Rebellion and unrest 1547 - 1558 Flashcards Preview

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Flashcards in Rebellion and unrest 1547 - 1558 Deck (60)
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1
Q

What socio-economic issues plagued England during the mid 1500s (8)?

A
  1. Population rise
  2. Inflation and rising prices
  3. Enclosure
  4. Decline in living standards
  5. Poverty and vagrancy
  6. Rising rents
  7. Poor harvests
  8. Influenza and epidemics
2
Q

“See how rich men, especially sheep owners, oppress the King’s subjects by enclosing the common pastures…Yet when wool so expensive, or mutton so great a price?…Other men buy up houses, even whole villages, and then allow them to fall into ruin and decay”

What issues is the clergy man, Thomas Becon, addressing here?

A

The issues of enclosure and uncaring landlords. He takes a moralistic tone.

3
Q

Why was sheep farming more appealing than growing crops and what issues did this cause?

A

There was an increase in the demand for cloth and sheep farming required less labourers.

This caused unemployment and enclosure, in addition to contributing to rising grain prices.

4
Q

True or false: Contemporaries were unaware of inflation as an issue.

A

False. They were aware of inflation but not of population growth as its cause.

5
Q

By what percentage did prices increase between 1508 and 1530?

A

69 percent

6
Q

How many years in Edward’s reign saw poor harvests, with not enough food to feed the population?

A

6

7
Q

What were the repercussions of the Dissolution of the Monasteries for the poor?

A

Previously, monasteries had helped and fed the poor.

8
Q

Which trade experienced a depression during this period?

A

The cloth trade

9
Q

By how much is it estimated that the population rose between 1525 and 1551?

What impact did this have on food resources?

A

From 2.3 million to 3million. The young population grew in particular.

Agricultural productivity was unable to keep up with population growth, made even more difficult by bad harvests. This caused inflation.

10
Q

What did the Vagrancy Act of 1547 do?

A

It condemned vagrants to slavery for 2 years for a first offence and life for a second

11
Q

What policy did Somerset continue in order to finance the war in Scotland and what issues did this cause?

A

He continued debasement, resulting in inflation rising even faster

12
Q

Many contemporaries believed that it was the greed of landowners and enclosure that was causing food shortages and poverty. What was Somerset’s response and how did this turn out?

A

Somerset established commissions in 1548 and 1549 to look into the problem of enclosure but landowners blocked any attempt to legislate, forcing Somerset to issue proclamations to force landowners to reverse their policy. This lost him the support of landowners but caused the poor to view him as their champion. When legislation failed, they took the law into their own hands and rebelled, believing Somerset would support them.

13
Q

Why is the summer of 1548 significant?

A

Rural riots occurred in England and the Privy Council voiced opposition to Somerset’s policies and Hale’s commission

14
Q

Why was Somerset’s policies more susceptible to opposition than that of royals?

A

He lacked the trappings of royal authoritiy. There had been fears about unrest early on and the clergy was instructed to preach obedience.

15
Q

How many counties saw unrest in the summer of 1549?

A

25

16
Q

When was the new Prayer Book introduced and what did this spark?

A

June 1549

The Western/Prayer Book rebellion

17
Q

True or false: Demands from the Western rebellion that have survived imply that it was largely religiously motivated but Edward’s journal implies that economic plight was also a motive

A

True

18
Q

List as many causes for the Western rebellion as you can (8 in total)

A
  • Continuation of general unrest
  • Recently implemented poll tax on sheep
  • Lack of local power
  • Cornwall’s ancient wish for independence
  • The destruction of the monasteries
  • The execution of 28 Catholic cornishmen
  • Destruction of Catholic practices and rituals and the introduction of the new prayer book
  • Resentment of the gentry classes
19
Q

When was William Body murdered in Helston, Cornwall? Who was he?

A

April 1548

He was a local archdeacon and Protestant sympathiser who supervised the destruction of images

20
Q

Describe the beginnings of the Prayer Book rebellion

A

A significant numbr of peasants gathered at Bodmin to protest against the Act of Uniformity, led by Sir Humphrey Arundell. On Whit Monday a larger distrubance began at Sampford Courtenay, with the inhabitants insisting that the proest said mass according to old customs. The rising spread so that by 20th June rebels from Devon and Cornwall joined forces at Crediton.

21
Q

Provide two examples of the Western rebels attacking the gentry class

A
  1. In Cornwall they attacked and robbed the gentry at St Michael’s Mount and at Bodmin they shouted “kill the gentlemen”
  2. In Devon, the rebels killed William Hellyons, a member of the gentry class who had resisted them and plundered Trematon Castle
22
Q

Historian Barrett Beer has said that “the charred barns and houses stood as grim reminders of the widening cleavage between landowning gentry and the masses of working men and women” - what is he referring to?

