Why had relations between York and Somerset deteriorated? (1447-1453)

Question 1

What were the main reasons for deterioration of York-Somerset relations by 1453?

Answer 1

Loss of Normandy;
Dynastic Rivalry;
Financial Resentment;
York’s Political Opportunism

Question 2

Loss of Normandy

Answer 2

• Factionalism around France War: history of opposition between Gloucester + York vs Suffolk + Somerset + Cardinal Beaufort,
  important figures fell into factions (e.g. Talbot + Lord Hoo supported Somerset, and Oldhall + Sir Edward Murso + Sir Henry Retford backed York)
• York’s ties to Normandy: was Lieutenant of France until 1447 when he was replaced by Somerset,
  lost lots of personal lands and affinity’s lands in 1450 because of Somerset’s failures (e.g. Caen on 12 Jun 1450)

CA: Henry forced Somerset into France due to his own shortfalls, so is it really Somerset’s fault?

Question 3

Dynastic Rivalry

Answer 3

• York’s better Mortimer claim was threatening: Somerset and household sensitive to York since he was heir presumptive through Mortimer and York lines,
  Thomas Young MP sent to Tower of London from May 1451- April 1452 for proposing York as a formal heir presumptive,
  rumours of Yorkists trying to claim throne was threatening to Henry VI and Somerset (e.g. Ipswich Mar 1450, Young in May 1451, Dartford Coup and Shrewsbury Manifesto Feb-Mar 1452)
• Somerset looked to improve his worse Lancastrian claim to exclude York: from same line as Henry VI but barred from succession due to illegitimacy (from John of Gaunt + Catherine Swynford, his mistress),
  arranges his niece Margaret Beaufort to marry Suffolk’s son to create another Lancastrian heir (so if Henry doesn’t, York won’t be heir presumptive)
• Personal Rivalry: York’s father was executed by Lancastrians following the Southampton Plot of 1415, when they attempted to replace the Lancastrians with the Mortimer line. He never forgave the Lancastrians

CA: joint-trustee land in Essex in 1447 suggests even just a working relationship

Question 4

Financial Resentment

Answer 4

• York was in large debt: owed $1000/yr by Exchequer, but was rarely paid,
  lent £38,000 for defence of France in 1440s and repayment was slow
• Somerset was dependent on wage: owed £2,000/yr by Exchequer due to positions (e.g. Cpt. of Calais),
  only earned £300/yr from land so was reliant on wage

Shortages in Exchequer meant royal favour determined who gets paid their wage, so Somerset often received wage when York did not

CA: York was very rich in land, didn’t need to be jealous

Question 5

York’s Political Opportunism

Answer 5

• Is York really a hated outsider?: negotiated his eldest son to marry a French princess so can’t complain about Margaret,
  involved in negotiations of surrender of Maine so can’t argue it was wrong,
  present at the arrest of Gloucester and territorially benefitted from his death so can’t complain about rivalry,
  in 1445 married his daughter Anne to Duke of Exeter who was an apparent rival so can’t show himself as a political outsider,
  was not “exiled” to Ireland and had a choice to appoint a deputy instead (and was descended from Lionel of Clarence so it was a natural appointment),
  joint trusteeship of land with Somerset in Essex in 1447

CA: for reform, York must separate himself from the “wrongs” of the current government, so is a natural step in attempted reform