3 A* essays for Edexcel A-Level History- Rebellion and Disorder under the Tudors
1. How accurate is it to say that Henry survived the challenges from Lambert Simnel and
Perkin Warbeck because the Yorkist faction was weak and divided in the years 1485-99?
2. “Kett’s rebellion was not a serious threat.” How far do you agree?
3. “The causes of the revolt of the northern earls were primarily political.” How far do you
agree with this judgement?
, How accurate is it to say that Henry survived the challenges from Lambert Simnel and Perkin Warbeck
because the Yorkist faction was weak and divided in the years 1485-99?
Henry VII ascended to the English throne in 1485 after defeating Richard of York in battle however his
position was not secure as he suffered Yorkist challenges from both Simnel and Warbeck leading to a
serious threat to the throne. This was defeated by Henry through the weak and divided Yorkists, but also
the lack of support for the pretenders and Henrys effective response. In order to judge the extent to
which the weak and divided Yorkists were the main reason for Henry’s survival, the extent of the
threats, the influence of the factors on military campaigns and rebellions, and the influence on the
perception of Henry VII by the pubic must be considered. Although the Yorkist faction did not unite
enough to pose a significant threat to Henry, it was ultimately Henry’s effective and efficient responses
to the threats that aided his survival as this not only put down the threats from the pretenders, but also
helped to prevent further rebellions.
The position of the Yorkist faction being weak and divided was significant in aiding Henry’s survival due
to the lack of unified backing and militarily support that either pretender gained from the Yorkists.
However, this cannot be said to be overly important as many Yorkist supporters cared more about
having a stable leader due to the turmoil and instability that the Wars of the Roses brought for the
whole country. The Yorkist faction divided post the Battle of Bothworth where their main claim to the
throne, Richard the third, was defeated, along with many of his supports, and the disappearances of the
princes in the tower meant that they did not have a Yorkist claimant to the throne. Both Simnel and
Warbeck posed as heirs to the throne with greater legitimacy then that of Henry VII, Simnel posing as
the Earl of Warwick, and Warbeck as Richard Duke of York. This was a partial reason to why the Yorkist
faction was weak because it supported multiple pretenders and claimants that there was not a united
backing behind one. For example, John de la Pole and Lord Lovell supported Simnel and Sir William
Stanley supported Warbeck. Furthermore, with the invasion into England from Ireland by Simnel and his
army, the Earl of Northumberland did not challenge the threat showing there was not complete support
for Henry, however Simnel failed to raise support from those in the north due to the fragility of his claim
(the Earl of Warwick was known to be alive in the tower) and the allegiance of some northern nobles to
Henry VII. Simnel was subsequently defeated by Henrys army in the Battle of Stoke where, both John de
la Pole was killed, and Lord Lovell fled further decreasing the noble, military, and public Yorkist support
for the pretender allowing Henry to survive. The uprising from Warbeck demonstrates how irrespective
of the divided Yorkist faction, the tactics of the pretenders failed to win them enough support. Warbeck
initially tried to invade in Kent, meaning that there was no Yorkist support there, as this was
concentrated in the north and abroad. In his invasion from Scotland, it was clear that the Yorkists did
not want to support the pretender as the northern nobles failed to join the invasion, forcing Warbeck to
return to Scotland. It can be argued that the differences of allegiance to the pretenders, as well as the
impact of the Battle of Bothworth considering that many Yorkist supporters were killed did make the
faction weak and divided, however it is clear by the lack of attempted support for the pretenders in the
north that this factor was not overly significant as although they were weak, Yorkists did not want to
1. How accurate is it to say that Henry survived the challenges from Lambert Simnel and
Perkin Warbeck because the Yorkist faction was weak and divided in the years 1485-99?
2. “Kett’s rebellion was not a serious threat.” How far do you agree?
3. “The causes of the revolt of the northern earls were primarily political.” How far do you
agree with this judgement?
, How accurate is it to say that Henry survived the challenges from Lambert Simnel and Perkin Warbeck
because the Yorkist faction was weak and divided in the years 1485-99?
Henry VII ascended to the English throne in 1485 after defeating Richard of York in battle however his
position was not secure as he suffered Yorkist challenges from both Simnel and Warbeck leading to a
serious threat to the throne. This was defeated by Henry through the weak and divided Yorkists, but also
the lack of support for the pretenders and Henrys effective response. In order to judge the extent to
which the weak and divided Yorkists were the main reason for Henry’s survival, the extent of the
threats, the influence of the factors on military campaigns and rebellions, and the influence on the
perception of Henry VII by the pubic must be considered. Although the Yorkist faction did not unite
enough to pose a significant threat to Henry, it was ultimately Henry’s effective and efficient responses
to the threats that aided his survival as this not only put down the threats from the pretenders, but also
helped to prevent further rebellions.
The position of the Yorkist faction being weak and divided was significant in aiding Henry’s survival due
to the lack of unified backing and militarily support that either pretender gained from the Yorkists.
However, this cannot be said to be overly important as many Yorkist supporters cared more about
having a stable leader due to the turmoil and instability that the Wars of the Roses brought for the
whole country. The Yorkist faction divided post the Battle of Bothworth where their main claim to the
throne, Richard the third, was defeated, along with many of his supports, and the disappearances of the
princes in the tower meant that they did not have a Yorkist claimant to the throne. Both Simnel and
Warbeck posed as heirs to the throne with greater legitimacy then that of Henry VII, Simnel posing as
the Earl of Warwick, and Warbeck as Richard Duke of York. This was a partial reason to why the Yorkist
faction was weak because it supported multiple pretenders and claimants that there was not a united
backing behind one. For example, John de la Pole and Lord Lovell supported Simnel and Sir William
Stanley supported Warbeck. Furthermore, with the invasion into England from Ireland by Simnel and his
army, the Earl of Northumberland did not challenge the threat showing there was not complete support
for Henry, however Simnel failed to raise support from those in the north due to the fragility of his claim
(the Earl of Warwick was known to be alive in the tower) and the allegiance of some northern nobles to
Henry VII. Simnel was subsequently defeated by Henrys army in the Battle of Stoke where, both John de
la Pole was killed, and Lord Lovell fled further decreasing the noble, military, and public Yorkist support
for the pretender allowing Henry to survive. The uprising from Warbeck demonstrates how irrespective
of the divided Yorkist faction, the tactics of the pretenders failed to win them enough support. Warbeck
initially tried to invade in Kent, meaning that there was no Yorkist support there, as this was
concentrated in the north and abroad. In his invasion from Scotland, it was clear that the Yorkists did
not want to support the pretender as the northern nobles failed to join the invasion, forcing Warbeck to
return to Scotland. It can be argued that the differences of allegiance to the pretenders, as well as the
impact of the Battle of Bothworth considering that many Yorkist supporters were killed did make the
faction weak and divided, however it is clear by the lack of attempted support for the pretenders in the
north that this factor was not overly significant as although they were weak, Yorkists did not want to
