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Question 1

Queen Margaret’s actions were largely responsible for the ruin of the yorkists in 1459

Answer 1

1.MARGARET - Promoted Lawrence Booth and John Talbot. Set up Prince’s council in Jan 1457. Marriages-Margaret Beaufort to Buckingham’s son and John Talbot to Catherine Stafford. Organised Loveday
2.YORKISTS - Opposition due to blood feuds eg. Henry Beaufort, Jasper Tudor. Warwick’s piracy increased and when brought to account he started a fight
3.MILITARY FAILS - Margaret’s forces intercepted Salisbury at Blore Heath. Yorkists rejected pardons at Ludford Bridge and fled (Y and Rutland to Ireland) Looked like traitors.

Question 2

The Yorkists were primarily motivated to regain their wealth and status in 1460

Answer 2

1.WEALTH - Francesco Coppini wrote to Henry outlining their injustices. First act of the oct 1460 parliament was annulling the 1459 Coventry parliament. CA: could just be taken again
2.DOMINANCE - Salisbury appointed King’s chamberlain. Warwick and sir John Wenlock were given positions in the kings household
3.THRONE - Showed loyalty to Henry not Edward and claimed her wasn’t his son - security

Question 3

How important was the earl of warick to the successsful return of Yorkists to dominance by oct 1460

Answer 3

1.WARWICK - Maintained loyalty of Calais garrison - victory at Newnham bridge in 1460. Persuaded Lord Audley and Lord Grey to defect to him. Arrange loan from staplers of Calais of £18000
2.HENRY’S GOV - Still corrupt. Alienation of London merchants lead to loss in trade. Sir Baldwin Fulford and Exeter sent to oppose W but failed
3.YORK - Control in Ireland - Drogheda and appointed Rutland as chancellor. CA: W took control of London and Captured H by the time Y got there

Question 4

Richard of York’s decision to formally claim the English throne was highly significant in expanding his death. Discuss

Answer 4

1. SIGNIFICANT - Fight with Warwick and Nevilles. Made Margaret an enemy as it disenherited her son, so she gathered large forces. York had been dominant for years (2 protectorates) but act of accord caused Margaret to actively work against him and lost him supporters.
2. INSIGNIFICANT - Margaret opposed York anyway. Underestimated the size of the lanc army (18000 vs 10000). He was foolish and left without reinforcements.

Question 5

The success of the Yorkists in 1460 and 1461 was more dur to their actions then Lancastrian mistakes. Discuss

Answer 5

1. AGREE - Act of Accord in Oct 1460. Loyal support form Nevilles. Warwick got loan form staplers of Calais of £18000 for invasion. Towton (29 march 1461) Fauconberg effectively used wind and arrows + Edward killed his horse to raise moral.
2. DISAGREE - Lancastians created regional polorisation. Long term curruption. Henry not present at battle of Towton and lanc forces were much larger but still lost. Alienation of london merchants + economic ressesion. Wouldnt of mattered who York was people just wanted rid of Lanc gov.

Question 6

The lancastrians were in a stronger position then the Yorkists after the second Battle of st Albans. Discuss

Answer 6

1. Stronger - Henry out of captivity. James 111 of Scotland in support of Lancastrians - marriage between Prince Edward and James’ sister. York killed at Wakefield ( 30 dec 1460). Noble support form Beauforts and Talbots.
   2.WEAKER - York’s heir became figurehead. Margaret’s alliance with Scots was unpopular as she agreed to give up Berwick. Yorkists had act of accord. Even after battle london refused entry to H and M as Edward was on his way. Less than a month after George Neville proclaimed Edward king (1 march 61)

Question 7

Luck was the key factor in the Yorkist victory at Towton in 1461. Discuss

Answer 7

1. LUCK - Weather gave an advantage as the wind and snow behind them made their arrows go further while lanc arrow failed. Fighting for 3 hours and outnumbered Yorkists had to retreat but Norfolk arrived out of view (not part of strategy) and swung battle.
   2.YOKISTS - Lord Fauconberg used advantages effectively eg. picked up land arrows and fired them back. When yorkists left flank came under attack Edward took over command and raised moral.
2. LANS FAILURES - Despite having a much larger army (30000 vs 25000) they were defeated. Major lancs killed eg. Henry Percy, Andrew Trollope, Lord Welles

Question 8

The reasons for armed conflict in England were fundamentally different in 1461 then they had been in 1455. Discuss

Answer 8

1.DIFFERENT - 1st battle of st Albans = somerset but 2nd = Margaret. York’s death at wakefield (30 dec 1460) meant conflict was no longer focussed on him. Act of Accord in violation turned it into a dynastic invasion. CA: only minor changes.
2. SAME - Henry still incompotent, blood feuds continued. Nevilles still main noble Yorkists. Mulitiple battles fought for possesion of Henry 1st (1455) and 2nd (1461) battles of st Albans and Northampton (1460). Still opposition to gov. Core issues the same since 1450.