Topic 1: the government of Henry VII
& threats to his rule
Henry’s claim to the • The Wars of the Roses
throne • Margaret Beaufort
• Henry VII’s background
• The Battle of Bosworth
Opposition to Henry VII • Lovel
• Yorkist opposition
• Stafford and Suffolk
• the Pretenders
• Simnel and Warbeck
Relations with the • Rewards and punishments
nobility • Fines and bonds
• Acts of Attainer
• Maintaining control
Royal government Royal finances and their administration
• Opposition to taxation in Yorkshire and
Cornwall
• Administration
• Councils
• Local government and parliament
How did Henry attempt to secure his position?
dated his reign from 21st August 1485, the day before
Bosworth - any who fought against him = traitors and could
have their estates seized which would also add to the King’s
wealth
coronation - 30th October 1485 (before parliament met) so
that it could not be claimed that he was king only because of
parliament
Henry asked for PAPAL DISPENSATION to allow him to marry
Elizabeth of York, and unite the houses of Lancaster and York –
January 1486 (after Henry had been crowned king) so that it
could not be claimed that he owed his crown to his wife
Gave Yorkists a second chance - merciful and so gained
support
number of Yorkists alive who has equal/stronger claim
- most importantly Richard’s nephews: Edwards, Earl of
Warwick and John de la Pole, Earl of Lincoln
Warwick - Tower whilst Lincoln professed his loyalty and was
invited to join the KING’s COUNCIL
1
, Berenice Ings – The Early Tudors: 1485 - 1558
The Earl of Surrey was kept in prison until 1489 whereas the
Duke of Northumberland was released at the end of 1485 and
restored to his old position in control of the North
Due to the fact Henry spent 14 years in exile in France after
the Lancastrian defeat at Tewkesbury 1471 when he won the
Battle of Bosworth he was largely unknown of in England and
given his weak claim, his reign was unlikely to last
How serious was the Lovell conspiracy?
trouble in the Midlands, the north and Wales as Henry
embarked on a ROYAL PROGRESS to the north where Yorkist
support was strong
Rebellion in the Midlands and North involved Lord Lovell and
the Stafford Brothers (all of whom had been loyal supporters of
Richard) BUT the plan failed because Henry heard of the plot
and sent an armed force to offer the rebels a choice of pardon
and reconciliation or EXCOMMUNICATION and death
Rebels dispersed but Lovel fled to Flanders and the Staffords
sought sanctuary BUT the Staffords were arrested – Humphrey
was executed whilst Thomas was pardoned and remained loyal
In Wales the rebellion was led by Yorkist families of the
Herberts and Vaughans BUT the rebellion was put down by
Rhys ap Thomas (supported Henry at Bosworth)
NEITHER REBELLION PREVENTED THE ROYAL PROGRESS AND
VISIT TO NORTH = WON LOYALTY AND OBEDIENCE
the Yorkshire rebellion 1489
Resulted from attempts to raise money to aid Brittany – war v
France
Yorkshire particularly annoyed
o bad harvest in 1488
o other northern countries exempt from the tax -
expected to defend the norther border against
Scottish attacks
Despite complaints - refused to negotiate and when the Earl of
Northumberland tried to collect the tax he was murdered -
though some evidence suggest it was orchestrated by Yorkists
o The rebellion was led by Sir John Egremont - Yorkist
supporter and illegitimate member of the Percy family
The rising was easily crushed by the royal army BUT the
money was not collected – CLEAR SIGN ROYAL AUTHORITY
WAS WEAK and COULD BE CHALLENGED = Henry appointed
the Earl of Surrey as his representative in the north (had no
vested interest and was loyal because the restoration of his
own states depended upon his success in the region)
2
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