Robert
Kett, the fourth son of Tom and Margery Kett, was born in Wymondham
in 1492. Robert eventually became a substantial landowner in Norfolk.
During
the Tudor period large numbers of farmers changed from growing crops
to raising sheep. This involved enclosing arable land and turning
it into pasture for sheep.
Sheep
farming became so profitable that large landowners began to enclose
common land. For hundreds of years this land had been used by all
the people who lived in the village. Many people became very angry
about this and villagers began tearing down the hedges that had been
used to enclose the common land.
Those
people caught damaging hedges were severely punished. However, on
14 June 1549, it was announced that
Edward VI had pardoned all those people
who had torn down hedges enclosing common land. Many landless people
thought that this meant that their king disapproved of enclosures.
All
over the country people began to destroy hedges that landowners had
used to enclose common land.
Kett
admitted
that he had been wrong to enclose the common land. Kett also agreed
to help the protesters persuade other landowners from enclosing public
land. As Kett was a well-educated man, the crowd asked him to become
their leader. Kett suggested that they should march on Norwich. On
the way, other villagers in the area joined the march. By the time
Kett reached Norwich, he had about 16,000
followers.
The
mayor of Norwich refused to let Kett's army enter the city. However,
Kett and his men, armed with spears, swords and pitchforks, successfully
stormed the city walls. The English government were shocked when they
heard that Kett and his rebels controlled the second largest city
in England.
Kett
formed a governing council made up of representatives from the villages
that had joined the revolt. This council then
sent details of their demands to Edward VI.
Edward's chief adviser, Edward
Seymour, Duke of Somerset, responded
by sending John
Dudley, Duke of Northumberland, and
a large army to Norwich.
Kett
made the mistake of deciding to fight the king's army in open fields.
This enabled John
Dudley to
make full use of his cavalry. Kett's untrained and poorly-armed men
had no chance against Dudley's experienced soldiers. It is estimated
that 3,000 of Kett's men were killed in the battle. Kett was captured
and executed for treason on 7 December 1549.
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