Pilgrimage of Grace Dbq Draft

With the advent of the Protestant Reformation in England, Henry VIII and his trusted advisors took part in issuing a series of governmental policies to their English subjects. Thomas Cromwell, Henry VIII’s Lord High Chancellor, and head of the King’s Council, was known for implementing these practices. However, not everyone was happy with the increased taxation, expansion of royal power in the north, the termination of monasteries, and the seizure of Catholic Church lands. Still attached to traditional Catholic principles, many rebelled in marches, staged protests, and armed demonstrations from October 1536 to February 1537 known as the Pilgrimage of Grace. ​The participants of this pilgrimage were concerned with their money and religion and hoped to bring back the previous traditional Catholic England. Those who opposed this movement believed in a new Protestant England because of their disgust in the corruption of their previous faith involving the Roman Catholic Church and pope.

Among these participants were the marchers at York (from October 1536). In their march, the rebels hoped Henry VIII would see that he could convey his “love of god, for the Holy Catholic Church militant, for the preservation of the King and his heirs, for the purification of the nobility, and to expel all evil counselors” by remaining with the Roman Catholic Church (Document 1). Similarly, those from the gatherings at the Marchers’ Proclamation believed that Henry VIII’s new policies were detrimental to the English people. Under these new conditions, they believed that the rulers left the citizens to fend for themselves by relying solely on “charity, faith, and poverty.” Those delivering this message hoped to increase awareness on the horrible new policies to change Henry VIII’s policies (Document 2). Peasant marchers at Horncastle re­created banners to exemplify their beliefs against the new system. During these marches in October 1536, activists tried to