Kett's Rebellion
The 1540s saw a crisis in agriculture across England. The majority of the population depended on the land for their survival. This dependence led to widespread unrest throughout the country during that decade. Kett's rebellion in Norfolk was the most serious of these outbreaks. The main grievance of the rioters was enclosure, which involved fencing common land by landlords for their own use. Enclosure left peasants with nowhere to graze their animals. Some landowners were forcing tenants off their farms so they could convert arable land into pasture for sheep. Wool had become more profitable as demand increased. Inflation, unemployment, rising rents, and declining wages added to the hardships faced by common people. As historian Julian Cornwall put it, they could scarcely doubt that the state had been taken over by men whose policy was to rob the poor for the benefit of the rich.
Kett's rebellion began at Wymondham on the 8th of July 1549. A group of rebels destroyed fences that wealthy landowners had put up. One of their targets was yeoman Robert Kett. Instead of resisting the rebels, he agreed to their demands and offered to lead them. Kett was about 57 years old and one of the wealthier farmers in Wymondham. The Ketts had been farming in Norfolk since the twelfth century. His eldest brother William joined him in the rebellion. Having listened to the rioters' grievances, Kett decided to join their cause. He helped them tear down his own fences before taking them back to Hethersett. There they destroyed Sir John Flowerdew's enclosures. Flowerdew was a lawyer and landowner who was unpopular for enclosing land. The following day, Tuesday the 9th of July, the protesters set off for Norwich. By now Kett was their leader and they were being joined by people from nearby towns and villages.
On Friday the 12th of July, the rebels reached Mousehold where they set up camp. This location provided a vantage point overlooking Norwich. The camp served as their base for the next six and a half weeks. It was the largest of several rebel camps that appeared in East Anglia that summer. The rebels were known at the time as the 'camp men'. Kett set up his headquarters in St Michael's Chapel ruins, which have since been known as Kett's Castle. Mount Surrey, an empty house built by the Earl of Surrey, held Kett's prisoners. A council consisting of representatives from the Hundreds of Norfolk met under the Oak of Reformation to administer the camp. They issued warrants to obtain provisions and arms while arresting members of the gentry. The camp grew larger than Norwich itself, which had a population of about 12,000. Workers and artisans from Norwich joined the ranks alongside people from surrounding towns and villages. Once established, the rebels drew up a list of 29 grievances signed by Kett and others. They sent this document to Protector Somerset outlining their demands.
The truce between the city and the camp ended on the 21st of July when York Herald Bartholomew Butler arrived from London. He proclaimed the gathering a rebellion but offered pardon. Kett rejected the offer saying he had committed no treason. City authorities shut the gates and prepared defenses. On the 22nd of July 1549, Kett proposed another truce that was rejected. Rebels commenced an attack on Bishopsgate Bridge charging down from Mousehold. They began swimming the Wensum river between the Cow Tower and Bishopsgate. City defenders fired volleys of arrows into the rebels as they crossed. Despite this resistance, Norwich quickly fell to the rebels. They captured guns and other military supplies setting up guards at strategic points. The King sent Marquess of Northampton with about 1,400 men including Italian mercenaries to quell the rebellion. On the night of the 31st of July, Royal troops patrolled narrow streets while hundreds of rebels launched hit-and-run attacks. By 8 am on the 1st of August, Lord Sheffield retired for breakfast before receiving false information about rebel surrender negotiations. Thousands of rebels then crossed the River Wensum around Bishopsgate again. Northampton's main force entered the marketplace where vicious street fighting developed across the eastern area of the city. Outside the Great Hospital in Bishopsgate Street, Sheffield fell from his horse into a ditch. Expecting capture and ransom, he removed his helmet only to be killed by a blow from a rebel butcher named Fulke.
