Pilgrimage of Grace

• 1. Economic And Social Grievances

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  In 1535, the year before the revolt began, bad harvests triggered grain riots in Craven during June and Somerset by April. Grain prices had climbed to 82% higher than they were in 1534. The Tudor era saw a general population rise across England, concentrated heavily around Yorkshire. This growth led to enclosures of once common lands that communities relied upon for survival. Competition for resources increased while access to common land vanished. A greater pool of available labour drove down wages and raised the price of goods. Unrest spread among the population as employment became scarce. The northern gentry worried about the new Statute of Uses which threatened their property rights. Poor harvests meant high food prices contributed directly to discontent. The Dissolution of the Monasteries affected local poor who relied on them for food and shelter. Henry VIII habitually raised funds through taxation and confiscation of lands. He also depreciated the value of goods to increase royal revenue. Extortionate rents and gressums became common in Cumberland and Westmoreland. Gressums were payments made to the crown when taking up tenancy through inheritance or sale.

• 2. The Lincolnshire Rising Prelude

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  On the 30th of September 1536, Dr. John Raynes addressed assembled clergy in Bolingbroke regarding new regulations and taxes. One of his clerks warned attendees saying Look to your books, or there will be consequences. Rumours of confiscation spread rapidly throughout Lindsey and soon reached Louth and Horncastle. The rising began on the 1st of October 1536 at St James' Church, Louth after Vespers. This occurred shortly after the closure of Louth Park Abbey. Some 22,000 people are estimated to have joined the rising led by a monk and a shoemaker called Nicholas Melton. The protest effectively ended on the 4th of October 1536 when the King sent word for occupiers to disperse. By the 14th of October few remained in Lincoln. Dr. John Raynes was dragged from his sick-bed in the chantry priests' residence and beaten to death by the mob. Commissioners registers were seized and burned. The vicar of Louth and Captain Cobbler were captured and hanged at Tyburn. Thomas Moigne, a lawyer from Willingham and one of the MPs for Lincoln, was hanged drawn and quartered. Most other local ringleaders were executed during the next 12 days including William Moreland.

• 3. Robert Aske And The Pilgrimage

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  The movement broke out on the 13th of October 1536 immediately following the failure of the Lincolnshire Rising. Robert Aske was chosen to lead the insurgents as a barrister from London and resident of the Inns of Court. His family came from Aske Hall in Richmondshire and had long been in Yorkshire. In 1536 Aske led a band of 9,000 followers who entered and occupied York. Each follower had sworn the Oath of the Honourable Men. He arranged for expelled monks and nuns to return to their houses. Catholic observances were resumed when they took control. When the King learnt that monks had restored Sawley Abbey he ordered Edward Stanley to take them forth with violence. Royalist leaders Thomas Howard and George Talbot opened negotiations with insurgents at Scawsby Leys near Doncaster. Aske had assembled between 30,000 and 40,000 people there. Participants often carried banners bearing the Five Wounds of Christ. They openly invoked God's protection underlining the rebellion's religious symbolism.

• 4. Negotiations At Pontefract Castle

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  In early December 1536 the Pilgrimage gathered at Pontefract Castle to draft a petition for King Henry VIII. The document contained 24 Articles known as The Commons' Petition. It was given to the Duke of Norfolk to present to the king. The Duke promised to deliver it and also offered a general pardon. He promised Parliament would be held at York within a year. A reprieve for abbeys was granted until Parliament met. Accepting these promises Aske dismissed his followers and the pilgrimage disbanded. Jesse Childs notes that Henry VIII did not authorize Norfolk to grant remedies for grievances. Norfolk's enemies whispered into the King's ear suggesting Norfolk sympathized with the Pilgrimage. Norfolk and the Earl of Shrewsbury were outnumbered by the rebels. They commanded 5000 and 7000 men respectively while 40,000 pilgrims stood before them. Upon seeing their vast numbers Norfolk negotiated to avoid being massacred. The royal commissioners seized church plate jewels gold crosses and bells from monasteries. Silver chalices were replaced by ones made of tin in some instances.

• 5. Bigod's Rebellion And Suppression

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  In February 1537 a new rising occurred in Cumberland and Westmorland called Bigod's Rebellion under Sir Francis Bigod. Because he knew the promises made on behalf of the King would not be met Norfolk reacted quickly. The rebellion failed and King Henry VIII arrested Bigod Aske and several other rebels. All were convicted of treason and executed during 1537. In total 216 people were executed including lords knights abbots monks and parish priests. Robert Aske was hanged in chains at York while Sir Thomas Percy died similarly. Lord Darcy and John Hussey were both beheaded. Sir Robert Constable was hanged in chains at Hull. Margaret Stafford wife of Sir John Bulmer was burnt at the stake. Sir Nicholas Tempest was hanged at Tyburn. On the 16th day of May 1537 persons were arraigned at Westminster before the King's Commissioners. They included Sir Robert Constable knight and Sir Thomas Percy knight. Ralph Bulmer son of John Bulmer was reprieved and had no sentence. On the 25th day of May being Friday in Whitsun week Sir John Bulmer and Sir Stephen Hamerton were hanged and headed.

• 6. Historical Leadership Debates

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  Historians have noted leaders among nobility and gentry in the Lincolnshire Rising and Pilgrimage of Grace. Traditional views argue Risings gained legitimacy only through northern nobility involvement like Lord Darcy and Robert Aske. Historian M. E. James analyzed how lower classes and nobility used each other as a legitimizing force. The nobles hid behind force of lower classes with claims of coercion since they lacked political choice. This allowed nobles an arena to air grievances while playing victims of popular violence. Lower classes used nobility to give their grievance sense of obedience since leaders were higher social class. Davies considers leadership more of a cohesion brought by common grievances over evil advisors and religion. Once nobles confronted King's forces and all-out war they decided to surrender ending cohesion. Historian Andy Wood argues commons were effective force behind Risings. He believes this force came from minor gentlemen and well-off farmers left out of history. These groups had more political agency and thought than previously recognized. They formed the core leadership because they possessed greater understanding of local conditions.