The Outbreak of the Wars 1445-1450

• England in 1445

  • Church still pivotal in court and daily life (catholic)
  • Increasingly literate society
  • Fashionable courtiers
  • Feudal system is still in place
• Henry VI became king in 1422 at 9 months old. The minority government, a council of nobles, ruled England until Henry was 16 in 1437. The minority was fairly successful as no challenges were brought against the infant king's right to the throne, partly due to Henry V's legacy and the councils effective governing.
• What was one issue that having a minority caused?

  There were factional struggles in the minority which became more pronounced when Henry began his rule.
• What was the issue of Henry V's legacy?

  He brought peace and stability to England through strong rule and success on the battlefield in France. It was hard to live up to his reputation and this meant most people were loyal to Henry VI but his legacy was not all positive.
• What was the nobility like in 1445?

  • Some were resentful that they hadn't been rewarded offices and titles during Henry's minority and once he began to rule
  • The king relied on them to maintain law and order in localities and implementing the king's will in remote areas of the kingdom
  • Their power came from land
  • The nobles were expected to provide soldiers for the king , but it also meant that they kept their own retainers and thus had their own private armies which they could use to fight against one another
• What was government like in 1445?

  • 'Government' actually meant the personal rule of the king, if he was weak there would be problems
  • The king got advise from his council and the nobles considered they were his natural advisers, resenting being excluded from the council and not giving advise
  • Royal household- feed, clothe + entertain the king, were influential to his policies as they had access to him
  • Parliament- a royal institution to assist in implementing rather than making policy
  • He could dissolve, summon + prorogue P as he wished- typically summoned for when he needed money
• Henry VI's right to be king

  1. He was the 3rd Lancastrian king
  2. There was no rival male candidate from the Clarence line
  3. Henry V's victories over France show they had God's support
• Somerset's relationship to the king and right to be counsellor

  1. He was a Beaufort- the first Beaufort's were half brothers to the Lancastrian King Henry IV (e.g. the same father, John of Gaunt, and different mothers) which made them illegitimate half-cousins to the King
  2. Strong supporters of Lancastrian Kings for many years
  3. Edmund Beaufort wanted be an advisor due to their blood relationship
• York's relationship to the king and right to be counsellor

  1. Father was Earl of Cambridge who married Anne Mortimer, a descendent of the Duke of Clarence (Edward III's son) meaning he appears twice on the family tree.
  2. He was Henry VI's CLOSEST LEGITIMATE COUSIN and had royal blood which he expected would make him the best option for his advisor.
• York is next in line for the throne in 1450- he believes himself to be heir apparent when he is heir presumptive in reality. Some argue his claim to the throne is stronger than the King himself so naturally York expects to be the King’s closest adviser, at the very least. When the king has a son, he expects most prominence so when this is appointed to Somerset this is cause of animosity.
• How was Suffolk perceived- good or bad?

  1. Personification of the ‘evil counsel’. He corruptly takes advantage of Henry as a weak King. He favours his own men, wastes money on gifts of land and titles for himself and his supporters.
  2. He tried his best to govern as normal whilst working around Henry’s incompetence, he acted in the best interest of the country.
• Actions Suffolk took that can be criticised

  • He took the law into his own hands (e.g. when he protected William Tailboys from the prosecution of murder)- this was due to his faction being dominant which led to much injustice in the legal system.
  • Mismanaging Royal funds
  • Financial corruption and encouraging the French to wage war against England
  • Lack of success in France and losses of land- this meant nobility that had been looking for their youngest sons to get land and income from France could not
  • Loss in France humiliated nobility
• Actions Suffolk took that can be criticised

  • Unjust and unfaithful- he promised Parliament that there would be no secret deals in the truce of the marriage between Maragaret of Anjou and Henry but he had gone behind their backs. Maine and Anjou were lost, causing outrage.
  • Prevented Gloucester and York from advising the King
• Henry's use of finance

  • Household members took advantage of him as his reputation of being generous grew. He gave endowments to Eton and King’s college in 1440 and 1443. He gave Henry Halstede an annual grant purely for showing kindness to the King.
  • There was a huge financial strain due to war so he couldn’t afford to be so generous
  • Henry gets a large debt from his father
  • Parliament only granted taxes in emergencies and were reluctant to do so considering how hard they were finding it to obtain loans.
• Henry's use of finance

  • Henry managed by a ‘self-interested clique’- Lord’s did not want to serve or support this and they resented Suffolk and Somersets control of him
  • By 1450 the crown was running out of credit and debts were mounting
  • Soldiers were going unpaid
  • Corruption was becoming more common because the king was too weak to control his nobility
  • Cardinal Beaufort dies- the kings greatest backer
• Henry's use of patronage

  • Act of Resumption in 1450- Henry practically makes it useless with his exceptions
  • He didn’t try to strengthen his position, his grants were made out of personal generosity to those he liked such as giving Suffolk the cinque ports.
• Henry's use of patronage

  • He was not balanced with who he gave his patronage to and he gave too much (Suffolk’s faction dominates government which leads to a lack of justice).
  • Income from the Crown lands had drastically decreased due to his use of patronage to just 28,000 by 1448 (this was an important source of income in a society where it was becoming increasingly expected for the king to ‘live of his own’)
• Henry VI- what qualities made him such a weak king?

  • Poor king, pious, naïve, incompetent, no leadership skills
  • Cannot make decisions
  • Lacked willpower to govern
  • Created a hole in the centre of government
  • French ambassadors: ‘he did little more than stand about in a variety of opulent costumes’
  • Controlled by power hungry nobility
  • All his wealth went to nobility
• When England enters peacetime with France, what does Suffolk do?

