ALL MID TUDOR CRISIS ESSAYS 2023 QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS COMPLETE
TO WHAT EXTENT DID ENGLISH GOVERNMENT RESPOND EFFECTIVELY TO
THE DOMESTIC PROBLEMS WHICH IT FACED IN THE YEARS 1529-1553?
Essay Overview
INTRODUCTION
- Overall English government did have a lot of domestic problems to deal with
- Worse / caused mid-Tudor crisis due to turmoil H8 had created with things e.g. religion
and royal finance
- Dealt well with problems it faced and attempts were made to improve from H8 reign
- Had to deal with other harsh economic conditions
NOT EFFECTIVE
- Forcing religious change on public
- Large scale rebellions in the name of religion
Wyatt's Rebellion
Lincolnshire rising
- 1549 Kett's Rebellion - maladministration caused frustration
- Royal finances
EFFECTIVE
- Pilgrimage of Grace crushed with ease
- Rebellions did not pose such an imminent threat
- Successive reign after H8 fixed royal finances: Edward - Northumberland and Mary
- Mary started to deal with poor relief
CONCLUSION
- Overall did have major issues to deal with
-Mary and Edward's reign did see changed being implemented but both were hindered
due to their short reigns
- This is why start of Elizabeth sorts this out
- Did respond well do domestic problems
TO WHAT EXTENT DID ENGLISH GOVERNMENT RESPOND EFFECTIVELY TO
THE DOMESTIC PROBLEMS WHICH IT FACED IN THE YEARS 1529-1553?
Not effective: Forcing religious change on public
- Christopher Haigh: crisis at pariah level
- Eamon Duffey: attack history + collective memory of parishes = 'climate of discontent
+ disobedience'
- H8 Influences from Luther + Calvin were reaching England but people reluctant to
abandon traditions
- Slow to accept radical change unless there as a reason to do so - shift of Edward IV's
reign shifted to Protestantism was not enthusiastic
- Henry accepted as Head of Church but widespread acceptance of protestant beliefs =
much slower
,- After 1548: expenditure on church declined / reaction to destructive crown attitudes
- Decline attendance in Exeter / decrease in no. of men for ordination = decreased
manpower
- 1550: John Hooper admitted that the pace of reform was hampered by uncooperative
public opinion
TO WHAT EXTENT DID ENGLISH GOVERNMENT RESPOND EFFECTIVELY TO
THE DOMESTIC PROBLEMS WHICH IT FACED IN THE YEARS 1529-1553?
Not effective: Large scale rebellions in the name of religion
- Little sign that there would be fundamental changes to the English church
- Complaints made occasionally / on the whole church fulfilled requirements majority
- Small minority welcomed religious change = no groundswell of popular support for
changes
- Autumn 1536: Pilgrimage of Grace broke out in Lincolnshire and parts of N. England
WYATTS
- Wyatt's rebellion: Wyatt's men were a force of 3000 men
- Mary's council could not agree on what to do
- Religion: many of his urban supporters came from Maidstone - protestant stronghold
- Protestants minority BUT their religious opinion could not be ignored
LINCOLNSHIRE
- October 1536: 10000 men were briefly involved - some were gentry
- Anthony Fletcher + Diamard Macculloch: larger sig. on relig. causes + part clergy
played in supporting rebels
TO WHAT EXTENT DID ENGLISH GOVERNMENT RESPOND EFFECTIVELY TO
THE DOMESTIC PROBLEMS WHICH IT FACED IN THE YEARS 1529-1553?
Not effective: 1549 Kett's Rebellion
- maladministration caused frustration
- John Guy: 'the closest thing tudor England came to a class war'
- Geographically vast revolts: most widespread disorder scene 1318 Peasants Revolt
- 10000 people died during the unrest // C20th terms = 165,000 - similar death toll to
WW1
- Use of foreign mercenaries as suppression - little empathy / Edward never forgiven
- Andy Wood: 'particular sharpness in social conflict' / less evident 'commotions' more
easily resolved
- Diamard Macculloch: hatred of local gov. official e.g. frustration of maladmin. locally of
Howards
TO WHAT EXTENT DID ENGLISH GOVERNMENT RESPOND EFFECTIVELY TO
THE DOMESTIC PROBLEMS WHICH IT FACED IN THE YEARS 1529-1553?
