During the sixtieth century there were many religious reformations in Western Europe, which separated away from the Roman Catholic Church. In 1534, the beginning of the protestant reformation in England started with the Act of supremacy, which made Henry VIII head of the Church of England. Henry VIII’s lord high chancellor and head of the king’s council was Thomas Cromwell. He implemented a series of governmental policies including new taxes, the expansion of royal power in the north of England. However because of this it angered many with the dissolution of monasteries, and the confiscation of Catholic Church lands. The backlash of this was significant; marchers staged protests and armed demonstrations known as the Pilgrimage of Grace from October 1536 to February 1537. The concerns and goals of participants in the Pilgrimage of Grace contrast with those who opposed the movement immensely.
The goals of the participants in the Pilgrimage of Grace were numerous and demanded many changes. In many of the documents it is very evident of the goals of the participants in the Pilgrimage of Grace. An example of a goal is in the “oath of Honourable Men”; the marchers want the preservation of the king and his heirs, for the purification of the nobility, and to expel all evil counsellors (doc 1). In “oath of Honourable Men” obviously, the protesters support/ pledged allegiance to the king and laid the blame on Cromwell instead because they were afraid that if they didn’t they could be executed for treason (Doc 1). Another goal the participants for the Pilgrimage of Grace did was to get peasants that couldn’t read aware with the re-creation of a banner, depicting the “wounds of Christ,” a communion chalice, a plow, and a cattle horn (doc 3). In a petition presented to the King's Council, written by Robert Aske, he asks for many things to be changed. Likewise with “oath of Honourable Men” (doc 1), Robert Aske didn’t want to disagree with the king, because he didn’t want to be executed. “To have the monasteries ‘houses, land and goods restored to them. To have heretics consigned to punishment by fire.”(Doc 5) Clearly Robert Aske wanted to be pardoned by the King, and not be tried for treason and thus blamed Thomas for the rebellion against the King (doc 5). The final goal of the participants in the Pilgrimage of Grace was the anonymous pamphlet attributed to Sir Thomas Tempest. It stated that Thomas Cromwell was a traitor along with his adherents, and also that they should elect knights and burgesses who would speak on their behalf. ”Instead we have a parliament where men may not speak of the King’s vices but only what Cromwell says is right.”
The goals of the people that opposed the Pilgrimage of Grace were the complete opposite of the people that support the Pilgrimage of Grace. It is clearly stated in some documents the goals of those against the Pilgrimage of Grace. In “A Remedy for sedition” by Richard Morrison, its goal is definitely too not support the Pilgrimage of Grace, as the writer was hired by Thomas Cromwell and is used to persuade the protesters (Doc 7). While imprisoned in the Tower of London, Nicholas Leche gave his testimony, which states that he wasn’t warned he was going against the king. “, never believing their actions to be offensive to the king. In fact, they had waged the rebellion against the Privy Council in the name of the king.” (Doc 8). Nicholas Leche’s is certainly trying to save himself, because he is imprisoned and will probably be executed (Doc 8). December 1536, King Henry VIII gave his pardon to marchers, “, is inclined to extend his most gracious piety and mercy towards you and to grant to you his free pardon provide that you heartily repent your offenses and make humble submission to his highness.” (Doc 9). Henry is just trying to get the Pilgrimage over with, because he doesn’t want an uprising or enemies taking advantage of the situation (Doc.9).
The concerns for the Pilgrimage of Grace and the participants for those who opposed it differed greatly. For those who were supporting the Pilgrimage of Grace their concerns were stated in some of the documents. The marchers’ proclamation gives a lot of concern for their lives, “Because the rulers of this country do not defend us from robbed by thieves and Scots, we have to rely on charity, faith, poverty and pity.”(Doc 2). In the Marchers’ ballad composed by the catholic monks definitely support the Catholic Church rather than the Church of England, because the Church of England took their land and monasteries. (Doc 4). Robert aske’s testimony that was given shortly before his execution, is what he was really thinking since he was about to be executed.(Doc 11). The participants who opposed the Pilgrimage of Grace disagree in many ways with those who supported the movement. One example is Henry VIII pardon, which he is concerned that someone will attack England or the uprising will result in overthrowing. All in all there were not many concerns in the documents produced by those who opposed the Pilgrimage, simply because there were so few.
