Key topic 3: The Reformation and its impact, 1529–40 - 4 The Pilgrimage of…

The idea

The Pilgrimage of Grace (1536) was a northern uprising driven by religious, economic, and political reasons. Religiously, rebels were angered by the dissolution of smaller monasteries, which provided vital services, and feared attacks on Catholic practices following the Ten Articles. Economically, the North suffered from poor harvests and resentment towards taxes like the 1534 Subsidy Act. Politically, northern nobles felt excluded from court by low-born advisors like Thomas Cromwell, whom they blamed for royal policies. The rebels' demands, articulated in the Pontefract Articles, highlighted this blend of motives, demanding the restoration of monasteries, the removal of Cromwell, and the legitimisation of Princess Mary.

What earns the marks

• Explain the religious grievances, particularly the anger over the dissolution of the smaller monasteries and the defence of Catholicism.
• Discuss the economic factors, including resentment of the 1534 Subsidy Act, poor harvests, and opposition to enclosure.
• Identify the political motives, such as the northern nobility's desire to remove Thomas Cromwell and restore their influence at court.
• Describe the social importance of the monasteries in the North and how their loss provoked rebellion.
• Reference the Pontefract Articles as evidence of the rebels' multifaceted demands.

Common mistakes and how to put them right

• Viewing the Pilgrimage of Grace as solely a religious rebellion.

  Put it right: Emphasise that while religion was the primary catalyst, economic hardship and political factionalism were also crucial factors.

• Blaming Henry VIII directly for the rebels' grievances.

  Put it right: Note that the rebels claimed to be loyal to the King, blaming his 'evil councillors' like Thomas Cromwell for the unpopular policies.

• Confusing the Pilgrimage of Grace with the earlier Lincolnshire Rising.

  Put it right: Ensure you focus on the Yorkshire-based Pilgrimage led by Robert Aske, though acknowledging it was sparked by the Lincolnshire events is valid.

Exam tips

• Use the Pontefract Articles to provide specific evidence of the rebels' religious, economic, and political demands.
• Emphasise the role of Thomas Cromwell as the primary target of the rebels' political anger.
• When explaining the causes, show how the different factors (e.g., religious changes and economic taxes) combined to create widespread discontent in the North.