HVII - The Yorkshire Rebellion

Question 1

What was the root of the discontent in Yorkshire?

Answer 1

Henry made plans to aid Brittany in Breton Independence against France and, in 1489, Parliament voted £100,000 in tax to support Brittany. Only £27,000 was raised

Question 2

Why was the tax least welcome in Yorkshire? 4 reasons.

Answer 2

• There was a strong resentment towards a Lancastrian monarch, especially since a Yorkist one had been overthrown
• Yorkshire had been hit badly by a poor harvest in 1488
• Places further north, such as Northumberland, were exempt from this tax because they were exceptionally poor
• They felt they had nothing to do with this war as it was south and they were in the north

Question 3

Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland put the case of the people before the king. How did Henry react? What happened to Northumberland?

Answer 3

• Henry believed that if he did not assert his authority so early in his reign, he would be viewed as a weak leader and taken advantage of
• he also believed that the reason for the money being raised (supporting Brittany) would be one that would assist England in the future

• When the Earl returned to the north with the bad news, he was murdered by the people, who were angry

Question 4

What was the outcome of the Yorkshire Rebellion of 1489?

Answer 4

• John Egremont, who led the rebels, fled to Flanders after the Earl of Surrey easily put down their rising
• Henry travelled to the north and pardoned many of those involved in the rising
• The new Earl of Northumberland was a minor and so the Earl of Surrey was made lieutenant of that area
• Henry faced no more problems from the north, though he failed to collect the tax quota for the Brittany campaign