The Pilgrimage of The Pilgrimage of GraceGrace

October 1536October 1536

‘…They…declared, by their proclamation solemnly made, (1)(1) that their insurrection

should extend no further than to the maintenance and defence of the faith of

Christ and the deliverance of holy church, sore decayed and oppressed, and (2) (2) to

the furtherance also of private and public matters in the realm concerning the

wealth of all the king's poor subjects…’

Does the document accurately portray the rebels’ motives and objectives in launching the Pilgrimage of Grace?

““Robert Aske” – 1500-1537Robert Aske” – 1500-1537

Pontefract Castle – West YorkshirePontefract Castle – West Yorkshire

Secondary sources

‘…Historians have argued at length about the ‘real’ cause of the Pilgrimage: how far it was spontaneous, how far it was instigated from above, by nobles, gentlemen or clergy; whether the apparent emphasis on religion was merely a mask for more mundane interests…’ (Davies:1985)

Secondary sources

‘…The many repercussions of Henry’s breach with the papacy, his attack on the Roman Church’s traditions, its wealth, its liturgies and beliefs, its monastic and other social structure, was the thing common to all the uprisings…’ (Moorhouse:2002)

Five wounds of Christ insignia

The Pilgrims’ Oath

‘…Ye shall not enter into this our Pilgrimage of Grace

for the commonwealth, but only for that love that ye do bear unto

Almighty God and his faith, and to Holy Church militant

and the maintenance thereof…’

Thomas Cromwell(c.1485-1540)

Does the document accurately portray the rebels’ motives and objectives in launching the Pilgrimage of Grace?

YES!