The Pilgrimage of Grace: England's forgotten uprising against Henry VIII

By 1536, King Henry VIII had triggered widespread unrest through a series of political and religious changes that disrupted the structure of English life.

After he divorced Catherine of Aragon and married Anne Boleyn, he broke away from the authority of the Pope and created the Church of England.

Parliament passed the Act of Supremacy in 1534, which declared the king as the Supreme Head of the Church.

That same year, the Treasons Act made it illegal to oppose this religious settlement, effectively silencing critics through the threat of execution.

Many people feared the sudden turmoil of spiritual customs and traditions that had shaped their lives for generations. 

Alongside these religious changes, the king’s ministers introduced heavy taxation and began the wholesale dissolution of England’s monasteries.

Thomas Cromwell, Henry’s chief minister, targeted religious houses for their land, wealth, and supposed corruption.

Royal commissioners moved across the north and seized property, ejected monks and stripped altars bare.

The loss of monastic hospitals, almsgiving, and local employment ruined rural communities.

Ordinary people viewed these acts as theft committed under royal authority. The combination of economic hardship and religious loss created the conditions for rebellion. 

Leadership of the revolt came from a mixture of concerned nobles, clergy, and commoners who believed they were defending the true faith and established rule.

One of the earliest outbreaks began in Lincolnshire in early October 1536. Local gentry, such as Robert Aske and Thomas Kendall, coordinated resistance to Cromwell’s commissioners.

Many of these leaders had long-standing reputations as upholders of local justice and law, which helped them rally support among tenants and townspeople alike. 

Robert Aske, a lawyer from Yorkshire, quickly emerged as the most prominent figurehead of the movement.

Articulate and respected, Aske described the rebellion as a peaceful “pilgrimage” aimed at restoring the country’s spiritual and legal integrity.

His religious convictions gave moral weight to the cause, and his legal training gave the demands a structured and persuasive form.

Under his guidance, protestors presented a list of articles that called for the restoration of papal authority, the end of monastic closures, and the removal of Cromwell and other hated councillors. 

When the uprising began in Lincolnshire, thousands of rebels gathered at Louth and marched toward Lincoln.

Their early demands focused on stopping the destruction of the monasteries and protecting the local clergy.

The rising quickly spread into Yorkshire and across the north, and drew in larger crowds and prominent figures.

By mid-October, the number of rebels had grown to at least 30,000. In contrast, royal forces in the area numbered only a few thousand and lacked the supplies or morale to face such a determined movement. 

The rebels organised themselves under banners which displayed the Five Wounds of Christ, a traditional symbol of Catholic piety.

They took oaths and swore loyalty to the king but demanded the removal of corrupt advisors.

Many towns and castles across the north surrendered without a fight. Armed protestors took control of York, Pontefract Castle, and other key locations.

Nobles such as Lord Darcy and Archbishop Edward Lee found themselves either supporting the rebels or powerless to resist them.

The uprising had become a serious threat to Henry's authority. 

Although the king initially reacted with fury and contempt, his military position forced him to adopt a more cautious approach.

The Duke of Norfolk, a conservative noble loyal to the crown, was sent north with a royal army.

Norfolk lacked the manpower to crush the rebellion by force, so he opened negotiations with Aske and the other leaders.

The rebels had created a council and were functioning as a temporary government across large parts of the north. 

Norfolk’s army reached Doncaster in late October, but the risk of open battle remained high.

The weather had worsened, the king’s reinforcements had not arrived, and many royal troops showed signs of support with the protestors.

Norfolk therefore proposed a truce while promising to convey the rebels’ demands to the king.

The size of the rebellion and the apparent loyalty of the protestors to Henry’s person made it politically dangerous to engage in a violent crackdown without exhausting diplomatic options. 

At the end of October and into November 1536, rebel leaders and royal officials met at Doncaster to resolve the crisis.

Aske acted as the voice of the rebels, insisting on the restoration of the monasteries and the removal of Cromwell and his reforms.

Norfolk listened to the grievances and agreed to present them to the king in return for the rebels disbanding and returning home.

A general pardon was offered and accepted, with assurances that Parliament would consider their demands. 

After the Doncaster Conference, Aske travelled to London under safe conduct to speak directly with the king.

Henry received him politely and seemed to promise serious consideration of the articles.

Aske returned north convinced that peaceful reform would follow and urged the rebels to trust the royal word.

For a brief time, it appeared as though the rebellion had forced a genuine policy review.

The Tudor regime, however, had no intention of honouring its promises. 

Early in 1537, new disturbances broke out in Cumberland and Westmorland. Some protestors, who were frustrated by the lack of change and feared betrayal, resumed their resistance.

Henry used these outbreaks as an excuse to abandon the agreement reached at Doncaster.

He ordered Norfolk to restore royal authority by force and punish the rebels without mercy.

Martial law followed, and the north was subjected to a campaign of executions and intimidation. 

Robert Aske, despite urging peace and obedience, was arrested and sentenced. In July 1537, he was hanged in chains in York as a warning to others.

Lord Darcy and other noble supporters suffered similar fates. Estimates suggest that over 200 people were executed in the aftermath, including abbots, priests, and ordinary farmers.

The destruction of the Pilgrimage of Grace sent a clear message about the price of opposing Henry’s rule.

Though the revolt had failed to stop the English Reformation, it remains one of the most significant internal threats to Tudor authority.