OCR Specification focus:
‘The Pilgrimage of Grace.’
Introduction
The Pilgrimage of Grace (1536–1537) was the most serious domestic rebellion of Henry VIII’s reign, rooted in religious, economic, and political grievances, with widespread northern support.
Causes of the Pilgrimage of Grace
Religious Causes
The most immediate and significant factor behind the rebellion was religious change under Henry VIII.
Dissolution of the Monasteries: Henry’s 1536 dissolution of smaller monasteries, orchestrated by Thomas Cromwell, angered communities that valued monasteries as centres of worship, charity, and education.
Fountains Abbey (dissolved 1539) exemplifies the loss of spiritual, charitable, and economic support that many northern communities feared in 1536. The surviving nave and tower dramatised the scale of monastic wealth targeted by reform. The scenic setting is incidental and not required by the syllabus. Source
Fear of further reforms: Rumours spread that parish churches, holy days, and traditional practices would also be suppressed.
Attachment to Catholicism: The north of England retained strong Catholic traditions, and reform threatened cherished rituals, festivals, and pilgrimages.
Dissolution of the Monasteries: The closure and appropriation of monastic institutions by the Crown between 1536 and 1541, redistributing their wealth to Henry VIII.
In addition, resentment of Cromwell’s influence, seen as a radical reformer with little respect for tradition, deepened opposition.
Economic Causes
Economic pressures also fuelled discontent.
Enclosure: The practice of enclosing open fields displaced many peasants, leading to rural hardship.
Taxation: The subsidy of 1534, imposed to fund Henry’s wars, was deeply unpopular in poorer northern counties.
Rising prices: Inflation, driven by population growth and debasement of the coinage, worsened poverty.
Monastic economy: Many relied on monasteries for employment, alms, and services. Their suppression created fear of economic ruin.
Political Causes
Political tensions intertwined with religious and economic issues.
Regional resentment: The north felt neglected and poorly represented at court, where southern advisors such as Cromwell and Cranmer dominated.
Opposition to Cromwell: Many blamed Cromwell’s policies for both religious and economic grievances.
Loyalty to Mary Tudor: Some rebels feared the succession of the king’s young daughter, Elizabeth, and wanted Mary restored as legitimate heir.
Succession Crisis: A period of uncertainty over the legitimate heir to the throne, often provoking unrest and political manoeuvring.
Thus, the rebellion was not simply religious, but a blend of social, political, and economic concerns.
Nature and Spread of the Rebellion
Outbreak
The rebellion began in Lincolnshire (October 1536) but quickly spread to Yorkshire and further north.
In Yorkshire, Robert Aske, a lawyer, emerged as the charismatic leader of what became known as the Pilgrimage of Grace.
Organisation
The rebels marched under the banner of the Five Wounds of Christ, highlighting their religious motivation.
Banner of the Five Wounds of Christ, the emblem carried by the 1536–1537 pilgrims. The central heart and stylised wounds reflect a devotional Catholic iconography that framed the movement as a pious “pilgrimage,” not treason. Clean, minimal design makes the symbolism clear for students. Source
They styled themselves as “pilgrims” rather than rebels, emphasising loyalty to the king but hostility to his advisors.
Support Base
The rebellion attracted broad support:
Nobility and gentry who resented Cromwell.
Clergy concerned for the fate of the Church.
Commoners angry about taxation, enclosure, and religious loss.
Estimates suggest around 30,000 rebels took part, dwarfing the forces Henry initially had available.
Royal Response
Henry VIII’s Strategy
At first, Henry relied on negotiation rather than force, given the scale of the rebellion.
The Duke of Norfolk was sent north to parley with the rebels, promising that grievances would be considered and a parliament held at York.
Rebel Leadership
Robert Aske and other leaders believed Henry’s promises and disbanded their forces.
However, a smaller rising in January 1537 gave Henry the excuse to abandon conciliation.
Repression
Norfolk crushed the renewed rebellion with force.
Leaders, including Aske, were executed, and Henry broke all earlier promises of pardon and reform.
Repression: The use of state power and violence to suppress rebellion or dissent, often through executions, imprisonment, or military action.
This violent end reaffirmed royal authority in the north.
Consequences of the Pilgrimage of Grace
Short-term Consequences
Brutal punishment: Around 200 rebels were executed, including Robert Aske and northern nobles such as Lord Darcy.
