Lambert Simnel Rising

Question 1

Which rival of Henry’s was on the loose at this time and was implicated in the plots despite swearing loyalty?

Answer 1

John de la Pole

Question 2

What is the name of Henry’s main rival to the throne who was on the loose?

Answer 2

Francis Lovell

Question 3

Why did the Yorkists need to find a suitable figure head?

Answer 3

John de la Pole didn’t want to risk everything in an open rebellion so they needed someone who could be easily manipulated and used to focus opposition against Henry

Question 4

Who was Lambert Simnel?

Answer 4

He had no royal blood and was a a 10 year old imposter of the Earl of Warwick

Question 5

Why did they make an error by making Simnel impersonate the Earl of Warwick?

Answer 5

Because Henry was able to produce the real earl from the Tower of London and parade him through the streets

Question 6

What happened after Henry produced the real Earl of Warwick?

Answer 6

It did not stop the rebellion from gathering momentum, John de la Pole fled to Burgundy where he joined Francis Lovell

Question 7

How did Margaret of Burgundy help JDLP and FL?

Answer 7

She was the sister of Richard III so was a Yorkist and used her money and power to help Lovell and de la Pole raise troops

Question 8

What did Margaret’s help achieve?

Answer 8

The support of 2000 German mercenaries led by experienced General Martin Schwartz

Question 9

Why did the rebels sail for Ireland once they had the mercenaries?

Answer 9

It was a traditional Yorkist power base as Gerald Fitzgerald, the Earl of Kildare, was sympathetic to their aims

Question 10

What did the Irish and English Yorkists do to Simnel in Ireland?

Answer 10

They crowned him king of Dublin and launched an invasion of England

Question 11

What happened when rebles advanced to the North of England in 1487?

Answer 11

Henry Percy - Earl of Northumberland did nothing to stop the army and he had watched Bosworth from the sidelines

• Bear in mind, the North is traditionally the first line of defence against any form of rebellion or dissent towards the crown

Question 12

What led Henry to trust John de la Pole initially?

Answer 12

His lack of experience as a king despite rumours that he was involved in the plot - he was even at the council in Fb to discuss the threat of LS

Question 13

What stopped Henry from trusting JDLP?

Answer 13

He had been alerted to Pole’s involvement and was starting to raise troops to meet the potential challenge

Question 14

How did Henry show tactical awareness in a military sense?

Answer 14

• He ordered the coasts to be guarded (although rebels still managed to land)
• He sent his army Northward and Eastward
• Henry himself headed North to combat the Irish threat
• He met rebels at Stoke

Question 15

What is the battle of Stoke considered as?

Answer 15

The end of the Wars of the Roses - a one sided fight as the Irish forces lacked body armour

Question 16

What happened to Henry’s rivals?

Answer 16

John de la Pole and Martin Schwartz were killed, Francis Lovell disappeared, Simnel was captured

Question 17

Why was Henry lenient with Simnel?

Answer 17

Because he was a child - he was put to work in the kitchens and later became the king’s falconer

Question 18

In what year did the battle of Stoke take place?

Answer 18

1487

Question 19

How did the foreign support make it more risky?

Answer 19

They accelerated the rebellion and gave it more power as they were actually able to raise an army

Question 20

Why was the Irish support crucial for the rebels?

Answer 20

It would have been much harder for the rebels to sustain their challenge or to find a base from which to launch their rebellion

Question 21

Why is it significant that the rebels raised little support in the North?

Answer 21

Because the North was traditionally Yorkist, it shows how other regions wouldn’t have supported

Question 22

Why didn’t the Yorkist Earl of Surrey give the rebels support?

Answer 22

After years of political instability, he didn’t want to risk his property and life against the rebellion

Question 23

Why is it significant that Henry was prepared to lead an army himself?

Answer 23

Because he could react swiftly and make sure he was well placed in the middle of England to strike against the rebels

Question 24

What were the advantages of Henry’s victory?

Answer 24

It reinforced his status as being chosen by God and he removed 2 serious Yorkist threats - JDLP and FL

Question 25

How did Henry strengthen his position further after the rebellion?

Answer 25

He passed 28 acts of attainder

Question 26

Why did the fact that it led to a pitched battle make it more threatening?

Answer 26

Because if Henry lost, John de la Pole may have usurped him