1470-71

Question 1

When was the Battle of Losecote Field?

Answer 1

12 March 1470

Question 2

What happened before the Battle of Losecote Field?

Answer 2

• popular disturbances in Lincolnshire - Edward gathers troops + Warwick heads to his Midland lands to raise more troops
• News is received that the Lincolnshire rebels are being joined by others from Yorkshire

Question 3

What happens in the Battle of Losecote Field?

Answer 3

• Edward confronts the rebels near the village of Empingham
• the rebels flee

Question 4

Significance of Losecote Field?

Answer 4

• confessions of captured rebels implicate Warwick + Clarence as coordinating the disorder
• some had worn Clarence’s colours + shouted Warwick + Clarence during battle

Question 5

What happens after Losecote Field?

Answer 5

• Edward (supported by John Neville) pursue the rebel lords aka Warwick + Clarence into Yorkshire
• the rebel lords head north-west but get no support from Lord Stanley in Lancashire so they make for the south coast
• Warwick, Clarence (and his wife Isabel) + George Neville flee the country - refused entry into Calais (Warwick is captain of calais)
• they go to Honfleur + seek support of Louis XI who initially lacks support due to fearing war against both England + burgundy
• treaty of angers

Question 6

When was the Treaty of Angers?

Answer 6

24 July 1470

Question 7

What is the treaty of Angers?

Answer 7

• Warwick submits to Margaret of Anjou in a public ceremony + begs for hers and Prince Edward’s forgiveness - Margaret keeps him waiting on his knees for 15 mins
• Warwick swears loyalty to Henry VI, Margaret + Prince Ed and it is agreed that Warwick will put Henry back on the throne
• the treaty is sealed by the marriage of Warwick’s daughter Anne to Prince Ed

Question 8

Why was the Treaty of Angers bad for Clarence?

Answer 8

• will never become king - Warwick promised to put Ed on the throne
• his land was previously Lancastrian which would go back to them

Question 9

What was the secret clause to the Treaty of Angers?

Answer 9

Warwick promises that when Louis declares war on Burgundy then England will do likewise

Question 10

What happens after the Treaty of Angers?

Answer 10

• disorder in northern England causes Edward to head north
• proclamations appear in London from Warwick + Clarence being addressed to the ‘true commons of England’ + detailing the misrule of Edward
• rebel lords land in Dartmouth accompanied by Lancastrian’s (Margaret + ed remain in France)
• Edward is declared an usurper + Henry VI proclaimed as the true king

Question 11

Who supports the rebel lords when they land?

Answer 11

• recruit troops in the west + Wales
• there is an alarming lack of popular support for Edward + John Neville switches sides
• many people do nothing + avoid choosing a side

Question 12

When and why does Edward flee?

Answer 12

• October 1470
• lack of support - John Neville switched sides + Warwick and Clarence were rapidly approaching Nottingham castle (where Edward is)
• Charles (burgundy) weary of support Edward - aware of treaty of Angers + it might provoke France if they support Ed4

Question 13

When is the Readeption of Henry VI?

Answer 13

10 Oct 1470

Question 14

Positions of Yorkists after Henry VI’s readeption?

Answer 14

• Warwick is both ‘regent’ + ‘governor’ on behalf of Henry VI
• George Neville resumes his role as chancellor

Question 15

What changes Charles the Bolds support for Ed?

Answer 15

• Nov/Dec 1470 = Louis declares war on burgundy = this is a game changer
• Charles fully supports Edward’s bid to claim the throne
• loans ed £20,000, 14 ships to accompany Ed’s small invasion
• Charles instructs the Lancastrian exiles Somerset + Exeter to leave burgundy

Question 16

What happens at the start of 1471?

Answer 16

• bad weather prevents Margaret of Anjou + price ed sailing for England - Lancastrian England officially declares war on burgundy
• March = Edward’s invasion fleet sails for England = very small only 2000 men
• with Ed = Richard, William Hastings + Antony Woodville
• land Ravenspur on Yorkshire coast

Question 17

What does Ed do after he lands in Yorkshire?

Answer 17

• Edward isn’t popular here - many locals died on the Lancastrian side at Towton, region of strong Percy loyalty + current controlled by the Neville’s
• Edward goes to York - proclaims he is not back for the crown but for his patrimony as Duke of York - city opens it’s gate
• Henry Percy (lord of Northumberland) commands the region - he doesn’t support Edward or do anything to oppose him - both hate the Neville’s

Question 18

How does Ed’s army grow?

Answer 18

• Edward advances south into Nottinghamshire
• gradually army increases in number - in Leicester Hastings brings 3,000 troops recruited from his midlands estates

Question 19

What mistake did York make?

Answer 19

• Warwick is Coventry + his forces outnumber Ed’s
• when Ed advances on Coventry he challenges Warwick to come out + negotiate or fight
• Warwick refuses + Edward marches on
• Warwick’s hesitancy possibly influenced by Clarence who was gathering troops but Clarence changes side…

Question 20

Why did Clarence switch sides?

Answer 20

• result of the Treaty of Angers - made him in a worse position
• reconcile April 1471
• Clarence has 4,000 troops

Question 21

When does Edward get the crown back?

Answer 21

11 April 1471

Question 22

How does Ed get the crown back?

Answer 22

• his army enters London
• George Neville hands Henry VI over
• Reunites with Elizabeth Woodville who has his first son during his exile
• ceremonially crowned again

Question 23

What happens after Edward is crowned again?

Answer 23

Battle of Barnet 4 days later

Question 24

What leads to the Battle of Barnet?

Answer 24

• Warwick, Oxford + John Neville advance on London
• night before Ed’s forces leave London + camp outside Barnet

Question 25

What happens at the Battle of Barnet?

Answer 25

• foggy = tightly fought + confusing battle
• John Neville is killed
• Warwick trying to escape is taken by Clarence’s troops + killed

Question 26

When do Margaret + Prince Edward land?

Answer 26

• 14 April 1471 (evening of the Battle of Barnet)
• met by Somerset + Earl of Devon
• they begin to raise troops

Question 27

What leads to the Battle of Tewkesbury?

Answer 27

• margarets army heads to wales
• Edward moves fast to prevent Lancastrian’s crossing river Severn in wales
• denied entry - Margaret’s army goes to the next crossing point = Tewkesbury

Question 28

When is the Battle of Tewkesbury?

Answer 28

4 May 1471

Question 29

What happens at the Battle of Tewkesbury?

Answer 29

• Edwards’s army confronts Margaret’s
• Somerset attack is repulsed + Lancastrian army collapses
• Prince Edward is killed
• Lancastrian’s try to take refuge in Tewkesbury abbey + are dragged out + executed
• Somerset is executed
• Margaret + Anne (Warwick’s daughter + Ed’s widow) are captured

Question 30

What happens after the Battle of Tewkesbury?

Answer 30

• Thomas Neville (Bastard of Fauconberg = Warwick’s cousin + Lord Fauconberg’s illegitimate son) attacks London
• refused entry into London + then bombards the city from across the Thames + attacks London Bridge to force entry
• the attacks are counteracted by Antony Woodville + Fauconberg retreats
• bastard is eventually pardoned cuz Ed wanted the ships back

Question 31

How does it end?

Answer 31

21 May
- Ed enters London
- that evening Henry VI dies in the Tower of London (murder) - kept alive all this time to stop Prince Ed from being the Lancastrian heir = Henry useless, less support
- end of the Lancastrian regime…..

Question 32

Why did Edward become king?

Answer 32

• military ability
• Clarence defects
• failure of Treaty of Angers = fragile alliance (MOST IMPORTANT)
• foreign support