  Suffolk breaks the truce with France in 1449, during peacetime their time isn’t used wisely and money goes into debts instead of preparation. Taxation during peacetime was used to pay off crown debt rather than build up resilience of the treasury.
• What does Henry allow the (previous) Somerset to do in France?

  He gives him funds to lead a campaign which uses up all their money and is a massive failure. 
• What was York's reaction to being replaced as Lieutenant General in France in 1447?

  He expected to be reappointed, having done a good job, and thus felt snubbed by the King
• How did York take to being reappointed to Lieutenant of Ireland?

  He saw this as a demotion as it was a general rule for English kings to leave the Irish alone. He felt side lined and pushed out of his rightful place at the heart of government.
• What were the consequences for Somerset being appointed as York's replacement as Lieutenant in France?

  When England suffered major losses in France York felt Somerset failed his job as Lieutenant, he blamed him for the loss of his land in Rouen, Normandy. He particularly despised Somerset for the dishonourable way he escaped France (surrendering Rouen and other fortresses to ensure a safe journey home). After this catastrophic failure Somerset isn't punished and the King ignores attempts to 'provide justice', building resentment between lots of the nobles alongside York against Somerset.
• What is York's issue with the repayment of loans after the losses in France?

  York is not repaid on his return from France, forcing him to sell his manors to make ends meet whilst he waited for the £38,000 he was owed. Somerset on the other hand is immediately repaid, in spite of his failure in losing French territory. To add to this he becomes the King’s chiefest adviser after Suffolk’s death and he goes unpunished for his actions in France, despite the loss of trade and damaging of honour this resulted in.
• What does York believe Somerset intends to do?

  As York is heir presumptive and whose position can be displaced by the birth of a son, he believes Somerset intends to disinherit him and his heirs for no reason and ruin him in the king's eyes.
• What happens in 1453?

  Capture of Bordeaux by France = loss of all territories except Calais
• What was the Treaty of Tours 1444?

  • A 21 month truce manufactured by Suffolk between England and France- pro war faction (Gloucester) was against it arguing it gave the French time to regroup which France does
  • Unpopular truce- as part of the treaty Henry married Margaret of Anjou and gave away Maine as part of a dowry to the French
  • The truce was renewed and held out until Suffolk broke it in 1449 by attacking and capturing the town of Fougeres and the French responded by taking Normandy
• Somerset was appointed Lieutenant of France in 1447 and doesn't go until when?


  1449
• What did Henry's poor choices in France lead to?

  It irritated many barons and nobles (especially those who had land and titles in rich resource areas such as Gascony) and drove them to sympathize with York.
• How did the losses in France impact on the lawlessness of England?

  The influx of many soldiers back into the country who were unemployed, fell into the retinues of lords and helped fuel the lawlessness of the inter-noble feuds and gave rival factions means for an all out civil war.
• Who's blamed for the losses in France?

  Suffolk and his faction
• As a consequence of the losses in France there were 5 political murders, who?

  1. Adam Moleyns, Bishop of Chichester- killed by unpaid soldiers and sailors (Jan 1450)
  2. Suffolk is charged with treason, exiled then murdered
  3.  Bishop of Salisbury killed by his own parishioners
  4.  Lord Say and Crowmer killed in Cade’s rebellion
• Impact of losses in France on England?

  • Resentment of military leaders who failed - Somerset loses prestige
  • Reduction of trade
  • Fear of French invasion -French Naval attacks on english Coast
  • Opposition to government grew (Somerset went unpunished much to many people's, including the nobles, discontent)
  • Lost income from French lands
• Who is most to blame for the losses in France?

  • Somerset: He delays his arrival as Lieutenant for 2 years and fails to keep the French lands; his incompetence and slowness to react to French attacks = loss of Normandy
  • Suffolk: ran the gov in peacetime, who did not use the time effectively, only using the money raised to pay off royal debts; He is the one to break the truce with France which leads to the loss of Normandy
• Who is most to blame for the losses in France?

  • Henry VI: doesn't use peace wisely, spending money on debts; allows first Somerset's failure of a campaign to waste all their men and money; appoints Somerset (2nd) as Lieutenant, underestimating York's skill; he refuses to give up the French claim to the throne, therefore they can only make a truce; soldiers go unpaid; crown lands are sold for campaigns; lack of organisation/planning
• What is significant about Cade's rebellion occurring in Kent?

  Suffolk’s death on a beach near Kent causes rumours to spread that the King wants to punish the people who he thinks are responsible for his death, as seen in the rebels first petition, ' Firstly, it is openly said that Kent will be destroyed by a royal army and turned into a wild forest because of the death of the Duke of Suffolk'
• Reasons for the rebels anger in Cade's rebellion?

  • Lack of law and order (eg selling general pardons, men of Suffolk’s affinity escaping justice- William Tailboys and Paston family)
  • Unstable economy and poor trade (loss of lands in France reduces trade and the English Navy is weak so the French control the channels which make it more difficult to trade in general, the raids on English shipping is costly)
  • Ordinary people have been negatively affected by the government (eg higher taxes, reduction in trade, purveyance)
  • France is lost- seen as weak, loss of prestige, influx of refugees
• Reasons for the rebels anger in Cade's Rebellion 1450?

  • Royal debt- £320000 with royal income down to £28000, the household cost has tripled since H6’s minority (£20000), causes a reliance on noble loans such as the Beuaforts who lend up to £200,000 in the Hundred’s wars.
  • Greed of nobility
• Henry VI’s mental illness occurs from August 1453-January 1455. He couldn’t speak, walk, eat or drink on his own. When he recovered he had no memory of the time during his illness. 
• What name did Jack Cade use?

  John Mortimer, York's family name