Tudor Essay Plans

Henry VII
Topic 1:
‘In the years 1485 to 1499 the most serious threat to the security
of Henry VII was Perkin Warbeck.’ Explain why you agree or disagree
with this view?

- Through link-domestic support from nobles and foreign support-

When a threat is backed by powerful nobles and foreign rulers it is a
challenge to henrys position.

Compare- long term short term

1. Lambert Simnel Rebellion 1487- most serious threat

Received support from Margaret of burgundy, who agreed to
send 2,000 mercenaries to England, and was crowned king
Edward VI in Ireland
Led to the battle of stoke field- in which henry was not confident
he would win, and simnel managed to raise around 8,000 Yorkist
troops
Was also supported by earl of Lincoln- john de la pole
Was only 2 years after the battle of Bosworth- henry’s position
was still fragile and the loyalty of nobles was uncertain
Had simnel won at stoke field- henry would have lost the throne
Simnel had domestic support from john de la pole as well as
foreign support from Margaret of burgundy- who was able to send
2,000 mercenaries

2. Perkin Warbeck 1491-99- second

Claimed to be Richard Duke of York- one of the princes in the
tower. This would give him a credible identity, and this led to
many Yorkists supporting him- the people would feel they owed
him allegiance rather than henry if he was Richard of York, as he
would then have a much stronger claim to the throne.
Showed that foreign rulers saw henry as a weak leader
Was supported by Charles VIII of France in 1492, Margaret of
burgundy in 1493, Maximillian, the holy roman emperor, and
James IV of Scotland, who allowed Perkin Warbeck to marry his
cousin jane of gout and supported a failed invasion of England in
1496
Lasted 8 years- a long diplomatic and political issue for henry.
Even landed in Cornwall during the 1497 rebellion and led to
many attempted invasions, however, ultimately was executed.
Although it lasted longer and had foreign support- he never
gained widespread domestic support which was crucial, and his
invasions were poorly executed
 By 1495 henrys position had become more secure so was less
fragile than it had been when the lambert simnel rebellion
happened. He had financial control through bonds and
recognisances.
Henry acted decisively and withstander the pretender well
despite his foreign help, and despite it coinciding with the tax
rebellions.
Domestically, Warbeck, sir William Stanley (a traitor in Henry’s
government) and the earl of Warwick had been eliminated by
1497.
Perkin Warbeck gained foreign support from France, burgundy,
holy roman empire, and Scotland however failed to gain any
domestic support from nobles and so didn’t pose a threat within
England- more of a SYMBOLIC threat (of henrys fragility and
foreign rulers lack of confidence in him)

3. Yorkshire and Cornish Tax rebellions (1489 and 1497) – least

threat
Uprisings against taxation to fund foreign campaigns in Brittany
and Scotland
The Cornish rebellion reached Blackheath with 15,000 men
showing henrys unpopularity and the weakness of royal
enforcements. The economic fragility of henrys rule was also
shown through the excessive taxations. However, there was no
dynastic motive, it was aimed at henrys policy in taxation, rather
than an attempt to overrule him – was not an attack on his
kingship
Lacked noble or foreign backing
His throne wasn’t threatened by it, and henry defeated both
uprisings
Cornish and Yorkshire rebellion gained no domestic support from
nobles or foreign support – large scale unrest amongst ordinary
people but no real threat
‘In the first twenty years of the sixteenth century, there was
widespread criticism of the church in England’ explain why you
agree or disagree with this view

Through link- only the elite and intellectuals were criticising the
church- it was not widespread or universal at all- commoners simply
followed religion.
Disagree- ultimately criticism was not widespread, though it did
certainly exist.

