Kett's rebellion Flashcards
East Anglia
most densely populated and industrialised area in the country and Norwich, the second biggest city and a major textile area
a collapse in industry
had thrown large numbers of cloth workers out of work and many small farmers were badly affected by the enclosure of wooded pastoral areas by gentry and yeomen farmers
flowerdew
unpopular for buying and pulling down the local abbey
kett’s motives
were unclear - maybe it was guilt, or maybe it was an outlet for the frustrated social ambition of a man at the fringes of the gentry
10th July
rebels had reached Norwich, and by 12th July had encamped on Mousehold Heath with 16,000
the size and speed of the movement
paralysed the authorities of the country - the gentry were powerless aginst this well-established force
21st July
the York Herald arrived to offer a full pardon if the crowd dispersed
offers were made to reform prices and to reform abuses
Kett rejected the pardon
and conflict was no inevitable - by 22nd July the rebels had taken Norwich
somerset sent an army
of 1,800 who occupied Norwich on 30th July
Kett then attacked and recaptured Norwich
Northumberland
headed a force of 12,000 men and arrived outside Norwich on 23 August
27th August
Northumberland’s army, with 1,000 mercenaries, attacked Kett’s
3000 rebels killed and Kett was hanged on 26th Nov
only 49 rebels executed
cause: enclosure
the rebels’ attack on fences and hedges show that they were opposed to enclosure in wooded areas. They were also concerned with a whole range of farming issues
cause: rents
rent increases, along with rapid inflation made life difficult
cause: religion and clergy
wanted more competent and involved clergy, rather than doctrinal demands. They wanted priests to educate the poor and look after them, not simply be chaplains for the gentry
