2025 AQA AS HISTORY 7041/2B The Wars of the Roses, 1450–1499
Component 2B The Fall of the House of Lancaster, 1450–1471
Question paper and Marking scheme Merged
AS
HISTORY
The Wars of the Roses, 1450–1499
Component 2B The Fall of the House of Lancaster, 1450–1471
Monday 19 May 2025 Afternoon Time allowed: 1 hour 30 minutes
Materials
For this paper you must have:
• an AQA 16-page answer book.
Instructions
• Use black ink or black ball-point pen.
• Write the information required on the front of your answer book. The Paper Reference is
7041/2B.
• Answer two questions.
In Section A answer Question 01.
In Section B answer either Question 02 or Question 03.
Information
• The marks for questions are shown in brackets.
• The maximum mark for this paper is 50.
• You will be marked on your ability to:
– use good English
– organise information clearly
– use specialist vocabulary where appropriate.
Advice
• You are advised to spend about:
– 50 minutes on Section A
– 40 minutes on Section B.
, 2
Section A
Answer Question 01.
Source A
From an extract referring to 1469 in ‘English History’, by Polydore Vergil, written c1513.
Vergil was a respected humanist scholar and this book was commissioned by Henry VII.
At York there was an ancient hospital, which was very well funded, for the housing of
beggars, the poor, and for the healing of the sick. For piety’s sake the entire shire of York
gave an amount of grain and fruits annually, for the use of the poor.
At the urging of certain noblemen belonging to Warwick’s faction, the farmers refused,
claiming that these contributions were given to wealthy overseers rather than the poor. 5
The overseers resorted to arms. Thanks to these troubles and other rebellions inspired by
nobles of this sort, everywhere churches and homes were robbed, fields were wasted,
towns and cities were starved. Many evils befell the people, which were inevitably the
result of war’s savagery.
Source B
From an account of 1469–71 by Burgundian diplomat, Philippe de Commynes, writing in 1488–
94. Philippe corresponded with Warwick, met Edward IV in 1470, but never visited England.
Now in my opinion, out of all of the countries with which I was ever acquainted, nowhere
else was the government so well managed than it was in England. Nowhere else were the
people more against violence and oppression than in England. Nowhere were their
houses less liable to be destroyed and demolished by war than in England. For there,
disaster and misfortune fell only on those who made the war: the soldiers and the nobles. 5
England enjoyed this peculiar mercy above all other kingdoms. However, the people were
more than ordinarily envious of the nobles, regardless of the calamities that befell their
lords, for nothing is perfect in this world.
0 1 With reference to these sources and your understanding of the historical context, which
of these two sources is more valuable in explaining the impact of the Wars of the Roses
on English society in the years 1469 to 1471?
[25 marks]
IB/M/Jun25/7041/2B
Component 2B The Fall of the House of Lancaster, 1450–1471
Question paper and Marking scheme Merged
AS
HISTORY
The Wars of the Roses, 1450–1499
Component 2B The Fall of the House of Lancaster, 1450–1471
Monday 19 May 2025 Afternoon Time allowed: 1 hour 30 minutes
Materials
For this paper you must have:
• an AQA 16-page answer book.
Instructions
• Use black ink or black ball-point pen.
• Write the information required on the front of your answer book. The Paper Reference is
7041/2B.
• Answer two questions.
In Section A answer Question 01.
In Section B answer either Question 02 or Question 03.
Information
• The marks for questions are shown in brackets.
• The maximum mark for this paper is 50.
• You will be marked on your ability to:
– use good English
– organise information clearly
– use specialist vocabulary where appropriate.
Advice
• You are advised to spend about:
– 50 minutes on Section A
– 40 minutes on Section B.
, 2
Section A
Answer Question 01.
Source A
From an extract referring to 1469 in ‘English History’, by Polydore Vergil, written c1513.
Vergil was a respected humanist scholar and this book was commissioned by Henry VII.
At York there was an ancient hospital, which was very well funded, for the housing of
beggars, the poor, and for the healing of the sick. For piety’s sake the entire shire of York
gave an amount of grain and fruits annually, for the use of the poor.
At the urging of certain noblemen belonging to Warwick’s faction, the farmers refused,
claiming that these contributions were given to wealthy overseers rather than the poor. 5
The overseers resorted to arms. Thanks to these troubles and other rebellions inspired by
nobles of this sort, everywhere churches and homes were robbed, fields were wasted,
towns and cities were starved. Many evils befell the people, which were inevitably the
result of war’s savagery.
Source B
From an account of 1469–71 by Burgundian diplomat, Philippe de Commynes, writing in 1488–
94. Philippe corresponded with Warwick, met Edward IV in 1470, but never visited England.
Now in my opinion, out of all of the countries with which I was ever acquainted, nowhere
else was the government so well managed than it was in England. Nowhere else were the
people more against violence and oppression than in England. Nowhere were their
houses less liable to be destroyed and demolished by war than in England. For there,
disaster and misfortune fell only on those who made the war: the soldiers and the nobles. 5
England enjoyed this peculiar mercy above all other kingdoms. However, the people were
more than ordinarily envious of the nobles, regardless of the calamities that befell their
lords, for nothing is perfect in this world.
0 1 With reference to these sources and your understanding of the historical context, which
of these two sources is more valuable in explaining the impact of the Wars of the Roses
on English society in the years 1469 to 1471?
[25 marks]
IB/M/Jun25/7041/2B
