TWENTY-FOUR ARTICLES OF THE PILGRIMAGE OF GRACE REBELS (1536). In December 1536, the Pilgrimage of Grace rebels, led by Robert Aske, met at Pontefract Castle (Dec. 2-4) to draft a petition of "demands" to be presented to King Henry VIII. This list of "24 Articles", sometimes called "The Commons' Petition", was given to the Duke of Norfolk at Doncaster on December 6th. The rebels agreed to disband if the King reviewed the demands, a freely elected parliament at York would act on the same, and if the rebels received parliamentary pardon for taking part in the rebellion and for all acts committed during the same. Norfolk received the articles with promises to present them to the King. He also promised a parliament at York and a general pardon to the rebels. Robert Aske announced these promises to the Pilgrims, and the rebels disbanded. Aske visited the King in London, but returned to York in January with nothing more than vague promises. In January 1537, rebels under Sir Francis Bigod, who had realized the King had no intention of respecting either the Pilgrims' demands, or the promises made to them, started a new uprising. This gave the King an excuse to violently stamp out the rebellion in the North and to reneg on the promises made on his behalf by Norfolk.

The Pilgrims' Demands:—

1. "The first touching our faith":—To have the heresies of "Luther, Wyclif, Husse, Malangton, Elicampadus (sic), Bucerus, Confessa Germanie, Apolugia Malanctons, the works of Tyndall, of Barnys, of Marshall, Raskell, Seynt Germayne, and such other heresies of Anibaptist," destroyed.
   
   
2. The supremacy of the Church touching "cura animarum" to be reserved to the See of Rome as before. The consecrations of the bishops to be from him, without any first fruits or pension to be paid to him, or else a reasonable pension for the outward defence of the Faith.
   
   
3. That lady Mary may be made legitimate, and the former statute therein annulled for the danger of the title that might incur to the crown of Scotland: that to be by parliament.
   
   
4. The suppressed abbeys to be restored to their houses, lands, and goods.
   
   
5. To have the tenths and first fruits clearly discharged of the same, unless the clergy will grant a rentcharge in generality to the augmentation of the Crown.
   
   
6. To have the Friars Observants restored to their houses.
   
   
7. To have the heretics, bishops and temporal, and their sect, to have condign punishment by fire or such other, or else to try the quarrel with us and our part-takers in battle.
   
   
8. Lord Cromwell, the Lord Chancellor, and Sir Ric. Riche to have condign punishment, as subverters of the good laws of the realm and maintainers and inventors of heretics.
   
   
9. That the lands in Westmoreland, Cumberland, Kendall, Dent, Sedber, Fornes, and the abbey lands in Mashamshire, Kyrkbyshire, Notherdale, may be by tenant right, and the lord to have, at every change two years' rent for "gressom,"¹ according to the grant now made by the lords to the commons there. This to be done by Act of Parliament.
   
   
10. The statutes of handguns and crossbows to be repealed, except in the King's forests or parks.
    
    
11. That Dr. Lighe and Dr. Layton have condign punishment for their extortions from religious houses and other abominable acts.²
    
    
12. Reformation for the election of knights of the shire and burgesses, and for the use among the lords in the parliament house after their ancient custom.
    
    
13. The statute for inclosures and intacks to be put in execution, and all inclosures and intacks since 4 Hen. VII., to be pulled down "except mountains, forests, and parks."
    
    
14. To be discharged of the quinzine and taxes now granted by Act of Parliament.
    
    
15. To have a parliament at Nottingham or York, and that shortly.
    
    
16. The statute of the declaration of the crown by will to be repealed.
    
    
17. Pardon by Act of Parliament for all recognisances, statutes and penalties new forfeited during the time of this commotion.
    
    
18. The privileges and rights of the Church to be confirmed by Act of Parliament. Priests not to suffer by sword unless degraded. A man to be saved by his book. "Sanctuary to save a man for all causes in extreme need, and the Church for 40 days, and further according to the laws as they were used in the beginning of this King's days."
    
    
19. The liberties of the Church to have their old customs as the county palatine at Durham, Beverlay, Rippon, St. Peter of York, and such other by Act of Parliament.
    
    
20. To have the statute "That no man shall not will his lands," repealed.
    
    
21. The statutes of treasons for words and such like made since 21 Hen. VIII., to be repealed.
    
    
22. That the common laws may have place as was used in the beginning of the reign, and that no injunctions be granted unless the matter has been determined in Chancery.
    
    
23. That men north of Trent summoned on subpoena appear at York, or by attorney, unless it be directed on pain of allegiance, or for like matters concerning the King.
    
    
24. A remedy against escheators for finding false offices and extorting fees.

Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, of the Reign of Henry VIII. Vol XI.
James Gairdner, Ed. London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1888. 506-7.

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Other Local Resources:

• King Henry VIII
  
• Dissolution of the Monasteries
  
• Pilgrimage of Grace
  
• Robert Aske
  

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