Roles of Robert Aske, Francis Bigod, and Cromwell's Rise and Fall

The Early Protestant Reformation in England

• Henry VIII's split from Rome brought about many changes to aspects of religious and secular life.

• Traditional Catholic practices were replaced by new customs, which caused dissent from objectors.

  

• Monasteries were dissolved, books destroyed, treasures claimed by the crown, and money diverted to military campaigns overseas rather than seeing to the growing problem of the poor, sick and needy.

• Two of the biggest issues of contention were the introduction of the English Bible, and the Book of Common Prayer, something which would previously be seen as an act of heresy. Amidst all these reforms, the English Reformation, unlike the European Reformation, was not primarily driven by a desire for religious change, but rather by Henry VIII's dynastic goals.

  • The start of the English Reformation under Henry VIII can be seen as a transitional phase of religious change.

  • From the start of Henry VIII's reign in 1509 until the 1530s, English Christians were still required to accept and practise the doctrines and customs of Catholicism. Some things changed:

  • The rejection of Purgatory

  • The reform of the cult of saints

  • The legalisation of the English Bible

  • The requirement for every parish church to have a copy of the English Bible

  • The introduction of the Book of Common Prayer in the 1540s.

    

For much of Henry's reign, the new Church was not Protestant in the true sense but it was not Catholic either.

• Henry dissolved the monasteries to gain control and wealth for the Crown.

• The Dissolution of the Monasteries had a far-reaching impact on the everyday lives of people, particularly the old and sick.

• The move would also incite revolts.

• Shutting down the religious establishments affected 900 religious houses affecting over 12,000 people. Reactions to Henrician religious changes varied.

• Some were alarming to the Catholics but pleasing to reformers whilst some were viewed as a compromise between the two religious beliefs.

• One striking impact of these changes was the revolts that broke out in 1536.

Lincolnshire Rising

Significance of the Revolt

According to historians, the Pilgrimage of Grace during the reign of Henry VIII was the most serious rebellion to come after the Peasants' Revolt in 1381 (peasants vs Richard II) and before the Civil War 1642-1651 (Parliamentarians vs Royalists).

This rebellion included the common people, clergy, and even some lords and gentry. They were against the king's break with Rome, the dissolution of the lesser monasteries, the rise of Thomas Cromwell and his policies, and the lack of political representation in the north of England.

Causes of the Revolts

In September 1536, the Act of Suppression was in effect, and the Cistercians Fountain Abbey in North Yorkshire was dissolved. Monks still lived in the area and stirred unrest. Come October, rumours circulated in Lincolnshire that the King's Commission was on its way to dissolve St James' Church and take away its valuables. Rumours also suggested that smaller churches would be thinned out if there were too many in an area and local clerics would face the same fate as the monks.

The pace of religious change - from Catholic to Protestant - was disconcerting for many commoners who were also disgruntled about Henry's divorce from Catherine of Aragon and Mary being declared illegitimate. They were also upset about more taxes.

Key Events of the Lincolnshire Rising

2 OCTOBER An angry crowd captured a member of the King's Commission, and he was forced to write to Henry VIII to explain the people's grievances.

4 OCTOBER One of the Bishop of Lincoln's men was killed. This prompted the gentry in the area, including the wealthy John Hussey of Sleaford, to join the revolt.

THE LINCOLN ARTICLES contained a list of demands that were sent to the king. 10,000 people marched to Lincoln, waiting for Henry VIII to reply.

10 OCTOBER The protestors learned that Henry VIII was furious and had sent an army north. The next day, with the army 40 miles outside of Lincoln and with no real leader to guide the rebels, the mob dispersed. Lord Hussey, monks and others were executed.

The Pilgrimage of Grace

Role of Robert Aske

Whilst travelling to London from York, lawyer Robert Aske got caught up in the Lincolnshire Rising. The rebels forced him to swear an oath to support their cause before he was allowed to continue on his way. A devout man and unhappy with Henry VIII's reforms, he became the leader of the Pilgrimage of Grace.

List of Grievance Highlights

• Return religion to the old ways
• Henry could remain king, but advisors like Cromwell had to go.
• Address rumours of taxing births, deaths and marriages.
• Address food prices after a poor harvest in 1535.
• Address complaints about the Prayer Book issued in 1535.
• Is Anne Boleyn a witch?

