ACTUAL 2025 AQA A-LEVEL HISTORY Component 2A Royal Authority and the Angevin
Kings, 1154–1216
Question Paper & Mark Scheme (Merged) Friday 6 June 2025 [VERIFIED]
IB/G/Jun25/G4002/E2 7042/2A
, 2
Section A
Answer Question 01.
Source A
From an official Exchequer document dictated by King John in council in 1210.
William de Briouze had been a close associate of John until his flight to France in 1210.
Let it be known to all of you, what was the reason that led William de Briouze to flee
from my realm. Be aware that William owed me huge debts, because of territory which I
released to him in Ireland. He failed to pay me anything he owed over the next five
years. It was thus decided that, according to the custom and law of England, he should
have his possessions seized and that I should recover my money. After pursuing William 5
in Ireland and capturing his wife Matilda, William agreed to pay a fine of 50 000 marks.
Since he willingly agreed, and had to go and raise the money, I allowed him freedom and
an escort at his request. But when the final day of the first payment approached,
William gave his escort the slip and secretly fled from my land. He paid me nothing of
my money. Matilda also told me curtly that she would pay me nothing and had no
10
money to pay towards the fine.
Source B
From the anonymous contemporary Crowland Chronicle. The Abbot of Crowland Monastery
was the brother of William Longchamp, but John had ruled in the Abbot’s favour in a recent
legal dispute.
In 1212 the Welsh princes, encouraged by the Pope, attacked the English king in return for the
Interdict being relaxed throughout their lands. John, stirred to violent anger, hanged the
hostages and gathered an army against them. Then John’s heart was troubled, since he had
heard rumours that his barons were conspiring against him.
There were tales of letters absolving the barons from John’s allegiance and it was said 5
that another king should be elected. Thus, John returned from Wales and would go nowhere
unarmed or without a bodyguard. He took captive some who seemed to be too intimate with
the rebels and quickly seized castles. Then the nobles of the country left England secretly.
Eustace de Vesci went to Scotland and Robert FitzWalter departed to
France. Even amidst such adversity John set in motion a great deed. He saw the misery 10
of those afflicted by the Forest Laws and forced his officials to swear to collect only the amounts
they had collected in Henry II’s reign.
IB/G/Jun25/7042/2A
, 3
Source C
From Clause 61 of Magna Carta, drafted after the outbreak of hostilities between John
and his barons. The charter was based upon the demands and grievances of the
barons.
Source C cannot be reproduced here due to third-party copyright restrictions
Source C suggests that the reason for discord has been due to arguments
between the King and the barons.
0 1 With reference to these sources and your understanding of the historical context, assess
the value of these three sources to an historian studying the relationship between
King John and his barons.
[30 marks]
Turn over for Section B
IB/G/Jun25/7042/2A Turn over ►
Kings, 1154–1216
Question Paper & Mark Scheme (Merged) Friday 6 June 2025 [VERIFIED]
IB/G/Jun25/G4002/E2 7042/2A
, 2
Section A
Answer Question 01.
Source A
From an official Exchequer document dictated by King John in council in 1210.
William de Briouze had been a close associate of John until his flight to France in 1210.
Let it be known to all of you, what was the reason that led William de Briouze to flee
from my realm. Be aware that William owed me huge debts, because of territory which I
released to him in Ireland. He failed to pay me anything he owed over the next five
years. It was thus decided that, according to the custom and law of England, he should
have his possessions seized and that I should recover my money. After pursuing William 5
in Ireland and capturing his wife Matilda, William agreed to pay a fine of 50 000 marks.
Since he willingly agreed, and had to go and raise the money, I allowed him freedom and
an escort at his request. But when the final day of the first payment approached,
William gave his escort the slip and secretly fled from my land. He paid me nothing of
my money. Matilda also told me curtly that she would pay me nothing and had no
10
money to pay towards the fine.
Source B
From the anonymous contemporary Crowland Chronicle. The Abbot of Crowland Monastery
was the brother of William Longchamp, but John had ruled in the Abbot’s favour in a recent
legal dispute.
In 1212 the Welsh princes, encouraged by the Pope, attacked the English king in return for the
Interdict being relaxed throughout their lands. John, stirred to violent anger, hanged the
hostages and gathered an army against them. Then John’s heart was troubled, since he had
heard rumours that his barons were conspiring against him.
There were tales of letters absolving the barons from John’s allegiance and it was said 5
that another king should be elected. Thus, John returned from Wales and would go nowhere
unarmed or without a bodyguard. He took captive some who seemed to be too intimate with
the rebels and quickly seized castles. Then the nobles of the country left England secretly.
Eustace de Vesci went to Scotland and Robert FitzWalter departed to
France. Even amidst such adversity John set in motion a great deed. He saw the misery 10
of those afflicted by the Forest Laws and forced his officials to swear to collect only the amounts
they had collected in Henry II’s reign.
IB/G/Jun25/7042/2A
, 3
Source C
From Clause 61 of Magna Carta, drafted after the outbreak of hostilities between John
and his barons. The charter was based upon the demands and grievances of the
barons.
Source C cannot be reproduced here due to third-party copyright restrictions
Source C suggests that the reason for discord has been due to arguments
between the King and the barons.
0 1 With reference to these sources and your understanding of the historical context, assess
the value of these three sources to an historian studying the relationship between
King John and his barons.
[30 marks]
Turn over for Section B
IB/G/Jun25/7042/2A Turn over ►
