The Yorkshire Rebellion

Aims

• To understand what caused the Yorkshire rebellion

• To examine the attitudes of those involved

• To consider how threatening this rebellion was compared to those of the pretenders.

Causes

• In 1489 Henry decided to assist Brittany in its efforts to maintain it’s independence from France.

• The reason for this was that if successful Brittany would owe England for the continuation of it’s independence and would therefore be England’s ally and would act as a foothold in France.

• In 1489 Parliament voted that Henry could spend £100,000 on his quest to support Brittany.

• However, this had to be raised through taxation.

• This tax was like an early form of income tax and unlike previous taxes could only be paid using cash.

So why did this spark rebellion in Yorkshire?

• Yorkist regime had only just been overthrown• Yorkshire had been badly hit by a poor harvest

and this tax was the final straw for many who were already struggling.

• Other northern counties were exempted from the tax because they were expected to finance the defence against the Scots…..Yorkshire did not see why they were different.

What are the attitudes of these three groups involved in this rebellion?

Henry VII

Henry Percy

The Yorkshire Folk

So what happened I hear you cry?!I must not

appear weak

This money is necessary to insure us for the future!

I support the tax

My county is about to

rebel

I must maintain a

positive relationship with Henry

We need help after

poor harvests

Why should we pay

when other counties

don’t!

Where’s Brittany dear?

Henry is a murderer

and a usurper

So what actually happened….• Henry Percy returned to Yorkshire with nothing and

was rewarded by being murdered most probably by the leader of the rebels Sir John Egremont.

• A rebel force was amassed but was defeated by a royal army outside York.

• The Earl of Surrey was sent to Yorkshire and put down the rebellion. Egremont fled to Flanders.

• The Earl of Surrey stayed in the North to act as lieutenant following Percy’s death as he left behind only a minor.

• Henry travelled North and gave out some pardons and although he face no further issues he failed to collect the full tax.

Henry VII

• Lambert Simnel• Perkin Warbeck• Yorkshire rebellion• Cornish rebellion

• To what extent did these rebellions threaten authority?