Agree para 1- criticism of corrupt practises – corruption in the church

Evidence
- Richard Hume case 1514 – canon law, anti-clericalism
- Pluralism, simony, absenteeism- all Wolsey
- Indulgences- sold as a way to make money rather than promote
faith
- Clergy was able to carry out justice in secular courts- leniency.
- church wealth controlled 1/3 of England’s land – church was
powerful
- Humanist influence was spreading
- John Colet- humanist and reformer St Pauls school, Magdalen college
oxford, William’s lily as head- a humanist. Humanist curriculum in
universities. drew attention to corrupt practises
- Humanists did not want to end Catholicism by any means just root
out corrupt practises
- Erasmus- professorship at Cambridge 1509-14, felt that Christianity
should emphasise education and power of mankind. Rejected
traditional ceremonies
- Utopia by Thomas more- enclosure criticism / social impacts of it.
criticised corruption in the church
- literature increased- led to criticism from humanists and martin
Luther (95 criticisms) being widespread- printing press
- Tyndale’s English bible in 1526 spread reformist ideas, and
challenged the church’s monopoly on scriptures
- Lollards- 5 executed 1511-12. Criticised the church excesses
- LINKS
- however, Lollards were a small minority of the church who were
critical of the beliefs and practises
 - Humanist ideas had little impact on England
- Intellectual life remained dominated by traditional medieval
scholastic philosophy; many humanists were considered to be too
formal etc

Disagree para 1 – political importance of the church- relations with the

crown
- Historian Christopher Haigh argued that the specific outbursts of
anticlericalism were rare- and that they were often politically
motivated
- Life was regulated by the church’s major ceremonies, 8000 parish
churches
- Church allowed for social and political elites to maintain control
through its stress on the values of the community.
- Provided job opportunities and for few, paved the way for
advancements e.g. Wolsey (link- though this allowed the way for
nepotism- a corrupt part of church)
- Church helped the needy, was charitable
- Relationship with the crown was healthy generally, henry viii was
labelled ‘defender of the faith’. Church fulfilled spiritual needs, and
the king and pope had good relations
- Christopher harper bill “in the early C16th, the church doesn’t
appear to be in urgent need of radical reform’
-
Disagree para 2- importance of the church in everyday life
- Most people agreed with the roman catholic church and accepted it
- The church was deeply rooted in everyday life
- Was no other option of religion, church was the monopoly of faith,
little or no people of other faiths
- Importance of mass- sacred rituals
- Outward structures of community, and was the framework for
controlling individual thoughts
- For most commoners in everyday life they couldn’t challenge the
church only intellectuals.
‘it was Cardinal Wolsey, rather than Henry VIII, who controlled government
and policies in the years 1515 to 1529’
Through link?

Plan:

1. Legal administration
Evidence:
- Wolsey established the Court of Chancery to hear cases. Wanted to
provide impartial and cheap justice, he heard cases from the poor.
- Star chamber reformed under Wolsey
- Reformations began in government around 1516- after Wolsey rose
to prominence
- Star chamber heard 120 more cases than in henry vII’s rule- done
by Wolsey
- Henry lacked his father’s work ethic, so allowed Wolsey to make day
to day decisions including paperwork, administration etc, as henry
preferred to spend his time doing activities and sports such as
jousting
- Therefore, Wolsey made many of the policies rather than Henry
during his years
- However, henry did handle some legal administration- for example,
henry ordered the arrests and executions of Empson and Dudley,
and abolished the council learned in law
- Ultimate power did lay in the hands of Henry VIII- he directed,
approved, or rejected the actions taken by Wolsey. Henry VIII was
not manipulated by Wolsey

