How serious was the threat posed by Lambert Simnel and Perkin Warbeck Flashcards
When did Lambert Simnel emerge?
1486
Who did Lambert Simnel pretend to be?
Edward, Earl of Warwick
Why was Simnel pretending to be the Earl of Warwick a mistake?
Henry was able to produce the real Earl of Warwick from the Tower of London and parade him through the streets
Who did John de la Pole go to meet when he fled to Burgundy?
Francis Lovell and Margaret of Burgundy
Who was Margaret of Burgundy?
Sister of Richard III
How did Margaret of Burgundy assist John de la Pole and Francis Lovell?
Used her money and power to help Lovell and de la Pole to raise troops
How many troops were the rebels able to raise?
2,000 German mercenaries
Who were the German mercenaries led by?
The experienced Martin Schwartz
From Burgundy, where did the rebels sail to?
Ireland
Why did the rebels flee to Ireland? (2)
- It was a traditional Yorkist power base
- Met with members of the Irish nobility, such as Gerald Fitzgerald, Earl of Kildare, who were sympathetic to their aims
What did the Irish and Yorkists do in Dublin?
Crowned Simnel as king in Dublin
Henry Percy during the Rebel’s invasion?
Henry Percy did nothing to stop the rebel army when they arrived in the North in June 1487, marching south, even though he was supposed to be the first line of defence
What mistake had Henry made during the Simnel challenge?
Lack of experience had led him to trust John de la Pole and was even present at a Council in February 1487, which met to discuss the threat from Simnel and possible measures against it
Henry’s tactical awareness: (3)
- Henry ordered the coasts to be guarded (though the rebels still managed to land)
- Received intelligence that the rebels would invade from Ireland and thus began gradually moving Northwards
- By 8 May Henry had arrived at Kenilworth Castle, which he adopted as his base
Where did Henry meet the rebels?
The Battle of Stoke
The Battle of Stoke: (4)
- One-sided fight as the Irish forces lacked body-armour
- John de la Pole and Martin Schwartz were killed
- Francis Lovell disappeared and never seen again
- Simnel was captured
How was Simnel treated after the Battle of Stoke? (2)
- Let him work in the king’s kitchen and rose through the ranks of the Royal’s household to become the King’s falconer
- Henry was lenient as he was just a child
How was the Simnel rebellion a threat? (2)
- A dangerous mix of rival claimants, discontented Yorkists and foreign support
- John de la Pole had a much stronger claim and would likely Simnel would be replaced by Pole
Simnel rebellion’s support from Irish: (2)
- Ireland was a potential jumping-off point for anyone who wanted to invade England
- Without Irish support, it would sustain their challenge or to find a base
North reaction to the Simnel rebellion:
The North did not rise up in support for the rebellion
Why was the North not supporting the Simnel rebellion significant?
The North was the traditional stronghold of Richard III and the Yorkists and so if the North was not prepared to rise up, it was unlikely that any other parts of England would be keener to support them
Yorkist Earl of Surrey: (2)
- Fought with Richard at the Battle of Bosworth
- Did not take the opportunity to escape from the Tower and join the rebels
Why did many landed elites support Henry? (2)
- Henry offered stability and order
- After several years of political instability, they were unwilling to risk their property and lives
Henry’s reaction to the Simnel rebellion: (2)
- Reacted swiftly
- Made sure he was well-placed in the middle of England to make a military strike
How did Henry’s quick defeat of the Simnel rebellion help his legitimacy as king?
Reinforced his position as the rightful King of England, anointed by God
When did Henry call the second Parliament of his reign?
November 1487
What did Henry call Parliament for in November 1487? (2)
- To pass 28 Acts of Attainder
- Members of the King’s Council were given additional authority by the Act of Parliament to deal with local disorder and the problem of over-powerful members of the nobility and gentry, using the court of Star Chamber
Acts of Attainder:
A method of using an Act of Parliament to declare someone was guilty without having to put them on trial; reversible for good behaviour
When did Perkin Warbeck emerge?
1491
Who did Perkin Warbeck claim to be?
Richard, Duke of York
Why was Warbeck’s claim to be Richard, Duke of York better than Simnel’s.
Henry had no way to disprove Warbeck’s claims as the Duke of York had completely disappeared in 1483
What foreign rulers did Warbeck gain support from? (4)
- Charles VIII, King of France
- Margaret of Burgundy
- Phillip of Burgundy
- Scottish king, James IV
Where did Warbeck first appear?
Cork
Reaction of Cork to Warbeck: (2)
- The people of Cork were enthusiastic
- The Earl of Kildare was reluctant to get involved directly
When Irish support failed to materialise, where did Warbeck and the Earl of Desmond go to next?
