Kett Flashcards
Dates
1549
Causes
Slow rates of progress with Protestant reformation in Eastern England.
Bishop of Norfolk- William Rugge was ill-suited and unsympathetic towards radical reforms.
Similarly there was strong feeling that ministers needed to be better quality.
Rebels wanted
Better educated and resident clergy
-competent teaching of the catechism and prymer for children
-good quality sermons
Priests to spend more time with their religious duties rather than getting involved in the property market
Tree of Reformation significance
Daily services using the new prayerbook took place under the tree of reformation
Social and Economic contributions
17/29 demands focussed on enclosures/ rents
Landlords and Gentry received no sympathy
Norwich’s principal income was worsted cloth industry but this was in decline so unemployment was on the rise.
Wheat prices increased by 50% in 1548
Enclosures were rife
46 Gentry and merchants held more than 60% of the land in Norfolk.
Robert Kett
Minor land owner and assumed command as there were no nobles to turn to.
He was a tanner by trade and 57 at the time of rebellion.
Regarded as an outstanding rebel leader.
Impact on Gentry
Rebels held and humiliated gentry that didn’t cooperate.
Sir Roger Wodehouse tried to persuade rebels on Mousehold Heath to disperse by using 3 carts of food and drink however he was chased, imprisoned and provisions seized.
What happened to the Italian Mercenary
Captured and hanged from the city walls
Role of Thomas Codd
County official who cracked under pressure, fraternized with the rebels (accused of fraternising too readily) Claimed it was to protect the welfare of fellow citizens. but he purchased gunpowder and arranged artillery.
Organisation of rebellion
16,000 men stayed for 7 weeks
Occupied Surrey Place
2 governors were elected to sit on an advisory council, warrants, proclamations and punishments were given. Council meetings held daily.
Military Actions of Rebels
Discipline continued when rebels attacked the city.
Garrisons established in Cathedral grounds.
Constables were appointed citizens were conscripted as watchmen.
No one was killed until royal troops and foreign mercenaries arrived to recover control over the city.
Changes to law
Repealed Subsidy Act passing enclosure and tillage act
Success or Failure
Failed- lack of funding
Earl of Warwick
Kett discouraged from talks for fears of deals.
Made intentions clear when he entered Norwich in August 1549. Kett turned down another pardon.
Warwick hanged 49 prisoners at Dussindale, rebels suffered 3,000 casualties at the hand of the royal army which was strengthened 1,400 Swiss and German mercenaries.
Who dealt with rebels
Lord Lieutenant of Norfolk and Marquis of Northampton were ordered to deal with Kett.
There was no resident Privy Councillor in Norfolk to deal with the rebellion, the Howard family was kin disgrace.
Sheriff Sir Edmund Wyndham had no troops to threaten the Kett rebels and retreated to Norwich castle.
Polemics
These had limited effect on the rebels as few could read and those that could were not interested in a morality lesson
What did Somerset do
Used speeches and sermons to try to appeal to rebels
Sent preachers to the camp at Mousehold Heath
Mathew Parker
Cambridge Scholar that visited Kett’s camp, barely escaped being captured, rebels were in no mood to be lectured or placated into submission.
Edwardian Government Response
Determined to punish Kett and rebel captains.
Ring leaders who survived the Battle of Dussindale were tried and executed some under the ‘Oak of Reformation’ others on city Gallows.
Kett was taken to the tower of London and held for 6 weeks, tortured, tried than convicted and returned to Norwich to hang from the city walls in December 1549.
Role of Nobility
Local influence of Nobility had fallen, no one to control the rebellion therefore the Edwardian Government was somewhat reliable on nobles to maintain political stabilty.
