Edward IV First Reign 1461-1470

Question 1

Factors of how Edward became King
End of Yorks 2nd protectorate (Feb 1456)

Answer 1

. Ended in Feb 1456 when King recovered
. King kept York and the Nevilles close
. York given role of chief councillor
^ Role York claimed he wanted all along

Question 2

Factors of how Edward became King
Love day ceremony (Mar 1458)

Answer 2

. Compensation for St Albans
. Margaret and York walked hand in hand

Question 3

Factors of how Edward became King
Warwick attacked in London (Nov 1458)

Answer 3

Warwick fled to Calais
. Queen saw Warwick sent less and less money in Calais - couldn’t pay his garrison
. Warwick pursued career in piracy - popular with ordinary people but embarrassed Government
. Queen demanded his resignation, Warwick attacked but escaped - Buckingham sided with Queen

Question 4

Factors of how Edward became King
Great council summoned (Jun 1459)

Answer 4

. Great council summoned to Coventry but Yorkists not invited
. Yorkists thought Lancastrians planning something against them
^ Yorkists thought of stratagies against them

Question 5

Factors of how Edward became King
Battle of Blore Heath (Sep 1459)

Answer 5

. Warwick arrived from Calais, narrowly escaping capture by Somerset
. Earl of Salisbury intercepted at Blore Heath, killed Lord Audley (leader of Lancastrian forces)
. Sent message to King - justifying actions and what they thought was wrong, blamed evil advisors

Question 6

Factors of how Edward became King
Act of Attainder (Nov 1459)

Answer 6

. Individuals convicted of treason executed if caught, land forfeited to crown, heir not allowed to inherit land title
^ Parliament nicknamed ‘Parliament of Devils’ - how Yorkists were treated
. Majority of nobles concerned - Queen going too far

Question 7

Factors of how Edward became King
Battle of Northampton (Jul 1460)

Answer 7

. Yorkists reached Northampton led by Warwick
^ attempted to negotiate, Buckingham on king’s behalf
. Yorkists won - heavy rain meant Lancastrian guns failed to fire
. Lord Grey secretly moved to Yorkist side
^ Warwick knew in advance, ordered not to attack those wearing Grey’s badge
. Buckingham, Shrewsbury died guarding Kings tent
. York gone to Ireland

Question 8

Factors of how Edward became King
Act of Accord (Oct 1460)

Answer 8

. York returned from Ireland to claim throne - Henry VI still King but York next heir and then passed onto Yorks heir
^ circumstances meant York would never be king - would be Yorks son

Question 9

Factors of how Edward became King
Battle of Wakefield (Dec 1460)

Answer 9

. York trying to get agreement over settlement of Act of Accord
. Queen gathered army in the north
. Attempts by the Yorkists - dominated Gov deal with military threat ignored by those who controlled the north (Northumberland and Clifford)
. Dec 1460 YORK KILLED

Question 10

Factors of how Edward became King
Battle of Mortimers Cross (Feb 1461)

Answer 10

. Edward preparing to return to London - news Earl of Wiltshire landed in South Wales
^ army of Irish, French and Breton soldiers
. New Duke of York intercepted at Mortimers Cross and victorious
^ Edward gained prestige of winning first battle

Question 11

Factors of how Edward became King
Second Battle of St Albans (Feb 1461)

Answer 11

. Lancastrian army advanced to London - led her army west capturing town of Dunstable
^ used night to arrive in St Albans in morning
. Advanced during narrow streets, suffered heavy casualties from Yorkist archers - fighting for several hours
. Without reinforcements Yorkists overcome
. Turned attention to main Yorkist army in north - Warwick ordered withdrawal
. Yorkists gave Henry VI back to Queen

Question 12

Factors helping Edward winning at Towton

Answer 12

Fundings:
- London pro Yorkist since July 1460, leant £4500
- People from London lend further £4000

Support:
- March 1461 Edward issued proclamation: any supporters of Henry who submitted within 10 days would receive a pardon
^ exception of income of over 100 marks a year
- Cause a rift between Lancastrian lords and their followers (weakening Lancastrians)
- Yorkists gathered plenty of recruits

Weather:
- Snow and wind blowing into Lancastrians
- Edward ordered archers to fire and step back - Lancastrians fired blind
^ Yorkists used arrows against them
- Lancastrians didn’t see arrival of Duke of Norfolk - led to Lancastrians fleeing

Leadership:
- Edward on battlefield with his men on foot with inspiring speeches unlike absent Henry VI
- Quick thinker

Question 13

How did Edward deal with Henry VI

Answer 13

. Figurehead for Lancastrian cause
. Made King by God
. Lancastrian families unsettling England for own gain, provide Henry with support to regain throne
. 1464, Lancastrians suffered 2 defeats in north
. Henry and Margaret both escaped, Henry = north - west, Margaret = France with prince Edward
. Henry spent over a year on run - captured in Lancashire
^ taken to London and put in tower - shows lack of threat

Question 14

How did Edward deal with Margaret of Anjou

Answer 14

. Margaret tried to gather support
. In return for hospitality and military help, ordered Berwick to be surrendered to Scots 1461
. Successful negotiations with French led to attack on Channel Islands 1461, stopped with death of Charles VIII
. Louis XI supported Edward at Towton - easily persuaded to support Lancastrians (promised Calais)
. 1462 Margaret attacked again and escaped back to France
. Edward followed this by agreeing truces with Scotland and France

