Bigod's rebellion facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bigod's rebellion
Part of European wars of religion and the English Reformation
Date 16 January – 10 February 1537 Location Cumberland and Westmorland, England Result Royal victory; execution of many rebels
Belligerents
English Roman Catholics	Kingdom of England
Commanders and leaders
Sir Francis Bigod  Lord Darcy  Lord Hussey	King Henry VIII
Casualties and losses
216 executed

Bigod's rebellion of January 1537 was an armed rebellion by English Roman Catholics in Cumberland and Westmorland against King Henry VIII of England and the English Parliament. It was led by Sir Francis Bigod, of Settrington in the East Riding of Yorkshire.

Prelude

Following the Pilgrimage of Grace of 1536, the King had made promises which had not yet been kept and, in January 1537, a new rising began to take shape, although Robert Aske (a leader of the Pilgrimage of Grace) tried to prevent it.

An undated letter from Aske to the Commons, probably early in 1537, tells them: "Neighbours, I do much [marvel] that ye would assemble yourselves with Bigod [seeing how] earnestly the King's highness extendeth general pardon to all this North". He goes on that the king intends to hold a parliament at York and to have the new Queen crowned. Bigod had intended to destroy the effect of previous petitions, but "as I hear you were forced to assemble by his threats and menaces, I shall declare this to the King, and fear not but that you shall have his Grace's pardon notwithstanding".

William Todde, prior of Malton in Ryedale, later gave evidence that on the Tuesday before the uprising, Bigod had dined with him at Malton on his way to York. Bigod had showed him part of the King's pardon, saying it would enrage the Scots, known in the North as "our old ancient enemies", while Todde showed Bigod a copy of the articles given at Doncaster, Bigod asked for a copy, and one was sent after him. On leaving, Bigod said he had to go to Settrington to meet his brother Ralph.

Rebellion

Bigod, fearing repression by the King, launched his uprising on 16 January 1537, in concert with his tenant, John Hallam, a yeoman of Watton. His efforts to promulgate his platform attracted little support, either from the aristocracy or the commons. His plan to have George Lumley seize Scarborough Castle and Hallam Hall on 16 January failed utterly, and his own assault on Kingston upon Hull on 19 January was forestalled by the capture of almost his entire force in a dawn raid at Beverley, Yorkshire. He escaped to Mulgrave, and from thence to Cumberland, where he was captured on 10 February, and sent to Carlisle Castle.

Aftermath

In the aftermath of the rebellion's defeat, Henry arrested Bigod, Aske and several other rebels, including Darcy, Lord Hussey, the Chief Butler of England, Sir Thomas Percy and Sir Robert Constable. All were convicted of treason. During 1537, Bigod was hanged at Tyburn, Darcy and Hussey both beheaded, Thomas Moigne, one of the members of Parliament for Lincoln, was hanged, drawn and quartered, Constable was hanged in chains at Hull, and Aske was hanged in chains at York. In all, 216 were executed: several lords and knights (including Sir Thomas Percy, Sir Stephen Hamerton, Sir William Lumley, Sir John Constable and Sir William Constable), six abbots (Adam Sedbar, Abbot of Jervaulx, William Trafford, Abbot of Sawley, Matthew Mackarel, Abbot of Barlings and Bishop of Chalcedon, William Thirsk, Abbot of Fountains and the Prior of Bridlington), 38 monks, and sixteen parish priests. Sir Nicholas Tempest, Bowbearer of the Forest of Bowland was hanged at Tyburn, Sir John Bulmer hanged, drawn and quartered, and his wife Margaret Stafford burnt at the stake. In late 1538, Sir Edward Neville, Keeper of the Sewer was beheaded.