Topic 3.5

Question 1

what is enclosure?

Answer 1

incorporating smaller holdings of land into a larger farm, with the area being enclosed with fences or hedges. This area was then used for profitable sheep farming.

Question 2

who was mainly affected by enclosure?

Answer 2

poorest members of the community who were most reliant on village common land to graze their animals

^^ copyhold tenants, whose leases were most open to challenge, and the landless, who were reliant on the common lands for survival

Question 3

what was a bad consequence of enclosure?

Answer 3

less arable land available= less crops and food for civilians -> hard to survive

Question 4

what was engrossing?

Answer 4

the practice of amalgamating two or more farms together. The buildings on these might either be left to decay, while the former occupants were forced to move elsewhere

Question 5

what was rack-renting?

Answer 5

the rapid increase of rent - led to eviction and thus helped landlords increase their profits

Question 6

what did the gov introduce in 1549 that made rebels believe Somerset was on their side?

Answer 6

-tax on sheep
-appointed hales to oversee gov’s reform of social and economic problems
-^ him and hales issued a series of commissions that were to inquire into illegal enclosures and report evidence back to gov =these failed
-somerset ploughed up illegal enclosures
-^ he ordered commissioners that illegal enclosures be destroyed
-even called “Good Duke” by rebels

Question 7

what was foldcourse?

Answer 7

it allowed landlords to use their tenants’ lands and the common land to graze sheep.

Question 8

what was the Godly commonwealth?

Answer 8

committed protestants, such as hales, Latimer, Crowley, Somerset, believed that the wealthy had a christian duty to look after the poor and that the practice of enclosure led directly to increased poverty, hardship, unemployment and vagrancy

Question 9

what were reasons for poverty during 1549?

Answer 9

population growth (from 2.3 to 3million), job market, wages fell and princes rose as demand and inflation increased

Question 10

what was debasement?

Answer 10

a quick and easy way for gov to raise money but led to economic issues

Question 11

why did gentry and nobles feel alienated by somerset?

Answer 11

by his enclosure commissions

^ it was Somerset’s mistake since these groups would be the first line of defence against rebellion

Question 12

where did the kett rebellion begin?

Answer 12

norfolk - where local community had met together for traditional feasting and celebrations - the festive got out of hand and the crowds started to destroy the enclosures of a local landowner (flowerdrew)

Question 13

how did kett become the leader of the rebellion?

Answer 13

rebels accused him of enclosing land - he admitted to it and tore his fences -> becoming the leader

Question 14

where did kett take the rebels?

Answer 14

Norwich

Question 15

what did kett have which was greatly beneficial?

Answer 15

-camps at mousehold and the mayor and city council helped kett by organising the collection of food and supplies for rebels
-they could administer law and order effectively - members of gentry were put on trial before the kett under the tree: Oak of Reformation

Question 16

what did the rebels do in Norwich?

Answer 16

a full scale attack as a result of the mayor wanting a truce after having offered rebels a pardon

Question 17

what did somerset as a result of the mayhem in Norwich?

Answer 17

he sent an army under the marquess of Northampton - it was Italian mercenaries

Question 18

what did the rebels do as a result of the marquess offering a pardon?

Answer 18

the rebels launched another attack on Norwich - they were also provoked by the fact that foreigners were used by the English gov against its own ppl

Question 19

how great was Warwick’s army?

Answer 19

12,000 men

Question 20

who were offered pardons by warwick?

Answer 20

everyone but kett

^ pardon was refused

Question 21

how did the rebels show their organisation?

Answer 21

by raiding the carts carrying Warwick’s weaponry- later used against him

Question 22

where did the rebels prove their resistance?

Answer 22

in the narrow streets of Norwich where they waged a form of guerrilla warfare against Warwick’s troops - rebels used arson and ambushes

Question 23

was there another set of mercenaries?

Answer 23

yes c.1000 mercenaries

Question 24

what was the mistake made by kett?

Answer 24

he moved the camp from the hill of mousehold to dussindale

^ warwick made another attempt at negotiation - the rebels did not accept and fired warning shots

Question 25

what happened after rebels refused negotiation?

Answer 25

warwick attacked -> 3000 rebels dead and kett was captured

Question 26

why was it easy for warwick to win?

Answer 26

the rebels were not experienced, did not have resources and skills to defend themselves against the royal army

Question 27

instead of just social and economic concerns why else where the rebels revolting?

Answer 27

because of local gov -rebels wanted an end to corrupt gov by local gentry
- they demanded that local gov officials be picked by the local ppl to ensure that someone honest was chosen > radical demand since at the time all officials were picked by king on the advice of his councillors

Question 28

what was another reason for rebellion?

Answer 28

religion - rebels were concerned that some clergymen did not serve their local communities well, and were either poorly educated at best or greedy and corrupt and worst.
^ they wanted them to be removed

Question 29

why was the rebellion not threatening to the throne?

Answer 29

-the rebels saw themselves as not being traitors but rather resentful at the corruptness of local gov and resentful towards members of gentry/nobility
-they did not resent the hierarchy in tudor society nor did they want an end to the system of rank and status.

Question 30

how large was rebellion?

Answer 30

16,000

Question 31

what were weaknesses of Somerset’s gov?

Answer 31

• their resources had been stretched by outbreak of western rising
  ^ kett’s rebellion forced gov to divide forces in order to deal with both rebellions at the same time
  ^ as a result they took longer to respond and deal with rebellion -> leaving rebels with more time in hand to strengthen their defences and organise themselves
  -Norfolk was sent to prison for treason and couldn’t stop rebellion
  -france declared war on England

Question 32

what was kett?

Answer 32

a tanner -someone who worked with leather and hides
^ from an emerging social group of artisans and yeomen farmers

^ a charismatic leader with persuasion and organisation skills - hence 16,000 followers

Question 33

by whom were kett’s actions recorded by?

Answer 33

Nicholas Sotherton - a member of the group of families who governed Norwich

^ his views were pro-gentry and anti-rebellion

Question 34

what did kett use?

Answer 34

wits and commissions.

Question 35

weaknesses of kett?

Answer 35

was not a military man; lacked tactical awareness to deal with a well-trained army under the leadership of an experienced military campaigner - Earl of warwick

earl of warwick cut his supply lines -> kett listened to prophesies claiming he’d be victorious in dussindale and disbanded the camp and ordered for the rebels to march to dussindale -> a tactical disaster

Question 36

what happened to somerset?

Answer 36

he was arrested and removed form his position as protector (for giving rebels mixed messages) and was replaced by earl of warwick

Question 37

what happened to some rebels?

Answer 37

49 were hanged and 9 hanged at the oak of reformation

Question 38

what was kett’s fate?

Answer 38

was hanged in chains from the walls of Norwich castle and his body was left to rot