To what extent did Kett's rebellion pose a challenge to the government? Flashcards
1
Q
Origins of the rebellion
A
- Caused by the socio-economic crises of the late 1540s - creating riots against illegal enclosures of common land which spread quickly through Essex into East Anglia.
- July 1 = Somerset summoned many local gentry and nobles to a meeting at Windsor Castle - added to the unease of the commons, so the riots further gained enormous momentum and support from across east Anglia.
2
Q
Origins
Why was Norwich an obvious choice for Kett?
A
- Second largest city in England and as 6% of the pop owned 60% of the goods, there was a sharp wealth divide whch the rebels could exploit to gain sympathy from the towns people.
- Administrative centre - threatening such a vital city was a good way to guarantee government attention.
3
Q
Origins
Early events
A
- Set up camps in Norfolk and Suffolk.
- Army size ensured Kett had the upperhand in his early dealings with town officials - forced to cooperate.
- Organised the collection of food and supplies until July 21 when a govt messanger arrived - began to fortify the city but the rebels aquired weaponary and then bombarded Norwich.
- July 22 = mayor accepted a truce but the town council refused - provoked a successful full-scale attack on Norwich - captured the mayor and the rebels withdrew to their Mousehold camp.
4
Q
Government response:
Failures of Marquess of Northampton
A
- Somerset’s govt was in a weak position - Norwich was overran and the rebels refused a pardon - even inflamed them as they saw themselves as loyal subjects of the Crown.
- Sent Marquess and the army - containing Italian mercenaries which provoked the rebsl further.
- Arrived in Norwich on July 30th - declared a pardon on the 31st but only 20 rebels agreed. Instead, the rebels launched another attack.
- Forced to withdraw and many of the remaining local gentry fled.
5
Q
Government response
The successes of the Earl of Warwick
Early approach
A
- Following Northampton’s humilating failure, Somerset raised a second army commanded by the Earl of Warick.
- Army of 12,000 men reached Norwich only 23 August - negotiations began with pardons for all rebels except Kett.
- Pardon refused, even though Kett was prepared to meet with W personally.
- In the evening of Aug 23 - rebels raided the carts carrying W’s weaponary, capturing guns.
6
Q
Government response
The successes of the Earl of Warwick
24th August
A
- Entered Norwhich and arrested and hanged some rebels - resistance continued.
- Rebels used the narrow streets to form a gurrilla warfare against Warwick’s troops, using tactics (arson and ambushes) that made it hard for W’s men to defend themselves, because they were used to open-field battle.
7
Q
The successes of the Earl of Warwick
26th August
A
- Arrival of 1000 mercenaries provided back-up for the event which proved the turning point in the rebellion.
- Succeeded in cutting off the rebels’ lines of supply - moved from the well-protected Mousehold hill to Dussindale.
8
Q
The successes of the Earl of Warwick
August 27th
A
- Refused Warwick’s attempt of negotiating, firing warning shots - the continued defiance was the signal for W to attack.
- The rebels weren’t trained fighters and didn’t have the weapons or skills to defend themselves against a better-trained army.
- Captured Kett and up to 3000 rebels were killed - executed Kett for treason in Dec 1549.
- This ‘commotion time’ and Somerset’s mismanagement also led to his fall from power.
9
Q
The rebels’ action and their demands
A
- Trigger was the resentment over enclosure, coupled with the encouragement from Somerset’s enclosure commissions.
- However the rebels’ demands were also caused by socioeconomic difficulties, and longer-term resentment over the perceived corruption of the East Anglian Gentry.
- Demands reflected the concerns of the rebels from all over Norfolk and Suoffolk.
10
Q
Rebels actions and demands
Resentment in East Anglia
A
- Revealed by the attacks on Flowerdew’s enclosed lands at the start of the rebellion - he represented the gentry disliked by the rebels as they abused their power and priviledges.
- Being a lawyer, Flowerdew used his legal skills to gain power locally which upset the established local community. His post of escheator for Norfolk gave the opp to make extra money through bribery and intimidation.
- Occassionally, this resentment boiled over into physical violence - captured and brutally beat Lord Sheffield to death on July 31.
- Despite being keen to maintain a form of social hierarchy, their contempt for the landed elites was clear.
11
Q
Rebels’ actions and demands
Demand for a better local governance
A
- Apart from a few outbreaks of violence in Norwich, Kett was careful to uphold order within the rebel camps - the rebels saw themselves as creating a new model of local government - Mousehold camp was deliberately set up near Norwich.
- Kett adopted the system of govt writs and commissions to issue orders for supplies and drinks.
- Showed they could minister law and order effectively (trialled captured gentry before Kett under the ‘Oak of Reformation’) - done to show that the rebels could run the local govt peacefully + effectively w/o the gentry.
12
Q
Rebels demands and actions
The rebels’ petititions
Economic
A
- Anger over the enclosures and abuse of foldcourse used by sheep farmers - resented larger landlords’ power and lack of respect for villager rights to the common land.
- Complaints about rent rises drew attention from the local gentry, blamed for deliberately raising rents to exploit their poorer tenants and increase their profits.
13
Q
The rebels’ petitions
Social structure and local government
A
- Ending the corrupt govt by local gentry - accused of growing rich at the expense of local govt.
- Article 18 = stop royal officials inquiring into lless wealthy landowners’ land (meant an extra expense)
- Respected traditions and held a responsibility for the poor and the demands (Articles 14/28) - rebels looked to Henry VII’s reign where the govt were more just but also reflected a new radical approach that endangered Somerset and the local gentry.
14
Q
The rebels’ petitions
Religion and the clergy
A
- Kett’s rebels sympathised to the Duke of Somerset’s move towards Protestantism, using the new Book of Common Prayer in daily services at camp.
- Concerned about education of the local clergy - demanded that inefficent clergymen should be removed from their position and local lords or parishoners should choose a more suitable replacement.
- Demands suggest the rebels were concerned the clergymen didn’t serve their communities well, poorly educated or greedy/corrupt.
15
Q
The rebels’ petition
Did they seek overthrowment of the monarchy?
A
- No, nor did they wish to change the hierarchical structure of Tudor society.
- Insisted they were loyal to the king and his government, using moderate tones and nearly every demand began with ‘we pray that…’
- Didn’t wish to destroy the nobility and gentry but wanted their role to change (clearly resented the local gentry).
