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.
The
most serious disturbances took place in Norfolk. In one case, Robert
Kett,
a large landowner in Wymondham, 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.
Robert
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.
(1)
Letter sent by Robert
Kett to Edward
VI in 1549.
We pray
your grace... that from henceforth no man shall enclose any more...
We pray your grace... that all men may enjoy their commons with all
profits... We pray that all bond men may be made free, for God made
all free.
(2)
In a letter to a friend in Italy, the Edward
Seymour, Duke of Somerset, explained
what had happened during the Kett rebellion. (September, 1549)
Kett fled, and the rest of the rebels, casting away their
weapons and armour and asking pardon on their knees.... were sent
home without injury and pardoned.... Kett, with three of his brothers
and three other chief captains, all vile persons... are still held
to receive that which they have deserved... We trust, truly, that
these rebellions are now at an end.
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