Rebellion and unrest Flashcards
Criteria for assessing rebellions
- size
- location
- timing
- measures taken
- nature of rebels
When was the murder of William Body?
April 1548, 3000 cornish gathered at Helston, murdered for removing images in churches
Why were there rural riots in the summer of 1548?
Against enclosures and high inflation -> led to Council voicing opposition to Somerset, so Hales commision (1548-49) enforced legislation against enclosures (mainly Midlands)
Western Rebellion (Prayer book)
June 1549
New prayer book in english, protestant murdered removing images, tax + enclosure
- led by Arundell + Vicar Robert Welsh (peasants, common people), 6,000 armed rebels
- no reversal of religious change
- Lord John Russell led brutal response (killing 3,000), Welsh hanged
Ketts rebellion
July 1549
Peasants + common people unhappy w/ enclosure, led by Robert Kett (minor gentry)
- attacks on enclosures + 16,000 march on Norwich w/ 29 demands
- 3,000 killed as rebels defeated outside Dussindale by Earl of Warwick
- limited enclosure reform, Kett hanged
Lady Jane Grey rebellion
July 1553
Edward changed accession to LJG in devise, aided by Northumberland’s desire to prolong political power
- Edwards devise (June) left throne to Greys, Guildford Dudley marries Jane
- LJG on throne for 9 days before Mary took throne w/ catholic forces (10th-19th July)
- Northumberland executed 22nd July, LJG sent to tower + later executed
Wyatt’s rebellion
January 1554
Proposed marriage of Mary to catholic Philip of Spain resisted by Sir Thomas Wyatt, Carew + Croft (knights), xenophobia
4,000 men
- planned to marry E to Edward Courtenay, but only Wyatt in Kent rose + attack stalled at gates of London
- Wyatt surrendered, tried + executed w/ 90 other rebels
- no confession implicating Elizabeth after torture
Reasons for poverty
- closure of monasteries meant many not looked after (1536-41)
- idleness (vagrancy) caused poverty + beggary, inable/sick lost credit
- slump of cloth trade eg. Margate led to unemployment
- inflation/population rise caused unrest as many could not afford to eat due to poor harvests 1949-51
What is enclosure?
The practice of dividing up land which was once owned by the people, into privately owned areas.
Measures taken to help the poor
- 1547 impotent poor to be supported w/ money collected by the Church, idle classed as vagrants + sentenced to death upon a 3rd conviction
- 1552 church actively encouraged contribution to relief to impotent poor, idle poor whipped + sent back to local parish
What was estimated population of England by 1551
3.0 million
By how many times had prices of foodstuffs risen from 1491 to 1561
multiplied by 3