Key debate 1: Was the Western rebellion a religious rising?

Question 1

Key points:

Answer 1

• Religious rebellion
• Socially and economically driven.
• Political

Question 2

Was the Western rebellion a religious rising?

Answer 2

• Also known as prayer book rebellion
• Demands of the rebels heavily religious:
- Demanding the restoration of many old religious practices, including the restoration of the Six Articules.
• Rebels attacked the Protestant belief about Communion.
• Rebels wanted return of cardinal Pole as political leader.

Question 3

Was the Western rebellion socially and economically driven?

Answer 3

• Demands contained social and economic concerns.
• Actions of the rebels suggest that the gentry were the enemy of the rebels;
- Shouted ‘Kill the Gentlemen’ at Bodmin
- Killed any gentry who resisted.
• During siege at Exeter, gov concerned poorer element would let the rebels in – organised poor relief.

• Link back to religious:
Gentry gained from the Reformation:
- Obtained land following the dissolution.
- Explain why the rebels wanted a limit to the number of servants they could employ and the restoration of some of the monastic lands they had gained.
• It was also the gentry who had implemented the unpopular religious changes.

Question 4

Was the Western rebellion a political uprising?

Answer 4

• Much concern expressed at the inclusion of the English language in prayer book.
- Cornwall’s main language was Cornish
• Not only concerned with religious change but also political interference in their region.
• Somerset’s political rule and policies proving unpopular.