Editing South West England (section)

===16th century===
Great disturbances throughout both Cornwall and Devon followed the introduction of [[Edward VI of England|Edward VI]]'s [[Book of Common Prayer]]. The day after [[Whit Sunday]] 1549, a priest at [[Sampford Courtenay]] was persuaded to read the old [[mass (liturgy)|mass]].<ref>Heal, Felicity (2003). ''Reformation in Britain and Ireland'', p. 225. Oxford University Press. {{ISBN|0-19-826924-2}}.</ref> This insubordination spread swiftly into serious revolt. The Cornish quickly joined the men of Devon in the [[Prayer Book Rebellion]] and Exeter was besieged until relieved by Lord Russell.<ref>Secor, Philip Bruce (1999). ''Richard Hooker: Prophet of Anglicanism'', p. 13. Continuum International Publishing Group. {{ISBN|0-86012-289-1}}.</ref> The Cornish had a particular motivation for opposing the new English language prayer book, as there were still many monoglot [[Cornish language|Cornish]] speakers in West Cornwall. The [[Cornish language]] declined rapidly afterwards and the [[Dissolution of the Monasteries]] resulted in the eventual loss of the Cornish language as a primary language. By the end of the 18th century it was no longer a first language.

The [[Council of the West]] was a short-lived administrative body established by Henry VIII for the government of the western counties of England. It was analogous in form to the [[Council of the North]]. The council was established in March 1539, with [[John Russell, 1st Earl of Bedford|Lord Russell]] as its Lord President. Members included Thomas Derby, Sir Piers Edgcumbe, Sir Richard Pollard and John Rowe. However, the fall of [[Thomas Cromwell, 1st Earl of Essex|Thomas Cromwell]], the chief political supporter of government by Councils, and the tranquillity of the western counties made it largely superfluous. It last sat in summer 1540, although it was never formally abolished.<ref>{{cite journal | last=Willen | first=Diane |date=Autumn 1975 | title=Lord Russell and the Western Counties, 1539–1555 | journal=The Journal of British Studies | volume=15 | issue=1 | pages=26–45 | doi=10.1086/385677| s2cid=162954069 }}</ref>