Pilgrimage Of Grace

Question 1

What were the two religious motives?

Answer 1

1. Dissolution of the monasteries

2. Fear for Parish churches

Question 2

Why were people angry about the dissolution of the monasteries?

Answer 2

• loss of charitable and educational functions
• possible loss of parish churches which were monastic properties
• fear that the north would be impoverished by monastic land falling into the hands of southerners

The importance of monasteries to the rebels can been seen in their attempts to restore some of the houses.

Question 3

Why was there a fear for Parish churches?

Answer 3

The 1536 Injunctions drawn up by Cromwell were seen as attacking traditional religious practices.

• Celebration of locally important saints (St Wilfred) in parts of Yorkshire had been discouraged
• This was linked to the discouragement of pilgrimage
• Rumours that church plate/jewels would be confiscated

Question 4

What were the economic motives?

Answer 4

• Ordinary rebels were motivated by economic grievances, including resentment of taxation
• Began in Lincolnshire and spread to Cumberland. These rebels were more hostile towards the gentry because of their grievances against Landlords

Question 5

What were the political motives?

Answer 5

• The Crown’s attempts to impose the Duke of Suffolk upon Lincolnshire as a great magnate may have initially sparked the rebellion in Lincolnshire
• It has been argued that the rebellions of 1536 were brought about by a courtly conspiracy prompted by councillors who had been supporters of Catherine of Aragon (died in 1536). Their main motive was the restoration if Princess Mary as heir. They exploited the religious/economic concerns of northerners to put pressure on the King as part of the factional politics.

Question 6

What sparked off the rebellion?

Answer 6

The huge resentment felt about government which was pushing too quickly for fundamental religious change that most ordinary people could neither sympathise with nor even understand