opposition and conformity

• Western Rebellion (1)

  Primary Cause - Religion:

  • The Western Rebellion was largely driven by religious discontent in the conservative counties of Devon and Cornwall
  • These regions were particularly hostile to the government's Protestant reforms, especially changes to long-standing Catholic practices
  • The first signs of unrest came in April 1549, when government agent William Body was killed while attempting to enforce the destruction of religious images, which sparked local anger
• Western Rebellion (2)

  Chantires and Guilds:

  • The dissolution of the chantries and the decline of local guilds, which traditionally supported Catholic practices like masses and prayers for the dead, further fueled regional discontent

  Prayer Book Liturgy:

  • The final trigger for the rebellion was the announcement on Whitsunday 1549 that the new Prayer Book liturgy must be used uniformly
  • This announcement came on one of the most important religious days, exacerbating tensions
  • Deparate risings in Devon and Cornwall quickly transformed into full-scale rebellion
• Western Rebellion (3): The Course of the Rebellion (1)

  Camp at Clyst St Mary:

  • The rebels, numbering 2,000 formed a large army and set up camp outside Clyst St Mary, occupying the main road to Exeter
  • The rebellion gained momentum, drawing widespread regional support, and the rebels marched under the banner of the Five Wounds of Christ, a Catholic symbol
• Western Rebellion (4): The Course of the Rebellion (2)

  Government Response:

  • Sir Peter Carew, an evangelical, was dispatched to address the situation but only aggravated the rebels further
  • Lord Russell was then appointed to restore order, but he initially had inadequate forces
  • By 2 July, the rebels laid seige to Exeter.
  • The city refused their demands, and the rebellion escalated
• Western Rebellion (5): The Course of the Rebellion (3)

  Battle and Defeat:

  • On 28 July, Lord Russell received reinforcements and launched an attack, breaking the siege and gaining control of Exeter
  • Russell's forces, numbering 8,000 moved through rebel strongholds, notably Sampford Courtenay
  • The rebels stood little chance against the better-equipped royal forces, and by the time the rebellion collapsed, about 4,000 men were killed
• Western Rebellion (6): The Course of the Rebellion (4)

  Reprisals:

  • After the rebellion's defeat, brutal reprisals followed
  • One of the most notable executions was that of robert webb, the priest of St Thomas, who was hanged in his vestments with religious items like a holy water bucket as part of his execution
• Western Rebellion (7): Causes Beyond Religion (1)

  Enclosure and Sheep Taxes:

  • The government's taxation of sheep and enclosures posed a particular concern in Devon and Cornwall, where much of the farming was pasture-based, making sheep farming critical

  Class Tensions:

  • The rebels' demands also included attacks on the gentry, challenging their right to employ servants and profiteering from the sale of chantry lands
• Western Rebellion (8): Causes Beyond Religion (2)

  Government Interference:

  • Perhaps most significantly, the people of the southwest deeply resented government interference
  • Up until 1549, the region had been largely independent, but Somerset's financial and religious policies presented a direct challenge to that autonomy
• Kett's Rebellion (1549) (1)

  Main Cause - Enclosure:

  • In East Anglia, the rebellion was more complex but also primarily focused on enclosure
  • The initial riot centered on the destruction of hedges used to enclose land, a practice that had become more common as landowners turned to sheep farming in response to rising wool prices

  Rack Renting:

  • Another major concern was rack-renting, where landlords increased rents to compensate for inflation, placing a heavy burden on tenants
• Kett's Rebellion (1549) (2)

  Criticism of Local Government:

  • Kett's rebellion was driven by anger towards the local gentry, justices of the peace, and landowners, who the rebels believed had betrayed the common people
  • Unlike the Western Rebellion, Kett and the rebels did not focus on religious issues but on economic grievances and the Protestant idea of the commonwealth - that property should be used for the benefit of all, not just the wealthy
• Kett's Rebellion (3): The Course of the Rebellion (1)

  Robert Kett's Leadership:

  • Ironically, Robert Kett, a landowner himself, joined the rebellion
  • By 10 July, the rebels had gathered at Mousehold Heath, near Norwich
  • Kett established a court of common law under the oak tree traditionally used to settle local disputes, symbolizing the rebels' desire for justice
• Kett's Rebellion (4): The Course of the Rebellion (2)

  Somerset's Response:

  • Unlike in the Western Rebellion, Somerset initially responded positively to the rebels' demands and attempted negotiation
  • This unprecedented approach, likely influenced by Protestant ideals of commonwealth and fairness, marked a significant departure from traditional royal responses to rebellion
• Kett's Rebellion (5): The Course of the Rebellion (3)

  Occupation of Norwich:

  • After initial talks broke down, the rebels armed themselves and took Norwich on 22 July
  • Attempts by William Parr, Marquis of Northampton, to negotiate and regain control failed, and the city fell back into rebel hands
• Kett's Rebellion (6): The Course of Rebellion (4)

  Military Action and Repression:

  • The rebellion was viewed as a serious threat by the Privy Council
  • A force of 12,000 men, led by the Earl of Warwick, was sent to crush the uprising
  • On 26 August, Kett made a strategic error by moving from the high ground of Mousehold Heath to Dussindale, where his forces were vulnerable
  • Warwick's army, reinforced by mercenaries, attacked on 27 August, killing 3,000 rebels
  • Kett was arrested and later executed
• Other riots (1)

  Wider Context of Rebellion:

  • Although the Western and Kett's Rebellions were the most significant uprisings, smaller-scale riots occured across England
  • Many involved the destruction of hedges and fences, symbolizing widespread opposition to enclosures
• Other riots (2)

  Somerset's approach:

  • Somerset's letters to protesters indicate that he was willing to make concessions, which likely encouraged further unrest
  • His response differed from that of Henry VIII, suggesting he was more sympathetic to the grievances of the "middling sort" and sought to redress their concerns
  • This approach, however, also contributed to the view that Somerset had lost control
• Religious and Economic Motivations (1)

  Religious Beliefs:

  • Kett's rebbellion reflected some evangelical ideas, but religion was not a primary focus
  • The rebellion was largely driven by economic concerns and the idea that in a Protestant commonwealth property should serve the community
• Religious and Economic Motivations (2)

  Western Rebellion and Religious Resistance:

  • In contrast, the Western rebellion was rooted in opposition to religious reforms, especially the introduction of the Prayer Book
  • Other disturbances in Oxfordshire, Hampshire, and Yorkshire also reflected resistance to the religious changes of the Edwardian regime