Edward VI: Society

• Western Rebellion Causes:

  Iconoclasm, also the murder of Archdeacon William Body in 1548. 1549 Book of Common Prayer perceived as too Protestant.

  Resentment of 1549 Sheep tax and inflation were also driving factors.
• June 1549: Arundell led rebellion in Devon, advocating Latin Mass, Transubstantiation and Icons to be restored. Local Gentry failed to deal with this. 6,000 Rebels take over Exeter, defeated after 6 weeks with 3,000 rebels killed.
• Kett Rebellion Causes: Belief in the corruption of Local Officials
• July 1549: Robert Kett's enclosures attacked, but he joined the rebels. 16,000 men eventually took Norwich. Pardons offered for dispersal, but this did not happen. Earl of Northampton failed, but Earl of Warwick crushed the rebels, killing 3,000. Kett and 49 others executed in November.
• Debasement brough £537,000 but exacerbated inflation
• 1547: Chantries Act closed 2,400 chantries

  Vagrancy Act ordered relief for impotent poor, vagrants to be punished by two years of slavery, life of slavery or death depending on whether it was the first offence. Repealed 1550.

  Court of Requests established to hear poor cases against the wealthy
• 1548: Statutes against enclosure enforced

  1549: Personal Property and Sheep Tax introduced. Repealed by 1550 due to unpopularity
• 1550: New Treason Act restored censorship.
• 1551: Coinage debased for the final time. Silver coins became 75% Copper
• 1552: Coins reminted with old metal content levels

  New Poor Law created to designate responsibility for raising poor funds to Parish

  Cabot's trading company set up
• 1553: Richard Chancellor established relations with Czar Ivan IV of Muscovy.

  Financial situation stabilised, but no new tax permitted, meaning £140,000 of Crown lands had to be sold