Rebellion and Unrest

• CAUSES OF UNREST 1547-58

  social and economic problems

  • were usually underlying cause of unrest, included issues like:

  population growth

  rising prices

  poor harvests

  increasing poverty

  enclosure

  • enclosure did play a major role in the outbreak of Kett's rebellion in 1549
  • issue of enclosure led to establishment of Enclosure Commission by Somerset and it convinced peasants he was sympathetic to their cause
  • most likely led to unrest in summer of 1549 that gripped most of south England
• Factional and Political causes

  • accession of a minor in Edward VI increased factional conflict
  • as he was a minor it meant the government was in the hands of a group of councillors - Regency Council
  • members of council looked to increase their influence and increase personal wealth
  • was seen with the struggle in 1549 and early months of 1550 when Somerset was removed from power by a coup and Northumberland succeeded him
  • factional struggle continued with Somerset trying to regain power but executed in 1552
• Factional and Political Causes (2)

  • factional struggle continued with Somerset trying to regain power but executed in 1552
  • Northumberland tried to retain influence when Edward died by placing Lady Jane Grey on the throne
  • factional conflict under Mary was against her marriage to Phillip shown with Wyatt's Rebellion 1554
• Religious Change

  • introduction of a new prayer book in 1549 led to prayer book rebellion in 1549 as people in the west complained about the abolition of traditional religious practices - Kett's rebels had some religious grievances but unlike western rebels their demands were for further move towards Protestantism
  • potential restoration of Catholicism by Mary may have played a role in Northumberland decision to put Protestant Lady Jane Grey on the throne, similarly Wyatt's rebellion
  • however there is evidence these rebellions were more factional and political
• SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS

  • known as the underlying causes for unrest, while some historians blame landowners for being greedy
• Population Rise

  • for the first time since Black Death in 14th century, population was rising
  • it would appear from 1525 to 1551 population rose from 2.3 million to 3 million
  • this meant agricultural productivity was not able to keep up, so price of food rose - meaning when there was bad harvests it became a serious issue
  • structure of population changed to, with there being more young people who were too young to work and therefore dependency ratio increased
• Agricultural problems and enclosure

  • it was difficult to increase production levels of grain as people did not have fertilisers or were aware of crop rotation
  • many farmers switched from arable farming to sheep farming - was a problem as it required fewer labourers = unemployment
  • also led to the development of enclosure, Somerset tried to tackle it with Enclosure Commissions in 1548 and 1549 but attempts of legislation were blocked by gentry in parliament as they were gaining
• Price Rise

  • prices rose either due to the greed of landowners but most likely the population growth and inability of agricultural system to meet demand
  • situation was made worse by debasement of currency to finance war against France and Scotland in 1540s - meant more money was in circulation, rising prices
  • made worse with bad harvests from 1547 to 1558
  • poor suffered even more with the dissolution of the monasteries
• Poverty and Vagrancy

  • enclosure decreased the numbers needed in the workforce and a slump in cloth trade added to unemployment
  • prices rising also meant increased number of poor
  • authorities were worried these big groups would cause crime so government brought harsh measures like Vagrants Act in 1547 - meaning anyone out of work for the 3 days labelled a vagrant was condemned to slavery
• REBLLIONS OF 1549

  • late spring and summer of 1549 saw many rebellions in central and south of England
  • most rebellions put down by local gentry but Western and Kett's rebellion had to be put down with government troops
• Western Rebellion

  • usually called the prayer book rebellion suggesting it was religiously motivated - events like William Body being murdered when he came to supervise destruction of images suggest it was religious
  • large amount of people gathered at Bodmin to protest act of uniformity
  • major unrest started at Sampford Courtenay on Whitsunday, where locals protested about the New Prayer Book and insisted the priest uses the old one
  • protests soon spread and rebels from Devon and Cornwall met at Crediton
  • rebel demands were largely religious but was mainly because they were drawn up by priests
• Western Rebellion (2)