Not effective: Royal finances
- Increased rapidly during later stages of H8's reign
- Reduction in real wages for money especially those at the lower end
- Grew under Somerset: continued debasing coinage in order to finance war against
Scotland
Praised £537,000 but heightened inflation pressures causing social distress
- Poor harvest in 1548: reinforced inflationary pressures even more
, - Serious political issues during Somerset's protectorate
- Money raised in order to finance Scottish war: land sale and borrowing
Assessed the long-term crown finance and problems
- Main driver of increased amount of enclosure = perceived to be profits that could be
gained
- Converting arable to pasture in order to graze large flocks of sheep = wool + cloth
export of trade
Somerset = tax on sheep - deter enclosure / instead huge financial pressures on small
farmers
TO WHAT EXTENT DID ENGLISH GOVERNMENT RESPOND EFFECTIVELY TO
THE DOMESTIC PROBLEMS WHICH IT FACED IN THE YEARS 1529-1553?
Effective: Pilgrimage of Grace crushed with ease
- Sent an army to N. under the command of Duke of Norfolk - outnumbered hugely
- Diffuse rebellion - pardon / promise that dissolves monasteries resorted / free parli.
established
- King has no intention of keeping these, but it allowed for most rebels to be dispersed
- Executed aske and principle supporters in 1537: henry felt time was right and strong
TO WHAT EXTENT DID ENGLISH GOVERNMENT RESPOND EFFECTIVELY TO
THE DOMESTIC PROBLEMS WHICH IT FACED IN THE YEARS 1529-1553?
Effective: Rebellions did not pose such an imminent threat
- Wyatt's rebellion: Historical Opinion: David Loads - little support for a rising
- Protestant religious leaders were too cautious to become involved
TO WHAT EXTENT DID ENGLISH GOVERNMENT RESPOND EFFECTIVELY TO
THE DOMESTIC PROBLEMS WHICH IT FACED IN THE YEARS 1529-1553?
Effective: Successive reign after H8 fixed royal finances
NORTHUMBERLAND
- End wars against Scotland + France = considerable reduction in crown expenditure
Brought in £133,333 as a French payment for return of Boulogne
- Succumbed to the temptation of one final debasement then abandoned practice
- Crown income improved / some achieved through an increased revenue from church
- Under Walter Milday: commissions produced a detailed analysis of shortcomings
- Plans did not take place till Mary I reign
- Northumberland sought to improve the admin of crown finances
Set up commissions to investigate the shortcomings of the system and to recommend
reforms
MARY
- Court of Exchequer took over First Fruits and Tenths + Augmentations
- In process: adopted some more recent court's superior methods
- Financial admin under Lord Treasurer Winchester = competent
- Area of progress made revenue administration / financial admin = competent
- Royal ineptness rose during reign but not so dramatically
England was at war with France during last stages of reign
- Penry Williams: financial records 'at least adequate' for a country at war
AND ANSWERS COMPLETE
TO WHAT EXTENT DID ENGLISH GOVERNMENT RESPOND EFFECTIVELY TO
THE DOMESTIC PROBLEMS WHICH IT FACED IN THE YEARS 1529-1553?
Essay Overview
INTRODUCTION
- Overall English government did have a lot of domestic problems to deal with
- Worse / caused mid-Tudor crisis due to turmoil H8 had created with things e.g. religion
and royal finance
- Dealt well with problems it faced and attempts were made to improve from H8 reign
- Had to deal with other harsh economic conditions
NOT EFFECTIVE
- Forcing religious change on public
- Large scale rebellions in the name of religion
Wyatt's Rebellion
Lincolnshire rising
- 1549 Kett's Rebellion - maladministration caused frustration
- Royal finances
EFFECTIVE
- Pilgrimage of Grace crushed with ease
- Rebellions did not pose such an imminent threat
- Successive reign after H8 fixed royal finances: Edward - Northumberland and Mary
- Mary started to deal with poor relief
CONCLUSION
- Overall did have major issues to deal with
-Mary and Edward's reign did see changed being implemented but both were hindered
due to their short reigns
- This is why start of Elizabeth sorts this out
- Did respond well do domestic problems
TO WHAT EXTENT DID ENGLISH GOVERNMENT RESPOND EFFECTIVELY TO
THE DOMESTIC PROBLEMS WHICH IT FACED IN THE YEARS 1529-1553?
Not effective: Forcing religious change on public
- Christopher Haigh: crisis at pariah level
- Eamon Duffey: attack history + collective memory of parishes = 'climate of discontent
+ disobedience'
- H8 Influences from Luther + Calvin were reaching England but people reluctant to
abandon traditions
- Slow to accept radical change unless there as a reason to do so - shift of Edward IV's
reign shifted to Protestantism was not enthusiastic
- Henry accepted as Head of Church but widespread acceptance of protestant beliefs =
much slower
,- After 1548: expenditure on church declined / reaction to destructive crown attitudes
- Decline attendance in Exeter / decrease in no. of men for ordination = decreased
manpower
- 1550: John Hooper admitted that the pace of reform was hampered by uncooperative
public opinion
TO WHAT EXTENT DID ENGLISH GOVERNMENT RESPOND EFFECTIVELY TO
THE DOMESTIC PROBLEMS WHICH IT FACED IN THE YEARS 1529-1553?
