Robert Aske (political leader)
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Robert Aske (1500–1537) was an English lawyer who became the leader of rebellion in York. He led the Pilgrimage of Grace in 1536 and was executed by Henry VIII for treason in 1537.
Biography
Aske was the younger son of Sir Robert Aske of Aughton near Selby, a scion of an old Yorkshire family. The family was well connected: one of Aske's cousins, Henry Clifford, the Earl of Cumberland.Aske became a lawyer, and was a Fellow at Gray's Inn. When rebellion broke out in York against Henry VIII, Aske took up the cause of the locals and headed the Pilgrimage of Grace. A devout man, Aske objected to Henry's religious reforms, particularly the Dissolution of the Monasteries. On October 13, 1536, Aske treated with the royal delegates, including the Duke of Norfolk, and received an assurance of an audience and safe passage to the king. He travelled to London and met with Henry VIII and received promises of redress and safe passage.
As he began his journey back north, fighting broke out again. This allowed Henry to change his mind, and he had Robert Aske seized and brought to the Tower of London. He was convicted of high treason in Westminster and was taken back to York in chains to be hanged in July 1537.
Namesakes
Aske shares his name with, and is likely to be a member of the same Yorkshire family as, another Robert Aske, a wealthy haberdasher in the City of London who is most famous for leaving the bulk of his estate to create the charity which founded a number of schools.Portrayals
Aske was played by Sean Bean in the Henry VIII TV series.External links
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