ASKE, Robert, English rebel: d. 1537. He was of an old Yorkshire family. He be came an attorney and fellow at Gray's Inn. Little of his personal history is known, except in connection with the insurrection called the *Pilgrimage of Grace,* which began in Lincoln shire in October 1536, as an outbreak against the law passed by Parliament suppressing those monasteries whose revenues fell below 1200 a year. Other laws were enacted abrogating a number of old holidays and increasing taxes which aroused the indignation of the people. Aske led the uprising in Yorkshire. His army took Lord Dacy and the archbishop of York prisoners, who were 'then forced to take the oath of the rebels. The monks and nuns were reinstated; the royal herald was not permitted to read the King's proclamation; and announc ing his intention of marching to London to declare the grievances of the commons to the sovereign himself, Aske soon had the whole country under his control. A military organiza tion with posts from Newcastle to Hull was established and Hull was provided with cannon. No terms could be agreed upon, and it was decided to fight a battle on 27 October. A heavy rain prevented the consummation of this plan. The King, in the meantime, sent a con ciliatory message which Aske prevailed upon his followers to accept. Aske was pardoned, but the King's promises were not considered sufficient and another insurrection broke out in the east. For his efforts in suppressing this, Aske was thanked by the King. However, in spite of the fact that he had done nothing to forfeit the King's favor, he was sent to the Tower of London and sentenced to he hanged.
He was paraded back to York and executed there in July. There is a striking inscription on a tower of the church of Aughtor in East Riding by a member of his family to commem orate the year 1536. Consult Gasquet, F. A., 'Henry VIII and the English Monasteries' (1906);