Robert Aske was born in
Yorkshire but later became a London lawyer.
In 1535 Henry
VIII began to close the monasteries
in England. Most people living in the north of England were still
strong supporters of the Catholic faith. Many of them complained about
the way monks were being treated.
In Yorkshire, in 1536,
Aske formed an army to defend the monasteries. The rebel army was
joined by priests carrying crosses and banners. Leading nobles in
the area also began to give their support to the rebellion. The rebels
marched to York and demanded that the monasteries should be reopened.
This march, which contained over 30,000 people, became known as the
Pilgrimage of Grace.
Henry VIII's army was
not strong enough to fight the rebels. Thomas
Howard, Duke
of Norfolk, negotiated a peace with Aske. Howard was forced to promise
that he would pardon the rebels and hold a parliament in York to discuss
their demands. The rebels were convinced that this parliament would
reopen the monasteries and therefore went back to their homes.
However, as soon as the
rebel army had dispersed. Henry ordered the arrest of the leaders
of the Pilgrimage of Grace. About 200 people were executed for their
part in the rebellion. These included Robert Aske and Lady Bulmer
who were burnt at the stake. Abbots of the four largest monasteries
in the north were also executed.
(1)
Eustace Chapuys was King Charles V of Spain's
ambassador in England. In 1537 Chapuys sent a report to Charles V
on the Pilgrimage of Grace.
The monasteries must be protected... for in the north parts
they give great help to poor men.
(2)
Robert Aske made a speech about the monasteries in York in October
1536.
The prior is frequently drunk... The brothers of the monastery,
especially the older ones, play dice and other games for money.
(3)
Edward Hall, Chronicles (1542)
They called
this... a holy and blessed pilgrimage; they also had banners whereon
was painted Christ hanging on the cross... With false signs of holiness...
they tried to deceive the ignorant people.
(4)
Henry VIII, orders given to the Duke of Norfolk about what should
happen to those who took part in the Pilgrimage of Grace (January,
1537)
Cause such dreadful executions upon a good number of the
inhabitants hanging them on trees, quartering them, and setting the
quarters in every town, as shall be a fearful warning.
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