A

The government response to the Western rebellion, when they burnt down rebel defences at Crediton

23
Q

True or false: The mayor of Exeter was sympathetic with the rebel’ demands.

A

True but pressure from central govt meant he had to defend the city in a 6 week long siege. He encouraged wealthy citizens to organise continual guard and provide poor relief for fear of sympathetic poor rising up within the city and supporting the rebels.

24
Q

How did the Western rebellion end?

A

On the 6th August 1549, Lord Russell relieved the town of Exeter and 10 days later led 8000 men against the rebels who had reformed in Sampford Courtenay. A 3 pronged attack was launched by Russell, Grey and Herbert. 4000 men lost their lives and the rebels were defeated.

25
Q

What were the impacts of the Western rebellion?

A
  • Weakened Somerset’s govt
  • Many rebels escaped, including Arundell who was only captured later
  • Further orders were issued to continue the onslaught and under Sir Anthony Kingston, govt forces moved throughout Devon and Cornwall killing many people.
26
Q

List 9 ways that the Western Rising was a threat to the government

A
  • Strong leadership
  • Force of around 6000, representing all social classes
  • Rebels were divided into military detachments
  • Aims of rebels were clear - expressed in 8 articles
  • Arundell wanted to march on London
  • Unrest in London at the same time left the city vulnerable
  • They initially underestimated the rebellion as Carew was unable to meet with and defeat it with his small force
27
Q

List 5 ways the Western rebellion was not a threat to the government

A
  • They did not seek to overthrow Edward
  • Arundell mistimed his capture of Exeter as he didn’t realise they wouldn’t surrender and this gave Lord Russell time to move
  • The rebellion was, in the end, confined to the West
  • No foreign support (but the govt had mercenaries)
  • In hindsight, the govt would not have succumbed to the demands
28
Q

When and where did Kett’s rebellion occur?

Where else did uprisings occur in this month?

A

July 1549, in East Anglia

Yorkshire, Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire

29
Q

What percentage of people earned 60% of the goods in Norwich? What does this show?

A

6%

Huge inequality

30
Q

How did Kett’s rebellion begin?

A

It started as an enclosure riot in Norfolk, where rioters were particularly angry with a local lawyer who had bought the local abbey church, demolished it and started to enclose land.

31
Q

True or false: The leader of the rebellion, Kett, had enclosed land himself

A

True and the lawyer who had bought the church attempted to turn the tables

32
Q

With how many men did Kett march towards Norwich?

A

16,000

33
Q

How many demands did Kett’s rebels have?

A

29

34
Q

List 5 agricultural reasons for the Kett’s rebellion

A
  1. Enclosures
  2. Selling produce at high prices
  3. Concern about fishing rights
  4. Gentry manipulation of foldcourse system
  5. Enclosure of saffron grounds
35
Q

What were the socio-economic reasons for the Kett’s rebellion? (3)

A
  1. Concern about social structure and breakdown of local govt
  2. Resentment of the gentry classes (Tree of reformation)
  3. Poverty and vagrancy (caused by rising rents, lack of food)
36
Q

True or false: Kett’s rebels were Catholic

A

False, they were Protestant and willed the government to dismiss clergy that were not ‘capable’ of providing good quality Protestant sermons

37
Q

True or false: There was justice and order in the East Anglian rebel camps

A

True, largely. They provided their own food and drink. The gentry were brought to trial at the ‘tree of reformation’, although most often killed. One member of the gentry is reported to have tried to negotiate with them though and was instead attacked and just escaped with his lfe.

38
Q

How many men did the government send with the Marquis of Northampton to try and defeat the rebels?

Did they succeed?

A

14,000

No they were defeated

39
Q

When and where were Kett’s rebels massacred and defeated? By who?

A

In August 1549, they were massacred by The Earl of Warwick’s forces in Dussindale.

40
Q

List 9 ways in which the Kett rebellion was a threat to the govenrment

A
  • Strong leadership
  • Peasants and rebels outnumbered gentry
  • Camps set up - ‘co-ordinated planning throughout the region’, according to MacCulloch
  • Some rebels had previous experience of local govt (eg. some were bailiffs)
  • Geographically close to London
  • Northampton’s army failed to defeat them
  • Govt did not see ‘rebellion of belly’ as a threat
  • Had the support of middle classes
  • There was internal conflict in the PC at the time
41
Q

How was the Kett’s rebellion not a threat to the government?

A
  • They were largely Protestant and therefore supporters of Somerset
  • Their aim was to negotiate, not attack
42
Q

What happened on the 25th January 1554?

