Causes of the Pilgrimage of Grace

Question 1

Religious causes

Answer 1

• Dissolusion of the monastries (1536-47 raised 1.3 million) and the govt officials’ activities sparked the Lincolnshire Uprising and wider discontent about the general direction of Henry’s religious policies as the North was a Catholic Stronghold.
• The Act of Supremacy 1534 was shaped by reformers like Cromwell and Crammer, trying to alter practices which might affect what happened to a soul caused both fear and anger.
• Name of ‘Pilgrimage’ of Grace suggests the rebels modelled themselves on the traditional Catholic rite of pilgrimage and further reinforced by taking an the oath. Wished to ‘protect the King against the enemies of the common wealth’.
• 9/24 of the Pontefract articles were religious based (e.g restoring authority to the Pope).

Question 2

Economic causes

Answer 2

• Poverty and unrest because of the dissolution of the monasteries (a lifeline to the local communities in times of need) = provided education, employment, landlords and alms.
• N. Eng suffered from discontent - exacerbated by tax and subsidies = 1534 subsidy was particularly controversial because it was levied during peacetime and raised rumours that the govt planned other taxes = hit the North hard as it coincided with 2yrs of bad weather and poor harvests.
• Discontent increased via methods of collecting subsidies = increased govt intrusion as commissioners were used to inquire into each person’s ability to pay.
• Anger about the demands placed by landlords - entry fines and enclosure (not always a issue - York suffered).

Question 3

Political causes

Answer 3

• Dislike of Cromwell and evil counsellors - nobility resented his power and position in spite of his low status, with pilgrims claiming one of their aims was to protect Henry.
• Dislike of Henry’s annulment with Catherine of Aragon. Although Anne Boleyn had been unpopular as Catherine’s replacement as a rumoured Protestant, her execution in 1536 on trumped-up charges of adultery and treason undermined the monarchy’s prestige and the King’s personal reputation.
• Conflict between Conservatives and Reformers at Court - the former (Bishop Stephen Gardiner and Thomas Howard, Duke of Norfolk) resisted religious changes of the Reformers, led by Cranmer and Cromwell.
• Historian Elton argues it was a court-based plot by the Conservative faction to restore Mary Tudor to the royal succession, remove Cromwel and repeal the Act of Supremacy 1534.