Not effective: Large scale rebellions in the name of religion
- Little sign that there would be fundamental changes to the English church
- Complaints made occasionally / on the whole church fulfilled requirements majority
- Small minority welcomed religious change = no groundswell of popular support for
changes
- Autumn 1536: Pilgrimage of Grace broke out in Lincolnshire and parts of N. England
WYATTS
- Wyatt's rebellion: Wyatt's men were a force of 3000 men
- Mary's council could not agree on what to do
- Religion: many of his urban supporters came from Maidstone - protestant stronghold
- Protestants minority BUT their religious opinion could not be ignored
LINCOLNSHIRE
- October 1536: 10000 men were briefly involved - some were gentry
- Anthony Fletcher + Diamard Macculloch: larger sig. on relig. causes + part clergy
played in supporting rebels
TO WHAT EXTENT DID ENGLISH GOVERNMENT RESPOND EFFECTIVELY TO
THE DOMESTIC PROBLEMS WHICH IT FACED IN THE YEARS 1529-1553?
Not effective: 1549 Kett's Rebellion
- maladministration caused frustration
- John Guy: 'the closest thing tudor England came to a class war'
- Geographically vast revolts: most widespread disorder scene 1318 Peasants Revolt
- 10000 people died during the unrest // C20th terms = 165,000 - similar death toll to
WW1
- Use of foreign mercenaries as suppression - little empathy / Edward never forgiven
- Andy Wood: 'particular sharpness in social conflict' / less evident 'commotions' more
easily resolved
- Diamard Macculloch: hatred of local gov. official e.g. frustration of maladmin. locally of
Howards
TO WHAT EXTENT DID ENGLISH GOVERNMENT RESPOND EFFECTIVELY TO
THE DOMESTIC PROBLEMS WHICH IT FACED IN THE YEARS 1529-1553?
Not effective: Royal finances
- Increased rapidly during later stages of H8's reign
- Reduction in real wages for money especially those at the lower end
- Grew under Somerset: continued debasing coinage in order to finance war against
Scotland
Praised £537,000 but heightened inflation pressures causing social distress
- Poor harvest in 1548: reinforced inflationary pressures even more
, - Serious political issues during Somerset's protectorate
- Money raised in order to finance Scottish war: land sale and borrowing
Assessed the long-term crown finance and problems
- Main driver of increased amount of enclosure = perceived to be profits that could be
gained
- Converting arable to pasture in order to graze large flocks of sheep = wool + cloth
export of trade
Somerset = tax on sheep - deter enclosure / instead huge financial pressures on small
farmers
TO WHAT EXTENT DID ENGLISH GOVERNMENT RESPOND EFFECTIVELY TO
THE DOMESTIC PROBLEMS WHICH IT FACED IN THE YEARS 1529-1553?
Effective: Pilgrimage of Grace crushed with ease
- Sent an army to N. under the command of Duke of Norfolk - outnumbered hugely
- Diffuse rebellion - pardon / promise that dissolves monasteries resorted / free parli.
established
- King has no intention of keeping these, but it allowed for most rebels to be dispersed
- Executed aske and principle supporters in 1537: henry felt time was right and strong
TO WHAT EXTENT DID ENGLISH GOVERNMENT RESPOND EFFECTIVELY TO
THE DOMESTIC PROBLEMS WHICH IT FACED IN THE YEARS 1529-1553?
Effective: Rebellions did not pose such an imminent threat
- Wyatt's rebellion: Historical Opinion: David Loads - little support for a rising
- Protestant religious leaders were too cautious to become involved
TO WHAT EXTENT DID ENGLISH GOVERNMENT RESPOND EFFECTIVELY TO
THE DOMESTIC PROBLEMS WHICH IT FACED IN THE YEARS 1529-1553?
Effective: Successive reign after H8 fixed royal finances
NORTHUMBERLAND
- End wars against Scotland + France = considerable reduction in crown expenditure
Brought in £133,333 as a French payment for return of Boulogne
- Succumbed to the temptation of one final debasement then abandoned practice
- Crown income improved / some achieved through an increased revenue from church
- Under Walter Milday: commissions produced a detailed analysis of shortcomings
- Plans did not take place till Mary I reign
- Northumberland sought to improve the admin of crown finances
Set up commissions to investigate the shortcomings of the system and to recommend
reforms
MARY
- Court of Exchequer took over First Fruits and Tenths + Augmentations
- In process: adopted some more recent court's superior methods
- Financial admin under Lord Treasurer Winchester = competent
- Area of progress made revenue administration / financial admin = competent
- Royal ineptness rose during reign but not so dramatically
England was at war with France during last stages of reign
- Penry Williams: financial records 'at least adequate' for a country at war