Key Events of The Pilgrimage of Grace

Henry VIII commanded an army of 8,000 men, led by Thomas Howard**,** Duke of Norfolk as a response to Aske's success. As a backup, the King also sent a fleet of ten ships to the north of England. On 6 December 1536, Norfolk opened negotiations with the insurgents at Doncaster, where as many as 40,000 men were gathered.

Some of the demands that were agreed on were:

✓ Pardon for all

✓ Promise of a parliament in York

✓ No more monasteries to be closed

On 7 December, the pardon given by Henry VIII was read to the rebels. They disbanded, and Aske was invited to spend Christmas with the King at Windsor. In January 1537, whilst Aske was heading back home, a new demonstration broke out in Beverley.

Role of Francis Bigod

• In 1536, after the agreements between Henry VIII and Aske were reached, Bigod feared that the King would take revenge on the leaders of the revolt.

• He accused Aske of betraying the Pilgrimage of Grace.

• In January 1537, Bigod led a new demonstration in Cumberland and Westmorland known as the Bigod Rebellion.

• Since a truce had been agreed on, Aske gathered his men to defeat the demonstration.

• Aske succeeded and Bigod was arrested.

• Aske and Darcy were invited to London and were told that the King wanted to thank them for their actions.

• Instead, they were arrested and sent to the Tower of London. Henry VIII successfully suppressed the North and as a result:

• 216 people were executed

• 38 monks were hanged

• 16 parish priests were executed

• Hussey was beheaded

• Aske was hanged with a chain

• Bigod was hanged, drawn and quartered

Cromwell's Rise and Fall

Cromwell ultimately earned the King's favour when he supported the idea of Royal Supremacy. He denounced the Church's degree of power, claiming that the Papal State undermined the King's authority wherein the monarch should be regarded as 'the only head, sovereign lord, protector, and defender' of the state. With the help of Thomas Cranmer**,** Archbishop of Canterbury**,** he managed to nullify the King's marriage to Catherine of Aragon, the 'great matter' that his mentor and predecessor failed to accomplish.

Timeline of his Rise and Fall

• 1523 He became a Member of Parliament.
• 1524 He joined the household of Wolsey.
• 1530 He became a member of the King's Council.
• 1532 He was appointed as the King's chief minister.
  • He pushed through Parliament the Act in Restraint of Annates which limited funds paid to the Papacy.
• 1533 He pushed through parliament the Act in Restraint of Appeals
  • This declared that the English monarch was the highest authority on all legal matters.
  • Cranmer formally annulled Henry VIII's marriage to Catherine of Aragon.
• 1534 He pushed through parliament the Treason Act
  • This forbade people to speak out and criticise their King or his policies.
  • Parliament passed the Act of Succession and declared Henry's daughter Mary illegitimate.
  • The Act of Supremacy was passed and declared the King, and not the Pope, the head of the Church in England.
• 1535 Cromwell and a team of inspectors compiled the Valor Ecclesiasticus
  • This was a record of all the wealth and income of monastic institutions in England and Wales.
  • Then, Cromwell was made vicar-general.
• 1536 Cromwell and the King pushed a bill through Parliament which began the Dissolution of the Monasteries in England and Wales.
  • Then, Cromwell orchestrated the fall of Anne Boleyn**.**
• 1536 He became Lord Privy Seal.
  • His Ten Articles rejected four of the Seven Sacraments of Catholicism.
  • Then, he issued The Injunctions, a set of recommendations for the clergy.
• 1537 Cromwell published The Bishop's Book.
  • Within the Privy Council, a conservative faction had developed who were opposed to Cromwell and sought to diminish his power.
• 1538 He issued a more radical version of The Injunctions.
  • He ordered the removal of idolatry items from churches and cathedrals.
  • Pilgrimages were no longer deemed to be a part of religion.
• 1539 He arranged the marriage of the King to Anne of Cleves after he persuaded him that an alliance with the Protestants would be good for England.
• 1540 The conservative faction worked towards bringing about Cromwell's downfall.
  • A Bill of Attainder was drawn up against Cromwell.
• 1540 Henry VIII married Anne of Cleves although he was not pleased with the appearance of his new wife.
  • He accused Cromwell of forcing him into a marriage that he did not want for his own personal and political ambitions. Cromwell was arrested and sentenced to death without a trial. He lost all of his property and titles and was publicly executed at Tower Hill on 28 July 1540. On the same day as his execution, Henry VIII married Catherine Howard**.** Following his beheading, Cromwell's head was boiled and displayed on London Bridge.