Causes of the wars

Question 1

Henry VI expenditure

Answer 1

o By 1450 the crown owed in the region of £370,000, equivalent to over 168 million today
o Additionally crown income had dropped from £120,000 per annum to as low as £45,000

Question 2

Why was Henry’s expenses so high

Answer 2

 Prior to Henry’s incapacitation in 1453 as many as 1000 courtiers worked in Henry’s court and he kept a stable of 300 horses, Henry’s permanent household added up to as many as 200 men.
 Additionally, Henry’s finances were made all the worse by his lousy distribution of patronage.

Question 3

Henry VI abhorrence of war

Answer 3

o Henry never led a campaign in France, he was the exact opposite of his father Henry V, indeed instead he lost the legacy of the ‘greatest man to ever rule England.
o Response to Cades revolt, was pathetic, allowing the rebels to seize London, he refused to lead his troops at Sevenoaks leading to a dismal defeat against a disparate royal force.
o Henry only once appeared in armour, at Ludford where the Yorkists were defeated without a fight.

Question 4

Patronage for somerset

Answer 4

Somerset – Lieutenant of France, Captain of Calais and then Duke of Somerset

Question 5

Patronage Courtneay Bonville

Answer 5

1441 Henry intervenes in the Courtneay Bonville dispute to grant the title of the duchy of cornwall to the earl of Devon although Bonville had held the title since 1437, this created a bitter feud that would go on to last a whole 15 years.

Question 6

Patronage Suffolk

Answer 6

Suffolk – Granted Chamberlain, Admiral of England and Dke of Suffolk (1448)

Question 7

Henry VI Feuds

Answer 7

o Henry’s granting of patronage undoubtedly caused feuding within the nobility, most notably between the Percies and Nevilles, Courtneay Bonville and York Somerset
o Despenser lands granted to Somerset, Warwick refused and garrisoned Cardiff Castle, this drove the Neville’s into the affinity of the Duke of York

Question 8

Henry VI incapacitation

Answer 8

o Early august 1453 – hears of defeat at Castillon in his royal hunting lodge at clarendon, Henry never truly recovered from his schizophrenic state
o Paralysis in central government led directly to the Battle of St Albans – partial recovery

Question 9

York Ambition

Answer 9

• Gascony 1443 8,000 man force led by the 1st duke of Somerset
• No reappointed Lieutenant of France in 1445 -Edmund Beaufort 2nd duke of somerset was appointed
• Crown owed him £38,666 pounds
• Poor conduct in France, York was Captain of Rouen which Somerset ceded without defense in return for safe passage
• Dartford – 1452 protestation, tries to be recognised as heir apparent, forces met at Dartford at Kent where York was outnumbered and forced to negotiate, 2 weeks of house arrest and forced to swear an oath of loyalty

Question 10

Margaret of Anjou

Answer 10

• Association with the Beaufort Faction and Suffolk after the Truce of Tours
• Favour of Somerset – Convinced Henry to appoint him Captain of Calais in 1551
• After St Albans (22nd May 1455) and the death of Somerset she moved her court to the midlands to kenilworth castle – handed out silver swans to loyal men like Talbot
• Helped to organise the Parliament of Devils Jun 1449

Question 11

Percy Neville Feud

Answer 11

o Skirmish at Heworth moor

o Clash at Stamford bridge, skirmished with Salisbury’s house raided etc

Question 12

Courtneay bonville Feud

Answer 12

o Murder of Nicholas Radford