Consolidation of Henry’s authority: The king demonstrated that rebellion would not succeed against his power.
End of conciliation: Henry never again pretended to compromise with rebels; coercion became the default response.
Long-term Consequences
Further Dissolution: Far from halting reform, the rebellion hastened the complete dissolution of monasteries by 1540.
Weakening of northern autonomy: The rebellion exposed the Crown’s weak grip in the north, leading to greater royal control, including the establishment of the Council of the North with enhanced powers.
King’s Manor, York, later headquarters of the Council of the North, symbolises the Tudor state’s firmer grip on the region after 1536–1537. The building’s later architectural details exceed syllabus needs but help students connect a concrete site to administrative change. Use it to anchor discussion of post-rebellion governance. Source
Shift in noble loyalty: Nobles learned that opposing Henry was futile. Fear and executions ensured greater compliance.
Legacy of fear: The rebellion left a lasting impression on the monarchy about the risks of religious and social upheaval.
Historical Interpretations
Historians have debated the rebellion’s true character:
Some argue it was a conservative rising defending the old faith and traditions.
Others see it as a reaction to multiple grievances, with religion as the most visible banner but economics and politics equally significant.
Ultimately, the Pilgrimage of Grace was the largest threat to Tudor stability before the Elizabethan era, but Henry VIII’s ruthless response ensured his supremacy remained intact.
FAQ
Robert Aske provided disciplined leadership that gave the rebellion a strong sense of order. He insisted on peaceful behaviour, avoiding looting or destruction, which helped secure broad support.
He also framed the movement as a “pilgrimage”, emphasising loyalty to Henry VIII while targeting Cromwell and his policies. This distinction was crucial in persuading many gentry and clergy to join.
The north was more conservative and deeply attached to traditional Catholic practices, making it especially hostile to reform.
Geographically, the region had fewer royal officials, giving communities greater autonomy and space to organise.
The economic reliance on monasteries was stronger in the north, where they played a larger role in local life compared to the wealthier south.
Unlike smaller local disturbances, the Pilgrimage of Grace mobilised tens of thousands across multiple counties, making it the largest Tudor rebellion.
Its leadership included not only commons but also gentry, clergy, and some nobility, giving it wider social reach.
The rebels articulated grievances through formal petitions, signalling a more organised and politically conscious movement compared to earlier sporadic uprisings.
Through the Duke of Norfolk, Henry promised a pardon for participants, consideration of grievances, and even a northern parliament at York.
These promises persuaded leaders to disperse, showing the rebels’ willingness to trust royal assurances.
The broken promises later allowed Henry to justify harsh reprisals, demonstrating his duplicity and reinforcing royal authority through fear.
The rebellion sharpened hostility towards Thomas Cromwell, who was widely blamed for religious and economic reforms.
Many saw Cromwell as a low-born “upstart” imposing radical change without respecting tradition.
Although Henry retained Cromwell for several more years, the rebellion reinforced his image as the architect of unpopular policies, fuelling elite resentment that would later contribute to his downfall.
Practice Questions
Question 1 (2 marks):
Name two religious grievances that motivated the Pilgrimage of Grace.
Mark scheme:
1 mark for each correct grievance, up to 2 marks.
Acceptable answers include:Dissolution of the Monasteries.
Rumours about the suppression of parish churches, holy days, or traditional practices.
Loss of traditional Catholic rituals, festivals, or pilgrimages.
Fear of Cromwell’s reformist influence.
Question 2 (6 marks):
Explain why economic factors contributed to the outbreak of the Pilgrimage of Grace.
Mark scheme:
Level 1 (1–2 marks): Generalised statements about poverty or hardship with limited specific reference.
Example: “People were poor, and this made them rebel.”Level 2 (3–4 marks): Some specific points made about economic causes, with limited detail or explanation.
Example: Mentions enclosure or taxation but does not explain their impact fully.Level 3 (5–6 marks): Clear explanation using detailed and accurate knowledge of economic factors and their effects on society.
Credit should be given for reference to at least two of the following with explanation:Enclosure displacing peasants and creating rural hardship.
Taxation (1534 subsidy) being deeply unpopular in poorer regions.
Rising prices and inflation increasing poverty.
Monasteries’ economic role in providing employment and charity; their dissolution causing local anxiety.
Highest marks should be awarded for responses that show how these economic issues combined to fuel wider resentment and link clearly to rebellion.
