Wars of the Roses Sources

Question 1

Who was in the ‘evil counsel’?

Answer 1

Bishops of Salisbury and Chichester
Lord Say, the treasurer
Earl of Suffolk

Question 2

What were passed in 1450 and 1451 to reclaim land Henry had gifted out?

Answer 2

Acts of Resumption

Question 3

How did England break the truce in 1449?

Answer 3

Attacked fortress at Fougeres.

Question 4

Why did Henry face such financial difficulty?

Answer 4

-He inherited significant debt from his father.
-Income decreased from crown lands due to his generosity.
-Parliament was reluctant to grant taxes.
-Income from custom revenues had decreased.

Question 5

Which region of France did Somerset lose in cowardly circumstances?

Answer 5

Somerset surrendered Rouen in exchange for a safe passage home.

Question 6

What are reasons for animosity between York and Somerset?

Answer 6

i) York resented being replaced by Somerset as Lieutenant General in France
ii) York was made Lieutenant General in Ireland, considered to be a political exile.
iii) York blamed Somerset for key losses
iv) Somerset had his loans repaid more promptly
v) York felt he was being excluded from his rightful place as principal advisor to the King
vi) York lost assets as a result of Somerset’s actions

Question 7

Why was there resentment at French losses?

Answer 7

i) Fear of a French invasion, especially in Kent and Sussex
ii) Cost of financing war in France
iii) Many lost land in France

Question 8

Why did England lose their land in France?

Answer 8

i) More capable French King
ii) Loss of Burgundian alliance
iii) Financial weakness

Question 9

What was agreed at the Truce of Tours? (1444)

Answer 9

• marriage of Henry VI to Margaret of Anjou
• surrender of Anjou
• secret surrender of Maine

Question 10

What was the name that Jack Cade used?

Answer 10

John Mortimer, which was a Yorkist name

Question 11

What did Cade’s rebels want?

Answer 11

Political reform, the inclusion of the Duke of York near the top of government.

Question 12

Why did Cade’s rebellion fail?

Answer 12

The people of London were frustrated with the looting and pillaging, they took to the streets and drove the rebels out. The King had gone to seek refuge in Warwickshire.

Question 13

What were reasons why York returned to England in 1450?

Answer 13

i) To clear his name
ii) To get his loans repaid
iii) To protect his position as heir presumptive
iv) To remove Somerset
v) To bring justice and end corruption
vi) To take the throne?
The true motivation for York’s return were probably a combination of the above.

Question 14

Why did the 1452 Dartford Coup fail?

Answer 14

York had only the support of William Courtenay, Earl of Devon. There was a reluctance to rebel after Cade’s Rebellion.

Question 15

When was Henry’s mental illness?

Answer 15

August 1453 to January 1455

Question 16

What was the impact of Henry’s illness?

Answer 16

The Nevilles were unable to gain justice after a group were attacked by the Percys. As a result, they switched to support York. In March, the death of Cardinal Kemp meant that government could not function without a chancellor. Two days later, York was appointed to the Protectorate.

Question 17

What happened to Somerset under York’s First Protectorate?

Answer 17

Somerset was arrested upon allegations made by Norfolk, and sent to the Tower of London.

Question 18

Who were alternatives to York as protector in 1454?

Answer 18

Margaret of Anjou
Duke of Exeter

Question 19

How did York try to widen his base of support during his first protectorate?

Answer 19

He did not remove Lord Bonville from his position in Devon. This annoyed Courtenay so much that he fought for the King at the First Battle of St Albans.

Question 20

How did York favour his supporters during his first protectorate?

Answer 20

York favoured the Nevilles in their dispute with the Percys. The Earl of Salisbury was made chancellor. The treatment of Somerset undermined York’s claim to impartiality.

Question 21

What reforms did York introduce during his first protectorate?

Answer 21

• He limited the royal household expenditure to £5,193 in 1455 compared to the £24,000 it had been in 1450.
• Reformed the navy to protect merchant shipping in the Channel

Question 22

How did York deal with a rebellion from Exeter and the Percys?

Answer 22

York reacted with vigour and gathered an army. Exeter fled and the Percys were defeated at the Battle of Stamford Bridge (November 1454).

Question 23

What was the impact of Henry’s recovery in early 1455?

