Western Flashcards
What are the causes of the Western Rebellion ?
And evidence to support this ?
.Somerset’s failed enclosure review, in which enclosure policy was to be reviewed, but never was - anger against the gentry such as Kill the Gentlemen being called at Bodmin, and The murder of William Hellyons
. William Body ,who was set with task of investigating Church property leading to the rumour that Church property was to be confiscated - in 1548, Body murdered by 3000 priest led mob
. cultural differences between Cornwall and the rest of England, which caused divides and sense of separation - exacerbated by the catholic protestant split, leading to riots in London , where prayer-books were burnt
. Links to Kett - ridding social hierarchies within church led to increased receptivity to social standing - new government and council at tree of reformation where nobles would be tried at mock court and found guilty
. Increasing economic difficulties - 1549 subsidy tax which put tax on sheep and wool
What is the context behind the Western Rebellion?
. Somerset Protectorate and his Protestant policies (1547 act of uniformity and the introduction of the English prayer book) split the council, causing factional disputes and loss of control = 27 rebellions over the country in this year alone, and failure to fulfil promises over policies such as the enclosure policies, which links with sheep and wool tax (propped the Southern economy )
. Magnate power vacuum as Courtenay’s absent and John Russel in Devon, and the Exeter conspiracy in Exeter allowed rebellion to grow and develop
. Economic hardships - food prices increase by 15% , links with monastic enclosure (social housing eg Furness Abbey gave 12 pound a year to 8 local widows
who were the key figures ?
Arundell - rebel leader
Winslade - rebel leader
Bray - rebel leader , all of whom were minor gentry
Carew, Russel - defeating rebels
Cramner, -advisor whom rebels demanded to be removed
Cardinal Pole - Bishop who was demanded to be added to council
Seymour - Protectorate and leading country
what were the aims and demands of the rebels?
. Reverse protestant reforms (return :transubstantiation, rood screens, Latin prayer book, maintain six articles of faith , and presume old service of mass ) = called the English Prayer Book a christmas game , and demands largely religious, however demands largely written by clergy so better indicator would be burning of new english prayer book in London riots
. Reverse enclosure policy and economic policy - 1549 statute of uses put taxes on sheep and wool, which was main industry for Southern England
. Links to enclosure - reduce power of gentry - violence toward Hellyons , will body murder, kill the gentlemen
what were the main events of the Rebellion?
- No popish paraphenalia, no iconoclasm and no transubstantiation - William Body murdered after destroying images at Helston Church
Jan 1549 . (whitsunday) English book of Prayer introduced and enforcement of Act of Uniformity , Arundel chosen as leader
June 1549.St Michael Mount siege (gentry surrender ) , Trematon Castle attacked and Gentry imprisoned
Rebels re-meet at Crediton, where Barns are Burnt down by Government - aggravates rebels further
.Carew attempts to negotiate but chased out
. At Samford Courtenay , rebels force priests to wear vestments and take mass in latin
.6 week siege at exeter
. 15000 EA uprising
Fenny Bridges , Clyst Heath, St Marys
what rebel actions increased the threat?
. Attacking St michaels mount and trematon castle where gentry were taken and kidnapped, and Earl of Devon was put under House arrest
. William Hellyons and William Body murdered
. Class war united the nation against the government - 27 rebellion across the country - kill the gentlemen and
. war with scotland which may have given aid to the rebels
. Somerset 200 miles away and had to rely on out od date reports in order to tackle rebellion
. carrying fove wounds of christ which may have justifued rebellion, and given more support as well as possible gain of foreign support due to religious nature
. JPs went into hiding or joined the rebellion (such as
. Lord russel was absent in London and therefore unable to contain rebellion, and JPs not strong enough to do so
. Burning of new english prayer book in London, encouraged rebellion
. Kett rebellion happening simultaneously, whilst Somerste was 200 miles away
what rebel actions decreased the threat?
. polarisation of rebel leaders - 3 Cornish, 3 Devon and 3 Commons ( led to split aims of religious economic and social seen in actions )presented the list of demands, yet demands did not contain economic grievances, which were important in keeping commons united
. 6 week siege of Exeter ( as rebels were not permitted access ) gave time for government to gather troops and respond - particularly the Fenny Bridges battle with Russel who was able to gather Italian and German mercenaries
. Gentry in neighbouring counties were unwilling to lend their support to Russel, and therefore had to wait five weeks for supplies, which is even more important given that the rebels sieged Exeter for six weeks - had they acted earlier could have overcome forces and been more of a threat, especially considering context
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how did the government respond?
. At Exeter, the mayor gave out provisions to prevent the commons allowing rebel entry and prevent the commons joining the rebellion
. Somerset wrote to the Devon JPs , to tell them to persuade the rebels to stop rebellion
. Lord Russel had to wait five weeks to wait for ample enough soldiers to launch an attack on rebels
. Somerset gave Russel the troops meant for Scotland to tackle rebellion - 160 Italian, 1500 German and 400 English troops
. Battle of Clyst St Mary, Ferry Bridges and Clyst Heath
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what were the key demands of this rebellion?
. . Maintain six articles of faith . Mass in Latin . Prayers for Purgatory . Cardinal Pole on the council .restroation of some monastic land - could link into reducing power of the gentry links with enclosure and sheep taxes = evidence is hostility towards gentry robbing at st michales mount, kill the gentlemen, attacked trematon castle
however demands written by clergy, which make it seem as though rebellion demands were directed by clergyand orchestrated by the commons - directive language and aggressive language, considering that only priests and clergy could read and write
. only some political demands added following the return of cardinal pole
however could still be the principles of government attcking the commons belief particularly following the POG, na dconsidering the chain of being - somerset was not king, only protectorate, on a divided council, and therefore easier to rise up against
what is the impact of this rebellion ?
.see thematic mindmap
how much support did the rebels have ?
. vicars from ST Clare , St Uny joined rebellion at Exeter and even possibility that ST Thomas vicar united Devon and Cornish rebels
. Cross section of support - 8 JPs , two mayors, gentry and famers / commons but no nobles
. 2000 men at Exeter and 6000 at Crediton
. 15000, East Anglican rising
what were the battles and what happened?
Battle at Ferry Bridges = Russel attack the Cornish at exeter with 160 italian mercenaries and 1500 german mercenaries and 400 english mercenaries, yet Cornish reinforcements arrived and 300 dead on both sides
. Clyst St Marys - Grey mercenaries arrive taking number of mercenaries to 8000,and weakened cornish and devon forces - gave them an advantage for later in the day
rebels regroup in samford coutenay, cut outnumbered , and
. Clyst Heath - happened later in the day to st marys, Russel sieges rebels at samford courtenay, 900 devonshire and cornish men throats cut, clyst heath village burned down, Grey remarks that it was the bloodiest battle he had taken a part in
. Winslade and Arundel executed and dismebered
what were the main acts ?
. Act of unifromity - follow book of common prayer - important as this was written in english and cornish only understood the latin bible and cornish language - importance of social implication of english bible
. six articles of faith - articles following POG that gave catholic faith some standing by upholding some principles
