Western Rebellion

Question 1

What’s another name for this rebellion?

Answer 1

The Prayer Book Rebellion

Question 2

Who was William Body?

Answer 2

An archdeacon sent to supervise the destruction of Catholic images

Question 3

When was Body sent?

Answer 3

First time: 1547

Second time: 1548

Question 4

What happened to Body?

Answer 4

He was murdered in Helston, Cornwall, in April 1548

Question 5

Why was Body sent?

Answer 5

Because Protestants thought the images were superstitious

Question 6

What happened in 1549?

Answer 6

A number of peasants gathered at Bodmin to protest the imposition of the Act of Uniformity.

Question 7

What happened on Whit Monday in Sampford Courtenay, Devon?

Answer 7

Locals objected to the usage of the new Prayer Book and insisted the priests use the old service

Question 8

What happened on the 20th June?

Answer 8

Rebels from Devon and Cornwall joined forces at Crediton

Question 9

What were the Six Articles?

Answer 9

A decree in Henry’s age that allowed Catholics to live as they wanted

Question 10

What were some of the rebels’ demands?

Answer 10

1. That the Six Articles not to be repealed
2. Mass in Latin
3. Holy bread /and/ holy water every Sunday
4. Palms and ashes at the right times
5. Restoration of images in every church
6. Pray for purgatory

Question 11

Who is it believed cheered for the rebels?

Answer 11

Catholic priests

Question 12

What were non-religious demands?

Answer 12

Shortage of food and the sheep and cloth tax

Question 13

What happened during the early rioting?

Answer 13

• Cornish rebels attacked and robbed gentry at St Michael’s Mound
• At Bodmin they shouted “Kill the Gentlemen”
• Devon rebels killed William Hellyons, a member of the gentry who had resisted them
• Devon rebels attacked and plundered Trematon Castle

Question 14

How did the government first react to the early rioting?

Answer 14

They set fire to rebel defences at Crediton

Question 15

How did the gentry in Exeter react?

Answer 15

They set up a continual guard, provided relief for the poor, sold firewood cheaply and distributed food at a low cost or free for the poor

Question 16

Why was this rebellion a threat?

Answer 16

• It took several battles to defeat the rebels
• Edward was a minor
• Aggressive demands
• 3000 rebels died from government action afterwards
• The French invasion
• Troops had to be brought back from Scotland

Question 17

Why was bringing back troops from Scotland dangerous?

Answer 17

Because Scotland and England, like France and England, were at war

Question 18

Why wasn’t the rebellion a threat?

Answer 18

• They did not want to kill the King
• No advance on London
• Could not seize Exeter
• Lack of support from the rich and gentry
• Did not cooperate with other uprisings

Question 19

What happened when the rebellion was crushed?

Answer 19

3000 rebels were killed

Question 20

Why did these rebels receive a harsher time than those from the Kett’s?

Answer 20

These rebels were from lower down the pyramid of the hierarchy and so the government needed to set an example in order to keep the majority of people under control.