The Western rebellion By 13d

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

2. Causes – not dangerous • Religion can be argued to be the central issue that sparked the rebellion.This is demonstrated by two principal triggers: • Rumours and fears were conjured in Cornwall with regards to the confiscation of church goods. These thoughts were later reinforced when William Body, a much-hated commissioner investigating church property destroyed church images. The final straw can be said to have been the introduction of the new Prayer Book on 10 June 1549 (Whitsunday). • The people’s priest of Devon were also provoked by his use of the new Prayer Book on Whitsunday as they found it incomprehensible. - This can be argued as less dangerous as the people at the centre won’t want to cause harm as it contradicts they’re beliefs. • Social causes • Along with the religious issues in Cornwall and Devon, the people also felt very isolated and had poor communities with severe problems of law enforcement due to no local nobles. • Somerset himself argued that the rebels “hath conceived a wonderful hate against the gentlemen”. • - This reinforces that the rebels didn’t have one united cause, making it a weaker threat.

3. Aims – not dangerous • The aims of the rebels were mainly centered around religion, such as the reinstatement of Henry VIII’s Act of Six Articles, the use of Latin and Communion in one kind. As mentioned before, the religious nature of the rebellion negated any possible danger, as a violent rebellion would be contradictory to Catholic beliefs. Furthermore, the demands of the rebels made it clear that they were not intending to threaten the established order. They did not aim to put forward an alternative candidate to the infant king, nor did they call for equality for all classes. Therefore a rebellion that posed no threat to authority can not be considered a dangerous one.

4. Events – not dangerous • The Rebellion was in Cornwall, far away form London and the monarchy • Gave a list on demands, shows that they would rather negotiate than fight • Met resistance from people in Exeter, shows that everyone didn’t support the uprising • Took there time with the rebellion, shows indecisive and poor leadership

5. Govt. response – not dangerous • Somerset ordered lord Grey, a catholic to meet with the rebels and attempt to reach a settlement. This showed that the government was not threatened by the rebellion as they were biding time to rally the army, just like Henry had done. • Somerset only gave him a small force to protect himself with. This shows that they didn’t fear the rebels.

6. Govt. response – not dangerous • The way in the vicar and leader of the rebellion, Robert Welsh, was executed can also explain how the government was did not feel threatened. He was hung from his Church, St. Thomas’, Tower wearing his vestaments and with popish items strewn around him e.g. the ‘Holy Water’ bucket. • The way in which the government responded must also be assessed by how life was at the time: People were unaccustomed to seeing large groups of people in one place and the government always responded in a harsh manner.

7. Causes - dangerous • Poverty was rampant in 1549. • Regional identity (pride) was also strong and the peasants felt it was decreasing. • New policies both on religious and economic areas. These included a break from tradition in terms of church ceremonies (introduction of new prayer book, church goods being destroyed and chantries removed ) and increased and rumoured taxation of sheep cattle and cloth.

8. Aims - dangerous • List of complaints compiled. • Included new practices removed from ceremonies. Return to tradition. • Reintroduction of full Catholicism, return of 6 articles. Prayers for dead and mass returned to full effect. • Taxation lessened or removed. Reduction in the size of the gentry. Monastic lands returned. • The rebels were also committed to these aims this time, as shown by their persistence in making them known to the government.

9. 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.

10. Govt. response - dangerous • 29 July; Lord Russell (Catholic) ordered to find a peaceful settlement; Somerset wrote a conciliatory response to rebels demands. • Somerset compromising is out of character and highlights that he was scared by the rebellion with no way of crushing it due to other uprisings and wars. • 8 July; Russell made a final attempt to reach an agreement which failed. • Against what would have been expected in the 16th century from the ‘Great Chain Of Being’ and as seen with the P.O.G. the peasants ignored a compromise and carried on, making it far more dangerous as force would have to be used, a force that Somerset did not have. • 28 July, Somerset pressures Russell to advance against the rebels, reinforcements from Lord Grey arrive late on 3 August as they were dealing with an uprising in Oxfordshire. • The pressure applied portrays the fear Somerset felt from the rebellion as it got closer to London, he was desperate to stop it and therefore sent Russell even with an army too small for the job.

11. Govt. response - dangerous • Even after the rebellion had been crushed fighting still ensued with an estimated 3,000 killed by the end. • People were passionate and willing to die for the cause heightening the danger. • Robert Welsh (vicar), probable rebellion leader was hanged on his church tower in full vestments with other catholic articles. • Example of Somerset’s Protestant ideals. Also ruthless and makes an example of rebel leader to prevent other uprisings, although failed shows he was scared of a repeat and also enacting a form a revenge. • Government acted illegally, executing without trials and confiscating and redistributing property. • Desperate to crush rebellion and resorted to any measures, even illegal, shows the danger felt. Phillip Caraman- ‘The most formidable opposition to the Reformation that England ever saw’