Robert Aske (political leader)

Robert Aske (died 1537) was an English political leader from York who led the Pilgrimage of Grace in 1536. He was an attorney from an old Yorkshire family who was a Fellow at Gray's Inn. When rebellion broke out in York against Henry VIII, he took up the cause of the locals and headed the Pilgrimage of Grace. On October 13, 1536, he treated with the royal delegates 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.