Charles VIII of France invited Warbeck to France in 1492
How was Warbeck treated in France?
As if he were a prince
Warbeck in Burgundy:
Accepted by Margaret of Burgundy and even went as far to ‘recognise; Warbeck as Richard, Duke of York, her nephew.
Henry’s reaction by 1494-95: (2)
- Agents from Burgundy trying to round up support for Warbeck were put on trial
- Sir William Stanley was executed
Sir William Stanley: (4)
- Henry’s step-uncle who had been responsible for helping Henry to victory at Bosworth
- Implicated in a plot against Henry
- Chamberlain of the King’s Household (had daily personal access to Henry)
- Conferred with Sir Robert Clifford to speak to Warbeck but Clifford was possibly a spy and informed Henry about Stanley
What happened to Stanley in January 1495?
Tried and convicted of treason and executed the following month
What occurred in July 1495?
Warbeck attempted a landing at Deal in Kent, with a small force of 300 soldiers.
How many soldiers did Warbeck bring to the landing at Deal in Kent?
300 soldiers
What did Warbeck do when he failed to get any local support in Deal in Kent?
Fled and moved to Scotland to James IV
What occurred on September 1496?
Warbeck tried to invade England with a small force of 1,400 men
How many men did Warbeck try to invade England with on September 1496?
1,400 men
North reaction to Warbeck:
Unable to gain much support and retreated back to Scotland
What was Henry forced to do in 1497?
Forced to raise taxation to fund an army to fight Warbeck
What had Henry’s increased taxation led to?
Provoked a rebellion in Cornwall in June 1497
How many rebels from Cornwall were protesting about the levels of taxation demanded to pay for a war which was to be fought at the other end of the country?
15,000
Where did the rebels from Cornwall choose to march?
London
How did the rebels from Cornwall affect Henry?
Forced to divert troops intended for the defence in North and met the rebels at Blackheath in Kent
Who won the confrontation in Blackheath in Kent?
Henry VII due to the poorly equipped rebels
How many rebels were killed during the confrontation in Blackheath in Kent?
About 1,000
Where did Warbeck flee to in July 1497 and why?
To Ireland as James IV no longer supported Warbeck
After Warbeck failed to gain support in Ireland once again where did he flee to in September 1497?
Cornwall bear Land’s End
What did Warbeck’s army shrink to with whom he had invaded from Scotland?
1,400 to 300 men
How many men did Warbeck attract from Cornwall?
Between 3,000 and 8,000 men
Who did Warbeck not get the support from?
Nobility and Gentry of the South West
Where was Warbeck finally captured?
Taunton
How was Warbeck treated after getting captured?
- Henry was prepared to treat Warbeck well as he saw him as the unfortunate puppet of more powerful men and women
- Warbeck was accepted at Henry’s Court and was not formally imprisoned
What did Warbeck attempt in June 1498?
Tried to escape and then put in the Tower
When was Warbeck hanged?
1499
Who was also executed in 1499?
Earl of Warwick for trying to plot with Warbeck in the Tower
Weakness of the Yorkist faction during the Warbeck rebellion:
Lacked a leader as John de la Pole was dead and the Earl of Warwick remained in the Tower
Henry’s dynasty:
Henry used his children to represent both Yorkist and Lancastrian claims and enhance the prestige of the Tudor dynasty.
What did Henry achieve in 1489 with Spain?
Treaty of Medina del Campo
Treaty of Medina del Campo:
- Spain nor England would support each other’s enemies
- Marriage alliance between Catherine of Aragon and Arthur
When did Arthur marry Catherine of Aragon?
1501
What did Henry establish in the early 1490s to combat Warbeck?
Established a network of spies who were able to keep Henry informed of Warbeck’s movements
Henry’s use of punishments and rewards:
- Edward Courtenay had been well-rewarded and was invaluable in defending Exeter
How many more men after Stanley were attained in Parliament of 1495?
24 men
Bonds and Recognisances:
A written agreement to guarantee good behaviour and were required to pay if they broke the law
Thomas Grey:
Forced to take out a series of recognisances for £1,00 and had to find friends to give recognisances for £10,000
Did Thomas Grey remain loyal?
Yes. Helped Henry to put down the 1497 risings in Cornwall
How many nobility families were put under some form of financial control between 1485 and 1509?
36 out of 62 noble families
How did Bonds and recognisances help maintain control?
Led to an atmosphere of paranoia and distrust, allowing Henry to exert control
in what aspect was the Simnel rebellion better than Warbeck’s rebellion?
Warbeck never managed to force Henry to fight in a pitched battle
