The Role of Leaders in Challenge and Suppression

Question 1

What made Aske a natural leader for the POG?

Answer 1

His knowledge of the legal procedure, his intelligence and skill as a speaker and the fact that he was a committed catholic

Question 2

What might Aske have been doing before the Lincolnshire rising even took place?

Answer 2

Planning a protest of his own - POG

Question 3

How did Aske make it clear that his protest was peaceful?

Answer 3

He came up with the name ‘The Pilgrimage of Grace for the commonwealth’ and showes it was for the restoration of the Catholic church

Question 4

Why was the word ‘grace’ in the POG an appeal to Henry VIII?

Answer 4

It meant a favour from God, they were asking for the king’s mercy

Question 5

How was Aske’s logistical leadership significant?

Answer 5

He acted as a military captain who ensured the Pilgrims remained peaceful and orderly as well as organising 9 armies

Question 6

What is an example of Aske making the soldiers stay loyal to Henry?

Answer 6

He forbade the foot soldiers from entering York to prevent any stealing or disorder

Question 7

Why was it a benefit that Aske was a member of the gentry?

Answer 7

He spoke to Lord Darcy and pursuaded him to join and he was able to organise the Pontefract articles so they were balanced between gentry and commons demands

Question 8

What was the problem with Aske’s loyalty to Henry?

Answer 8

It made him to naive and idealistic which enabled Norfolk and Henry to manipulate him through his invitation to court

Question 9

Why did Bigod differ to Aske?

Answer 9

He had different religious views and had been involved in implementing Cromwell’s reforms although he was concerned about the king’s supremacy over the church

Question 10

Why did Bigod rebel?

Answer 10

He feared that Henry and Norfolk could not be trusted

Question 11

What does Bigod’s rebellion show?

Answer 11

The growing distrust and paranoia that was present among the former Pilgrims in 1536-37

Question 12

Why was Aske a better leader than Bigod?

Answer 12

Bigod failed to achieve much support and lacked the natural ability to co ordinate and lead a popular rising with gentry involvement

Question 13

What was Bigod’s main downfall?

Answer 13

He didn’t share the same religious views as those he led and was a member of the gentry who were seen as suspicious by the commons at that time

Question 14

Why was Cromwell’s position at court vulnerable?

Answer 14

His religious policies made him one of the main targets of the rebel’s complaints and because the rebellion played into the hands of the conservative faction at court

Question 15

Why was Cromwell lucky?

Answer 15

Henry supported him in 1536 which gave him the ability to use his royal authority in the North and over religious policy

Question 16

What strengthened Cromwell’s position?

Answer 16

The involvement in the rebellion of some members of the conservative faction: Lords Darcy and Hussey and their subsequent executions

Question 17

What did the rebellions allow Cromwell to do?

Answer 17

Purge Henry’s remaining rival claimants to the throne: the Pole and Courtenay families as they were accused of treason and executed

Question 18

Who were Cromwell’s remaining opponants?

Answer 18

The Duke of Norfolk, Stephen Gardiner and the Bishop of Winchester who brought his downfall in 1540

Question 19

How did the rebellions affect the dissolution?

Answer 19

They temporarily halted the dissolution but gave Cromwell ammo to close down larger monasteries due to the treason and disobedience to Henry

Question 20

How did Cromwell’s approach to the dissolution change?

Answer 20

He was more cautious and encouraged voluntary closures which would be rewarded with pensions and those who resisted were executed

Question 21

What happened after the rebellions in terms of the dissolution?

Answer 21

The Suppression of Religious Houses Act was passed in 1539 and the last monastery was closed in 1540, Cromwell continued to impose his ideas including more injunctions on the clergy in 1538

Question 22

What was Henry’s initial response to the rebellions?

Answer 22

Fury, he was convinced of his own power and right to the supremacy, he rejected demands and questionned loyalty

Question 23

What mistake did Henry make in his response to the pog?

Answer 23

He expressed his outrage in a letter and didn’t mention their demands, he underestimated the scale of the rising and the letter only encouraged the rebels

Question 24

What else encouraged the POG rebels to continue?

Answer 24

The fact that they had a larger army than Henry

Question 25

What suggests that Henry was always going to take revenge on the rebels even after Norfolk pursuaded him to take a different approach?

Answer 25

He never put anything in writing as he only made verbal promises and delayed negotiations

Question 26

What was Norfolk’s role in 1536?

Answer 26

He advised Henry to negotiate rather than to fight, he also suggested that Henry promise a parliament in the North, acted as the go between

Question 27

What gave Norfolk an advantage in communicating with the rebels?

Answer 27

His rank and position as a leading member of the conservative faction meaning Aske trusted him

Question 28

What was Norfolk’s main achievement?

Answer 28

He defeated an army four times as large as his own without resorting to violence

Question 29

What was Norfolk’s role in the repression in 1537?

Answer 29

He invited Aske to court, he exploited distrust for the gentry by recruiting former rebels onto his council, he prevented the rebellion from getting too serious

Question 30

What did Henry’s fury lead him to do?

Answer 30

Punishment of more minor figures like Margaret Cheyney and Thomas Miller who both said the wrong things

Question 31

How did Henry punish rebels?

Answer 31

144 were executed

Question 32

Did Henry meet rebel demands?

Answer 32

The dissolution didn’t stop although they changed their approach, a Council of the North was created in 1537 but resentment continued