Why did the north rebel in the Pilgrimage of Grace?
The north rebelled in the Pilgrimage of Grace as their trading routes were primarily with
Catholic countries such as Spain and Italy; therefore they had not been exposed to
protestant ideals like those in the south. As it was a region primarily influenced by
Catholicism the people were outraged by the break from Rome and the dissolution of the
monasteries, as the papacy and monasteries were important part of their everyday lives.
Read pg 133 to go over the different reasons that people may have opposed the
Reformation
Fundamental religious opposition- threatened traditional values and some saw it
as the onset of Protestantism
Opposition to Royal Supremacy- 50 martyrs, including Sir Thomas More, John
Fisher and monks were under strict observation as they questioned Henry as the
head of the church.
Opposition to the dissolution of monasteries- they played a religious and social
part in people’s lives; social- key role in the local community and religious- as
they were the strongest bastion of Catholicism
Defence of traditional practices- many people felt that their church was under
attack, ie. The loss of saint days. In 1536 when a priest failed to mention it was St.
Luke’s day, there was the first of the Pilgrimage of Grace rebellions in
Westmorland
Purgatory under threat- the existence of purgatory was attacked and people’s
ability to determine their afterlife through ‘good works’
Fear of new taxes- fear of new taxes on christenings, burials and marriages. The
initial outbreak of the Pilgrimage of Grace at Louth was fear of such taxes
Opposition to divorce and to Anne Boleyn- Many loved Catherine of Aragon and
loathed Anne Boleyn.
2. What similarities and differences are there between the two uprisings?
Similarities:
Both to do with the dissatisfaction of the break with Rome and the fear that came with
it.
Anger from the dissolution of monasteries as they were part of their local community
and threatened ideas about purgatory
The risings spread quite quickly
Differences:
The Lincolnshire uprising ended quite quickly, whereas the Pilgrimage of Grace was
spread over a few months
Both rebellions of the Pilgrimage of Grace were led by different people- the first
under Robert Aske and the second under Sir Francis Bigod.
The Pilgrimage of Grace rebels were pardoned by Royal Proclamation
3. How seriously threatened was the Government by the Pilgrimage of Grace?
There was quite a significant threat attached to the Pilgrimage of Grace as it not only
undermined the changes that Henry and Cromwell were making to the religious and
governmental structure of society. It showed that not everyone was willing to recognise
Henry as Supreme Head of the Church of England and that the north feared Protestantism.
It also showed a clear divide between the north and south, the south were more accepting
of protestant ideals as they had trade routes with protestant Germany and the Netherlands,
The north rebelled in the Pilgrimage of Grace as their trading routes were primarily with
Catholic countries such as Spain and Italy; therefore they had not been exposed to
protestant ideals like those in the south. As it was a region primarily influenced by
Catholicism the people were outraged by the break from Rome and the dissolution of the
monasteries, as the papacy and monasteries were important part of their everyday lives.
Read pg 133 to go over the different reasons that people may have opposed the
Reformation
Fundamental religious opposition- threatened traditional values and some saw it
as the onset of Protestantism
Opposition to Royal Supremacy- 50 martyrs, including Sir Thomas More, John
Fisher and monks were under strict observation as they questioned Henry as the
head of the church.
Opposition to the dissolution of monasteries- they played a religious and social
part in people’s lives; social- key role in the local community and religious- as
they were the strongest bastion of Catholicism
Defence of traditional practices- many people felt that their church was under
attack, ie. The loss of saint days. In 1536 when a priest failed to mention it was St.
Luke’s day, there was the first of the Pilgrimage of Grace rebellions in
Westmorland
Purgatory under threat- the existence of purgatory was attacked and people’s
ability to determine their afterlife through ‘good works’
Fear of new taxes- fear of new taxes on christenings, burials and marriages. The
initial outbreak of the Pilgrimage of Grace at Louth was fear of such taxes
Opposition to divorce and to Anne Boleyn- Many loved Catherine of Aragon and
loathed Anne Boleyn.
2. What similarities and differences are there between the two uprisings?
Similarities:
Both to do with the dissatisfaction of the break with Rome and the fear that came with
it.
Anger from the dissolution of monasteries as they were part of their local community
and threatened ideas about purgatory
The risings spread quite quickly
Differences:
The Lincolnshire uprising ended quite quickly, whereas the Pilgrimage of Grace was
spread over a few months
Both rebellions of the Pilgrimage of Grace were led by different people- the first
under Robert Aske and the second under Sir Francis Bigod.
The Pilgrimage of Grace rebels were pardoned by Royal Proclamation
3. How seriously threatened was the Government by the Pilgrimage of Grace?
There was quite a significant threat attached to the Pilgrimage of Grace as it not only
undermined the changes that Henry and Cromwell were making to the religious and
governmental structure of society. It showed that not everyone was willing to recognise
Henry as Supreme Head of the Church of England and that the north feared Protestantism.
It also showed a clear divide between the north and south, the south were more accepting
of protestant ideals as they had trade routes with protestant Germany and the Netherlands,
