The Pilgrimage of Grace, 1536–1537, and The Exeter Conspiracy, 1538 by Ruth and Margaret Dodds is a landmark two-volume history examining two of the most dramatic episodes of Tudor England's political and religious upheaval. With meticulous scholarship and narrative flair, the Dodds sisters reconstruct the Pilgrimage of Grace—the largest popular uprising against Henry VIII's Reformation—and the subsequent Exeter Conspiracy, a noble-led plot against the Tudor regime.
The volumes trace the causes, progress, and aftermath of the rebellion, detailing how discontent over religious reforms, dissolution of monasteries, and economic hardship drove thousands of ordinary men and women to rise in protest. Equally compelling is the account of the Exeter Conspiracy, in which prominent nobles and courtiers were accused of treason in a climate of fear and suspicion. Through extensive use of primary sources, the Dodds provide not only a political analysis but also a vivid picture of the social and cultural context of the time.
Their study reveals the complexities of loyalty and resistance in Tudor England, highlighting the voices of both rebels and rulers. Written with clarity and depth, the work remains a definitive treatment of mid-Tudor unrest. It is essential reading for anyone interested in the interplay of religion, politics, and society in the 16th century.