Question 15

How did Edward deal with Lancastrian Support

Answer 15

. Edward adopted policy of conciliation
^ had to win over noble families
. Allowed families to retain control of estates under age heirs
. Still some nobles held out Sir Ralph Percy
. Warwick captured 3 castles which held out against the King
. Returned Dustanburgh Castle to Percy to keep his policy of conciliation
^ Handed over castle to Henry when he arrived in 1462 with his wife
. Castle recaptured and Percy forgiven
. Percy died in battle 1464
. Somerset fled to Scotland with Lancastrian royal family
. Edward pardoned Somerset
. Somerset killed in battle 1464
. In Wales, several castles in hands of Lancastrians
. Army took Pembroke Castle from Jasper Tudor 1461 - Lancastrians defeated

Question 16

Edward IV domestic policy
(Use of Patronage)

Answer 16

. Early part of his reign - disposed as much patronage as possible
. Not large amount of land/titles available for rewards, largely concentrated on Neville Family
^ recognition of service given in years 1459-61
. Warwick main beneficially
. Concentrated rest of patronage establishing new Yorkist nobility, rewarding lesser gentry who served both himself and his father

Question 17

Edward IV domestic policy
(Financial Policy)

Answer 17

. Under Henry VI, revenues fallen less than £24,000 per annum
. Wages and debts unpaid for years leaving crown insolvent
. Edward granted 2 taxes by parliament to pay 2 military campaigns
. Edward didn’t fight, pocketed some money raised - much needed but angered taxpayers

. More regular source of income = custom duties, declined under Henry VI
. Income slumped due to slump in trade in Western Europe but improved through truces
^ commercial treaty with Burgundy 1467, saw cloth exports double
. Exploited real estates more thoroughly
^. 1461 special administration set up - visit crown estates and ensure property audited and all revenues were paid to crown

. Chamber System of Finance: income from land directly to chamber king’s main financial agency
^ money obtained and spent quicker
. Under direct control of the king and his most trusted, experienced officials

Question 18

Edward IV domestic policy
(Law and Order)

Answer 18

. Frequent complaints about lack of justice
. Determined to enforce the law - supervise proceedings himself
. Deal with problem of nobility retaining private armies
. Legislation introduced, 1468 most forms of retaining made illegal
. Edward didn’t enforce these laws
. End of his reign, disorder on increase - due to poor harvests, economic hardship and waste of taxpayers money
. Feuding between individual noble families again on battlefield

Question 19

Edward IV foreign policy
(France and Scotland)

Answer 19

• 1461: French and Scots began attacks on Channel Islands
  ^ death of Charles VIII got this campaign cancelled
• 1463: James III led army over border with Henry VI, Margaret. Scots fled after facing Warwick/Montagu
  ^ southern Scotland open to retaliatory raids by Warwick
  Oct 1463: Louis XI signed truce
  Dec 1463: Scots signed truce
• 1467: French responded to Edwards alliances with Burgundy and Brittany by sponsoring Jasper Tudor in an attack on Wales

Question 20

Edward IV foreign policy
(Burgundy)

Answer 20

• 1461: Philip of Burgundy approached about match with niece
• 1464: French match with Burgundians
• 1467: Commerical treaty with Burgundy. Marriage between Edwards sister and new Duke of Burgundy

Question 21

Edward IV foreign policy
(Brittany)

Answer 21

• 1467: feared French expansionist policies

Question 22

Edward and Warwick quarrel
(Edwards marriage)

Answer 22

. Married widowed Lancastrian - supporting Elizabeth Woodville 1464
^ Warwick involved in negotiating French match - felt let down
. Warwick approached plan to marry his daughter Isobel to Clarence, Edward rejected (angered Warwick)
. Felt replaced by Woodvilles, in position of influence

Question 23

Edward and Warwick quarrel
(Warwick’s declining influence)

Answer 23

. Warwick wanted control of South Wales - given to William Herbet
^ less than 10yrs turned himself into earl, secured marriage of son to Queens sister
. William, Lord Hastings - made Edward IV’s chamberlain
^ Warwick saw them pushing him out of chief advisor

Question 24

Edward and Warwick quarrel
(Presence of credible alternatives)

Answer 24

. Warwick couldn’t put himself on throne - not royal blood
. Identified Clarence as potential replacement, or Henry VI
^ always temptation for Warwick

Question 25

Edward losing the throne 1470
(Edward IV mistakes)

Answer 25

. Choice of bride - missed good opportunity to forge alliance
. Edwards treatment of Lord Montagu (Warwick brother) - made him Lord of Northumberland then returned it to Percy family (conciliation policy)
. Montagu remained loyal, Sep 1470 Warwick declared support for Henry Vi, he followed his brother
. Left Edward facing 2 armies in north - Edwards army failed and he fled to Burgundy, clear for Henry to take throne

Question 26

Edward losing the throne 1470
(Earl of Warwick betrayal)

Answer 26

. Clashed with Earl of Pembroke - ended with Warwick getting Pembroke killed
. 2 separate risings in north, both could’ve been inspired by Warwick
^ advantage to go to Calais with large army - July 1469 Clarence married Isobel
. Warwick issued manifesto - trying to turn people against Edward
. Returned to England, raised army and won battle in July 1469
^ revenge on Woodvilles = killing Earl Rivers and brother John
. Edward captured
. Warwick ‘tried’ to rule - nobility refused
. Rebellion broke out in north in support of Henry
^ Edward released to help deal with it
. After headed to London with loyal nobles

Question 27

Edward losing the throne 1470
(Duke of Clarence betrayal)

Answer 27

. Proved to be jealous, overly ambitious, greedy
. Blamed Woodvilles for Edward refusing the marriage to Isobel in 1467
. Worked with Warwick - implicated in 1470 Lincolnshire rising

Question 28

Edward losing the throne 1470
(Discontent and rebellions)

Answer 28

. Edward proved to be active king with interest in justice - improvements in law and order, not be last:
- county in poor economic state, worst by several years of bad harvests
- series of risings in York 1469
- rebellions dealt with effectively by Montagu but Redesdale rebellion started up again - definite links to Warwick