Western Rebellion Flashcards
(19 cards)
What year was the western rebellion?
1549
What was the duration of the Western Rebellion?
May - August 1549
Who led the rebellion?
Commons rising, later led by Sir Humphrey Arundell
Articles of Protest written by Robert Welsh
Main causes of the rebellion?
Significant religious element – concern at introduction of new more strictly Protestant prayer book by Edward VI, bans on festivals and pilgrimage
Hatred of the government’s greedy and careerist main agent in the area, William Body – a protégé of Thomas Cromwell
Subsidiary causes of the rebellion?
Long term economic problems – population, inflation, enclosure
Government introduction of a poll tax on sheep
1548 was the first poor harvest for 16 years.
Class antagonism - Mayor of Exeter feared fighting the rebels
Outcome of the rebellion?
Siege of Exeter by rebels, battle afterwards in which 4,000 rebels are killed by a government force of German mercenaries.
Government does not make concessions to the rebels.
Humphrey executed a year later.
Degree of threat?
Medium. There was widespread discontent, but no rebel advance into southern England as in 1497. Somerset was distracted by Kett or things would have been over sooner.
What two places did the rebellion arise from? Why is this important?
Cornwall and Devon
They were very poor and are a bastion of Catholicism. Also very upset by the rumours of a sheep tax which would highly affect them.
What happened when William Body arrived in Devon? What’s he doing there?
He was checking to see that all catholic images had been destroyed.
At the Parish of St Keverne, a mob led by the local priest attacked and killed him.
How did the new prayer book cause discontent after the death of Body?
The Anglican new prayer book and English-language Bible being introduced on Whitsunday 1549.
What landowner decided to respond to the new protestant prayer book?
Sir Humphrey Arundell
What did Arundell do?
Drew up a petition demanding the reinstatement of the old forms of worship. Protesters began to gather around this.
Was Somerset slow or quick to respond to Arundell’s demands?
Slow to respond.
Rebels failed to disperse and after 7 weeks did Somerset send troops.
What were possible reasons of Somerset’s delayed response?
Distance from London - reducing threat and Somerset didn’t want to stray too far
Somerset did not want to be hastily aggressive the rebels
How did Arundell take advantage of the government’s slowness?
Arundel and his rebels set up a camp on Bodmin Moor and 2,000 men eventually decided to lay siege to the largest city in the area, Exeter. Turning it into an open rebellion.
How long was the siege as an open rebellion?
6 weeks
Who did Somerset send to put down the siege?
Lord Russel
How did Lord Russel put down the siege?
Arrived with an army of 8,000 well armed and ruthless German mercenaries. They attacked the rebels in August 1549 and killed more than 4,000 in a general massacre. Robert Welsh and Humphrey Arundell were executed.
Reasons for failure
No clear achievable aims – rebels’ articles demanded things the government could not grant, such as abandonment of the Reformation. This forced the government to fight
Rebel leadership poor – moved slowly and allowed themselves to be bogged down in siege of Exeter
