Reactions against the Dissolution of the Monastries: the northern risings of 1536-37

Nicholas Melton

Oct 1, 1536

Nicholas Melton, who was a shoemaker, led a rising in Lincolnshire. He managed to persuade over 20 men to organise followers.

Kings Comissioners and their Knowledge of the uprising

Oct 2, 1536

The king's commissioners for the suppression of the monasteries reached Caistor, where they learned with alarm that a great multitude of locals from Louth, who had set out the day before, were within just a mile of the town, as well as crowds from Horncastle and Market Rasen that were joining them.

Nicholas Melton (Captain Cobbler)

Oct 3, 1536

Nicholas Melton, who was a shoemaker, led a rising in Lincolnshire. He managed to persuade over 20 men to organise followers. Around 3000 men marched from Louth to Caistor to seize the representative of the Bishop of Lincoln and the royal commissioners dissolving the monasteries in the area.

Nicholas Melton and his Followers

Oct 3, 1536

Around 3000 men marched from Louth to Caistor to seize the representative of the Bishop of Lincoln and the royal commissioners dissolving the monasteries in the area.
Gathering support from Horncastle, 10,000 men marched to Lincoln, the county town (more significantly the religious centre of the region)

Attack of the Rebels

Oct 4, 1536

On this date, the crowd attacked a leading official pf the Bishop of Lincoln and murdered him.
As a symbolic gesture, his money and clothes were divided amongst the crowd
Leadership of the rebellion drew up a line of demands, 'The Lincolnshire Articles', which would be presented to the representative of the King

Roots of Rising in Yorkshire

Oct 8, 1536

Rising spreads to Beverley, Yorkshire

Duke of Suffolk

Oct 10, 1536

The king's army, led by the Duke of Suffolk, was dispatched to Lincoln with the King's response to the rebel's demands .By the time the royal army reached Stamford, the local gentry were hastening to claim that they had involved themselves only to control the rebels and hold them at Lincoln, rather than letting them overrun the country. They told the men that they would not lead them further. Also pressure from peers said that the Duke of Suffolk would not negotiate whilst they were in arms.

End of the Lincolnshire Rising

Oct 11, 1536

By this time, the rebellion had collapsed as at least half the men fled, although they obtained promises from the gentry that they would lead them out again if the King's Pardon were not honoured

Robert Aske 'Pilgrimage of Grace for the Commonwealth'

Oct 16, 1536

Successful lawyer who was able to organise large companies of armed men. 10,000 supporters of the Pilgrimage led by Aske entered York 16th October . Following week, further assemblies in Cumberland and Durham. At Penrith, four captains were chosen to lead the pilgrims and took the names of Charity, Faith, Poverty and Pity. Despite the emphasis of peaceful intentions of those involved, the action taken challenged the established systems of Law and Order

Earl of Cumberland

Oct 17, 1536

Held captive in Skipton Castle after a week long siege.
Barnard Castle yielded to the Pilgrims

Lord Darcy

Oct 21, 1536

Thomas, Lord Darcy of Templehurst, surrenders Pontefract Castle to Robert Aske.
Also Lancaster Herald (Sir Thomas Miller) arrives at Pontefract with a Proclamation from the King. Aske refuses to let him read it.
Moreover, The Earl of Shrewsbury is ordered to march towards Doncaster.

Duke of Norfolk

Oct 27, 1536

Pilgrim army of some 27,000 men confronts the Royal army of some 8,000 troops at Doncaster. The Duke of Norfolk meets the leaders and gives a safe-conduct to two delegates, Sir Ralph Ellerker and Robert Bowes, to take a petition to the King.
Henry accepts he has to give discretion to Norfolk, Suffolk and Shrewsbury

The Pilgrims

Nov 2, 1536

The Pilgrims' delegates arrive at Windsor and receive short shrift from Henry. He points out that he knows more about religion than the Commons, and that the money previously diverted to the monasteries would be better used for defence of the realm. They will be pardoned if they hand over ten ringleaders and behave in future.

Duke of Norfolk and his discussions with the Rebels

Dec 6, 1536

He meets the rebel leaders and offers a Pardon, promises a Parliament will be held in York to address grievances and agrees that the re-established monasteries will remain untouched pending the Parliament.

Rebels Disband

Dec 8, 1536

The rebels disband after Robert Aske informs the Pilgrims that the Pardon issued at Doncaster was to be extended, that a Parliament would be held in the North.

Sir Francis Bigod

Jan 16, 1537

Doubting the Government's plans with Aske, Sir Francis Bigod emerged and decided t act and to seize Hull and Scarborough. Only Beverly was captured and was held for a short period of time.
Bigod fled to Cumberland and was captured

Eskdale

Feb 16, 1537

There was a mustering of the commons in Eskdale but the gentry turned on them.

Henry's reaction- systematic policy of punishment

May 5, 1537

Initial trials of Robert Aske , Lord Darcy , Sir Francis Bigod, Sir Thomas Percy, Lord Hussey