Jack Cade's Rebellion

Question 1

Which national problems led to the rebellion?

Answer 1

1. King’s wealth taken by Suffolk and his followers
2. Bribery and threats in the law courts
3. Leading nobles excluded from advising the King
4. Loss of English lands in France.

Question 2

Which Local problems led to the rebellion?

Answer 2

1. Fear of retaliation for the death of Suffolk after the discovery of his body on the shores of Kent (TRIGGER)
2. Corruption among local lords and landowners
3. Fear of poverty and hunger because of trading slump

Question 3

What was the main cause for the rebellion? Why?

Answer 3

Suffolk and his advisors since they had a role to play in almost all of the grievances listed by the rebels.

Question 4

Why was Suffolk taking the King’s wealth a cause of anger?

Answer 4

The King had given too much land to people like Suffolk and Lord Saye (who was given a lot of land in Kent). This meant that the King didn’t earn income from this land, but the lords did and while they got richer the King got less money to support the common people with.

Question 5

Why was bribery and threats in the law courts a problem?

Answer 5

1. In Kent royal officers collected unjust taxes and fines for non-existent crimes. They used the threat of violence to get people to hand over their money or lands, and knew that Lord Saye (a close supporter of Suffolk) would protect them.
2. Suffolk used his power to ensure that the courts made decisions in his favour. For example in 1448 John Paston couldn’t take the men who had driven out his wife and servants using bows, spears, guns and bettering rams and stolen all his property to court because they were protected by Suffolk.

Question 6

Why was the exclusion of leading nobles a problem?

Answer 6

People believed that blood was one of the most important factors in deciding who should rule, and they accused Suffolk and his supporters (who had no royal blood) of plotting to take away power from those who deserved it. They spread the rumour that Gloucester was killed by Suffolk’s supporters for criticising him. They also said that he would have successfully defended Normandy.
They also claimed that York had been exiled to Ireland for criticising Suffolk.

Question 7

5 problems caused by the loss of French lands (esp. Normandy)

Answer 7

1. Huge blow to national pride
2. Soldiers were quartered near the coast while waiting to cross the channel. They took food, drink and lodging without payment. Having so many men crammed together lead to petty crime and disturbances.
3. There was a slump in cloth trade since merchants could no longer trade with towns in Northen France.
4. There was an increase in French attacks on the coast E.g. the towns of Rye, Winchelsea and Queenborough Castle (in Kent).
5. All the people who had settled in Normandy were now refugees in England.

Question 8

What triggered the rebellion

Answer 8

Suffolk’s body had washed up in Kent after he was murdered crossing the channel to his exile. There was a rumour around Kent that said the whole region would be destroyed as punishment for Suffolk’s death (even though they weren’t to blame). This rumour was attributed to Lord Saye (who held a lot of land in Kent) and William Crowmer (the Sheriff of Kent) who were both supporters of Suffolk. They were both killed by the mob in London.

Question 9

What local corruption was there?

Answer 9

Lord Saye and William Crowmer (The sherif of Kent) were seen as corrupt supporters of Suffolk. Crowmer was said to enforce unfair laws and hand out unjust punishment.

Question 10

Why was the loss of lands in France a problem for Kent?

Answer 10

Not only was there an influx of refugees from Normandy as well as the quartered soldiers on the coast, but there was also a trading slump since cloth merchants couldn’t trade with the towns in Northern France any longer.