Edward VI & Rebellions

The Western Rebellion 1549

A combination of religious and socioeconomic factors led to the Western Rebellion. In conclusion, Somerset's government handled the rebellion badly.

Causes of rebellion

A combination of reasons triggered the rebellion.
- Resentment of religious reform - the New Common Prayer Book of 1549 sparked the rebellion.
- Hostility to enclosure - The enclosure commission of 1548 had dashed people’s high hopes.
- Increasing rents, rising prices and falling wages.
The local gentry could not deal with the situation.

Course of rebellion

The rebellion began on Sunday 10 June in Cornwall and later spread to Devon.
On 29 June, Lord Russell was sent to find a peaceful settlement.
From 2 July to 6 July, the rebels besieged Exeter.
On 8 July, Russell's last attempt to find a settlement failed.
On 12 July, Lord Grey was sent to help Russell but was diverted to unrest in Oxford.
On 28 July, Russell began defeating groups of rebels in Devon.
On 17 August, the rebels were defeated.

Consequences of rebellion

The rebellion was put down.
Martial law (military government) was used to deal with the rebels. This indicates how dangerous the situation was.
Somerset's position in government was seriously weakened.

Historical interpretation

Some historians call this rebellion the 'Prayer Book Rebellion'.
Historians have noted that most of the rebel articles focussed on religious grievances.
But this may reflect the disproportionate influence of the clergy who played a leading role in the rebellion rather than accurately representing the grievances of all the rebels.
Ferriby, Anderson and Imperato's view:
- ‘Many of the riots were ill-focused and reflected a sense of desperation among the poorest classes’.

Kett's Rebellion 1549

Kett's Rebellion in East Anglia was the second rebellion Somerset's government faced. This strongly contributed to Somerset's downfall.

Causes of rebellion

Enclosure and bad government were higher priorities than religion.
Local government was a key issue. The rebels attacked the gentry and Justices of the Peace (JPs), accusing them of corruption and mismanaging government policy.
The New Common Prayer Book did not spark the rebellion. Kett's rebels wanted more religious reform, such as improving the quality of the clergy.

Course of rebellion

On 10 July, Kett led a march of yeomen and farmers to Norwich.
On 21 July, full pardon was offered to the rebels with promises to deal with corruption.
On 22 July, the rebels took Norwich. They set up a camp on Mousehold Heath.
Somerset wrote letters to the rebels to deal with their grievances.
On 30 July, the Marquis of Northampton arrived with a small army and retook Norwich. Negotiations with Kett failed.
On 23 August, the Earl of Warwick arrived with 12,000 men.
On 27 August, Kett's Rebellion was put down. 3,000 rebels were killed.

Consequences of rebellion

Kett was hanged in November.
Most of the rebels were dealt with more leniently.
Somerset tried to be popular and wanted to cooperate with the rebels. This made him seem weak to his rivals at court.

Historical assessment

Anthony Fletcher and Diarmaid MacCulloch (2014) argue that 'one major cause of the commotions was very specific to the times: the character and policies of Protector Somerset...'
They argue that Somerset's domestic policies show that he wanted to protect ordinary people from exploitation.
- 'The idea that the government supported the commons in redressing their own grievances, that the ‘Good Duke’ was on their side, encouraged them to take action into their own hands...'

Historical Interpretations

Studies of rebellions have become popular in recent years. Nowadays, historians consider rebellions a political tool that commoners used to exert pressure on the government.

Interpretations of rebellions

Previously, historians used to not think commoners could be involved in politics.
This was changed by social historians who studied ordinary people.
Now, rebellions are seen as sophisticated and political.

What was the purpose of rebellion?

Historians such as Bush argue that rebellion was used as a form of negotiation in the Tudor period. This was because most commoners did not have a formal way to express their grievances.
Kett's and the Western rebellion can be seen as commoners calling for the government to restore harmony. They were not trying to overthrow the government.

1Consolidation of the Tudor Dynasty 1485-1547

1.1Henry VII 1485-1509

1.1.1Henry VII's Consolidation of Power

1.1.2Henry VII & Succession

1.1.3Henry VII's Councils & Parliament

1.1.4End of Topic Test - Henry VII Part 1

1.1.5Henry VII & Justice, Finance & Policies

1.1.6Henry VII's Relationship with Foreign Powers

1.1.7Henry VII & Society

1.1.8End of Topic Test - Henry VII Part 2

1.1.9Henry VII & Regional Issues

1.1.10Henry VII & Economic Development

1.1.11Henry VII & Cultural Development

1.1.12End of Topic Test - Henry VII Part 3

1.2Henry VIII 1509-1547

1.2.1Henry VIII's Consolidation of Power

1.2.2Henry VIII & His Government

1.2.3Henry VIII & His Government 2

1.2.4End of Topic Test - Henry VIII Part 1

1.2.5Henry VIII & Succession

1.2.6Henry VIII's Relationship with Foreign Powers

1.2.7Henry VIII & Society

1.2.8End of Topic Test -Henry VIII Part 2

1.2.9Henry VIII & Society 2

1.2.10Henry VIII & Economic Development

1.2.11Henry VIII & Religion

1.2.12End of Topic Test - Henry VIII Part 3

2England: Turmoil & Triumph 1547-1603

2.1Instability & Consolidation 1547-1563

2.1.1Edward VI, Somerset & Northumberland

2.1.2Edward VI & Authority

2.1.3Edward VI & Relations with Foreign Powers

2.1.4End of Topic Test - Edward VI Part 1

2.1.5Edward VI & Rebellions

2.1.6Social Impact of Religious & Economic Changes

2.1.7Edward VI & Cultural Developments

2.1.8End of Topic Test - Edward VI Part 2

2.1.9Mary I & Her Rule

2.1.10Mary I & Relations with Foreign Powers

2.1.11The Social Impact of Religious & Economic Change

2.1.12End of Topic Test - Mary Part 1

2.1.13Elizabeth I & Her Rule

2.1.14Elizabeth I & Relations With Foreign Powers

2.1.15Impact of Economic, Social & Religious Change

2.1.16End of Topic Test - Elizabeth I Part 1

2.2The Triumph of Elizabeth 1563-1603

2.2.1Elizabeth I & Court

2.2.2Elizabeth & Government

2.2.3Elizabeth I & Succession

2.2.4End of Topic Test - Elizabeth I Part 2

2.2.5Mary Queen of Scots

2.2.6Relations with Spain

2.2.7End of Topic Test - Elizabeth I Part 3

2.2.8Elizabeth I & Society

2.2.9Elizabeth I & Rebellion

2.2.10Elizabeth & Economic Development

2.2.11End of Topic Test - Elizabeth I Part 4

2.2.12Elizabeth I & Religious Developments

2.2.13The English Renaissance

2.2.14Elizabeth's Last Years

2.2.15End of Topic Test - Elizabeth I Part 5

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