5.12.

19

Kett’s Revolt 1549

 East Anglia, as Western Revolt drawing to a close
 Disorder that escalates into revolt
o starts as an attack on enclosure in Wymondham and Attleborough
o John Flowerdew – local landowner who had enclosed lots of land
 Within four days, Kett has set up big camp numbering 12,000 at Mousehold Heath
o Further camps set up in Ipswich and Downham Market
o Camps set up near centres of local governments
 Grievances with local governments rather than central government
o No mob rule
 At Mousehold Heath – rebel leaders meet at the Oak of Reformation
o Local gentlemen put on trial and Mayor Cott (of Norwich) is imprisoned

 Government forces are dealing with the Western Revolt

o JP’s / gentry would normally be expected to deal with revolt
o Most JP’s had received summons to Windsor to send them off to deal with the
Western Revolt
 Pardon is offered – Suffolk rebels take pardon
o Seems to embolden the Norfolk rebels
 Norfolk rebels go and capture Norwich
 Somerset sends the Marquis of Northampton to recapture Norwich
o He then loses Norwich back to the rebels for three weeks
 Class tensions in Norwich
o 6% owned 60% of the wealth
o Slump in the cloth trade
o Private property was respected
 Rebels captured an Italian mercenary – stripped him of his finery and they hung him over the
walls
 Rebels capture Lord Sheffield and beat him to death

 Warwick is sent with 10,000 to recapture Norwich and defeat the revolt
 Pardon is offered (not including Kett) – rejected
 Warwick recaptures Norwich – most of the rebels move back to Mousehold Heath
 Warwick cut off the supply routes at Mousehold Heath – rebels moved to Dussindale which
was not as well location for defence.
 Battle of Dussindale – 4,000 rebels killed
o Kett is captured and put on trial for treason
o Executed in London but body hanged from walls in Norwich
o Other leader’s bodies hanged from Oak of Reformation
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Causes of Kett’s Revolt:

 Enclosure
o Articles 3 and 11 called for protection of the common land
o 1548 – 3 bills against enclosure – commission to investigate illegal enclosures
 Social / Economic grievances
o Anger at local government
 Made up of those below the gentry
 Article 27 – “ensure the good laws, statues and proclamations made for the
people are no longer disregarded by the JPs”
 Locations of camps, Ipswich, Mousehold Heath
o Article said gentry could keep their dovecoats and rabbit warrants – acknowledges
that gentry have privileges
o 6% of people in Norwich owned 60% of the wealth
o Complaints about rack-renting
o Demands for the return of the prices to the level of Henry VII’s reign
o “all bonde men be made free”
o 17/29 articles focus on enclosures, rent and landlords
o By 1548 wheat prices had increased by 50%
 Religious grievances
o Protestant religious grievances
o Article 15 – complains of priests preferring to live in aristocratic household
o More competent teaching of the catechism and primer
o Use new prayer book
o Article 8 – preaching should be the essential qualification for ministers”

Dangerous Not Dangerous

Rebels had recaptured Norwich defeating the
Marquis of Northampton
15,000 involved
Killed Lord Sheffield and the Italian mercenary
Does not target the King or Somerset
They don’t march to London
Saw the King and Somerset as being on their
side

Western revolt is still happening Low political grievances

Organisation – camps set up No cross-class support

24 hundreds each provided two to sit on an No foreign support

advisory council

Somerset sends a protestant preacher called

Robert Wilson who tries to deliver a sermon on
duty and obedience

Offer of a pardon to all but Kett