20. Wyatt’s Rebellion

Question 1

When was the rebellion planned?

Answer 1

November 1553, as soon as rumours of the marriage between Mary and Philip were drawn up

Question 2

Who originally formed the plan for the rebellion?

Answer 2

The Earl of Suffolk (father of Lady Jane Grey) in the Midlands, Sir James Croft in the Welsh borders, sir Peter Carew in the West Country, and Sir Thomas Wyatt in Kent

Question 3

Who did the rebels hope would support them?

Answer 3

The French fleet

Question 4

In the end where did the plan come to fruition?

Answer 4

Kent

Question 5

Who did the rebels plan to marry?

Answer 5

Princess elizabeth to sir Edward Courtenay

Question 6

When did the plan leak out?

Answer 6

January 1554, forcing the rebels into action

Question 7

What were the causes of the rebellion?

Answer 7

• Xenophobia
• Religion
• Economic factors
• Faction

Question 8

What proclamation was issued by Wyatt?

Answer 8

Declared the motivation for the rising to be Mary’s intention of marrying a foreigner, and included unfounded accusations that a hundred armed Spaniards had already arrived in Dover

Question 9

When was the xenophobic proclamation issued by Wyatt?

Answer 9

25 January 1554

Question 10

What happened when forces under the Duke of Norfolk were sent to put the rebellion down?

Answer 10

They deserted to the rebels and cried out ‘we are all englishmen’

Question 11

What is it possible that Wyatt was using the anti-Spanish sentiment as?

Answer 11

As a propaganda tool to gain support

Question 12

What religion was Wyatt?

Answer 12

A committed Protestant

Question 13

Where did many of Wyatt’s supporters come from?

Answer 13

Maidstone, a Protestant stronghold

Question 14

Who did Wyatt receive advice from?

Answer 14

The deprived Protestant Bishop of Winchester

Question 15

What happened when the rebels reached London?

Answer 15

They attacked the property of Gardiner, the newly restored Catholic Bishop of Winchester

Question 16

What prompted some of the poorer rebels to revolt?

Answer 16

The decline in the cloth trade

Question 17

Where did many of those who took part come from?

Answer 17

Cranbrook, which suffered particularly

Question 18

How many trades were involved in the rebellion?

Answer 18

30

Question 19

Why is the long list of trades involved important?

Answer 19

It makes it difficult to prove economic factors played a role in

Question 20

What did Mary’s arrival see?

Answer 20

A shake up in local office holding and many former supporters of the Edwardian regime lost positions

Question 21

What positions did the leaders of the rising hold?

Answer 21

Prominent positions in the Edwardian regime

Question 22

Who did the rebels want on the throne?

Answer 22

Lady Jane grey

Question 23

How was their concern over maintaining influence enhanced?

Answer 23

The expected arrival of large numbers of foreigners who would gain all the best jobs and gain access to patronage

Question 24

What happened in August 1553?

Answer 24

Initial discussion took place at court to discuss the possibility of engineering a Protestant discussion

Question 25

What happened on the 14th January?

Answer 25

The terms of the marriage treaty were announced

Question 26

What happened in mid-January?

Answer 26

Renard got wind of the plot, and Courtenay was made to confess all he knew

Question 27

What happened on the 25th January 1554?

Answer 27

Wyatt raised his standard in Maidstone to signify the start of the rebellion; the other locations did not join in

Question 28

Who did the government send forces under?

Answer 28

The Duke of Norfolk

Question 29

When did the government send troops under the Duke of Norfolk?

Answer 29

28 January

Question 30

What was Mary advised by her privy council?

Answer 30

To leave London, but she refused

Question 31

What happened on the 1 February 1554?

Answer 31

She rallied support with her Guildhall speech

Question 32

What happened on the 3rd February?

Answer 32

The rebels reached Southwark but were prevented from crossing to the city with the crowns forces holding London Bridge

Question 33

What happened on the 6th February?

Answer 33

The rebels moved to Kingston upon Thames and crossed the river there, moving back towards London

Question 34

What happened on the 7th February?

Answer 34

The rebels stopped at Ludgate on the edge of the city of London. Wyatt surrendered

Question 35

How many rebels were executed?

Answer 35

90, including Wyatt himself

Question 36

Who else was executed?

Answer 36

Lady Jane grey and Guildford, even though they were innocent

Question 37

What happened to Elizabeth?

Answer 37

She was imprisoned in the Tower of London, although later was released

Question 38

How did the rebellion threaten the stability of monarchy?

Answer 38

-the rebels planned to replace Mary with elizabeth, highlighting question marks over Mary’s legitimacy
-rising was close to London
-troops sent by the government deserted to the rebels
-if Wyatt had not delayed his march on London by laying siege on Cooling Castle, it might have been able to enter the city before Mary rallied her forces
-many nobleman appeared to be waiting to see how successful Wyatt was before committing their support to Mary, showing their genuine support was limited
-the marriage wasn’t popular
-no mass executions, showing Mary feared these might provoke unrest

Question 39

How did the rebellion not threaten the stability of the monarchy?

Answer 39

-Wyatt was able to gain the support of prominent figures
- Mary displayed political skill in overcoming the rebellion
-Mary’s rallying cry to the city in her guildhall speech showed the power of her legitimacy to gain support
-the rebellions of 1549 made the ruling classes fear mob rule, so legitimacy triumphed