1454-56: York’s Protectorates

Question 1

When did Henry VI go catatonic? Who tried to hide his illness to avoid York becoming Lord Protector? The death of which cardinal made this resistance no longer possible? When?

Answer 1

Aug 1453
Margaret + Somerset
Cardinal Kemp, who was the Chancellor
22nd Mar 1454

Question 2

When was York appointed Protector the First time? What did he do instantly?

Answer 2

27th Mar 1454
arrested Somerset and sent him to the Tower of London

Question 3

Who claimed the right to be Lord Protector in Feb 1454? (3x)

Answer 3

Queen Margaret
Richard of York
Henry Holland, Duke of Exeter

Question 4

When did Henry VI awake from his catatonic state? When did he take control of government again? What did he do instantly?

Answer 4

25th Dec 1454, Christmas Day
late Jan 1455
release Somerset from the Tower of London

Question 5

Who did York appoint as Chancellor during the First Protectorate?

Answer 5

Richard Neville, Earl of Salisbury

Question 6

Which major Devonshire feud did York deal with in the First Protectorate? Who was found at fault? How was he punished? What were the consequences of this?

Answer 6

Courtenay-Bonville feud
Thomas Courtenay, Earl of Devon
placed under £1,000 bond
Courtenays turn Lanc and Bonvilles turn Yorkist

Question 7

Who attacked York’s and the Nevilles’ lands in 1454? When? When was he captured for plotting to assassinate York? How else did he undermine York as Protector?

Answer 7

Henry Holland, Duke of Exeter
May 1454
July 1454
distributed Lanc liveries, allied with Scots, plotted to kill York

Question 8

Which Percy plotted (with Exeter) to assassinate and overthrow York in the First Protectorate? When was he captured? Who by?

Answer 8

Lord Egremont
1st Nov 1454 at Stamford Bridge
Sir Thomas Neville

Question 9

When did the Calais garrison mutiny? Why? When did York fix this? How?

Answer 9

May 1454
hadn’t been paid wages
July 1454
arranged for the Staplers of Calais to pay the soldiers

Question 10

How did York reform the economy during the First Protectorate? (3 ways)

Answer 10

• taxed ‘aliens’ within England
• reduced royal spending from £5,000 –> £1,000
• reclaimed money from King’s College + Eton College

Question 11

What 2 roles did York make himself during the First Protectorate? Who did he replace?

Answer 11

• Captain of Calais - Somerset –> York
• Lieutenant of Ireland - Wiltshire –> York

Question 12

How did York lack control in S. Wales and Calais during the First Protectorate?

Answer 12

S. Wales - Gruffydd ap Nicolas abused his power and evaded arrest
Calais - still controlled by Somerset’s deputies, Lord Welles and Lord Rivers

Question 13

Which feud did York fail to settle during the First Protectorate? Why? What are 2 examples of this feud going too far?

Answer 13

Longford-Blount feud
too close to the Blounts, so Longfords refused to accept his authority
- in May 1454, Longfords ignored, ripped up and spat on royal writ calling for peace from York
- a Blount manor at Elvaston was sacked by Longfords

Question 14

When did York’s First Protectorate end?

Answer 14

Feb 1455

Question 15

When was the First Battle of St. Albans? Why did it happen? What did it cause?

Answer 15

22nd May 1455
Yorkists felt threatened by exclusion at Great Council in Leicester, 21st May 1455
blood feuds and Second Protectorate

Question 16

When did York’s Second Protectorate unofficially begin? Why? When did York’s Second Protectorate officially begin?

Answer 16

22nd May 1455
captured Henry VI
Nov 1455

Question 17

Which nobility feud was out of hand during the Second Protectorate? Where did the Courtenays rampage? When? What city did they capture?

Answer 17

Courtenay-Bonville feud
Devonshire
Oct-Dec 1455
Exeter

Question 18

Which servant of the Bonvilles was murdered by Courtenays? When? What did this spark? When?

Answer 18

Nicholas Radford
23 Oct 1455
Battle of Clyst Heath
3 Nov 1455

Question 19

What role was Warwick appoint as during the Second Protectorate? When? When did he actually take control?

Answer 19

Captain of Calais
late 1455
July 1456

Question 20

By when were all of York’s appointees to government removed? Who by?

Answer 20

Oct 1456
Margaret

Question 21

Who did York rehabilitate during the Second Protectorate?

Answer 21

Humphrey of Gloucester

Question 22

Which 2 gentry disputes were successfully mediated during the Second Protectorate? Where/Who by?

Answer 22

Vernon-Gresley Dispute, in Midlands, by Buckingham
Mountford Inheritance Dispute

Question 23

How did York attempt to reconcile the nobility after the First Battle of St. Albans? (2x)

Answer 23

• issued pardons for all Yorkists
• blamed battle on Somerset (dead) and 2 minor household men

Question 24

What caused the end of York’s Second Protectorate? When? Why did it fail?

Answer 24

failed resumption
Feb 1456
didn’t gain enough support in nobility

Question 25

What were the key points of York’s failed resumption? (3x)

Answer 25

• reduce Margaret’s spending to 10,000 marks/yr
• protect Duchy of Lancaster land from use as patronage
• alter King’s power to give patronage

Question 26

Which 2 nobles refused to work with York during the Second Protectorate? What happened because of this?

Answer 26

Exeter - jailed
Wiltshire

Question 27

What was undone after the end of the Second Protectorate?

Answer 27

• Yorkist appointments to government (undone by Oct 1456)
• financial reforms