TWE did rebellions have a greater impact on foreign policy than any other aspect of government and society.

Question 1

Foreign policy

Answer 1

Impact on relations with other countries:
• Warbeck had support from foreign powers affected Henry’s relationships:
- Burgundy, France, the Holy Roman Empire, and Scotland.
- Signed treaties of Etaples and Ayton to secure throne from Warbeck.

Impact on plans for war:
• Preparations to attack Scotland 1497 affected by Cornish – troops had to be recalled, embarrassing.
• Failure of Amicable Grant impact on Henry VIII’s plans to invade France in 1525. - Without extra money, couldn’t raise enough troops and equipment for campaign.
• 1549 rebellions encouraged France to declare war - compounding Somerset’s problems.

Ireland:
• Spain recognised the strategic opportunities that rebellion in Ireland presented.
- 1580 and in 1601 sent money, troops and priests to assist Irish rebels against the English
- Although neither expedition proved successful, they further damaged Anglo Spanish relations.

Question 2

Economic policy

Answer 2

Impact on taxation:
• Yorkshire, Henry VII agreed not to collect the tax, no fine.
• Cornish also relieved of paying war tax.
• Amicable Grant, no one paid any tax.

Impact on assistance for the poor:
• After Oxfordshire rising 1596, the Elizabethan council:
- gave sermons that advertised work gov doing to help poor
- reminded wealthier subjects of Christian duty to organise charity collections.

Question 3

Religious policy

Answer 3

• Tudors were unwilling to reverse or change their religious policies.
- Prompted rebellions particularly between 1536 and 1569.
• In some cases, rebellion did not seem to affect the government’s pursuing of reform.
E.g.
- PoG: 1538 Cromwell’s Injunctions removed saints, pilgrimages and holy days
- Mary went ahead with marriage to Catholic Philip II of Spain - in spite of Wyatt’s rebellion
• In some cases, rebellion pushed the government to continue reform even more quickly, contrary to what the rebels wanted.
E.g.
- PoG:
Made Henry VIII more determined to sever links with RCC
Dissolved larger monasteries 1537-8.
- Similarly, after Western, Edward pressed ahead with protestant reform.
Cranmer even more protestant book 3 years later.
- Mary stepped up campaign against heretics after Wyatt’s.
- After NE reaction to her religious settlement, 1571 council introduced penal laws specifically against Catholic recusants
• Occasionally, some legislation appeased the rebels.
E.g.
- Henry VIII’s Six Articles saw reversal of many Protestant measures.
- Kett’s rebels desired Protestant measures introduced that Western rebels opposed.
• Not a single religious revolt achieved its prime objectives.

Question 4

Crown servants

Answer 4

Rebellion put man advisers under pressure to resign:
• Many the subject of attack.
E.g. Morton, Bray, Wolsey, Cromwell, Audley, Rich, Cranmer, William and Robert Cecil

Some rebellions were direct attacks on advisors
E.g. Essex, Northern Earls.

Rebellions largely did not succeed in affecting crown servants:
• Although Wolsey’s relationship with Henry VIII worsened because Amicable Grant - survived 4 more years.
• HVIII kept council that had served him 1530s despite pressures - had served him well, rewarded role in defeating PoG

• Duke of Somerset only Minister forced from office as result of rebellion - not because the rebels demanded it but because he failed to suppress effectively & was overthrown by his fellow councillors.

Question 5

Royal authority

Answer 5

Rebellions often strengthened royal authority as it demonstrated to the government where tighter control was needed.

Increased authority by curbing noble involvement:
• 1487 Star Chamber Act - additional legal powers to deal with nobles.
• 1487 – Act of Livery and Maintenance limits number of servants and private armies

Reformed councils, JPs and magistrates to have more dependable force.
• HVIII reformed Council of the North - to strengthen his political hold and be able to quickly supress rebellion.
• HVIII purged magistrates – only those in whom he had full confidence remained.
• Elizabeth transferred power from sheriffs to JPs.
- Constant turnover of JPs 1570s built up a more dependable bench.

Royal authority in Ireland:
• Ireland, Silken Thomas, Henry VIII ended dominance of Geraldine’s, replaced with English officials.
• Ireland, political and financial cost. Geraldine cost gov £250,000. Tyrone £2 million.

Question 6

Social policy

Answer 6

Some rebellions meant that unpopular policy was removed:
E.g.
- Amicable Grant, parliamentary subsidy reassessed at more modest rates.
- Statute of Uses replaced 1540 following complaints by the gentry and lesser nobility
- After 1549 rebellions subsidy and vagrancy acts repealed.

Enclosure one of main issues affected by rebellion.
E.g.
- Edward introduced enclosure acts - protect peasants from future enclosure of the commons.
- 1597 Elizabeth prosecuted seven leading Oxfordshire landowners who had enclosed local common and wasteland.

In some cases rebellion led to a re-assessment of how to handle things:
E.g.
- PoG 1536-7 landlord-tenant relations examined in Kendal
- 1540s HVIII targeted wealthier groups when he collected benevolences
- Edward fixed grain prices, prohibited exports and maintained arable land
- Elizabeth passed two acts against the decaying of towns and the maintenance of tillage after Oxfordshire