Tudors - Depth Studies

(Causes) Religious causes of the Pilgrimage of Grace

• Mostly viewed as a religious rebellion however this view is challenged by G.Elton who believes it was caused by court factions in support of Catherine of Aragon

• 9 / 24 demands + head demands were religious

• Attacked recent changes and traditional practices, e.g. abolition of saints days and holy days

• Attacked new taxes on baptism, burial and marriage

• Attacked reformist bishops such as Cranmer

• Closure of small monasteries

• Religious imagery and undertones - five wounds of christ banner and pilgrims oath

(Causes) Political causes of the Pilgrimage of Grace

• G. Elton argues it was caused by court factions in favour of Catherine of Aragon

• Henry VIII’s centralising policy created further anger, Hussey and Darcy had lost out

• North appeared excluded from decision making → later solved with council of the north showing this was a problem

• Traditional advisers replaced by Cranmer, Cromwell and Rich who were attacked

• Rebels wanted Mary’s restoration and a northern parliament

(Causes) Economic and social causes of the Pilgrimage of Grace

• 1534 Subsidy act in attempt to raise money in peacetime

• Poor harvests in 1535 and 1536

• Enclosures were a problem in Lakes and West Yorks

• Complaints over entry fines and tax rumours on sheep and cattle

(Causes) Was the Pilgrimage of Grace multi-causal?

• Response to changes that affected the North

• E.g. Monasteries closing impacted religion, economics, charity, education, health and hospitality

(Nature) Debate around the nature of the Pilgrimage of Grace

Centres around who actually led the lincolnshire and Pilgrimage of grace rebellions

(Nature) Role of Court Factions in the POG

• Leaders from court had lost their positions and disliked Cromwell and Anne Boleyn

• Hussey and Darcy played a key role in the rising, Hussey was Mary’s Chamberlain

• Centralisation undermined their positions in the North, outsiders such as the Duke of Suffolk was given land in Lincolnshire

(Nature) Role of the Gentry in the POG

• Organisation suggests it wasn’t spontaneous → only gentry could organise on such a scale, e.g Robert Aske (lawyer)

• Some demands like the Statute of Uses only affected the gentry

  → Names of heretics such as Ecolampadius + Rastall would not be known to the commons

(Nature) Role of the Commons in the POG

• Rebel armies mostly commons

• Pressured Gentry into leadership

• Rebellion was originally known as ‘The Pilgrimage Of Grace for the Commonwealth’

• Concerns over taxation, tenants rights and wealth of local churches

• In Lincolnshire, original leaders were yeomen, tradesmen, churchwardens and parish constables

(Nature) Role of the Clergy in the POG

• Clergy and monks played a significant role → lives most badly hit by changes

• Louth rising was encouraged by a priest and clergy supplied money

(Impact) Debate around impact of the POG

• Period after POG suggests reforms slowed, fearing further unrest

• Some argue the pace of change increased as Henry VIII did not trust monks and clergy

• Largest rebellion, outnumbered government 5:1

• Challenges to government policy were a serious threat

(Impact) Evidence that change slowed down after the POG

• 1537 Bishops Book restored traditional practices and 4 lost sacraments

• 1539 - Act of 6 Articles confirmed some Catholic practices, e.g. Transubstantiation (bread and wine changes into body and blood- catholic belief)

• Radical preaching attacked

• Cromwell removed in 1540

(Impact) Evidence that change sped up after the POG

• Dissolution of larger monasteries

• Henry sees clergy as loyal to only the Pope

• 1539 Great Bible + 1538 Injunctions (court order that tells someone to do/stop doing something) discouraged pilgrimages and removed relics from churches

(Impact) Threat of the POG to the Tudor regime

• 40,000 pilgrims vs 8,000 forced Henry and Norfolk to negotiate and play for time

• Took 2nd city of York and Pontefract Castle, ‘gateway to the South’

• Royal authority less strong in the North, loyalty of nobles was weak to respond

• Widespread support from all classes

• Direct challenge to gov policy - attacking both religion and succession

(Impact) Dealing with the impact of the POG

• Council of the North

• Taking control of Scottish borders

• Loyal gentry brought in over nobility

• Concessions (grants) only given to economic issues such as subsidy and entry fines, not religious and political ones