THE PILGRIMAGE OF GRACE

Question 1

REASON 1 FOR WHY IT TOOK PLACE - Religious factors

Answer 1

• Under the Act of Treason 1534, the North believed that their beliefs were under attack
• The Dissolution of Smaller Monasteries (£200 earned a year) was seen as an unforgivable act by Catholics
• The work of monks and nuns was exceedingly important to Christian communities - There were now less sacraments
• The Dissolution caused fear that parish churches were next

Question 2

REASON 2 FOR WHY IT TOOK PLACE - Economic factors

Answer 2

• The 1534 Subsidy Act was still being collected by the government, despite the fact that it’s 1536 and it’s only supposed to be collected in wartime, causing widespread resentment
• There were poor wheat and grain harvests in 1533-1536, which made times hard, and the continued enclosures’ violations and rising taxes made it hard to live
• The gentry and nobility opposed the 1536 Statute of Uses (a tax on landed inheritances)

Question 3

REASON 3 FOR WHY IT TOOK PLACE - Social factors

Answer 3

• The monasteries provided healing for the sick, a safe haven for many people and aided in reducing unemployment, and people were very angry that they were going to be torn down
• The York Articles also stated that tearing down the monasteries would be “harming God’s worship” and “damaging society”

Question 4

REASON 4 FOR WHY IT TOOK PLACE - Political factors

Answer 4

• The Northern Nobility felt that Cromwell had too much power over the government, and they disliked him for his lowly origins
• They also hoped that their uprising would make Cromwell weaker, and the government stronger

Question 5

EVENTS OF THE PILGRIMAGE

Answer 5

1. Kings officials arrived in the North in October 1536. Rumors spread that the soldiers would take away their ornaments and close the monasteries, and stop St Patrick’s Day holidays
2. Between Oct and Dec 1536, 30000 people joined the Pilgrimage. Led by Aske they took over Hull, York and took over Pontefract Castle (largest castle in the North)
3. Aske and his followers only wanted religious respect, due to Jesus ding on the cross and them honoring him
4. Aske said his followers were LOYAL TO THE KING, and only wanted Cromwell out, as they believed all the problems in England were due to him. THEY WANTED NO VIOLENCE, DESPITE HAVING MILITARY TRAINED MEN - Only a “show of solidarity”, and they were ethical e.g paid for all the food they took

Question 6

EVENTS OF THE PILGRIMAGE 2

Answer 6

5. In December 2-6, 1536, Aske, and 40 other Pilgrims made a truce with the Duke of Norfolk, and said that the 24 Pontefract Articles would show their concerns. HE PROMISED THE MONASTERIES WOULD STAY OPEN. All the followers were pardoned and went home, and Aske went around North to enforce this. They even tore off the badge.
6. While negotiating, Norfolk sent a letter to the King saying that he won’t stay true to his word. HE LIED, AND THEY SHOULDN’T’VE LISTENED. Henry also could remove the threat of a strong army marching South, and didn’t have to say when the Pontefract Articles would be laid out
7. On January 16, 1537, Francis Bigod didn’t trust Henry, and led a rebellion of a few hundred as he thought Henry’s troops would kill them as they went home, and tried to capture Hull and Scarborough. LACK OF SUPPORT so fled to Cumberland, where he was captured on February 10, 1537
8. Bigod’s actions were in violation of Aske’s non-violent claims, so Henry used this as an excuse to arrest all the leaders, and between Feb and July 1537, there were 200 executions.

ASKE EXECUTED IN YORK ON 12 JULY 1537

Question 7

REASONS FOR THE FALL OF THE PILGRIMAGE

Answer 7

DISUNITY OF AIMS
* The nobility were insistent on making the main message of the Pilgrimage about getting Cromwell out, and about the religious factors of the Pilgrimage. HOWEVER, the peasants can profit off the monasteries’ practical use, and they would be most concerned about the economic factors, as their rents would increase, and they’re the most affected - The nobility wanted the 1536 Statute of Uses overturned as their main goal, but the poorer people wanted the 1534 Act of Treason AND the enclosures violations to stop as they had a reduction in income due to the poor harvests;

NON-VIOLENT APPROACH
* The Pilgrimage accumulated around 30,000 people, many of which had military experience, and were well led by gentry and nobility. They easily outnumbered Norfolk’s army 3:1, and the soldiers had bad pay and bad weather conditions, so they could easily kill them, and they would’ve won.

NAIVETY OF ACCEPTING THE PROMISES
* Aske was a well-educated lawyer, and shouldn’t’ve trusted Norfolk on a blind word, as he immediately called off the march and sent them all home. To add to this, Henry was also very respectful to Aske, and invited him to spend Christmas in his court, and it could be down to the duplicity of Henry

FRANCIS BIGOD
* Through the actions of Francis Bigod, Henry exploited this as his chance to take down the whole Pilgrimage once and for all, as it was technically a crime to go against the King and lie to him, and Bigod’s actions brought down the whole show.