AS History Richard III, Henry VII and Henry VIII

Foreign Policy:

Scotland:

• Relations poor when R3 became king
• Auld Alliance between France + Scotland
• James III of Scotland wanted peace with England (he had problems with his own nobility)
• R3 didn't want peace but wasnt very strong so made 3 year truce in 1484
  

France:

• Relations poor when R3 became king
• 100 yrs war is not forgotten
• English kings claim to be kings of France
• French Kings supported Lancastrians
• France Sheltered Henry VII and gave military support

Brittany:

• H7 spent childhood exile there
• Duke Francis old and ill
• R3 sent help to him against France
• H7 expelled but went to France
  

• Edward V was a minor
• Actions after Ed IV death increased tensions E.g Richard of Gloucester (Richard III) seized Ed
  

Rival Factions:

• Woodvilles were strong
• Clashed with Richard
• Conflicting instructions left by Ed IV
  

• Feudal Dues
• Customs Due
• Acts of Attainder
• Profits of Justice
• Crown Lands
  
• Benefitted from Ed IV's Acts of Resumption
• Both Ed IV and R3 gave close personal attention to accounts
  

Parliament:(only called once by R3)

• Lords and Commons
• Not Democratic
• Reasons for parliament include; Confirmation as King, Acts of Attainder and to pass various laws)

Personal System of Government:

• R3 signed/sealed lots of documents - Hard working Monarch

Created Council of the North

Continuity of Personnel:

• Only removed those who opposed him or supported the woodvilles

Continues much of what Ed IV did

Royal Council:

• Chosen because of Wealth/Rank
  

In Favour of Richard III

• Quote from mancini: 'Always aiming for the throne'
• Henry VII's act of attainder against Richard III 'in shedding of infants blood'
• Quote from Thomas More: 'order was given by Richard'
• Murders had to have come from Royal Blood as the princes were inside the tower

Against Richard III:

• Thomas More could not have been anti-Tudor at the time of his quote (had to say it was Richard)
• Elizabeth Woodville would never have surrendered her daughters to Richards keeping later if he had murdered her sons
• The rumours were the result of Tudor propoganda
• He had the throne and the princes were declared illigitimate so there was no point in him killing them

In Favour of Henry VII killing them:

• Account by Thomas More: Tyrell confessed to killing the princes however this was never published by Henry VII
• He forfieted all of Elizabeth Woodvilles possesions and had her sent to a nunnery (possibly she found out he had murdered them)
• Murders had to come from Royal Blood
• Issued two pardons on Tyrell

Against Henry VII killing the Princes:

• Robert Ricart, 1483 : "the two sons of King Edward were put to silence in the Tower of London" Therefore must have been Richard III or Duke of Buckingham
• He was in France during their disappearance
• If Henry killed them it must have been done during his reign