Causes of the Western rebellion, 1549

Causes of the Western rebellion, 1549

1. Economic

   • Complaints about taxes on sheep and cloth were common
     • Sheep counting had started in May 1549
   • The initial list created by the commons (before it was changed by the clergy) mostly contained complaints about taxes and food prices

2. Religious

   • Most of the complaints were religiously motivated
     • The list demanded the reintroduction of Catholicism
     • Loach argues religion was the "main driving force" of the rebellion
   • The SW was very conservative anyway
   • The rebellion is sparked by the order to use the new Prayer Book on Whit Sunday
   • On 10th June at Stamford Courtenay, a local priest was forced to ignore the new Prayer Book and return to traditional mass by villagers
   • Government reaction was to burn the Vicar of St Thomas with all his "popish trash" around him
   • In 1548 the murder of the Archdeacon of Cornwall showed religious motivation

3. Personal clashes

   • Dislike of "new men" because locals favoured conservative Courtenay's
     • Eg the Courtenay's had been removed from government in 1538 and replaced by men like Sir Peter Carew
     • Desire for social justice