2. Foreign policies
Evidence:
 - Wolsey rose to prominence after organising the first French
campaign, he had shown his organisation skills. the 1513 invasion of
France- henry captured 2 French towns – Tournai and Theroanne etc,
this was due to Wolsey.
- Wolsey organised the field of the cloth of gold in June 1520- though
nothing of value came from it, it gave henry prestige and honour
- After the first French campaign Wolsey had renegotiated the treaty
of Etaples for henry and secured a marriage alliance between king
Louis XII and henrys sister, Mary.
- And most importantly, Wolsey was a peace broker, he organised the
treaty of London in 1518 – a peace treaty with France, after
Maximillian and Ferdinand had both made separate peace with
France. It was a non-aggression pact, and its scope was widened
when other countries joined, including holy roman empire, Spain,
papal states, it became treaty of perpetual peace
- Wolsey was Made papal legate in 1518 after successfully arranging
the treaty of London/ treaty of Perpetual Peace- because Pope Leo X
wanted a united front against the Turks.
- However, henry did control some of his foreign policy- as it was him
who wanted to be a warrior king, and go to war with France- so
could argue Wolsey just made it happen
- Henry played an active role in foreign affairs. Can be seen in his
participation in the field of the cloth of gold, and his attempt to gain
support for the marriage to Anne Boleyn.
3. Government:
Evidence:
- Ended conciliar form of governments, Henry VIII had inherited a
conciliar form of government from his father’s reign- where
decisions were made through court, however because Wolsey rose
to prominence after his French campaign success- henry ended the
conciliar approach.
- rearranged government structures- replaced minions (men who
supported henry VIII younger men) from the privy chamber, with his
own supporters in 1519 – as this had been the one area Wolsey had
no control over
- In 1526 the Eltham ordinances reduced privy council number of men
and also replaced groom of the stool- financial but also political so
he could be further in charge
- Parliament only called twice during Wolsey’s reign- shows that
Henry didn’t want to take advice from the parliament as he relied on
Wolsey for everything from foreign policy, government reforms, to
legal administration.
- However, although conciliar governments disappeared when Wolsey
was minister, and his personal relationship with Henry was key to
his control, Wolsey had no control over the Privy Council- which was
an important conduit for information and a challenge to Wolsey’s
control.
‘How successful was Henry VIII’s foreign policy in the years 1509-
1529’
plan
Economy– through link -> henrys war aim- to be a warrior king,
to emulate the glory of henry V, to have a warlike foreign policy-
was not able to continue after 1514 as he was too poor.

1. Scottish relations – 1
- Victory over James IV at battle of Flodden, despite having a smaller,
quickly put together army led by the earl of surrey- 10,000 of James
men killed, along with James himself- leaving Scotland with the
infant James V- so a success however short term
- So secured military success
- Henry did little to build on the advantage which Flodden had given
him. (unable to exploit their weakness)
- Also, when duke of Albany (French) the Scottish heir presumptive
was to be appointed regent to the Scottish throne, however,
minimised threat due to divisions among Scottish nobility- henry
again failed to exploit these divisions and weaknesses.
- Through link- couldn’t take advantage of his victory at battle of
Flodden because he couldn’t afford to- by 1514 he was liquidating
assets had spent the £30,000/£10,000 he inherited and wanted to
avoid a rebellion in Yorkshire (which had almost been caused in
1513 with his French campaign.)

2. Spanish relations – 2
- Frequently used Henry, didn’t regard him as an equal- evident when
they used him to invade France as a distraction tactic, so that
Ferdinand could gain Navarre in 1512.
- Abandoned henrys troops in both French wars (Ferdinand then
Charles)
- Anti-French alliances failed
- After first French war, Ferdinand died, and Charles made peace with
Francis, and so did Maximillian- so left henry dangerously isolated
- Charles annulled the marriage alliance between himself and henrys
daughter Mary
- Treaty of Bruges 1521- Anglo Spanish treaty to invade France if they
didn’t sign a peace treaty
- However, 1522 chares provided very little support for English troops
in Picardy and refused to give England any glory- so forced henry so
sign the Anglo-French treaty of the more, Westminster and Amiens,
alienating Charles
- when Charles took the pope, Wolsey wasn’t able to secure Henry’s
divorce- tense relations
- through link- In 1523- the English army crumbled in France with lack
of supplies and no money, and because of the amicable grant, henry
wasn’t able to invade France, so Charles refused to invade France,
and annulled the marriage proposal between himself and Henry’s
daughter Mary. led to henry agreeing to treaty of the more with
France- a friendship treaty- which alienated England from Charles
and the holy roman empire- and thus threatened England’s exports
to the Netherlands as Charles controlled them- further depleting the
economy.
Link Spanish and French- treaty of perpetual peace was the high point in
Henry VIII’s aim to achieve an equality of status with Francis I and Charles
V by holding the balance of power in Europe
Both rejected marriage alliances (princess Mary to Louis XII lasted three
months, and Charles annulled marriage between himself and Henry’s
daughter Mary.)

