Rebellions 1449 - 1554

Question 1

What were the four rebellions within this period?

Answer 1

1. Western Rebellion (1549)
2. Kett Rebellion (1549)
3. Lady Jane Grey Coup (1553)
4. Wyatt Rebellion (1554)

(Notes are brief so may want to read over notes n quotes)

Question 2

What was the context of the Western Rebellion that made the regime vulnerable?

Answer 2

1. Somerset was new to power and put through unpopular Prot reforms - ‘prayer book rebellion’
2. William Body was killed

Question 3

What were the aims of the Western rebels?

Answer 3

1. Return religion back to previous ways e.g Latin mass
2. Not a direct threat to the crown - only trying to undo government policy ‘we will have’ shows no respect
3. Wanted Cardinal Pole back in power

Question 4

Who were the leaders and what was the strength of the Western rebels?

Answer 4

1. Led by priests (Robert Welsh) and Humphrey Arundull - a thug - didn’t really know what to do / any military experience
2. The rebels are only really peasants - a lot of numbers but not prepared to fight. Popular rebellion
3. 6,000 massacred

Question 5

Any foreign support for Western Rebellion?

Answer 5

None

Question 6

Actions of the Western rebels?

Answer 6

1. Surrounded Exeter for 6 weeks but failed to capture
2. No respect for authority - massacred JP’s and letter to parliament
3. Don’t march on London
   = No real threat

Question 7

Effectiveness of Gov response to Western rebellion?

Answer 7

1. Slow response - have Scottish war etc to focus on
2. Seen as unimportant - offered pardons
3. Local government didn’t do anything - walk through towns etc
4. Most forces in Scotland - distance - no money to squash
5. Eventually send 3,000 men

Question 8

What was the context of the Kett rebellion that made the regime vulnerable?

Answer 8

1. Enclosures - Somerset set up commissions but didn’t really do anything about them
2. Inflation, debasement, bread prices increasing

Question 9

Aims of Kett’s rebellion?

Answer 9

1. No threat to Ed - wanted to control rents and change local government and priests who they thought were abusing power.
2. ‘We pray your grace’ - sympathetic, respectful

Hardly a threat

Question 10

Leadership and strength of Kett rebels?

Answer 10

1. Robert Kett - yeoman - largely farmers

2. No lords or knights - 16,000 peasants - popular rebellion

Question 11

Any foreign support for the Kett rebellion?

Answer 11

None

Question 12

Actions of the Kett rebels?

Answer 12

1. Captured Norwich - armed city - showed bare bums etc
2. Killed Lord Sheffield and defeated royal army
3. Rode to royal herald & prepared to fight - all of East Anglia under rebel control for 6 weeks.
4. Don’t march on London

Question 13

Effectiveness of Gov response to Kett rebellion?

Answer 13

1. Offered pardons
2. France declared war & Western rebellion - distractions
3. John Dudley puts down eventually - 10,000 killed

Question 14

What was the context of the Lady Jane Grey (LDG) coup which made the regime vulnerable?

Answer 14

1. Edward was ill - protestant - the only heir was Catholic Mary according to Henry’s will

Question 15

Aims of LDG coup rebels?

Answer 15

1. To change the succession to make LDG legal heir
2. Ed draws up ‘device’ - get rid of Mary & Eliz
3. LDG - a prot - married Northumberland’s son

Real threat to Henry VIII’s wishes - serious challenge to throne

Question 16

Leadership and strength of LDG coup rebels?

Answer 16

1. Led by Northumberland and Edward IV - serious
2. Helped by protestants - court led
3. Not keen to fight though - 2,000 men

Question 17

Foreign support for LDG coup rebels?

Answer 17

None

Question 18

Actions of LDG coup rebels?

Answer 18

1. Draw up device
2. Letters patent
3. LDG proclaimed queen
4. Marched vs Mary’s army - but half run away
5. Lacked cavalrymen

Question 19

Effectiveness of gov response to LDG coup rebels?

Answer 19

1. Failed to arrest Mary - when she marched onto London she gathered massive support
2. Tudor legitimacy - Henry’s will - always will be popular regardless of religion

Question 20

Context which made the regimen vulnerable to Wyatt rebellion?

Answer 20

1. Just after marriage treaty - not everyone in favour - prot nobles not happy
2. Mary new to the throne

Question 21

Aims of Wyatt rebels?

Answer 21

1. Mary mustn’t marry Phillip & seek English husband - xenophobic
2. Plotters should be restored to govenment
3. Secret aims to restore back to protestantism and overthrow Mary and place Eliz - wouldn’t gain support if declared
   = Direct challenge to throne

Question 22

Leadership and strength of rebels?

Answer 22

1. 3,000 rebels at peak
2. 4 prong attack on London initially but couldn’t gain support apart from Sir Thomas Wyatt in Kent
3. All noblemen involved

Question 23

Any foreign support for Wyatt rebellion?

Answer 23

1. French ambassador suggested support but didn’t do anything

Question 24

Actions of Wyatt rebels?

Answer 24

1. Was potentially big but 3 rebellions collapsed
2. Wyatt marched onto London however but was met with large defence over bridge over Thames
3. Demoralised vs Pembrook - tried to storm Ludgate but was stopped and surrendered

Question 25

Effectiveness of Gov response to Wyatt rebels?

Answer 25

1. Earl of Pembrook - smaller army but armed well and organised
2. Mary fortifies London - didn’t leave and defended it well
3. Mary made an inspiring speech which rallies everyone vs rebels - she also had loyalty with the likes of Gardiner tells everyone to support her