Resistance to Change: The Pilgrimage of Grace

Why religious change provoked resistance

In 1536, Henry VIII’s government began dissolving the smaller monasteries. For many people, these were not simply buildings where monks or nuns lived: they were familiar centres of worship, charity, education and employment. Their closure threatened both religious traditions and the practical support on which communities depended.

Resistance was particularly strong in northern England, where attachment to traditional Catholic religion remained powerful. Distance from London also encouraged resentment of a government that appeared to disregard northern needs. Opposition brought together people with different concerns: clergy defended religious institutions, ordinary people feared losing assistance, and nobles and gentry resented changes affecting their property and influence.

The Lincolnshire Rising, October 1536

The Lincolnshire Rising began at Louth in October 1536 with the arrival of royal commissioners associated with the Dissolution and the assessment of Church goods. Rumours spread that parish churches would close, their valuables would be confiscated, and baptisms, marriages and burials would be taxed. These fears extended the perceived threat beyond monasteries to the religious life of every parish.

Around 10,000 rebels assembled and marched towards Lincoln. Local gentry joined, and demands included restoration of the old religion and dismissal of Thomas Cromwell, Henry’s chief minister. Some also opposed the Statute of Uses because it affected the inheritance of landed property and payments to the Crown.

Henry refused to negotiate and demanded unconditional surrender. The Duke of Suffolk assembled a royal army at Stamford, and the rising dispersed without a battle. It revealed considerable anxiety about religious change, but its supporters did not maintain their resistance when faced with royal force.

The Pilgrimage of Grace: a broader northern movement

During October 1536, rebellion spread into Yorkshire under Robert Aske, a lawyer from a gentry family. The movement became known as the Pilgrimage of Grace. Calling it a pilgrimage presented the participants as defenders of the faith rather than enemies of their king. Their badge depicted the Five Wounds of Christ, reinforcing the movement’s religious purpose.

The Dissolution was a central grievance: Aske himself identified it as the greatest cause of the rising. Yet other pressures helped turn opposition into a broad movement. Poor harvests in 1535 and 1536, high rents and enclosure added to economic discontent. Enclosure restricted access to land previously used by communities. The Subsidy Act of 1534 was resented for imposing taxation in peacetime, while the Statute of Uses particularly concerned landowners.

Political resentment focused on Cromwell and other royal advisers. Many rebels believed these men were leading Henry astray and attacking established religion and northern traditions. This allowed them to claim loyalty to Henry while opposing policies made under his authority.

What the rebels wanted—and why Henry negotiated

By November, around 40,000 men had joined, including nobles, gentry, clergy and ordinary people. This combination mattered: the movement possessed not only large numbers but also influential leaders and widespread local support.

The rebels seized Pontefract Castle. Their demands, known as the Pontefract Articles, included restoring monasteries, returning to obedience to the Pope, dismissing Cromwell and repealing the Statute of Uses. Together, these demands show that the rising concerned religion, government and property—not the Dissolution alone.

Henry could not safely rely on defeating such a large force in battle. The Duke of Norfolk therefore negotiated with the rebels at Doncaster on his behalf. Henry offered a general pardon and promised a Parliament at York to consider their grievances. Trusting these assurances, the rebels dispersed. Negotiation achieved what an immediate military confrontation might not have done: it broke up their concentrated strength.

Renewed rebellion and punishment, 1537

Fresh northern rebellions broke out in January 1537. Henry used them as grounds to withdraw the pardon and move against the leaders of the earlier movement. Around 200 people were executed in the repression, including nobles, gentry and ordinary participants. Aske was hanged in chains at York in July 1537.

The promised settlement did not restore the monasteries or reverse the religious changes. Once the rebels had dispersed, Henry was in a much stronger position to punish resistance, and the Dissolution continued.

Why a powerful rebellion failed

The rebels’ loyalty to Henry was a serious limitation. They wanted him to remove supposedly evil advisers, not to overthrow him. This helped unite supporters, but also made them reluctant to press their military advantage against the king. Weak coordination and unwillingness among noble leaders to commit to outright treason further limited the movement. No foreign military or financial support materialised.

The Pilgrimage therefore demonstrates two different things. Its scale showed the depth of opposition and the limits of immediate royal control in the North. Its failure showed how Henry could combine negotiation with later punishment to overcome resistance without abandoning the Dissolution.

Causes of resistance

• Religious: closure of smaller monasteries; defence of traditional Catholic religion; fear of further changes.
• Economic: loss of monastic support, poor harvests in 1535–1536, enclosure, high rents and taxation.
• Political: hostility to Cromwell and distant royal government; landowners’ opposition to the Statute of Uses.

Lincolnshire Rising: October 1536

Began at Louth amid commissioners’ visits and rumours about parish closures and new taxes. Around 10,000 rebels marched towards Lincoln. Henry demanded surrender; Suffolk assembled an army at Stamford. Rebels dispersed without battle.

Pilgrimage of Grace: 1536–1537

• Robert Aske led the Yorkshire movement; around 40,000 joined by November.
• Rebels seized Pontefract Castle.
• Demands: restore monasteries and papal obedience, dismiss Cromwell, repeal the Statute of Uses.
• Norfolk negotiated at Doncaster; a pardon and promised Parliament at York persuaded rebels to disperse.
• Fresh risings in January 1537 enabled Henry to move against the leaders. Around 200 were executed; Aske was executed at York in July 1537.

Failure and significance

Loyalty to Henry, weak coordination, hesitant leadership and absent foreign support limited resistance. Henry separated the rebels through negotiation, then punished them. The movement exposed widespread opposition but did not stop the Dissolution.