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Welcome to the Mid-Tudor Crisis blog!
This has been created to help with classwork and revision, and to provide you with all the information you need to know.

The Pilgrimage of Grace

On October 13th 1536, 40,000 people (mostly commoners and some nobles) were led by Robert Aske to convince Henry to stop his attacks on the churches and monastries, and also to return the country to following the Pope. Many of the followers disliked Thomas Cromwell and blamed him for polluting the King's mind and convincing him to divorce Catherine of Aragon in favour of Anne Boleyn. The harvests of 1535 had also led to high food prices, and this angered many peasants who could not afford the price rise. There were also many rumours and fears surrounding the sheep tax, which in turn contributed to the rebellion.

However, the outcome of the rebellion had a positive effect on Henry VIII as the government postponed the collection of the October Subsidy, and they also stated that all pilgrims would be pardoned for their part in the rebellion. Thomas Cromwell also fell from power in 1540 and Mary I was restored to the succession in 1544. Yet the leader of the rebellion, Robert Aske, believed he had won a great victory, but he was later returned to Yorkshire and executed.

Ketts Rebellion

Ketts rebellion began between June and August in 1549, and 16,000 people were led by Robert Kett to Norwich and camped outside the gates. The rebellion started due to enclosure, where large land owners began to enclose common land and villagers had began to tear down the hedges. On July 21st a full pardon was offered to all the rebels if the agreed to go home peacefully. However, the rebellion was a failure and Robert Kett was hung, whilst Edward VI pardoned the other rebels and John Dudley supressed any further rumour of a rebellion.

Wyatts Rebellion

In 1554, Thomas Wyatt and followers (James Croft, Peter Carew and Henry Grey), became the central leaders of the rebellion against Mary I. The rebellion began because of Mary's marriage to Philip II of Spain, and 3,000 armed men in Kent marched on London. However, they were forced to surrender on February 4th and were executed with 90 other rebels. Wyatt was executed on April 11th and accepted full responsibility for the rebellion.

Prayer Book Rebellion

The prayer book, first published in 1549, at first caused a widespread revolt due to the fact that it mainly reflected the theology of Protestantism. The traditional religious processes were banned, and people were even sent out to remove any signs of Catholicism. The revolt was mainly made up of people from Devon or Cornwall, and as the rebellion began to fail an army was order to crush the revolt, and over 400 men died. Many of the survivors fled, but were later captured and imprisoned. Later proposals for the prayer book to be translated into Cornish language were suppressed, and the rebels never rised again.

Northern Earls Rebellion

In 1569, Thomas Percy (Northumberland) and Charles Nevill led a rebellion to release Mary Queen Of Scots, as they believed she had a more legitimate claim to the throne as she was Catholic, whilst Mary was protestant (see religion page). An army of 12000 marched to demand Mary's release and they destroyed English Bibles, alters and statues; yet the rebellion was a failure and Northumberland was later executed after a failed attempt to seek sanctuary. Another 400 rebels were executed, and an Act was later passed stating that it was now treason to say Elizabeth was not Queen.