relief.
- Whilst the western rebels wanted to restore the CC the Norfolk rebels were intent on narrowing the gap between the privileged few and the unprivileged many.
- Element of class warfare “the 1549 revolts were the closest thing Tudor England saw to class war”- john guy
- It was the gentry who had gained from the reformation, obtaining land in the dissolution, this may explain why the rebels wanted a limit on the amount of servants they could employ and the restoration of some monastic lands they had gained.
4
Q
Was the Western rebellion a political uprising?
A
- Much concern is expressed at the inclusion of the English language, and as Cornwall’s main language was Cornish, the Western rebels are not only concerned with religious change but also political interference in their region.
- This could imply that they are also unhappy with Somerset’s political rule and policies.
- At this time Somerset’s rule is proving unpopular, not just his religious policies.
5
Q
Was the Western rebellion a serious threat to the government?
A
Timing, government response, rebels, location
6
Q
Was the Western rebellion a serious threat to the government – Timing?
A
- Occurred at the time of a royal minority when many though that the Protector did not have the right to change religion and that any changes should wait until Edward came of age.
- The rebellion was just one of the many incidents of unrest the government faced in the summer of 1549, in that context making it a greater threat, particularly if the rebels joined forces with other religiously motivated rebels in Oxfordshire and Hampshire.
- The government’s campaign in Scotland also meant that military resources to put the rising down were limited and this allowed the rebellion to develop.
- The government considered it serious as it was forced to abandon its Scottish policy and withdraw troops.
- It also faced the prospect of invasion from France which made unrest at home even more dangerous.
7
Q
Was the Western rebellion a serious threat to the government – Government response?
A
- Government was ill-informed and slow about developments in the West Country and this meant that they were slow to realise the seriousness of the situation and to send sufficient sources to deal with it. This allowed the rebellion time to gain momentum and troops.
- The government was unable to send troops immediately to the West Country, even when it became aware of the situation, as the troops it gathered had to deal with other unrest en route
- The numbers put to death after the rebellion suggests that the gov was concerned and wanted to make an example.
- Decision to remove Somerset as Protector was due to his poor handling of rebellions, suggesting they were fearful such unrest could happen again.
8
Q
Was the Western rebellion a serious threat to the government – Rebels?
A
- The rebels, although seemingly not well-armed, were able to force the government into five battles or skirmishes before their final defeat at Sampford Courtenay, showing the gov struggled to suppress the unrest
- The rebels threatened the main legislation of the gov’s religious policy
- The rebel force was only 5,000 and there was no collaboration with the other rebel forces, which could have made it a greater threat
- The aim was not to overthrow the government, it might not even have been a threat to the religious policies if its concerns, as the first list of grievances suggest, were more economic and social.
9
Q
Was the Western rebellion a serious threat to the government – Location?
A
- The reaction of the city authorities in Exeter to the rebels suggests that they considered it a threat and were fearful that the rebels would enter the city
- Exeter was able to resist the rebels for 6 weeks and remained loyal
- The rebellion remained in the West Country and did not move towards London
- The absence of a powerful local family in the West Country allowed the rebellion to develop and grow. The fall of the Courtenay family meant that there was a power vacuum in the region, with the absence of nobility from Cornwall and Devon.
- Kett’s rebellion in East Anglia, another region where a local influential noble family, the Howards, had fallen from power, suggesting that the gov was dependent on the local nobility for the maintenance of stability.
- Lord John Russell, who had replaced the Courtenay’s, had not had time to build up a following in the counties and was absent in London.
10
Q
How violent were the western rebels (Violent)?
A
- Cornish rebels started by attacking and robbing the gentry who had retreated to St Michael’s Mount
- At Bodmin, rebels shouted ‘Kill the Gentlemen’
- In Devon, rebels murdered William Hellyons, only member of the gentry who resisted them
- Refused to negotiate with gentry, even though there was some evidence they had sympathy with the rebels religious grievances
- Clashes between city of Exeter and the rebels and they attempted to set fire to the city gates and mine the walls
- Number of engagements between rebels and government forces, Fenny Bridges, Clyst St Mary, Clyst Heath and Sampford Courtenay
11
Q
How violent were the western rebels (Not violent/provoked)?
A
- Government forces who set fire to rebel defences at Crediton, barns and houses set alight
- Sir Peter Carew, a leading Protestant sympathiser, attempted to meet the rebels near Crediton, but his attitude made the situation more tense, later reprimanded by the gov
- Divisions within the gentry over tactic encouraged the rebels to be more aggressive
- Rebels did not launch an attack on Exeter but wanted to show that they were serious by controlling the area.
- Advanced towards Exeter carrying 5WOC, as had peaceful PoG
12
Q
Why did the rising fail?
A
Ask Tucker:)
13
Q
What were the main causes of the Western Rebellion?
A
Religious, social and economic, class conflict and political
