The Pilgrimage of Grace 1536

The Pilgrimage of Grace (October 1536 -- February 1537) was the most serious challenge to Henry VIII's authority during his reign. It was a massive popular uprising in the north of England, involving up to 40,000 people, triggered by Henry's religious reforms and the dissolution of the monasteries.

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Background: The English Reformation

In the 1530s, Henry VIII broke with the Catholic Church in Rome and established himself as Supreme Head of the Church of England. This had far-reaching consequences.

Event	Date	Detail
Act of Supremacy	1534	Made Henry VIII Supreme Head of the Church of England
Dissolution of the Smaller Monasteries	1536	All monasteries with an income of less than £200 per year were closed; their lands and wealth were seized by the Crown
Thomas Cromwell	Chief Minister	Organised the dissolution and the religious reforms on Henry's behalf

Key Term: Dissolution of the Monasteries --- the closing of all Catholic monasteries, priories, convents, and friaries in England and Wales between 1536 and 1541. Their lands, buildings, and wealth were confiscated by the Crown.

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Causes of the Pilgrimage of Grace

The uprising had religious, economic, and political causes.

Religious Causes

Cause	Detail
Dissolution of the monasteries	Monasteries were centres of worship, charity, and education in northern England; their closure removed vital services
Break with Rome	Many northern Catholics were horrified by the break with the Pope
Changes to religious practices	New injunctions altered church services; saints' days were reduced; some relics were destroyed
Fear of further reform	People feared that parish churches would be closed next

Economic Causes

Cause	Detail
Loss of monastic charity	Monasteries provided food, shelter, and medical care for the poor
Loss of employment	Thousands of people worked for or depended on the monasteries
Enclosure of common land	Some ex-monastic land was enclosed by new owners, depriving peasants of grazing rights
New taxes	Rumours spread that the government planned to tax baptisms, marriages, and burials

Political Causes

Cause	Detail
Hostility to Thomas Cromwell	Seen as the architect of the hated reforms; called a "low-born" upstart by northern nobles
Resentment of centralised government	Northern nobles felt excluded from power and resented interference from London
The Lincolnshire Rising	A separate uprising in Lincolnshire in October 1536 encouraged the larger Pilgrimage of Grace in Yorkshire

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The Course of the Pilgrimage

Date	Event
October 1536	The Lincolnshire Rising begins; rebels seize Lincoln Cathedral
October 1536	Robert Aske, a Yorkshire lawyer, emerges as the leader of the Pilgrimage of Grace
October 1536	Up to 40,000 pilgrims gather in Yorkshire; they march under a banner of the Five Wounds of Christ
October 1536	Rebels capture York, Hull, and Pontefract Castle
December 1536	The Duke of Norfolk (representing the king) meets the rebels at Doncaster and promises a free pardon and a Parliament in York to address their grievances
December 1536	Aske persuades the rebels to disperse peacefully, trusting the king's promises
January 1537	A minor renewal of revolt in Cumberland provides Henry with an excuse to break his promises
February--July 1537	Henry orders a campaign of repression; approximately 216 rebels are executed, including Robert Aske, who is hanged in chains from the walls of York Castle

Exam Tip: Henry VIII's response to the Pilgrimage of Grace followed the same pattern as Richard II's response to the Peasants' Revolt: make promises to disperse the rebels, then break those promises and execute the leaders. This is a useful comparison to draw in essay answers.

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The Demands of the Pilgrims

The rebels presented their grievances in a document called the Pontefract Articles (December 1536).

Demand	Detail
Restoration of the monasteries	Reopen dissolved monasteries and return their lands
Removal of Thomas Cromwell	Remove Cromwell and other "heretical" advisors
Return to papal authority	Restore the Pope as head of the Church
End to new taxes and enclosures	Protect the economic interests of ordinary people
A Parliament in the North	To address northern grievances
Legitimacy of Princess Mary	Recognise Henry's daughter Mary as his legitimate heir

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The Significance of the Pilgrimage of Grace

Argument For Significance	Argument Against Significance
The largest popular uprising of the Tudor period	It was ultimately crushed; Henry broke all his promises
Involved up to 40,000 people across northern England	The dissolution of the monasteries continued and was completed by 1541
Showed the depth of popular attachment to Catholicism	Cromwell remained in power until 1540 (when he was executed for other reasons)
Temporarily halted the dissolution in the north	Henry's religious reforms continued and intensified
Demonstrated the limits of royal power in the provinces	The revolt strengthened the government's resolve to centralise power

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Key Figures

Person	Role
Robert Aske	Yorkshire lawyer who led the Pilgrimage of Grace; executed in 1537
Henry VIII	King whose religious reforms provoked the uprising
Thomas Cromwell	Chief Minister who organised the dissolution of the monasteries
Duke of Norfolk	Royal commander who negotiated with the rebels at Doncaster

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Key Dates

Date	Event
1534	Act of Supremacy makes Henry VIII head of the Church of England
1536	Dissolution of smaller monasteries begins
October 1536	Pilgrimage of Grace begins in Yorkshire
December 1536	Rebels disperse after promises from the Duke of Norfolk
1537	Robert Aske and approximately 216 rebels executed
1541	Dissolution of the monasteries completed

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Extended Worked Paragraph: Model Level 4/5 Answer

Question: "Has religion been the main factor driving popular protest in Britain? Use your knowledge of the Pilgrimage of Grace as part of your answer."