From the information provided above, the participants of the Pilgrimage of Grace and those who opposed it contrast with their concerns and goals notably. The outcome of what happens after was that England was not reconciled to the Catholic Church, except during the brief reign of Mary I. Also the dissolution of the monasteries continued unabated, with the largest monasteries being dissolved by 1540. Unfortunately Great tracts of land were seized from the Church and divided among the monarchy and its supporters. The moves towards official Protestantism achieved by Cromwell were not reversed except during the five-year reign of Mary I (1553–1558). Ultimately after everything Elizabeth acquired the throne, become the the ruler of the Church of England and had the churches and land.
The goals of the participants in the Pilgrimage of Grace were numerous and demanded many changes. In many of the documents it is very evident of the goals of the participants in the Pilgrimage of Grace. An example of a goal is in the “oath of Honourable Men”; the marchers want the preservation of the king and his heirs, for the purification of the nobility, and to expel all evil counsellors (doc 1). In “oath of Honourable Men” obviously, the protesters support/ pledged allegiance to the king and laid the blame on Cromwell instead because they were afraid that if they didn’t they could be executed for treason (Doc 1). Another goal the participants for the Pilgrimage of Grace did was to get peasants that couldn’t read aware with the re-creation of a banner, depicting the “wounds of Christ,” a communion chalice, a plow, and a cattle horn (doc 3). In a petition presented to the King's Council, written by Robert Aske, he asks for many things to be changed. Likewise with “oath of Honourable Men” (doc 1), Robert Aske didn’t want to disagree with the king, because he didn’t want to be executed. “To have the monasteries ‘houses, land and goods restored to them. To have heretics consigned to punishment by fire.”(Doc 5) Clearly Robert Aske wanted to be pardoned by the King, and not be tried for treason and thus blamed Thomas for the rebellion against the King (doc 5). The final goal of the participants in the Pilgrimage of Grace was the anonymous pamphlet attributed to Sir Thomas Tempest. It stated that Thomas Cromwell was a traitor along with his adherents, and also that they should elect knights and burgesses who would speak on their behalf. ”Instead we have a parliament where men may not speak of the King’s vices but only what Cromwell says is right.”
The goals of the people that opposed the Pilgrimage of Grace were the complete opposite of the people that support the Pilgrimage of Grace. It is clearly stated in some documents the goals of those against the Pilgrimage of Grace. In “A Remedy for sedition” by Richard Morrison, its goal is definitely too not support the Pilgrimage of Grace, as the writer was hired by Thomas Cromwell and is used to persuade the protesters (Doc 7). While imprisoned in the Tower of London, Nicholas Leche gave his testimony, which states that he wasn’t warned he was going against the king. “, never believing their actions to be offensive to the king. In fact, they had waged the rebellion against the Privy Council in the name of the king.” (Doc 8). Nicholas Leche’s is certainly trying to save himself, because he is imprisoned and will probably be executed (Doc 8). December 1536, King Henry VIII gave his pardon to marchers, “, is inclined to extend his most gracious piety and mercy towards you and to grant to you his free pardon provide that you heartily repent your offenses and make humble submission to his highness.” (Doc 9). Henry is just trying to get the Pilgrimage over with, because he doesn’t want an uprising or enemies taking advantage of the situation (Doc.9).
The concerns for the Pilgrimage of Grace and the participants for those who opposed it differed greatly. For those who were supporting the Pilgrimage of Grace their concerns were stated in some of the documents. The marchers’ proclamation gives a lot of concern for their lives, “Because the rulers of this country do not defend us from robbed by thieves and Scots, we have to rely on charity, faith, poverty and pity.”(Doc 2). In the Marchers’ ballad composed by the catholic monks definitely support the Catholic Church rather than the Church of England, because the Church of England took their land and monasteries. (Doc 4). Robert aske’s testimony that was given shortly before his execution, is what he was really thinking since he was about to be executed.(Doc 11). The participants who opposed the Pilgrimage of Grace disagree in many ways with those who supported the movement. One example is Henry VIII pardon, which he is concerned that someone will attack England or the uprising will result in overthrowing. All in all there were not many concerns in the documents produced by those who opposed the Pilgrimage, simply because there were so few.
From the information provided above, the participants of the Pilgrimage of Grace and those who opposed it contrast with their concerns and goals notably. The outcome of what happens after was that England was not reconciled to the Catholic Church, except during the brief reign of Mary I. Also the dissolution of the monasteries continued unabated, with the largest monasteries being dissolved by 1540. Unfortunately Great tracts of land were seized from the Church and divided among the monarchy and its supporters. The moves towards official Protestantism achieved by Cromwell were not reversed except during the five-year reign of Mary I (1553–1558). Ultimately after everything Elizabeth acquired the throne, become the the ruler of the Church of England and had the churches and land.