Rebellion under Edward

Question 1

What evidence is there that enclosure caused the Kett Rebellion?

Answer 1

• There had been anti-enclosure riots in Attleborough and Wymondham. In July 1549 rioters in Wymondham pulled down fences put up by John Flowerdew
• Rebels attcked the hedges of Robert Kett who accepted them and became their leader
• Enclosure benefited the ruling classes at the expense of the poor - the rebels were angry with the ruling class - when they seized Norwhich in August 1549 it was the houses of the wealthy that received most of the damage, Lord Sheffield a local nobleman was murdered

Question 2

What evidence is their that government policy lead to the Kett Rebellion?

Answer 2

• In 1548 Somerset established commisions under John Hales to investigate enclosures. He subsequently issues proclamations blaming enclosute for the country’s economic ills - June 1548 proclamation against men being ‘driven to extreme poverty … because of enclosure’
• In 1548 John Hales introduced 3 bills on enclosure giving concessions and undoing many enclosures - this made the rebels believe that they were supported by the government in acting against enclosures
• 1549 5% Sheep Tax exacerbated socioeconomic issues thus angering the rebels

Question 3

What evidence is there that religion caused the Kett Rebellion?

Answer 3

It didn’t:
- Norfolk rebels were largely Protestant andand brought in ministers who would use the new prayer book at their camp in Mousehold Heath
- The rebels didn’t want to usurp Edward and even cried ‘God save King Edward’

Question 4

What evidence is there that socioeconomic issues caused the Kett Rebellion?

Answer 4

• Norwhich was the centre of the textile trade the collapse of that industry in the late 1540s pushed many into unemployment
• There was a high level of social inequality with just 6% of the population owning 60% of the wealth

Question 5

What evidence is there that the Kett rebellion was a significant threat?

Answer 5

• When the rebels atacked Norwhich there was an indiscriminate massacre where the rebels fought merceneries sent to defeat them and won
• Mousehold camp numbered 16,000
• A further 1000 mercenaries and 12,000 English levies had to be called to supress the rebels

Question 6

What evidence is there that the Kett rebellion was NOT a significant threat?

Answer 6

• The rebels thought their destruction of enclosures was supported by the government due to Somerset’s commissions
• The rebels did not want to usurp Edward and even cried ‘God save King Edward’ when the Royal herald came to Kett’s camp in Norwhich

Question 7

What evidence is there that the religion caused the Western Rebellion?

Answer 7

• Began with the murder of William Body in Heddleston while he was supervising the distruction of images there
• In Devon people were provoked into rebellion by the priest’s use of the new Prayer Book on Whitsunday
• The rebels in Sampford Courtenay persuaded a priest to deliver a traditional Catholic mass before moving to join forces from Cornwall
• Rebel demands included reinstating the Act of 6 Articles and the use of Latin prayers and prayers for the dead

Question 8

What evidence is there that socioeconomic issues caused the Western Rebellion?

(Includes counter sk for religion)

Answer 8

• Cornish rebels attacked and robbed the gentry at St Michael’s Mount and at Bodmin cried ‘Kill the Gentlemen’
• Final rebel demands were more religion based but these were drawn up by clergy, the original where more of the rebels had a say included opposition to the 1549 Sheep Tax
• Lord Russel, leader of the royal army observed that many landlords in the West Country had abandoned the concept of ‘good lordship’ and raised rents excessivley rather than caring for the poor

Question 9

What evidence is there that the Western Rebellion was a threat?

Answer 9

• Was sparked by the murder of William Body in the parish of St Keverne where a mob led by a priest attacked and killed him
• The petition was drawn up by Arendell - a major local landowner
• Arundell and his rebels layed siege on Exeter - the largest city in the area

Question 10

What evidence is there that the Western Rebellion was NOT a threat?

Answer 10

• Somerset was slow to respond - only sent troops after 7 weeks
• The siege lasted 6 weeks showing the rebels did not have complete support even in the West
• Lord Russel arrived with an army of 8,000 German mercenaries who killed over 4,000 rebels in a general massacre

Question 11

What other evidence is there of socioeconomic issues under Edward?

Answer 11

• Between 1525-1551 England’s population rose from 2.3 to 3mil
• 6 failed harvests and the impacts of the dissolution of the monastries increased the strain on poor families
• By 1546, prices were 150% higher than they had been in 1508