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The Pilgrimage of Grace October 1536
‘…They…declared, by their proclamation solemnly made, (1)that their insurrection should extend no further than to the maintenance and defence of the faith of Christ and the deliverance of holy church, sore decayed and oppressed, and (2) to the furtherance also of private and public matters in the realm concerning the wealth of all the king's poor subjects…’
Does the document accurately portray the rebels’ motives and objectives in launching the Pilgrimage of Grace?
Pontefract Castle – West Yorkshire “Robert Aske” – 1500-1537
Secondary sources ‘…Historians have argued at length about the ‘real’ cause of the Pilgrimage: how far it was spontaneous, how far it was instigated from above, by nobles, gentlemen or clergy; whether the apparent emphasis on religion was merely a mask for more mundane interests…’ (Davies:1985)
Secondary sources ‘…The many repercussions of Henry’s breach with the papacy, his attack on the Roman Church’s traditions, its wealth, its liturgies and beliefs, its monastic and other social structure, was the thing common to all the uprisings…’ (Moorhouse:2002)
The Pilgrims’ Oath ‘…Ye shall not enter into this our Pilgrimage of Grace for the commonwealth, but only for that love that ye do bear unto Almighty God and his faith, and to Holy Church militant and the maintenance thereof…’
Thomas Cromwell (c.1485-1540)
Does the document accurately portray the rebels’ motives and objectives in launching the Pilgrimage of Grace? YES!