1. All essays

2. How significant was the position of agriculture in the English economy in the years 1485 – 1509?
Introduction…The period 1485 – 1509 saw the significant development of non-agricultural aspects of the English economy. However the English economy was predominantly agricultural in its nature. The English economy was fundamentally an agricultural economy.
Importance of agriculture…
Importance of the cloth trade.
Importance of the mining industry.
Importance of trade.
In conclusion it is clear that the English economy was ultimately an agricultural economy. It dominated people’s lives and accounted for the Lion’s share of economic activity. Despite growth in the wool trade this too was ultimately reliant on the produce of the agricultural products of sheep rearing. Therefore we can conclude that, despite the small contribution made by mining, the English economy was wholly depended on agriculture from

3. ‘The rebellions of 1549 were primarily caused by economic problems
‘The rebellions of 1549 were primarily caused by economic problems.’ How valid is this assessment?
The leadership of Somerset exacerbated the economic problems faced by Tudor England resulting in the rebellions of 1549.
The Western Rebllion was primarily caused by economic problems.
The rebellions were caused by religious issues.
The Kett Rebellion was primarily caused by economic problems.
The rebellions were caused by the war with Scotland
The rebellions were caused by the poor leadership of Somerset.
In conclusion it is clear that the economic problems that faced Tudor England caused social unrest. Ultimately therefore the economic problems can be seen as the primary long term cause of the rebellions of However the economic problems were exacerbated by Somerset’s rule. His Protestant religious reforms were unpopular with the majority of the uneducated English people. Furthermore his costly war with Scotland put further economic and political strain on his fragile government. Therefore Somerset’s religious and military policies can be seen as the short term triggers to rebellion.

4. Henry’s ministers served him well, but themselves better.
Richard Hunne case the clergy was furthering their interests over the king by demanding Benefit Statues for spiritual services. Wolsey was head of church.
Cromwell secured divorce:
Wolsey used the council to fulfil the kings wishes, to benefit himself.
Elto and Vergil paint Wolsey as a man who tramples on others for his own gain.
Guy Wolsey had ‘no principle,s’
Henry’s ministers served him well
In comparison to Empson and Dudley Henry’s ministers served him well.
Wolsey served Henry well as he r4endered Parliament unnecessary.
Wolsey financed the wars in France: 1531 parliament awarded Henry £160,000 but only cpollected £50, Wolsey had raised £350,000 through forced loans second war in France. Wolsey proposed Amicable Grant.
Wolsey used the council to fulfil the kings wishes
Henry intervened regularly to change the actions of his ministers, he was thererfore responsible for any failires.
Wolsey was promoted from his position under Richard Fox becase he served Henry so well. Whilst it is tryuthat he received positions in the church these were Henry’s reward for serving him so well. Wolsey ‘s rise was due to his serving of Henry.
Oranistional skilsls in Frencch campaign of 1514 `` `

5. Henry VIII’ ministers served him well but served themselves better.
Agree
Disagree
Wolsey did not create institutional reform that would improve Henry’s government in the long term. Instead Wolsey managed men in the short term for his own benefit.
Wolsey only visited Parliament once to gain funds.
Wolsey showed no fiscal restraint and used money to gain the king’s approval in the short term contrary to long term prudence.
Eltham Ordnances, 1526, reformed the finances of the Privy Council.
Reduced number of men in Privy council so that he could manage it more easily. Down from 22 -> 15
Rermoved William Compton and replaced with Henry Norris who was more easily manipulated.
Once he was banished to York Wolsey showed himself to by self serving as he stoked support for himself.
Attacked enemies
Wolsely served Henry brilliantly in military terms.
Campaign of 1514 Wosley received the Archbishopphric of York
1518 Wolsey was made the Papal Legate and could therefore argue Henry’s position within the international Catholic Church.
This enabled Wolsey to argue for Henry’s annulment of hiss marriage to Catherine of Aaragon
Wolsey did his best to solve the problem of the annulment. However it was heninderd by Cardinal Campeggio in the Legatine court.
Wolsey’s fall was not a reflection of his failing Henry. Instead it was a short term tactic to enable Henry to force the Pope’s hand over the issue of the annulement.
- Wosely died before the

