WHAT WAS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF FOREIGN SUPPORT FOR THE PRETENDERS

Lambert Simnel

• Provided him with troops and base to launch invasion
• Supported him for political survival against opposition
• Many Irish nobility and gentry - English decendants, Anglo-Irish rules e.g. Fitzgerald Earls of Kildare - taken opportunity to increase hold on Irish govt.
• Fitzgeralds of Kildare = Lord Deputy
• Forced to accept oath of loyalty from Henry - allowed to remain deputy in Ireland

Perkin Warbeck

• Kildare watched from sidelines - removed from post
• Henry sent Sir Edward Poynings in 1494 - repel attack of Warbeck in Waterford in 1495
• Ordered arrest of Kildare on suspision of treason - imprisoned in England until 1496
• Poynings Law (1495) - no Irish parliaments could be summoned unless king gave consent, not allowed to pass any laws until approved by English ruler
• Able to persuade Irish parliament to pass an Act that put them under direct control of monarch
• Kildare reappointed deputy in August 1496 - Warbeck = no support in 1497

Anglo-Burgundian relationship

• Margaret, Duchess of Burgundy - sister of Edward IV and Richard III - heir = Philip (minor)
• Henry VII prepared to put dynastic security ahead of trade (Antwerp port = wool)

Role of Margaret of Burgundy

• Offered protection and support to Yorkist plotters
• Warbeck - used connection with Holy Roman Emperor recognised at rightful king in 1493, prepared to back him with an armed force in 1495
• 1493 - Philip took control of Burgundy - still support
• Henry enforced trade embargo - 1494 Philip but own embargo on English goods
• 1496 - signed Intercursus Magnus (agreed to lift trade embargo)
• Margaret continued to support Warbeck although banned

Relations deteriorated

• Scotland and France in 'Auid Alliance'
• Fate of Duchy of Brittany - ruled by series of dukes - French kings always claimed right to succeed throne
• 1487 - Duke of Brittany died, young daughter heirress - France invade, Henry forced to act
• 1489 - sent 3000 troops (agreed to send 6000) - by 1491 France controlled Brittany
• Tried to raise taxation in 1489 - revolt in Yorkshire

How Henry dealt with threat from France

• Launced invasion on France in Oct 1492 after arrival of Warbeck - marched into Boulongne - beseige
• Charles VIII agreed to negotiate - planning invasion on Italy
• Treaty of Etaples (1492) - restored English prestige - Charles agreed not to harbour Henry's enemies, Henry got annual 'pension', stopped potential threat
• 1494 - France entered Italian Wars

Relations deteriorated

• State of near civil-war from c1482
• James III determined to forge alliance with England - negotiated 3 year truce in 1486
• James IV 15yrs when he succeeded in 1488 - brought country under control by 1493 - renewed truce
• 1495 - welcomed Warbeck to Scotland - prepared to arrange marriage between him and cousin, Lady Catherine Gordon
• 1496 - Warbeck invaded England - short lived and unsuccessful
• Parliament agreed grant of taxation - used to fight Scots
• Tried to negotiate marriage alliance between James IV and Henry's daughter Margaret

Threat didn't continue after 1497

• James had grown tired of supporting Warbeck - left on 6th July 1497 on boat paid by him
• September 1497 - James and Henry agreed to 7 year Truce of Ayton
• Married Princess Margaret in 1503