Why were the Yorkists attainted? (-1459)

Question 1

What were the main reasons for the attainder of Yorkists in 1459?

Answer 1

Yorkist Actions in the 1450s;
Military and Political Failures of Yorkists in 1459;
Margaret’s Dominance of Government

Question 2

Yorkist Actions in the 1450s

Answer 2

• Disorder by supporters: accused of involvement in Oldhall’s Ipswich Rebellion in March 1450 and Cade’s Rebellion in May-July 1450,
  marched on the King in November 1450,
  MP Thomas Young attempted to accept York as heir presumptive in 1451,
  Dartford Coup of 1452,
  Warwick’s piracy of 1458
• First St. Albans 1455: created blood feuds by killing Northumberland, Somerset and Clifford,
  broke St. Paul’s Cathedral oath of 1452 and injured Henry VI
• Protectorates: made enemies of Courtenays (dealt with feud), Percies (bias to Nevilles) and Exeter in First Protectorate,
  made enemy of Jasper Tudor (attack on Edmund) in Second,
  alienated nobility with failed resumption

CA: still invited to lead successful First Protectorate, and a parliament in 1455 blamed Somerset for St. Albans and pardoned Yorkists

Question 3

Military and Political Failures of Yorkists in 1459

Answer 3

• Politically outmaneuvered in 1459: excluded from Great Council in June 1459,
  Yorkists inevitably raised arms to complain (planned by Margaret? shows Yorkists as violent and treasonous),
  at Blore Heath Salisbury’s forces kill Audley (treason again?)
• Ludford Bridge: rejected Henry’s pardon lost some support within,
  Yorkists fire on royal standard which is high treason,
  Andrew Trollope & Calais garrison switch sides so no military chance for Yorkists,
  fleeing overnight confirms they felt guilty/in the wrong

CA: did Margaret plan for this to happen? Also pardon was probably not trusted after Dartford 1452

Question 4

Margaret’s Dominance of Government

Answer 4

• Scheming Margaret: did Margaret purposely not invite Yorkists to Coventry in June 1459 to cause reaction?,
  summoned her royal army in Leicester in May 1459 (before)
• Was she going to do it anyway?: removed Bourchiers and replaced by Booth + Shrewsbury to make attainder possible to pass,
  blamed Yorkists for St. Albans at Loveday in Mar 1458

CA: as a woman, she did not hold all this power without the support of the King or other male support