Answer 23

Somerset was released, York and the Nevilles left court. The two rival camps had been cemented by Henry’s recovery and his resumption of narrow government focused on Somerset and his supporters.

Question 24

Why was Warwick instrumental for the Yorkist victory at the First Battle of St Albans (1455)?

Answer 24

He showed himself capable of quick thinking, ordering an attack through the gardens and into the houses, which were then torn down to provide an entry point.

Question 25

Who was killed at the First Battle of St Albans?

Answer 25

Somerset, Northumberland, Lord Clifford.

Question 26

What was the impact of the First Battle of St Albans?

Answer 26

i) Development of vendettas for the sons of those who had died and a strengthening of the two rival camps
ii) Henry VI became ill again, it is possible that he was never again able to rule in his own right
iii) Margaret established her court in Coventry and was even more determined to defeat York and his allies
iv) York was made Henry’s chief advisor, and then became protector again, Warwick was made Captain of Calais.

Question 27

Why was York restored to the Protectorate in November 1455?

Answer 27

The deteriorating health of King Henry VI. He was also failing to deal with escalating violence between the Courtenay’s and Bonvilles in the South West.

Question 28

How did Margaret respond to York being Henry’s chief advisor? (1456)

Answer 28

She established a Lancastrian powerbase in Kenilworth, with those disillusioned with York. In August 1456, the King joined her. As a result, Margaret was able to place her own supporters in positions of authority over York’s men. Margaret starved Calais of funds, which meant Warwick had to resort to piracy to pay the garrison. The embarrassment of this persuaded Buckingham to join the Queen, giving her the noble support that she needed.

Question 29

What was the sequence of events of the Flight of the Yorkists (1459)?

Answer 29

1) Margaret summoned a Great Council to meet at Coventry in June 1459.
2) Those who did not attend were indicted.
3) Salisbury was intercepted but defeated the Lancastrians at Blore Heath, killing Lord Audley.
4) The Yorkists sent a letter justifying their actions
5) The two sides met at Ludford Bridge, the Yorkists were outnumbered three to one.
6) The Yorkist leaders were forced to flee into the night

Question 30

What was the Parliament of Devils?

Answer 30

After the Flight of the Yorkists, Margaret wanted to destroy York and his heirs. At the Parliament of Devils, Yorkist leaders were attainted and their heirs disinherited. This was viewed by moderate nobles as too extreme.

Question 31

What was the impact of the Parliament of Devils?

Answer 31

Margaret left the Yorkists with nothing to lose. At this point, it is likely that York first started to see himself as a possible King, rather than just chief advisor. Many of the moderate nobles switched to the Yorkist cause. The Parliament of Devils served to resuscitate the Yorkist cause.

Question 32

Why did the Yorkists win the Battle of Northampton (1460)?

Answer 32

Heavy rainfall meant that Lancastrian guns failed to fire. Lord Grey defected to the Yorkist side. Margaret and Prince Edward escaped to Wales but the Yorkists re-entered London taking Henry VI with them.

Question 33

What happened when York returned from Ireland (1460)?

Answer 33

He marched under a royal banner, placed his hand on the throne as a sign of possession. The Archbishop of Canterbury asked him if he wanted to see the King. He had overplayed his hand.

Question 34

What was the Act of Accord?

Answer 34

It stated that the royal line would switch to the Duke of York and his heirs after Henry VI died.

Question 35

When did the Duke of York die?

Answer 35

30 December 1460, at the Battle of Wakefield. While out hunting, York, Rutland and Salisbury were set upon by a much larger Lancastrian force led by Northumberland, Somerset and Clifford.

Question 36

When was the Battle of Mortimer’s Cross?

Answer 36

2 February 1461. The first independent victory for Edward IV which gave him prestige.

Question 37

What was the outcome of the Second Battle of St Albans (1461)?

Answer 37

Margaret’s army defeated Warwick’s. The King had been carelessly left behind and re-joined his wife and son.

Question 38

What was the significance of Margaret’s Northern Host?

Answer 38

The rumours of looting, pillaging and destruction meant that London was wary of letting Margaret’s army in. Instead, she sent her army to Dunstable, which was a tactical error, because this opened the way for Edward to arrive in London and be proclaimed King.