Rebellions of 1549

Western Rebellion (1549)

• Major uprising in Devon and Cornwall against the Edwardian Reformation

• Sparked by the Book of Common Prayer and economic hardship

• Led by Humphrey Arundell - demanded restoration of Catholic practices and protested taxation

Western Rebellion - Why important

• Largest Tudor rebellion since the Pilgrimage of Grace (1536)

• Revealed deep regional and religious divisions

• Forced Somerset to divert troops from Scotland and France

• Contributed directly to Somerset’s downfall

Western Rebellion - Causes

• Religious: Protestant liturgy alienated Catholic Cornwall

• Economic: Wheat prices quadrupled (1547–49)

• Social: Enclosure reduced common land

• Cultural: Destruction of Glasney College ended Cornish scholarship and language

• Political: Fear of confiscation of church goods after William Body’s investigations

Western Rebellion - Trigger

• Whitsunday 1549: Priest at Sampford Courtenay forced to revert to Latin Mass

• William Body’s murder (1548): Sparked reprisals and executions of 28 Cornishmen

• Act of Uniformity (1549): Made Latin rites illegal

Western Rebellion - Events

• Rebels assembled at Bodmin and joined Devon insurgents

• Siege of Exeter lasted six weeks

• The city defended staunchly

• Somerset underestimated revolt - Lord Russell sent with small force

• Reinforcements arrived August: 8,000 mercenaries crushed rebels at Sampford Courtenay • Over 5,500 deaths, including 3,000 in battle

Western Rebellion - Consequences

• Harsh reprisals: executions without trial, property confiscations • Cornish language declined

• No Bible translation ever produced

• Strengthened anti-English sentiment in Cornwall • Somerset’s credibility fatally damaged

Western Rebellion - Why did it fail

• Poor coordination and leadership

• No march on London

• Strong defence of Exeter

• Arrival of professional armies and foreign mercenaries

• Lack of noble support

Western Rebellion - Threat level

• High regionally, limited nationally

• Required two armies and lasted two months

• Did not threaten monarchy directly

• Estimated 30,000 involved, 3,000 killed, 5,500 total deaths

Kett’s Rebellion (1549)

• Large-scale uprising in Norfolk led by Robert Kett • Protested enclosure abuses and demanded religious reform • Centred at Mousehold Heath overlooking Norwich

Kett’s Rebellion - Why important

• Showed disillusionment with Somerset’s social policy

• Demonstrated strength of Protestant radicalism in East Anglia

• Directly led to Somerset’s political collapse and rise of Northumberland

Kett’s Rebellion - Causes

• Economic: Enclosure of common land rack-renting and overstocking by landlords

• Religious: Desire for better preaching and resident clergy + Protestant reform too slow

• Social: Anger at local lawyer John Flowerdew for demolishing abbey and enclosing land

• Industrial: Collapse of textile trade left thousands unemployed

Kett’s Rebellion - Trigger

• 6–8 July 1549: Drunken feast at Wymondham turned violent fences torn down

• Flowerdew’s dispute provoked riot

Kett’s Rebellion - Events

• Rebels marched to Norwich camped at Mousehold Heath with 16,000 followers

• Produced 29 Articles demanding social and religious reform

• Marquis of Northampton sent with 1,800 troops - defeated and fled

• Earl of Warwick (Northumberland) arrived with 12,000 men and German mercenaries

• Battle of Dussindale (27 August): 3,000 rebels killed + Kett captured

Kett’s Rebellion - Consequences

• Kett hanged at Norwich Castle (26 Nov)

• Only 49 executions - relatively lenient

• Exposed Somerset’s weakness Warwick’s success made him Protector

• Highlighted failure of enclosure commissions

Kett’s Rebellion - Why did it fail

• Kett’s poor military judgement - abandoned fortified camp

• Inferior weaponry and organisation

• Government’s professional army and foreign troops

• No intent to overthrow monarchy

Kett’s Rebellion - Threat level

• Severe local threat - captured Norwich, England’s second largest city

• Not national - rebels loyal to Edward VI

• Politically fatal to Somerset, but monarchy secure

• 16,000 rebels, 3,000 killed, 49 executed

Comparison of Rebellions

• Western: Religious (Book of Common Prayer), 30,000 rebels, 5,500 deaths, harsh suppression

• Kett’s: Economic (Enclosure), 16,000 rebels, 3,000 deaths, lenient punishment • Both revealed Somerset’s weakness and led to his fall

Overall significance

• Both rebellions showed Somerset’s mismanagement and fragile social order

• Neither aimed to overthrow Edward VI

• Western: religious conservatism and regional identity

• Kett’s: social justice and Protestant idealism

• Together, they marked the most widespread unrest of the Tudor century