Henry VIII,the Reign
Timeline
Pilgrimage of Grace, the Rebellion
Sunday 1 October
A group of parishioners, led by Nicholas Melton, Captain Cobbler seized the keys to St James’s church in Louth to protect the vessels, ornaments, images and other treasures from seizure by the visiting commissioners.
Monday 2 October
The so called commons marched on the town hall where the election of town officers was due to take place. Supervised by John Henage, the Bishop of Lincoln, John Longland’s servant. They made him swear allegiance to the commons.
The Bishop’s registrar John Frankishe was seized and all books and papers, including a copy of the New Testament in English were burned.
Tuesday 3 October
Three thousand marched to raise Caistor but the town was already up, the peal of the common bell had raised them.
The visiting commissioners fled.
A servant of Lord Burgh was beaten to death by the rebels.
Bells to rise were ringing all over the county.
Lord John Hussey called for a deputation be sent to him at Sleaford where he would hear their grievances.
Letter of demands sent to the Henry VIII in London
Wednesday 4 October
Ten thousand or more assemble on Hambleton Hill midway between Tealby and Market Rasen
Thursday 5 October
Thousands march from Hambleton Hill to Lincoln and assembled in the Cathedral Close. The Bishop’s Palace was ransacked.
The Yorkshire towns of Beverley and Halifax affirmed support.
Two thousand from Boston had risen, all were to muster at Ancaster Heath south of Lincoln on Sunday 8 October.
Another letter of demands sent to the king
Saturday 7 October
A deputation was sent to Sleaford to bring Lord Hussey to Lincoln but he had gone to meet with George Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury in Nottingham.
Monday 9 October
Lord John Hussey was detained by the Earl of Shrewsbury
Tuesday 10 October
With Hussey absent in Nottingham the rebels begin to turn on other members of the gentry who in is absence lacked leadership.
A response to their demands was received from the king
Wednesday 11 October
At meeting in the fields below Lincoln cathedral the commons were told that a letter had been sent by the gentlemen of Lincolnshire to the Duke of Suffolk Charles Brandon asking him to speak to the king on behalf on behalf of them all.
Until they heard back from him there was nothing more to be done.
The same night Lancaster Herald arrived and told the rebels to disband or be attacked.
Thursday 12 October
The Lincolnshire rebels began to disband.
However – In Yorkshire
Friday 13 October
The town of Richmond, in the heart of North Yorkshire was up with ten thousand men led by Robert Bowes.
Thousands more converged on Market Weighton Hill, midway between Hull and York. Their leaders were William Stapleton and Robert Aske.
The massive force was organised to make a two pronged attack, Stapleton moved to the west to take Hull and Aske to the east to seize control of York.
Monday 16 October
The rebels held York
Tuesday 17 October
The pilgrim’s oath was drawn up.
For the king Thomas Howard, Duke of Norfolk headed a small force to take on the rebels but had only travelled as far north from London as Ampthill in Bedfordshire.
George Talbot also had a small force centred on Southwell and Newark in Nottinghamshire for the purpose of securing river bridges and so block the rebels march south but he was massively out numbered.
Thursday 19 October
Hull surrendered to William Stapleton
Saturday 21 October
Lord Thomas Darcy surrendered Pontefract Castle to the rebels. Pontefract Castle became the command centre for the rebellion
21 to 26 October
Armed men arrived daily at Pontefract swelling the ranks to enormous numbers arriving from the lakes in the North West, Durham, Cleveland and Stapleton came in with his forces from Hull and Beverley
Sunday 1 October
A group of parishioners, led by Nicholas Melton, Captain Cobbler seized the keys to St James’s church in Louth to protect the vessels, ornaments, images and other treasures from seizure by the visiting commissioners.
Monday 2 October
The so called commons marched on the town hall where the election of town officers was due to take place. Supervised by John Henage, the Bishop of Lincoln, John Longland’s servant. They made him swear allegiance to the commons.
The Bishop’s registrar John Frankishe was seized and all books and papers, including a copy of the New Testament in English were burned.
Tuesday 3 October
Three thousand marched to raise Caistor but the town was already up, the peal of the common bell had raised them.
The visiting commissioners fled.
A servant of Lord Burgh was beaten to death by the rebels.
Bells to rise were ringing all over the county.
Lord John Hussey called for a deputation be sent to him at Sleaford where he would hear their grievances.
Letter of demands sent to the Henry VIII in London
Wednesday 4 October
Ten thousand or more assemble on Hambleton Hill midway between Tealby and Market Rasen
Thursday 5 October
Thousands march from Hambleton Hill to Lincoln and assembled in the Cathedral Close. The Bishop’s Palace was ransacked.
The Yorkshire towns of Beverley and Halifax affirmed support.
Two thousand from Boston had risen, all were to muster at Ancaster Heath south of Lincoln on Sunday 8 October.
Another letter of demands sent to the king
Saturday 7 October
A deputation was sent to Sleaford to bring Lord Hussey to Lincoln but he had gone to meet with George Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury in Nottingham.
Monday 9 October
Lord John Hussey was detained by the Earl of Shrewsbury
Tuesday 10 October
With Hussey absent in Nottingham the rebels begin to turn on other members of the gentry who in is absence lacked leadership.
A response to their demands was received from the king
Wednesday 11 October
At meeting in the fields below Lincoln cathedral the commons were told that a letter had been sent by the gentlemen of Lincolnshire to the Duke of Suffolk Charles Brandon asking him to speak to the king on behalf on behalf of them all.
Until they heard back from him there was nothing more to be done.
The same night Lancaster Herald arrived and told the rebels to disband or be attacked.
Thursday 12 October
The Lincolnshire rebels began to disband.
However – In Yorkshire
Friday 13 October
The town of Richmond, in the heart of North Yorkshire was up with ten thousand men led by Robert Bowes.
Thousands more converged on Market Weighton Hill, midway between Hull and York. Their leaders were William Stapleton and Robert Aske.
The massive force was organised to make a two pronged attack, Stapleton moved to the west to take Hull and Aske to the east to seize control of York.
Monday 16 October
The rebels held York
Tuesday 17 October
The pilgrim’s oath was drawn up.
For the king Thomas Howard, Duke of Norfolk headed a small force to take on the rebels but had only travelled as far north from London as Ampthill in Bedfordshire.
George Talbot also had a small force centred on Southwell and Newark in Nottinghamshire for the purpose of securing river bridges and so block the rebels march south but he was massively out numbered.
Thursday 19 October
Hull surrendered to William Stapleton
Saturday 21 October
Lord Thomas Darcy surrendered Pontefract Castle to the rebels. Pontefract Castle became the command centre for the rebellion
21 to 26 October
Armed men arrived daily at Pontefract swelling the ranks to enormous numbers arriving from the lakes in the North West, Durham, Cleveland and Stapleton came in with his forces from Hull and Beverley
26 October 1536
A truce was agreed and the rebels chose the suicidal policy of entering into an agreement without any security or guarantees. For this failure, they paid the price in the destruction of themselves and their cause. Hundreds, including their leaders, were later executed.
A truce was agreed and the rebels chose the suicidal policy of entering into an agreement without any security or guarantees. For this failure, they paid the price in the destruction of themselves and their cause. Hundreds, including their leaders, were later executed.
