Henry VII - Unrest & Rebellion

Question 1

How serious a challenge was the Lovell conspiracy?

Answer 1

• Dissatisfied Yorkists who had supported Richard.
• Involved Lord Lovell and others, all of whom had been loyal supporters of Richard.
• Their plan failed because Henry heard of the plot and sent an armed force.
• Offered them pardon&reconciliation, or excommunication&death.

Question 2

Outline the Yorkshire rebellion.

Answer 2

• As a result of Henry’s attempt to raise money to aid Brittany in its struggle against France.
• Other northern counties exempt because they were expected to defend the northern border against Scottish attacks.
• When the Earl of Northumberland tried to collect taxes he was murdered.
• Rising easily crushed by royal army, but money still not collected.

Question 3

Outline the Cornish rebellion.

Answer 3

• Needed money to fight against the threat of Scotland when James IV aided Perkin Warbeck.
• Cornish didn’t have an interest in an issue so far away.
• 15,000 supporters including some minor gentry and one noble.
• Complaints against ‘evil counsellors’ like Morton and Bray, not the King.
• Army of 25,000 men crushed them at Blackheath June 1497.

Question 4

How serious a threat was the Yorkist challenge to his rule?

Answer 4

• Margaret of Burgundy (sister of Richard III) offered safety for Yorkist exiles and would fund any challenge they wanted against the Tudor state.
• People would impersonate the ‘Princes in the Tower’
• Simnel 1486-87
• Warbeck 1491-99

Question 5

Outline Simnel rebellion.

Answer 5

• Lambert Simnel claimed to be the Earl of Warwick
• Only within a year of his being crowned.
• Support in Oxford, then Ireland (where he was crowned), and Margaret of Burgundy
• HVII paraded real earl of Warwick through London so people knew Simnel was a pretender.
• 8,000 men rebel army facing Henry at Stoke in June 1487: similar to Bosworth
• Henry won.

Question 6

Outline Warbeck rising.

Answer 6

• Both France and Scotland could use him against Henry.
• Claimed to be Richard, Duke of York, but because he was dead Henry couldn’t prove that it wasn’t him.
• Sought support in France but Treaty of Etaples 1492 meant he had to move to Flanders.
• Henry broke off cloth trade with Burgundy so that Warbeck wouldn’t be a threat.
• Gained support of HRE
• Spy network = series of attainders against those involved in plot
• Sir William Stanley, member of court, was involved.
• Married to James IV’s cousin and gathered troops to invade northern England.
• Handed himself in after Cornish rebellion.
• 1498: put in the Tower.

Question 7

Was Henry ever secure from Yorkist threat?

Answer 7

• Edmund de la Pole still remained
• 1502 Arthur died so succession depended on prince Henry.
• Imprisoned Suffolk family and passed 51 Acts of Attainder.
• 1506 Philip of Burgundy arrives and Henry persuades him to hand over Suffolk.
• Not seriously challenged after Simnel.