Western Rebellion, 1547-49

(also known as Prayer Book Rebellion)

CAUSES:

- Increased taxation -> New taxes on goods (tax on sheep & on sale of woollen cloth)
- Generated rumours about further taxes on animals
- Hit heavy by inflation due to debasement of currency
- Enclosure tensions provoked riots
- Religious changes -> rebels disliked the Bible + Prayer Book being in English (expected
Latin to be retained)
- Reinstatement of the Act of Six Articles
- People were provoked by the unfamiliarity of the new practices

COURSE OF THE REBELLION:

6th June: Formation of Cornish rebel camp near Bodmin under leadership of Humphrey
Arundel and a list of articles was compiled.
11th June: Start of Devon rebellion at Sanford Courten – the rebels persuaded a priest to
deliver a traditional Catholic Mass
20th June: The two rebellious groups converged on Crediton
21st June: Dispute between the rebels and Sir Peter Carew, a Devon JP and courtier
23rd June: Rebels camp at Clyst St Mary, near Exeter – two gentleman made further
unsuccessful attempts to conciliate the rebels by agreeing that religion should remain as it
was durning H8th reign until Edward came of age
2nd July: Rebels besiege Exeter
28th July: Lord Russell began his advance on the rebels
4th August: Rebels defeated at Clyst Heath
17th August: Final defeat of rebels at Sanford Courtenay

IMPACTS:

- It could be argued that the Western Rebellion was not very impactful due to its lack
of success.
- But, the resilience and commitment of rebels remained strong to the end and, even
after their victory on the battlefield, Russel had to deal with rearguard action and
pockets of resistance until estimated 3,000 people killed.
- St Thomas and probably the leader of the rebellion, was hanged on gallows erected
on his church tower, in his vestments
- Government forces had acted illegally, executing without trials and confiscating and
redistributing property.
- A list of articles was a normal means in a rebellion by which the rebels articulated
their demands and grievances.
THEMES:

- Religion
- Economy -> inflation + taxes
- Conflict
- Power

KEY INDIVIDUALS:

- John Russel – Later elevated to the peerage as Earl of Bedford. To suppress the revolt
with the rebels being defeated and its leader. He was appointed by the Council
represent them in the region due to his position as Lord Privy Seal. He was natural
choice for this role having lead the short-lived a council in the West.
- Rebellion also known Rebellion also known as Prayer book rebellion and Thomas
Cranmer devised a group of bishops who sought to introduce English services that
would be used throughout the country. One standard English Book of Prayer
- John Hooper the radical Bishop of Gloucester was furious with the Book of Prayer
claiming it was ‘very absurd’. He was one of the first Puritans. He thought the Godly
Reformation should mean a complete break with the Catholic past.
- William Body- the upheaval was associated with the careerist archdeacon of
Cornwall. He was very unpopular and strove to force the Edwardian edicts and the
Act dissolving the chantries.

To what extent did this constitute a Mid-Tudor crisis?

- A range of different areas for discontent; the Tudor government was failing to keep
order across the board i.e. economically and religiously
- Lasted two months – compared to risings under H8 (e.g. Lincolnshire rising), this
shows it took a long time for the regime to quell
- However, rebellions appear to be a standard theme throughout Tudor rule so far –
they gain intensity but never appear to make any significant changes to the
government
- This rebellion follows that pattern, unexceptional: rebels proved passionate, nobility
sent in to deal with them, nothing changed (Prayer Book still enforced), Edward and
his government remained in power
- Therefore, a rebellion alone is not enough to indicate that the Tudors faced a “crisis”
and were on the brink of collapse