The Pilgrimage of Grace
Causes
Consequences of the Pilgrimage of Grace
Historian debates
Religious
Political
Dissolution of the Monasteries- was a direct attack on Catholicism they provided food, clothing and shelter to people in North- so caused spiritual, social and economic welfare- In 1535 the Valor Ecclesiasticus was ordered (commissioners sent out and surveys completed on state of monasteries). also in 1536- Act for the Dissolution of the Greater Monastries
Cromwell- they opposed Cromwell's policies- like the Treason Act which he introduced in 1534, the Royal Supremacy of 1534 and heresey and the rebels also blamed Cromwell's advisors Richard Rich and Thomas Audely- e.g Francais Bigod who carried on with the rebellion after hated Cromwell , yet he was against monasteries and was supporter of the new religion- SHOWS HE WAS POLITICALLY MOTIVATED NOT RELIGIOUSLY.
Economic
Taxation- opposition to Cromwell's taxing in a time of peace; taxation is usually done in wars - the 1534 Subsidy Act and there were also possible taxes being introduced on ceremonies, like christenings. , burials and marriages
Enclosure- which is to fence off a piece of land- which increases productivity and profitability of land- so it removed the rights to graze animals on there- NEED TO SAY WHO INTRODUCED THIS ETC AND WHO WAS DOING IT
what happened directly after?
How was the pilgrimage a huge threat?
The Banner that was used in the rebellion was itself religious which shows that there were religious causes- as it had the wounds of Christ on it, the name of Jesus and the Crown of Thorns
Purgatory was seen as being under threat- due to the dissoulution of monasteries, the ending of saint days and of papal supremacy which meant that the lay people couldn't do good works and reduce their time in purgatory.
Monks and Clergy were involved in the rebellion- which shows that it is about religion as religious people themselves are involved.
There was religious imagery, oaths, songs and propaganda used in the rebellion- which have the pilgrimage of grace a religious aura
The removal of holy days- e.g in 1536- the priest failed to announce St Lukes Day- which caused unrest.
Faction Struggle- Aragonese vs Boleyn- many people disliked Anne Boleyn and preferred Catherine of Aragon- so people rebelling against Anne Boleyn being queen. E.G Lord Hussey was part of the arroganese faction
The North's needs were not being represented down South.
Power- it can be argued that the pilgrimage was an attempt by nobility to increase their own power and influence in court-as they were angry at the position of Cromwell and Anne Boleyn- comewell was made vice regent in 1535 e.g Lord Hussey had weaker authority in the North- so perhaps wanted to increase his power there.
Food Shortages- poor harvests in 1535 and 1536.
Boarding tenures- granting of land in return for military service- earl of Northumberland who was involved; he was being pressured to leave his land for the crown
Rack Renting= Raising rents- WHO WAS DOING THIS ?
WHAT HAPPENED
LINCOLNSHIRE RISING 1- 11 OCTOBER 1536
1ST PART= GOV caused tensions- dissolutions etc and Thomas Kendall preached a sermon put together by Cranmer which implied that the church was in danger.
2ND PART= began on 1st oct - people of Horncastle seized Bishop of Lincoln- as he tried to read out Cromwell's instructions. was first led by Nicholas Melton but then more gentry, priests and armed monks joined- 10000 people at Lincoln and lists of articles with grievances of gentry and commons were drawn up.
3RD PART= 11 Oct - Kings messenger arrived at Lincoln with Kings reply- king threatened rebels with forces from the Duke of Suffolk and the rebels made the decision to leave rather than face the charges of treason.
PILGRIMAGE OF GRACE- 8 OCTOBER- 8 DECEMBER 1536
KEY PEOPLE INVOLVED
LORD HUSSEY - linked to the arroganese faction at court- he had weaker authority in the north
LORD DARCY- the keeper of the Pontefract castle (most important fortress in the north). At first he tried/ pretended to be on the kings side but he eventually surrended the castle to the rebels.
EARL OF NORTHUMBERLAND- a nobleman who was being pressured to leave his lands to the crown.
DUKE OF NORFOLK- The King's loyal commander- but against Protestantism and a rival of Thomas Cromwell
ROBERT ASKE- Lawyer- the leader of the Pilgrimage of Grace- gave an atmosphere of spirituality to the protest.
1ST PART= News of the Lincolnshire rising spread quickly and reached Robert aske on 4 October - he sent letters across the country to maintain the holy church- there were 9 'host armies' which joined with the main army.
2ND PART= By 10th October- Aske had become the leader of 30, 000 men- they made headquarters in York- on 21 st October Lord Darcy handed over Pontefract castle. Aske made sure there was no murders- made sure that it was disciplined.
3RD PART= the rebels held control over basically the whole of North. Henry was faced with a force that was larger than his- he sent a group led by Duke of Norfolk to meet the rebels and they presented their 5 grievances and a truce was signed on 25 October. Henry promised demands would be met but he later broke he broke promise
WHAT WERE THE REBELS DEMANDS? AND WERE THEY MET?
A free Parliament at York
Henry recognised the councils of the north and he did make some leaders of the pilgrimage members of this.
Restoration of the Monasteries
Henry's promises failed- as even the largest monasteries had fallen by 1540. BUT he dissolved ones in the South but not in the North
Reversal of the Break with Rome/ return to Catholicism
Henry was excommunicated by the Pope in 1538, but in 1539 the main principles of Catholicism were brought back in the Act of Six Articles.
Suppression of the Statues of Uses- rebels wanted to stop Henry from collecting taxation from landowners.
in 1540- Statue of Wills was passed- which restricted the amount of taxation that the king could claim
The rebels wanted Cromwell to be punished
In 1540- Cromwell was removed from power
the rebels wanted mary to be restored to succession
In Jan 1537- Francais Bigod hated Cromwell, he was part of the genry and had written an attack on wealth and monasteries and was supporter of the new rebellion. He led a further rebellion in Yorkshire and Aske tried to stop it but Bigod went ahead- his rebellion failed and he was arrested. Ask and other men involved in the pilgrimage including Lord Darcy were arrested convicted of treason and executed.
Many have argued that this was the biggest internal; threat henry had faced- as it was difficult for henry to get a bigger army.
If the rebels had marched south then more would have joined the army.
also a fear that foreign nations would have attacked England in the south due to the disruption rebels caused.
if the pope denounced henry and got the Catholics to support the rebels henry would have become even weaker-
click to edit
Was henry good or bad at dealing with the rebellion? and what did this show about him as a king?
Henry was good at dealing with the rebellion as none of the big consequences and threats that are listed above did actually happen. Henry managed to defeat the rebels even though he was in a weak position.
Henry's defeat of the rebels showed the public who had the real power and after the pilgrimage of grace there was the reformation against the monasteries in 1538- the defat of the rebls gave henry the freedom to go ahead and do what he wanted to achieve.
Some argue that the pilgrimage of grace was because of the defeated court faction (the nobility and gentry)- and that they were responsible for getting the ordinary people involved as the nobility hated Cromwell and devised a plan to increase their own power.
However, some also argue that the pilgrimage of grace was a genuinely popular rebellion of the common people who were very angry at the Governments religious changes and it was then joined by people from a higher social group.