Amicable Grant

Definition?

Non-parliamentary tax which commissioners were ordered to collect in spring of 1525

What were some objections to paying?

W had already taken £260000 in forced loans and these had not been paid back

Church had been taxed excessively

Since 1513, W introduced tax assessments based on land, income and personal assets and collected whichever yielded the highest tax, rate too high and many couldn’t pay

Who did the AG make excessive demands on?

Clergy and laity

What did contemporaries think of AG?

exploitative policy, rising unemployment in area of rebellion that added to resentment

What occurred in April 1525?

Small number of people refused to pay AG

What did protestors plan to do?

March 50 miles from Lavenham to London to confront W with their complaints

What stance did W take towards the marchers at first?

Uncompromising stance towards reluctant taxpayers and sympathetic commissioners

What did H decide to do by 25th Apr?

Informed lord mayor and alderman that AG would be halved

What did the D of Norfolk and Suffolk do?

Sent to dispense 4000 rebels at Lavenham, had issue as S’s army of retainers were smaller than rebel force

How was Suffolk overwhelmed?

He waited for N to join him with more troops, and tried to put down rebellion by destroying bridges, number of rebels grew to 10000

Who was sympathetic to rebels?

Member of kings council, archbishop of canterbury and royal councillors

Who did H blame for the withdrawal and failure of AG?

Wolsey, this gave the government credit and H enhanced his reputation

What did W do for revenge?

Brought 16 ringleaders to trial in London and found them guilty of treason and then released them due to H’s pressure, some paid compensation by prison keeper

How was the tax reassessed?

When H collected benevolences in 1540s he targeted wealthier groups rather than the poor