The Western rebellion By 13e

1. The Western rebellion By 13e Was it particularly dangerous to the authorities?

2. Causes – not dangerous Religious Causes • The New Prayer Book introduced in 1548 but enforced properly in 1549 by the Act of Uniformity. The rebels were particularly provoked when their priest used it. • Commissioners‘ investigations into chantries led to rumours of and fears about the confiscation of church goods. • The destruction of church images. This sparked off their rebellion which is shown by their use of the banner of the Five Wounds of Christ. It is also shown by them taking measures such as murdering William Body a commissioner who introduced the measures they hated so much. Socio-Economic Causes • Taxes on sheep and cloth, which led to rumours of other new taxes. • Anger towards the gentry and at their possession of past monastic property. These reasons also sparked off the rebellion as they effected the commons greatly especially as Devon and Cornwall were very isolated and poor communities.

3. Aims – not dangerous Aims • Re-introduction of the Six Articles. • Mass in Latin • Communion in One Kind • Images restored in churches. • Prayers for the dead. The English bible to be removed and replaced by Latin ones. This all show the general attitude of the rebels which was one of anger caused by religious reforms. NOT DANGEROUS Although the rebels were clearly angered by the religious reforms, they merely wanted a restoration of the old Catholic traditions. They had no intentions of threatening the King’s position or changing the established order. Their violence and anger was aimed at particular people such as commissioners and not at the monarchy.

4. Events – not dangerous • Devon gentlemen quickly dealt with the uprising but the deep-seated antagonism remained. This proves that the rebellion was not dangerous as it was easily dealt with by the local gentry. • The rebellion was destroyed on the battlefield by government forces led by Russell. This shows that it was no dangerous because although it got to the extent that military action was needed, it was still destroyed and posed no real threat to the King. • Reinforcements to the government forces from Lord Grey (12th July) & Sir William Herbert (6th August) meant that the rebels could never win and therefore it was not a threat. • In Sampford Courtenay, rebels attending a Catholic Mass before setting off to Cornwall. This meant the rebellion was not dangerous because they would have passive methods of achieving their aims.

5. Govt. response – not dangerous • The rebels were loyal to the Crown – this meant that although the rebels drew up a list of demands, they never wanted to overthrow the King. This means that the rebels never wanted to seriously threaten the King’s authority, they just wanted their opinions to be heard. • When the rebellion was crushed an estimated 3000 people were executed – this means that the government caught and prosecuted those who had caused the rebellion.

6. Causes - dangerous • Resentment of the much-hated commissioner William Body, rumors circulated of his confiscation of Church property and destruction of images, dangerous as the people were extremely angered that their religion was being ridiculed. • The introduction of the new ‘Prayer Book’ was the final straw for the commoners of Devon and this act coerced them into rebellion, dangerous as commoners resented the Protestant changes to the church and government would not repeal its decisions. • Taxes on sheep and cloth were taking their toll on the population, these taxes also sparked rumors of more severe taxes yet to come, dangerous as people were earning less and less to pay for more, provoked anger any dissent amongst commons.

7. Aims - dangerous • Commons in the Western Rebellion (Cornwall and Devon) demanded a return to traditional Catholic Worship, and wrote to government articles stating their demands, much resembling the Pilgrimage Of Grace, this was dangerous as Somerset was not going to negotiate any return to Catholicism when he himself was a Protestant and the commons as shown by their rebelling were not going to adopt Protestant customs.

8. Events - dangerous • Assemble in Bodmin. In Cornwall protesters assembled in Bodmin. • Humphrey Arundell They soon came under the leadership of Humphrey Arundell. • Drew up articles. Forced priest to deliver a traditional Catholic Mass for the rebels before joining the Cornwall forces at Credition on 20th June • March to Devon • Mass • Hellier killed. Gentleman who tried to calm the rebels was hacked to pieces after falling to do so. • Peter Carew tried to slow/stop the rebels. Did not succeed. Only managed to anger the rebels more. • Gentlemen’s involvement. Many more tried and failed • Suppressed by military action. • 3,000 executions. 3,000 people were executed due to the rebellion.

9. Govt. response - dangerous • Somerset’s initial response was to write a conciliatory letter to the rebels (29th of June), this illustrates that he considered the rebellion so dangerous he felt obligated to make some form of compromise. • Somerset’s military leader Russell was provided with only a small army, because the majority of it were watching the Scottish boarder. Russell avoided direct confrontation with the enemy, understanding his weak position. • Somerset struggled to suppress the rebels, Russell avoided direct confrontation until pushed by Somerset to advance on the 28th of July, aided by the “much needed” forced of Lord Grey. • Repressing the rebels was slow. Russell was under further pressure, as Somerset was desperate to suppress the rebels once and for all. The French had declared war on England (8th of August), adding further problems. The fact that Somerset urged Russell to confront the rebels due to the situation with France illustrates he was worried, he couldn’t afford to have a rebellion whilst being at war. • Once, the rebellion was suppressed the aftermath further illustrated the Governments desperation to prevent another uprising. They caused outrage, as they executed rebels without trials and confiscated and redistributed property.