Reason for pilgrimage of grace

• Religious

  • North were mainly catholic people felt their faith was under threat.
  • Dissolution of smaller monasteries we’re seen as an unforgivable act on religion
  • dissolution creates fear that churches would be next
• Social.

  • The monasteries provided travellers with a safe space to stay.
  • The work of nuns and monks were important for the whole community
  • monasteries provided for the hungry, sick and poor. People were angry that was under threat
• Political.

  • Northen nobility felt the court was too under the influence of Cromwell.
  • Dislikes Cromwell for his low birth and his religious reformist ideas
  • Hoped an uprising would increase their power in court and weaken cromwell.
• Economic.

  • Poor harvest in 1533 and 1536 made life difficult.
  • commoners had complaints about rising rents and enclosures on land.
  • 1533 subsidy tax will be collected in 1536. Supposed to be only at war and England was at peace. Deeply resented.