The Earl of Warwick was sent with a stronger army of around 14,000 men including mercenaries from Wales, Germany, and Spain. He had previously fought in France and served on the Privy Council. Despite the increased threat, rebels remained loyal to Kett throughout their fight against Warwick's men. Northampton served as Warwick's second-in-command during this second attempt to deal with the rebel host. Warwick managed to enter the city on the 24th of August by attacking St Stephen's and Brazen gates. Rebels retreated through the city setting fire to houses to slow the Royal advance. About 3 pm Warwick's baggage train entered the city but got lost. It continued through Tombland straight down Bishopsgate Street toward the rebel army. A group of rebels saw the train from Mousehold and ran down to capture it. Captain Drury led men attempting to recapture the train which included all artillery. On the 25th of August rebels commenced an artillery attack on walls near Magdalen and Pockthorpe gates. Bitter street fighting eventually cleared the city once again. On the 26th of August, 1,400 foreign German landsknechts arrived in the city. These were musketeers and zweihander-swordsmen providing formidable reinforcements for Warwick. During morning hours of the 27th of August armies faced each other outside the city at Dussindale. The final battle was a disaster for the rebels who were routed in open ground against well-armed trained troops. Thousands were killed during this confrontation.
About 3,000 rebels are thought to have been killed at Dussindale while Warwick's army lost some 250 men. Kett was captured at Swannington village the night after the battle. He was taken together with his brother William to Tower of London awaiting trial for treason. Found guilty, the brothers returned to Norwich at beginning of December. Kett was hanged from walls of Norwich Castle on the 7th of December 1549. On same day William was hanged from west tower of Wymondham Abbey. Morning after battle saw rebels hanged at Oak of Reformation and outside Magdalen Gate. Estimates of number executed vary from 30 to 300. Warwick had already executed 49 rebels when entering Norwich days before. There is only one attested incident where rebels killed in cold blood: an Italian mercenary from Northampton's force was hanged following capture. After rebellion lands of Kett and brother William were forfeited though some later restored to one son. In longer term Kett family did not suffer from association but prospered in various parts of Norfolk.
In 1550 Norwich authorities decreed that the 27th of August should be holiday commemorating deliverance from Kett's Rebellion. They paid lectures in cathedral and parish churches on sins of rebellion. This tradition continued for over a century. The rising was discussed by Sir John Cheke in The hurt of sedicion howe greueous it is to a commune welth published in 1549. Only known surviving eye-witness account came from Nicholas Sotherton, son of a Norwich mayor, which was hostile toward rebels. Alexander Neville wrote Latin history De furoribus Norfolciensium in 1575 describing the events. Francis Blomefield detailed account published during 1741 and 1742 based on Neville supplemented with material from other sources. It was only in 19th century that more sympathetic portrayals appeared starting process transforming Kett from traitor to folk hero. An anonymous work of 1843 criticized Neville's account while clergyman Frederic Russell concluded cause advocated deserved better name. In 1948 Alderman Fred Henderson proposed memorial originally hoping statue but settled for plaque on walls of Norwich Castle unveiled 1949. Death of Kett still remembered by people of Norwich with memorial march taking place the 7th of December 2011. Rebellion remembered in names of schools streets pubs walking route including Robert Kett Junior School Dussindale Primary School Robert Kett pub Kett House residence University East Anglia Kett's Tavern folk band Lewis Garland and Kett's Rebellion beer Woodforde's Brewery.
Common questions
What caused Kett's Rebellion in Norfolk during the 1540s?
Kett's Rebellion was primarily caused by enclosure, which involved landlords fencing common land for private use. This practice left peasants with nowhere to graze their animals and forced tenants off farms to convert arable land into profitable sheep pasture.
When did Kett's Rebellion begin and where did it start?
Kett's Rebellion began at Wymondham on the 8th of July 1549 when rebels destroyed fences put up by wealthy landowners. The movement started as a protest against enclosure before Robert Kett agreed to lead the group back to Hethersett.
Where did the rebels establish their main camp during Kett's Rebellion?
The rebels established their main camp at Mousehold on Friday the 12th of July 1549 after reaching Norwich. They set up headquarters in the ruins of St Michael's Chapel which became known as Kett's Castle while Mount Surrey held prisoners.
How many people died during the final battle of Kett's Rebellion at Dussindale?
About 3,000 rebels are thought to have been killed at Dussindale during the final battle on the 27th of August 1549. Warwick's army lost some 250 men in this confrontation where thousands were routed against well-armed trained troops.
What happened to Robert Kett and his brother William after the rebellion failed?
Robert Kett was captured at Swannington village the night after the battle and taken to the Tower of London awaiting trial for treason. He was hanged from walls of Norwich Castle on the 7th of December 1549 while his brother William was hanged from west tower of Wymondham Abbey on the same day.