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AQA A Level History, Edward VI, Rebellions
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1549: The Year of the Many Headed MonsterKett’s Rebellion, 8th July - 27th August 1549
- 8th July, Robert Kett, a tanner and landowner in East Anglia, the most densely populated
area in England, led a rebellion against Norwich
- rebellion had started out in the community of Wymondham where drunken feat-goers
pulled down hedges and enclosures. Soon Kett led 16,000 rebels to Mousehold Heath
where they produced their list of demands for Somerset and his government.
Background and Causes
East Anglia was the most densely populated and highly industrialised part of england. After
London, Norwich was the biggest city in the country with 16,000 people and had become a
major textile centre. A collapse of the textile industry had thrown large numbers of cloth workers
out of jobs, and many independent, small farmers were being badly affected by the enclosure of
wooded pastoral areas by gentry and yeoman farmers.
Types of
Causes
Somerset’s - Reputation as the ‘Good Duke’ was largely built on his social policy. His
Policies perceived sympathy was the plight of the poor and the social and
agrarian problems they faced was believed by contemporaries and some
historians to have encouraged common people to riot. Any confidence in
Somerset gave the rebels extra incentive to express their grievances.
Evidence for Somerset’s sympathy:
- Gave support to the ‘Commonwealth men’ - a group of Christian
reformers who campaigned against the exploitation of the poor
- Appointed John Hales to lead commission into enclosure
- Attacked landlords’ greed, saying: Maugre (despite) the Devil, private
profit, self-love, money and such like the Devil’s instruments, it
(anti-enclosure) shall go forward”
- He created a special tax on sheep with a higher rate for flocks on
enclosed land
Enclosure - The rebels’ attacks on fences and hedges show that they were opposed
to enclosure in wooded pasture areas (not in sheep/corn districts).
- The first article of their demands opposed any future enclosure (but did
protect the enclosure of expensive saffron fields).
- Over the preceding half century more enclosures had been created as
there was more money in wool sales and animal products than cereal
crops.
- Some farmers had begun to specialise sheep farming and had built
enclosed sheep runs. It was the attack on Flowerdew’s enclosure that
triggered the whole rebellion.
- The list of demands does, however, contain some complaints on a whole
, range of farming issues, not just enclosure.
Rents Rebels complained strongly about the increase in rents. These came in a period
of rapid inflation, which worsened the economic situation for ordinary people.
Local Gov - Kett’s rebels attacked gentry and JPs in their county, appealing over their
heads directly to the central government. This appeal fits in with trad
belief that Gov would respond to valid grievances and work on behalf of
ordinary people to redress them.
- 21st of June Herald rejected this position.
- Rebels ran Mousehold Heath Camp fairly and effectively to make their
point about local government. They set up own court and sent out
searches for food with commissions in King’s name.
- No gentry involvement in rebellion and lead throughout by those outside
governing classes, who may have been ambitious for power themselves
Religion - Articles call for more competent and involved clergy, rather than
controversial doctrinal statements
- Clearly concern with poor quality of priests and their failure to fulfil duties
- One article requests that they should educate the poor more and another
that they should be for the whole community, not just gentry.
- Rebel’s inclination towards Protestantism shown in demands for
congregation to choose their own clergy and by their use of the new
prayer book at Mousehold Heath Camp
Personality - John Flowerdew had outraged village of Wymondham with his rapacity
Clashes
Gov Action Against Enclosure:
- May 1548: royal deer park at Hampton Court was disparked (they removed fences used
to enclose land and create deer parks)
- 1st June 1548: Commission of inquiry under John Hales to investigate whether
legislation against enclosure was being enforced in Midlands
- June 1548: Proclamation issued against men being driven to extreme poverty and
compelled to leave the places they were born because of enclosure
- Summer 1548: unusually large number of rural riots broke out, including in
Buckinghamshire where Hales was investigating
- Summer 1549: In face of mounting opposition and with the populace increasingly
relentless, Hales began to work on his commission again. He did not manage to bring
any proceedings against enclosers.
Events of Rebellion
- 6-8th July, Wymondham community gathered to enjoy a play and drunken feast
- Anger and high spirits overflowed and the crowds broke down some enclosure fences
and hedges, including those of unpopular local lawyer, Flowerdew (in a dispute with
locals over a local Abbey he had bought and was tearing down)
- Townspeople believed it was they who had bought the Abbey for the parish and were
incensed by Flowerdew’s actions
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