File:The western rebellion of 1549 - an account of the insurrections in Devonshire and Cornwall against religious innovations in the reign of Edward VI (1913) (14770022935).jpg

Identifier: westernrebellion00rose (find matches)
Title: The western rebellion of 1549 : an account of the insurrections in Devonshire and Cornwall against religious innovations in the reign of Edward VI
Year: 1913 (1910s)
Authors: Rose-Troup, Frances James, 1859-
Subjects: Reformation
Publisher: London : Smith, Elder
Contributing Library: Robarts - University of Toronto
Digitizing Sponsor: University of Toronto

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Text Appearing Before Image:
ll be dread, which hitherto
you are not but of a few that be honest men. By this means
you should deliver the lung an obedient realm. ¹

Some belligerent members of the Council would have
given similar advice, urging the sharp and swift suppres-
sion of the rising, but such a course did not commend
itself to Somerset, whose——

" good fortune now began to fail him when the mischief did
appear with the face of danger, and could not otherwise be
redressed but by force of arms ; instead of putting himself at
the head of an army the Lord Kussell is sent down with some
slender forces to give stop to their proceedings."
Lord Russell was one of those who had risen into
prominence in the late kings reign through his courtier-
like abilities. He had held offices of trust about the
Court, where he was in high favour, and had been em-
ployed on diplomatic missions. He had developed into
a stern soldier, merciless to his opponents and possessing
a vein of brutality noticeable in a period none too

¹ Titus, F. III.
Text Appearing After Image:

JOHN, LORD RUSSELL.
From an Engraving by H. Robinson after the original in the collection of the
Duke of Bedford.

THE COUNCIL'S ACTION 155

gentle, yet he had certain endearing qualities which had
won him by this time the title of Father Russell.
Already he was known in this district, for when, in
1539, it was decided to establish a " Council in the West
Parts," similar to that in the North and elsewhere, he
was chosen President, endowed with ample—almost
regal—powers, and for some time continued to exercise
his office, hearing causes and reporting to the King.¹
He was one of the executors of Henry's will, and now
held the office of Lord Privy Seal under Edward. He
had already begun to accumulate estates in the West,
and at his death was a very large landowner.

" A person of stout spirit, proper for such a service and a
man of great interests in that county as well as the state was
sunt down to Exeter, with a convenient power of men of war
both on foot and on horseback.<sup>2

1</sup> Titus, B. I. 161 (quoted L. & P. XIV. i. 743). He had power to

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