Pilgrimage of Grace

• The Dissolution of the Monastries


  The closing of smaller monastries across England
• What did the monastries provide for the commons?

  • Provided support and care for the poor, sick and elderly
  • Local employers and landlords
  • Provided education
• What united the common and the gentry?

  • The closing of the monastries - not wanting to go to hell
• Licolnshire Rising, 1536

  • 10000 rebels
  • Both gentry and commons
  • local reation to rapid change
  • Caused by high level gov intervention
• Why did the Lincolnshire Rising fail?

  • Rebels loyal to Henry
  • When threatened with punishment, gentry backed down
  • Was meant to rebel with Yorkshire - went too early
• Pigrimage of Grace, 1536-37

  • 40000 rebels
  • Fast spreading
  • Well organised
  • Both commons and gentry
  • Ended with negotiations
• Who lead the Pilgrimage of Grace?

  Robert Aske
• What were the Pontefract Articles?


  Demands drawn up by the rebels that were sent to Henry
• Who was sent for negotiations?

  Duke of Norfolk
• Why did the Pilgimage of Grace fail?

  • Aske was too naive to believe Henrys promises
  • Rebels not willing to over throw Henry
  • Rebels pardoned
• Why was Aske a good leader?

  • Gentry lawyer - could communicate between rebels, gentry and the Duke of Norfolk
  • Rebellion well organised
  • Kept it peaceful - a Pilgrimage
• Bigods Rising, 1537

  • Former pilgrims realised Henry tricked them
  • Planned to take Scarborough and Hull
  • Bigod captured Feb 1537
• Why was Bigods Rising such a failure?

  • Bigod Captured after a month
  • Only had 200 rebels
  • Broke the terms of Henrys pardon - He punished rebel leaders
• How did Henry punish rebel leaders?


  Executed 144 rebels - including Aske, Bigod, Sir Thomas Percy and Lord Hussey
• Why was the Pilgrimage of Grace a Threat?

  • Enormous logistical challenge to Henrys government - Duke of Suffolk occupied with Licolnshire Rising
  • Nobles and Gentry joined
  • 30000 - 40000 rebels
  • Rebels well organised and in constant communication with each other
  • Duke of Norfolk forced to negotiate - an army of 8000 facing an army of 30000 - 40000
• Who did the Lincolnshire rebels blame for the DoM?


  Henrys advisors - believed they mislead the King
• What rebellion did Monks join?


  The Lincolnshire Rising
• Causes of the Lincolnshire Rising

  • Rapid and radical changes imposed by Henry
  • Commissioners overseeing Dissolution
• Causes of the PoG

  • Fear of the DoM which provided local charity
  • Fear of new taxes - Subsidy Act
  • Hardships - Poor harvest, Enclosure, High rents
• Causes of Bigods Rising

  • Local grievances overlandholding
  • Feared the kings pardon was just to get the rebels dispersed
• What is Enclosure?


  Incorporating smaller holdings of land into a larger farm, with the area being 'enclosed' with fencing or hedges