Syllabus Edition
First teaching 2024
First exams 2026
The Pilgrimage of Grace, 1536 (Edexcel GCSE History)
Revision Note
How Serious of a Threat was the Pilgrimage of Grace on Henry VIII's Reign? - Timeline & Summary
The Pilgrimage of Grace presented a significant challenge to Henry's authority. The event brought together a range of individuals angry at the government. The rebels expressed their concerns through a series of demands. These included the protection of religious houses, the reinstatement of the Pope's authority and the removal of Protestant influences from the English Church. The rebellion grew rapidly. It attracted tens of thousands of supporters across Northern England. The rebel leaders, including Robert Aske, effectively organised their forces and negotiated with royal representatives. The Pilgrimage of Grace posed a direct threat to Henry's control of northern England. The suppression of the Pilgrimage of Grace marked a decisive victory for Henry. It reaffirmed his authority and showed his willingness to use force against his people. Despite initial successes, the rebellion failed to overturn Henry's religious reforms. Henry maintained his position as the King of England. It showed Henry the challenges and tensions in Tudor England. |
Reasons for the Pilgrimage of Grace
The Pilgrimage of Grace was a series of rebellions that started in the North of England in 1536
They occurred for multiple reasons
Motivations for the Pilgrimage of Grace
Motivation | Why did this cause the Pilgrimage of Grace? |
|---|---|
Social | After the government closed smaller religious houses, many people in society were homeless and had no access to care. People wanted the monasteries to reopen |
Political | Cromwell's reforms reduced the power of the northern lords. People wanted to have more say in how the North was run |
Religious | Many people were Catholics in the North. They worried that the government would change parish churches in their 'attack' on Catholicism |
Economic | Many people could not afford to pay taxes. These included the 1534 Subsidy Act and tax on inheritance from the 1536 Statute of Uses Act |
Access to land was limited. Enclosure meant that more people had to rent land to grow crops and raise livestock. The dissolution of the monasteries increased land rents, making land unaffordable for many people. | |
There were food shortages in the North. Bad weather caused a poor harvest in 1535. This created high food prices and rising poverty in the North |
Worked Example
‘Henry VIII’s religious changes were the main cause of the Pilgrimage of Grace.’ How far do you agree? Explain your answer
16 marks
Partial answer:
Overall, Henry's religious changes partially caused the Pilgrimage of Grace. People in the North wanted to practice their Catholic faith and believed in the authority of the Pope. However, I believe that the main cause of the Pilgrimage of Grace was economic factors. The bad harvest in 1535 led to serious issues in the North including high food prices and inability to pay taxes. This had a significant, day-to-day impact on people's lives. People became desperate for change. They were more willing to rise up against Henry.
Exam Tip
The example above is a conclusion to this question. You may notice that it compares multiple factors and explains why religious problems were the most significant cause of the Pilgrimage of Grace. This means that the conclusion is justified with evidence.
To complete this answer, you should add three well-explained paragraphs that explain the reasons why the North rose up against Henry. These could be written in the PEEL format.
Events of the Pilgrimage of Grace
Aims of the rebellion
The rebellion had two main aims:
To restore Catholicism or the ‘old religion’ to England
The rebels saw themselves as 'Christ’s soldiers'
To negotiate their reforms with the king
The rebels did not want to fight
They wanted to persuade Henry to reverse the government's religious reforms
Key people in the Pilgrimage of Grace
Leaders of the rebellion | Leaders supporting Henry VIII |
|---|---|
Robert Aske – A lawyer and leader of the rebellion in Yorkshire | Thomas Howard, Duke of Norfolk. Henry sent Norfolk to stop the rebellion in Yorkshire |
Nicholas Melton – A shoemaker and leader of the rebellion in Lincolnshire | Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk. Suffolk attempted to end the Lincolnshire rebellion |
Lord Darcy – A nobleman |
Exam Tip
Edexcel GCSE History requires you to remember key people within the course. To help you do this, you could create a wanted poster for each of the leaders of the Pilgrimage of Grace. Add key facts about the person and what they have done against the king.
What happened in the Pilgrimage of Grace?
AWAITING IMAGE
Flow diagrams showing the events of the Yorkshire and the Lincolnshire rebellions in the Pilgrimage of Grace
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