Henry VII was faced with many threats throughout his reign. The majority of them were at the start. Lambert Simnel posed the biggest threat to Henry VII, as did Perkin warbeck and Edmund de la Pole. Henry’s response to the crisis was a reflection of Henry’s seriousness in dealing with pretenders. Henry VII’s threats will be evaluated in detail. Lovell’s conspiracy was a total farce, but it laid the foundation for future pretenders and rebellions. Francis, Viscount Lovell along with Thomas Stafford and Humphrey Stafford were the main planners of this plot in 1486. Lovell was close to Richard III, an important member in his household. His motives remain unclear. However, we do believe that he wanted the Yorkists back on the throne. The plan called for seizing the King while he was traveling north through midlands and kidnapping and killing him.
Lovell and his brothers Stafford were devastated by the failure of their plan. Humphrey died after Humphrey’s execution. Lovell did not lose all hope, as he escaped to Margaret’s court in Burgundy. Margaret was a very helpful monarch to the Yorkists during Henry VIII’s reign, offering them money and shelter for many years. This conspiracy did not pose a serious threat to Henry VII. The conspiracy was poorly planned and executed. There are no signs of any support, either in England or from abroad. John de la Pole was the main leader of the plot, with Lambert Simnel acting as a front. Lambert Simnel would be dropped after they succeeded in overthrowing Henry. Richard Symonds, a Yorkist priest from Oxford who knew Simnel well, selected Simnel for the role of Earl Warwick. Simnel was supported by the Irish in Ireland after the conspirators went there.
The Earl Kildare, who was the most notorious of all, is a good example. Margaret of Burgundy who was Edward IV’s younger sister, welcomed Simnel and helped him to become a part of her court. Simnel and the Earls Lincoln were both in Burgundy. Henry was facing a very serious threat with the help of Ireland and Burgundy – a longtime English and French opponent. Simnel and Lincoln were crowned Edward VI on May 14, 1487. This was even though Edward’s whereabouts was well known. Margaret had sent them 2,000 Germans, a sign that Henry could not have handled this threat.
Lincoln and Lovell’s plot quickly advanced, and soon after the coronation they led their numerous and strong forces across to the Irish Sea. They had doubled their army size due to the Irish support. So, at the Battle of Stoke near Nottinghamshire on 14 June, they faced 4,000 men. Lincoln enjoyed huge support abroad from Ireland, Burgundy and also the North of England. The north had been largely loyal towards Richard III. In the end, they were not satisfied with the response. Henry had 12,000 soldiers and 8,000 rebels. They fought in a nearby field. Henry eventually won the battle. Viscount Lovell was killed immediately after, and the Earl Lincoln. Lambert Simnel was the main character in the plot. He lived in Henry’s Court and enjoyed a comfortable lifestyle in the King’s kitchens. Henry spent months traveling to places he didn’t think supported him. In return, he was given oaths for loyalty and punished the offenders.
The Lambert Simnel Plot was more serious than the Lovell Conspiracy for Henry. He was even very close to losing it. The plan, which was extremely well-prepared, shows that the Yorkists were able to learn from the Lovell sabotage. Lincoln had the support of Margaret de Burgundy in addition to Ireland. Margaret was a great help to Simnel. Margaret showed that she was a powerful force by giving money and military aid to the rebels. This threat, which was as serious as the Lovell plot and could have been a battle Henry VII would have lost easily, was a very serious one. Henry VII was shown to be a strong leader by his victory against the rebels. He also proved that he is a ruthless fighter who will deal with any rebellions or pretenders.
Perkin warbeck, born 1475 in Tournai to a Tournai Customs Officer was a young son who impersonated Edward IV’s younger son – a ‘Prince in the Tower.’ After he gained the interest of many Yorkists, it is believed that he took Richard to Ireland and impersonated him. Warbeck was unable to gain the support of Irish lords. The Earl of Kildare, who had pledged his loyalty Henry because he was involved in the Lambert Simnel case, refused to assist him. Warbeck went to France to be welcomed by King Charles VIII as a Prince in 1492 after his futile efforts to gain Irish support had failed. Charles used Warbeck’s presence as a bargaining tactic to secure the Treaty of Etaples. Henry had agreed to France taking control of Brittany while Charles expulsed Warbeck because of the terms of the treaty. Margaret of Burgundy again gets involved in plots and teaches Warbeck how to be a Yorkist. Warbeck is already a serious threat to Henry, as he has Burgundy’s support and the support of the foreigners.
Henry’s feeling that he had to act because he couldn’t get to Warbeck is another indication of how serious this threat was to Henry. One of the most notable was Sir William Stanley. He had played a major role in Henry’s victory at Bosworth. Henry sent a warning to other potential conspirators, saying that he would not tolerate them and deal with them harshly. Warbeck attempted landing at Deal in Kent, but his invasion plans failed. He flees into Ireland, enlisting the help of Desmond. But Sir Edward Poynings is driving him away with an English army that Henry has sent. Warbeck is now in Scotland with James IV. It’s 1495. James believes Warbeck to be who he claimed to be. James was clearly motivated by his hatred of Scotland’s biggest enemy. He may have used Warbeck as an excuse. James continues to try and invade England until summer 1497 but Henry’s forces are able to repel his invasion. James abandons his pretender. Warbeck tried to return home to the Netherlands, but the Magnus Intercursus prevented him from doing so.
Warbeck was captured but could not be tried for treason (as he was not English), Henry decided to treat him well until he put him in the tower for abusing this trust and finally, in 1499, Perkin Warbeck was beheaded because he attempted to escape the tower. Warbeck had been captured but was not tried for his treason due to him not being English. Henry then decided to treat Warbeck with kindness until he abused this trust. In 1499 Perkin Warbeck would be beheaded because he attempted to escape. Warbeck was given a great deal of support from other countries, including Burgundy and Scotland, which would have made Henry nervous.
Perkin Warbeck, with the conspiracy allegedly against Henry, seems more dangerous. Henry had to sacrifice a great deal to recover him. Perkin Warbeck did not reach the final battle of the throne as the Lovell Conspiracy and Lambert Simnel had. Lambert Simnel received a great deal of support from Ireland, Burgundy and other countries. I believe that this was the biggest threat to Henry VII. Henry might also have lost this battle, and thus the crown and his own life. Perkin warbeck may not have been successful in his military and invasion efforts, but he was protected and backed by Burgundy and Scotland, as well as Emperor Maximilian. It also showed Henry’s government, and even some of his closest friends, such as Sir William Stanley, that they could not be relied upon.
When I combine the three Yorkist threats, I think that Henry faced a serious threat from the Yorkists. Both England and the rest of the world had supported the plots and Henry almost lost his life and the throne in the Battle of Stoke.