Was Somerset to blame for the rebellions of 1549?

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  • Created by: Luciieee
  • Created on: 02-04-15 19:21

Was Somerset to blame for the rebellions of 1549?

Advantages

  • Clear that Western Rebellion was triggered by Somerset's insensitive religious reforms - referred to as "Prayer Book" Rebellion and triggered by actions of Body
  • Sheep farming tax - had large impact upon Devon and Cornwall as sheep farming was main source of income
  • Not enough troops to cope with rebellion - majority at garrisons in South of Scotland or in south-east of England in case of French invasion - meant they were handled poorly e.g. Russell avoiding approaching rebels because he knew he did not have enough troops

Disadvantages

  • Sheep farming tax was meant to stop negative social effects of enclosures (whereby communal land is made private) - thus Somerset did have good intentions just unfortunate it did not apply to that area
  • Could not be blamed for collapse of textiles industry or maladministration of local family, the Howards, which triggered Kett's Rebellion
  • Did offer to forget rebels' crimes if they dispersed immediately - did show some leniency

Evaluation

Sole blame cannot be given to Somerset because some of the factors were beyond his control and with the sheep tax especially he had good intentions. Discontentment would always have been by product of enforcing Protestant religious settlement. Although if he had not been preoccupied with war with Scotland, he may have been able to cope with the rebellions, there was attempts to show leniency to the rebels.

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