OCR A Level History A Y104/01 England 1377–1455 June 2025 Combined
QUESTION PAPER and MARK SCHEME
Oxford Cambridge and RSA
Friday 6 June 2025 – Afternoon
A Level History A
Y104/01 England 1377–1455
Time allowed: 1 hour 30 minutes
You must have:
• the OCR 12-page Answer Booklet
INSTRUCTIONS
• Use black ink.
• Write your answer to each question in the Answer Booklet. The question numbers must
be clearly shown.
• Fill in the boxes on the front of the Answer Booklet.
• Answer Question 1 in Section A. Answer either Question 2 or Question 3 in Section B.
INFORMATION
• The total mark for this paper is 50.
• The marks for each question are shown in brackets [ ].
• Quality of extended response will be assessed in questions marked with an asterisk (*).
• This document has 4 pages.
ADVICE
• Read each question carefully before you start your answer.
, © OCR 2025 [F/506/4252] OCR is an exempt Charity
DC (WW) 359017 Turn over
*139 8 7 097 54 *
, 2
Section A
Richard II 1377–1399
Study the four sources and answer Question 1.
1 ‘The influence of de la Pole and de Vere was the main reason for the problems Richard II faced
during the period from 1385 to 1387.’
Use the four sources in their historical context to assess how far they support this view. [30]
Source A: The Lords offer the king their advice.
That it please the king that his position regarding the revenues and charges on his exchequer
should be reviewed and examined by certain lords with the intention of making good arrangements
about how and by what means his position can be upheld and what provision shall be taken for his
household.
That it please the king to attract to himself good and honourable men of standing and to associate
with them and avoid the company of others because in doing so he will attract to himself the hearts
and loves of his people. In doing the contrary he will create great peril for himself and his realm.
Lords’ advice about the government of the realm c.1385
Source B: A fragment of a lost chronicle outlines views about de Vere.
Many of the more experienced nobility and senior gentry represented to the king that the new glory
of Robert de Vere, created marquess of Dublin and duke of Ireland, reflected very badly on the
reputation of the English and Irish nations, in that they were so abused and oppressed by a fellow
subject. But king Richard sent them away without thanks, his nature being against any wholesome
advice. He did not fail to acquaint the duke of Ireland not only with the advice, but also the name of
the adviser which he had childishly discovered. De Vere’s ambition had grown to such heights that
even moderate persons, and more so the haughty, thought it high time to reduce him in size.
Chronicle, 1386
Source C: A Chronicler describes the situation in the autumn of 1386.
At the time of the parliament the king lingered at Eltham. So the nobles and the commons came
and told the king that he ought to remove the chancellor [Michael de la Pole] from his position.
This angered the king; he ordered them to keep quiet about these matters and to proceed with the
parliament’s business, saying he would not remove the lowest kitchen boy from his post to please
them. The chancellor had asked the commons for four fifteenths, payable in a year, and the same
number of tenths from the clergy, saying that the king was so much in debt and encumbered by
the burdens of war and his household that he could not otherwise be relieved. But the lords and
commons said that they absolutely did not wish to discuss even the smallest matter until the king
showed himself in parliament.
Knighton’s Chronicle, 1337–1396
© OCR 2025 Y104/01 Jun25
QUESTION PAPER and MARK SCHEME
Oxford Cambridge and RSA
Friday 6 June 2025 – Afternoon
A Level History A
Y104/01 England 1377–1455
Time allowed: 1 hour 30 minutes
You must have:
• the OCR 12-page Answer Booklet
INSTRUCTIONS
• Use black ink.
• Write your answer to each question in the Answer Booklet. The question numbers must
be clearly shown.
• Fill in the boxes on the front of the Answer Booklet.
• Answer Question 1 in Section A. Answer either Question 2 or Question 3 in Section B.
INFORMATION
• The total mark for this paper is 50.
• The marks for each question are shown in brackets [ ].
• Quality of extended response will be assessed in questions marked with an asterisk (*).
• This document has 4 pages.
ADVICE
• Read each question carefully before you start your answer.
, © OCR 2025 [F/506/4252] OCR is an exempt Charity
DC (WW) 359017 Turn over
*139 8 7 097 54 *
, 2
Section A
Richard II 1377–1399
Study the four sources and answer Question 1.
1 ‘The influence of de la Pole and de Vere was the main reason for the problems Richard II faced
during the period from 1385 to 1387.’
Use the four sources in their historical context to assess how far they support this view. [30]
Source A: The Lords offer the king their advice.
That it please the king that his position regarding the revenues and charges on his exchequer
should be reviewed and examined by certain lords with the intention of making good arrangements
about how and by what means his position can be upheld and what provision shall be taken for his
household.
That it please the king to attract to himself good and honourable men of standing and to associate
with them and avoid the company of others because in doing so he will attract to himself the hearts
and loves of his people. In doing the contrary he will create great peril for himself and his realm.
Lords’ advice about the government of the realm c.1385
Source B: A fragment of a lost chronicle outlines views about de Vere.
Many of the more experienced nobility and senior gentry represented to the king that the new glory
of Robert de Vere, created marquess of Dublin and duke of Ireland, reflected very badly on the
reputation of the English and Irish nations, in that they were so abused and oppressed by a fellow
subject. But king Richard sent them away without thanks, his nature being against any wholesome
advice. He did not fail to acquaint the duke of Ireland not only with the advice, but also the name of
the adviser which he had childishly discovered. De Vere’s ambition had grown to such heights that
even moderate persons, and more so the haughty, thought it high time to reduce him in size.
Chronicle, 1386
Source C: A Chronicler describes the situation in the autumn of 1386.
At the time of the parliament the king lingered at Eltham. So the nobles and the commons came
and told the king that he ought to remove the chancellor [Michael de la Pole] from his position.
This angered the king; he ordered them to keep quiet about these matters and to proceed with the
parliament’s business, saying he would not remove the lowest kitchen boy from his post to please
them. The chancellor had asked the commons for four fifteenths, payable in a year, and the same
number of tenths from the clergy, saying that the king was so much in debt and encumbered by
the burdens of war and his household that he could not otherwise be relieved. But the lords and
commons said that they absolutely did not wish to discuss even the smallest matter until the king
showed himself in parliament.
Knighton’s Chronicle, 1337–1396
© OCR 2025 Y104/01 Jun25