3. French relations – 3
- Unsuccessful French war first- 1512 he was abandoned by
Ferdinand, his troops returned mutinous and defeated
- in 1513- he got therouanne and Tournai however was nothing more
than a propaganda victory/ military success (Tournai was sold back
to France, had been costly, almost caused rebellion in Yorkshire,
renegotiated ToE was lost)
- Successful in the treaty of London- nonaggression, collective
security, and became a treaty of perpetual peace- when England,
France, Spain, HRE, and over 20 European rulers subscribed to it.
this added prestige to henrys reign, ended threat of political
isolation, and Wolsey was made papal legate.
- Further. Henry returned Tournai to France and managed to get a
pension to compensate for his loss, and the French agreed to keep
duke of Albany out of Scotland- so peace on Anglo Scottish border
- Field of cloth of gold- nothing of value achieved but England was a
desired ally, had honour and prestige- diplomatic success
- Second French war- also unsuccessful as a war king again 1522
Charles gives very little support to English troops in Picardy, 1523
English troops unsuccessful in March on Paris and led to amicable
grant
- However, did lead to the treaty of the more- a peace treaty Anglo-
French
- Ultimately, the battle of Pavia forced England to end its old enmity
with France- the new Anglo-French entente was cemented by the
treaties of More, Westminster and Amiens, and France and England
did not go to war again until 1543
- wars with France were very costly.
- Tournai was sold back to France for less than the English had paid to
repair its defences after the siege- so he gained nothing
- amicable grant in 1525 demanded for war with France- led to
rebellion 1,000 on Essex Suffolk border, and 4,000 rebels strong-
resisted the extra taxation, some genuinely couldn’t pay such as
cloth workers. Was dropped, and Wolsey begged henry to treat
rebels leniently publicly.
-
List of potential essay questions

Henry 7
‘Financial measures were the most successful means by which Henry VII
established
his authority in the years 1485-1509’ (2023) plan

‘By 1509, henry VII had established his authority across the whole of
England’ (2021) plan- government, nobility, economic control (3 factors)
- Establishment of privy chamber/ privy council ensured he controlled
government; Stanley was the last noble who challenged his
authority
- Controlled nobility through bonds, recognisances, acts of attainder,
and acts against illegal retaining.
- However, by 1509, earl of Suffolk and Richard de la pole was still
alive. Henry was deeply unpopular due to his financial control, and
he himself did not feel secure- as he searched for marriage alliances
after Elizabeth died. Localities were still in the hands of nobles- such
as Percy family

‘Ending support for rival claimants to the throne was the greatest success
of henry VII’s foreign policy’ (2020)

‘The marriages of his children to foreign powers were Henry VII’s greatest
achievements in foreign policy’ (2020 AS paper)

‘henry VII was successful in promoting trade and exploration’ (2023 AS

paper)

Henry 8
‘How successful was Henry VIII’s foreign policy in the years 1509-1529’
(2021) plan

‘it was Cardinal Wolsey, rather than Henry VIII, who controlled government
and policies in the years 1515 to 1529’ (AS 2022) plan

‘In the first twenty years of the sixteenth century, there was widespread
criticism of the church in England’ explain why you agree or disagree with
this view (AS 2024) write
Sources that are henry VII
A-level:
2022
AS level:
Plan extract A and B from June 2022 paper

Sources that are henry VIII

A level:
2023

AS level:
Plan extract A and B from June 2023 paper

essays to plan:
- Wolsey
- Perkin Warbeck
- Church criticism
- Foreign policy of henry VIII 1509-29