  • priests wanted to restore traditional doctrine and asserted a belief in transubstantiation and purgatory
  • however it appears initial complaints included an attack on the sheep and cloth tax, while actions of rebels shows they disliked the gentry:

  gentry were attacked and robbed at St Micheal's Mount

  at Bodmin they shouted 'Kill the Gentlemen'

  murdered William Hellyons who was a member of local gentry

  attacked Trematon Castle
• Western Rebellion (3)

  • rebels laid siege to Exeter, where there was fears that the city would be handed over to the rebels, which led to poor relief and food for the poor
  • rebels dislike for the gentry meant that when rebellion broke out they were unable to restrain the commons and the government had to send a force under Lord John Russell - they were slow to deal with unrest as they had to put down unrest in Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire en route
  • when they did arrive in the west country, number of skirmishes occurred before the rebels were finally defeated, 3000 rebels were killed #
• Kett's Rebellion

  • took place in East Anglia and took the name from the leader Robert Kett
  • began from enclosure riots in towns of Attleborough and Wymondham
  • rioters were angry that local lawyer John Flowerdew, had bought local abbey church and began to enclose the land
  • he attempted to turn the rebels against Kett who had also enclosed land but Kett turned it back on Flowerdew
  • Kett quickly raised 16,000 men who marched to Norwich and set up camp on Mousehold Heath
  • rebels offered pardon but this did not disperse them - instead they seized Norwich
• Kett's Rebellion (2)

  • government sent a force under Marquis of Northampton but it was defeated so Duke of Northumberland was sent
  • his force massacred the rebels at Dussindale outside Norwich killing 3000
  • Kett was hanged for treason but many rebels were treated leniently
• Rebel demands

  • agricultural demands = concern about enclosure, gentry abuse and overstocking land
  • economic concerns like rising rents
  • social grievances - gentry's manipulation of local government
  • religious concerns - they wanted better preachers and further reform /
• other unrest in 1549

  • evidence suggest it was caused by long term economic changes but also religion
  • there was opposition to enclosure with rebels attacking hedges
  • in Oxfordshire, Yorkshire, Hampshire it appears religious changes were the main cause
• THE LADY JANE GREY AFFAIR - Causes of the Plot?

  Political Issues

  • when Northumberland's son married Lady Jane Grey in May 1553 it was believed Edward's health was good and he'd live for a long time so Northumberland had little to gain from it politically
  • Edward's declining health changed the situation - the change made to the Devise meant Northumberland became father in law to the prospective Queen - this suggests that Northumberland was not plotting to further his political career
• THE LADY JANE GREY AFFAIR - Causes of the Plot?

  Religious Issues

  • Edward was a strong protestant and was concerned about his Catholic half sister taking the throne
  • when Northumberland's position changed he attempted to secure his position as he knew his protestant beliefs would see him excluded by Mary
  • Northumberland may have also thought he would gain support from elite as he restored stability after failings of Somerset's rule
  • might also be because those who gained lands via the Dissolution of the Monasteries would support him as they could lose it under Catholic Restoration
• The threat to Mary

  • Northumberland managed to have Lady Jane Grey as proclaimed Queen and if he had been able to capture Mary before she fled to East Anglia he might have succeeded
  • Northumberland initially had the support of the Privy Council but Mary raising a force and proclaiming herself Queen issuing proclamations and letters of summons to Charles V asking for help raised chances of civil war
  • Northumberland lost his advantage and was forced to leave London to confront Mary and this allowed members of the Privy Council to reconsider their views, but most gave their support to Mary.
• The threat to Mary (2)

  • Northumberland failed to gain support as he marched east with some of his own force deserting.
  • this forced him to abandon his march and retreat to Cambridge where he proclaimed Mary as Queen
• Aftermath

  • sudden collapse of the plot suggests it had no chance
  • this is reinforced with the enthusiasm Mary is greeted with when she enters London
  • some may have feared a return to instability so supported the legitimate ruler
  • however the leniency by Mary shown to many suggests her position was weak and needed support:

  she soon released Gardiner and Norfolk from jail

  she appointed Paget to Privy Council

  However Northumberland, Lady Jane Grey and Guildford Dudley were executed