6. From 1536 – 1549 rebelllions posed a threat to the Tudor Dynasty
Not a threat
Pilgrimage of Grace
10,000 -> 35, 000 men rose up
215 executed
status executed without trial proving the regime’s of the rebel’s just complaints.
Sir Thomas Percy
Spread fromm Lincolnshire to Yorkshire
Potential to become a dynastic rebellion centrered on Yorkist claim to the throne.
Not dynastic, called for reversal of religious policy and removal of Cromwell
Dealt with the rebellion in the long term
Norfol

7. Extract B:
The foundation of Tudor authority was the dynasty’s hold on the confidence of London and the south-east. The Londoner’s attitude at Rochester shows that Mary had temporarily lost it. Wyatt came closer than any other Tudor rebel to toppling a monarch from the throne, yet in the political development of the century the rebellion’s significance is that it failed. This demonstrated the bankruptcy of rebellion as a way of solving this kind of political crisis. The critical issue posed by the Spanish marriage and the succession of a Catholic queen was the question as to who should rule. It appeared threat the only sanction, if Mary changed national religion or Philip and Mary broke the terms of the marriage treaty, was rebellion. This was a weapon that, after the social disorders of 1549, few were prepared to risk using. So the gentry learned to channel their opposition through parliament.
Fletcher A and D MacCulloch, Tudor Rebellions. Harlow: Pearson; 2008 p. 101.
Tudor power was based in the south-east.
Wyatt’s rebellion was the biggest threat to the Tudors.
Rebellion caused by marriage and re-imposition of Catholicism
The failure of 1549 rebellions few Gentry were willing to risk rebellion and therefore channelled energies through parliament.

8. Tudor power was based in the south-east.
+ London was the sseat of power as held Tudor plaaces, was capital and therefore power was alsways cnetered here. In economic terms uth- east was the seat of power because of trade links to urgundy, the Netherlands (Antwerp represented 50% of all English trade) Sheep rearing and the wool trade cntered on the South east.
- Mary’s power base was the south-west and Yorkshire as these were the places where cCatholicissm remained.
Wyatt’s rebellion was the biggest threat to the Tudors.
Not a threat as easily put down. Rebels never made it into London. Dispersed by Mary.
+Wyatt drew on a geographically large based of support. Mary as first female monarch was most vulnerable. This was a dynastic challenge – rebellions were far less frocused. They were triggered by economic problems both in the long term and short term. Long term problem of ‘sheep eating men’, the problem of enclosure resulting in arable farmland being gibven over to pastoral farm land. Short term economic triggers to the rebellions were poor harvests. Another socio-economic problem that triggered these rebellions was the removal of the social safety net probided by the monastroies from which the Gentry benefited. The rebellions of 1536 – 1549 never challenged the existence of the government but did demand the removal of ‘bad ministers’.
Rebellion caused by marriage and re-imposition of Catholicism
+ Wyatt rebels pronounced that they were opposing marriage and catholicsim.
- Mary signed pre-nuptial to prevent power transfer to Philip.
The failure of 1549 rebellions few Gentry were willing to risk rebellion and therefore channelled energies through parliament.

9. The extract argues….. I agree because… I disagree because… In conclusion…..

10. Extract C:
The speed with which the protest movement spread suggests, furthermore, that the quantity of explosive material was such that it needed very little to set it off. While Catholic factionalism divided some members of the governing elite, the mobilisation and solidarity of so many northerners cannot be taken for granted. Also there were lesser disturbances in southern counties: East Anglia, Somerset and Cornwall. So while Court plotting shaped the form of the Pilgrimage to some degree, it does not sufficiently explain its force and extent.
Yet the rebels could only have toppled VIII with the support of the leading nobility whom the king named as members of the ‘emergency’ Privy Council in the autumn of 1536: the dukes of Norfolk and Suffolk, the Marques of Exeter, and the Earls of Shrewsbury, Sussex and Oxford….none saw any advantage in treason.
Source: Guy J. Tudor England: Oxford University Press; 1988: p 152.