Pilgrimage of Grace

FAlthough you wouldn’t know it by its name, the Pilgrimage of Grace was a rebellion that occurred in the North of England from October 1536 to January 1537. It was motivated primarily by outrage at the dissolution of the monasteries and the English Reformation, although there were other secular motives as well.

The Pilgrimage of Grace is particularly significant as it was the single largest rebellion in Tudor history and presented a very real threat to the rule of Henry VIII, even though it ultimately failed to achieve its aims.

How did Henry VIII suppress this huge rebellion, and what relevance does the Pilgrimage of Grace have to Tudor history?

Pilgrimage of Grace: Timeline

The Pilgrimage of Grace refers to the uprising that occurred in Yorkshire. However, there were other smaller risings in the North as part of this rebellion, particularly in Lincolnshire. The Pilgrimage of Grace also refers to these uprisings as a whole, the events of which are detailed in the timeline below.

Pilgrimage of Grace: Causes

The motives of the rebels were complex, involving religion, economics, and politics. Let’s study those motivations in detail.

The Religious causes of the Pilgrimage of Grace

Henry VIII's reformation of the Church and the dissolution of the monasteries had proved extremely controversial. The break with Rome had occurred in 1534 and Henry VIII had become head of the Church of England.

The dissolution of the monasteries

After Henry became head of the Church of England, he began to dissolve the monasteries in 1536 as they represented the authority of the Pope. They also held a lot of wealth that the King could claim.

In the North of England, this was a particularly unpopular decision as that area of the country was, traditionally, strongly Catholic. Many also objected to the poor treatment of monks, nuns, and the clergy. They were often left homeless, destitute, and with very few options after they were forced out of their institutions.

Fear for parish churches and traditional practices

In Tudor society, the parish church was the central point of everyone’s lives. The Reformation and establishment of the Church of England meant that many ordinary people felt that their community was threatened. Some people feared losing certain traditions that had been part of their communities for centuries, such as the worship of a particular saint, as well as losing their churches and wealth.

The Economic Cause of the Pilgrimage of Grace: Taxation, Rents, and Enclosure

Although the Pilgrimage of Grace is normally explained as a religious rebellion, there were also underlying economic grievances that ordinary people had with the King, nobility, and the government. Those living in the North resented increased taxation, rents, and the encroachment of the nobility on their land.

The enclosure was a particularly sore issue. The common people resented how private landlords, generally from the gentry or nobility, were fencing land that had traditionally belonged to the common people. The people had always enjoyed the right to use the land to farm and graze cattle. Having it taken away not only insulted their dignity but also hindered their ability to make a living.

This felt like an attack on their rights and their community.

The Political Causes of the Pilgrimage of Grace

The Pilgrimage of Grace also had some political motivations that were related to how Henry VIII ruled the country.

The King’s Great Matter

The initial cause of the Reformation had been Henry VIII’s desire to divorce Catherine of Aragon, who had failed to give him a male heir and marry Anne Boleyn. This situation is sometimes referred to as ‘The King’s Great Matter’. Many objected to the divorce on religious and moral grounds and were dismayed at Henry VIII’s poor treatment of Catherine of Aragon during the process.

A conspiracy of nobles?

Historian Geoffrey Elton has offered some evidence that suggests that there was a conspiracy of nobles involved in supporting the rebellion. He believes that the rebellions were largely the work of a group of nobility who wished to restore Princess Mary (Catherine of Aragon’s daughter) as heir to the throne of England.

It is said that they exploited the economic and religious concerns of the Northerners to put pressure on Henry VIII. Whilst this is not a concrete theory, it is nevertheless useful to understand how the Pilgrimage of Grace has been interpreted over time.

How much of a threat was the Pilgrimage of Grace?

The Pilgrimage of Grace presented a real threat to the rule of Henry VIII. Let’s study the main reasons for it.

Potential for Foreign Support

The Reformation and break with the Catholic Church had been deeply unpopular and divisive in Europe. This was very troubling for Henry VIII, as the most powerful nations (like France, Spain, and the Holy Roman Empire) in Europe were strongly Catholic countries that condemned the Reformation.

With a rebellion rising in England, there was a very real concern that the Pilgrimage of Grace would gain support from one or more of these countries and mount an invasion, backed by the Pope to overthrow Henry VIII. There was no chance of England withstanding an attack like that.

Involvement of the Nobility

Another reason why the Pilgrimage of Grace presented a threat was that it had support from different sections of society. It was not just a rising of the people: it had support from the nobility and clergy. The involvement of people who wielded power and influence in society, rather than just the common people, meant that the rebellion was more prepared and supported than usual, therefore presenting a greater threat.

Popular Support

Unlike most rebellions in the Tudor era, the Pilgrimage of Grace was not localised to one specific area of the country. The Pilgrimage of Grace spread across much of the North of England. As it was not localised to one area, it was more difficult to put down. In addition, the spread of the rebellion allowed for a greater number of people to join, making the rebellion stronger.

Fig. 2: Banner of the Holy Wounds.

The banner used by the rebels in Pilgrimage of Grace. It displays the five wounds suffered by Jesus Christ on the cross. This imagery was used to evoke the suffering of the worshippers of Catholicism in England.

How was the Pilgrimage of Grace suppressed?

The Pilgrimage of Grace was suppressed in two ways: through peaceful agreement, and through acts of violence.

Pilgrimage of Grace demands and peaceful agreement

On 2 December 1536, the Duke of Norfolk met with Robert Aske to discuss the terms of an agreement for peace. The rebels drew up a formal list of their demands, entitled The Pontefract Articles:

• There were 24 demands in total, nine of which were religious.
• The rebels demanded a return to papal authority.
• There were also economic, legal, and political demands, including an end to enclosure, and a parliament in the North.

It was agreed that the rebels would be pardoned and a parliament in Yorkshire would deal with other grievances. Aske was invited to present the demands to Henry VIII over Christmas 1536. In response to this diplomacy, the rebels had begun to disband, making it easier to suppress the rebellion.

Acts of Violence

Since the forces had been pacified by the agreement, the rebellion broke into smaller riots, which meant it was a lot easier to suppress. The army used force to break up these smaller outbreaks and many were executed, including Robert Aske himself.

Aske was imprisoned briefly in the Tower of London before being taken to York and hanged outside Clifford’s Tower at York Castle. Over 200 nobles, gentlemen, and clergy were executed for their part in the rebellion.

The Impact of the Pilgrimage of Grace: Summary

The Pilgrimage of Grace has retained an important place in the wider history of the Tudor era. This is mainly because it is the biggest act of anti-Reformation sentiment in the history of this period, and indeed one of the biggest uprisings to ever occur against any monarch of England.

It is significant because it could have been disastrous for Henry VIII, especially if foreign powers had gotten involved. The Pilgrimage of Grace demonstrates how polarising the English Reformation was.

Henry VIII’s desire for divorce raised controversy in Europe and alienated England. It also split the country into opposing sides, creating a divide that would continue to cause domestic problems throughout the rest of Henry VIII’s reign and into the reigns of the rest of the Tudor monarchs.