button to main menu  Clarke's Survey of the Lakes, 1787

button title page
button previous page button next page
Page 147:-
"Qui ont abandonne leur pays pour gagner leur pain avec industrie, mais imprimes d'une vive reconnaissance retient un penchant pour le place de leur naissance.
In English,
"Who have abandoned their country to get their bread with industry, but impressed with lively gratitude, they retain yet a regard for the place of their nativity."
  Aske's Rebellion
  Pilgrimage of Grace

In order once more to describe the turbulent spirit of the inhabitants of these northern counties, I shall subjoin an account of the rebellion against Henry VIII, begun in Northumberland and part of Yorkshire, which was soon joined by the inhabitants of Cumberland, Westmorland, and Lancashire, and will also shew their illiterateness and orthography of that time. Speed says, p.773, "That forty thousand of those northern rustics assembled in Yorkshire, furnished with horse, armour, artillery, habiliments for war. Their pretence was religion and defence of the holy church; their banners painted with the five wounds of our Saviour, the chalice, the cake, and other inventions of Rome; and upon their sleeve was written the name of the Lord:" And so forward and so fervent were they in their proceedings, that this their attempt was called the Holy Pilgrimage. Neither were the rustics guilty only, but they were headed and encouraged by Edward the Archbishop of York, the Lord Lumely, the Percies, &c. This appears to me rather doubtful; for surely either the Archbishop would not suffer such illiterate proclamations to be read as they set forth, or he did not care to appear publicly in the business. The clergy of that time were not, however, very learned, as will appear hereafter. They chose for their General one Robert Aske, a man of low parentage, and one Rudston for his assistant: others they had of the same stamp; as a fisherman from this town, who stiled himself (and very justly) the Earl of Poverty; he always went by that name, and signed himself so. I shall first copy General Aske and his associate's letters after their appointment.
"To all Lords, Knights, masters, kinsmen, and friends, wee perceive that yee be informed that this assemble our pilgrimage, which we by the favour and mercie of Almighty God intendeth to proceede in, is because the King our Soveraigne Lord hath had much impocessions of us, we doubt not but yee doe knowne and remember, that to our powers, we have beene alwaies as ready in paiments and services to his Highnesse as any of his subjects: And, further, to acertaine you of the cause of our said assemble and pilgrimage is this: That forasmuch that such simple and evil disposed persons, being of the King's councell, hath not only encensed his Grace with many things which bee contrarie to the faith of God, honor of the King's Majesty, and the commonwealth of this realm: And thereby have destroied, and yet utterly intendeth to destroy the Church of England, and all the ministers of the same, as yee know so well as wee. But also the said councell hath robbed and spoiled, and further intendyth utterly to robbe and spoile the whole body of the King's realme, and as well all you as us, if God of his infinte mercy had not caused such as hath taken, and hereafter shall take this pilgrimage upon them to proceede in the same; and whether all these things be not true, we put it to your conscience: And if yee think it be true, and fight against us, which intendeth the commonwealth of this realm and nothing else, we trust yee shall have small speed. For this pilgrimage, we have taken hyt for the preservation of Cryst's Church of this realm of England, the King our Soveraigne Lord, the nobility, barony, and comens of the same, and to the intent to make petition to the King's highnesse for reformation of that which is amisse within this his realme; and for punishment of hereticks and subverters of lawys; and neither for money, mailice, nor displeasure to any person, but such as be not worthy to remaine neere the King our Soverayne Lord's person. And further, we know, if yee should obtaine, as we trust yn God ye shalnatt, then ye putt both us and you, your heirs and ours in bondage forever. And further, yee are sure of the interdiction of Cryst's curse, and we clere and out of the same; and
"yf
gazetteer links
button -- "High Wray" -- High Wray
button next page

button to main menu Lakes Guides menu.