A

Thomas Wyatt (along with Croft and Carew) raised the standard at Maidstone to signal the outbreak of rebellion.

43
Q

Who was Thomas Wyatt?

A

Sheriff of Kent and leading Kent landowner from a family and group of the gentry that were supportive of the Tudors.

44
Q

Who was Sir Peter Carew?

A

Sheriff & MP for Devon who dealt with the Catholic rising in Devon in 1549 on behalf of the Duke of Somerset.

45
Q

What did the rebels plan as an alternative to Mary marrying Philip?

A

They planned to marry Princess Elizabeth to Courtenay, but this plan was leaked to Gardiner and Wyatt was forced to raise a force earlier than he expected.

46
Q

What were the political reasons for Wyatt’s rebellion? (3)

A
  • Gentry feared losing positions at court due to the Spanish nobility
  • People thoought Philip would drag England into the Hasburg wars
  • There was a fear that England would become a satellite country to Spain
47
Q

Give one economic reason for people partaking in Wyatt’s rebellion

A

There had been a steep rise in unemployment due to the reduction of the cloth trade, specifically in Kent.

48
Q

What were the social/religious reasons for people taking part in Wyatt’s rebellion? (3)

A
  • Xenophobic attitudes
  • As a woman, in the eyes of society Mary would be subservient to her husband and therefore a marriage to Philip would be symbolic of England’s subservience to Spain.
  • Protestants did not want Mary to make England Catholic once more
49
Q

True or false: In Thomas Wyatt’s proclamation, he promised “before God” that he sought to do “no harm” to Mary and claimed the rebels were writing as “friends”

A

True, he claimed to just be offering “better advice”

50
Q

How many rebels joined Wyatt at the beginning of the rebellion?

A

800, this grew to 3,000 after the Duke of Norfolk’s men and others joined him.

51
Q

What happened on the 27th January 1554?

A

Mary names Wyatt and his 800 rebels as traitors. 800 Londoners lead by Norfolk called ‘The Whitecoats’ march to battle rebels but ditch and join Wyatt. In Rochester he was also met by supporters from other areas who shared his views. He now had roughly 3000 rebels in his army

52
Q

When did Mary offer to review the rebels’ grievances if they disbanded?

A

31st January 1554

53
Q

What were Wyatt’s rebels movements on the 3rd and 6th Feb?

A

3rd Feb - The rebels arrive at Southwark, on the South bank of the Thames but have to cross the river to reach London because of defense on the bridge.

6th Feb - They leave Southwark and march to Kingston where there is virtually no resistance as they march into central London.

54
Q

How did Mary gain public support during the Wyatt’s rebellion?

A

She appeared at the Guildhall (the same place where election speeches would take place) and addressed a crowd, claiming she loved her subjects as her children.

55
Q

How did Wyatt’s Rebellion end on the 7th February?

A

Rebels appear in central London causing mass panic of the public. However, as Wyatt’s army take their positions, the Royal Army prepare to attack and easily win as they are larger and not worn out like Wyatt’s army was after all the travelling. Wyatt tried to storm the gates at Ludgate but was unable to as the general public had also started to fight against them. Wyatt then surrendered to avoid further conflict.

56
Q

Who confessed involvement in the Wyatt’s rebellion (suggesting he was bitter)?

A

Edward Courtenay

57
Q

What were the 3 main impacts of the Wyatt’s rebellion?

A
  • 90 rebels were killed, including Wyatt, the Duke of Suffolk and the innocent Lady Jane Grey
  • Mary decided to not disinherit her Protestant sister, Elizabeth, from the throne but she was imprisoned.
  • Parliament also prevented the coronation of Philip of Spain
58
Q

What are the 4 main reasons why Wyatt’s Rebellion failed (aside from the fact that it was in the middle of winter)?

A
  • Weak leadership. Wyatt could only raise forces from Kent.
  • Wyatt wasn’t known outside of Kent. Therefore there was not enough national support as he wasn’t able to rally troops outside of his area.
  • Lack of organisation and unity amongst the rebels. They were rebelling for different reasons: Mary’s proposed marriage, poverty, religion.
  • Although an elite rebellion, there was not enough of the ruling class rebelling to motivate ordinary people to join the rebellion.
59
Q

How many commoners did Mary execute after the rebellion and what does this suggest?

A

Less than 100

Suggests either that she didn’t feel threatened by the rebellion or that she was cautious in her reponse for fear of provoking further unrest

60
Q

Which of the elite were scrutinised as a result of the Wyatt’s rebellion?

A
  • Wyatt and Suffolk were executed
  • Croft was imprisoned
  • Carew fled to France
  • Courtenay and Elizabeth were interrogated and imprisoned