Tax rebellions

The Yorkshire Rebellion (1489): causes:The Parliamentary Tax (‘Tenth’)

The Parliamentary Tax (‘Tenth’)

• In 1489, Henry VII introduced a parliamentary tax (a tenth) to fund defence of Brittany against France.

• Traditionally:

  • The North paid less taxation for continental wars.

  • They were already responsible for defending the Scottish border.

• Henry broke with custom and demanded the full tenth.

• Result:

  • Widespread refusal to pay in Yorkshire and Durham.

The Yorkshire Rebellion (1489): causes: Regional Resentment

• The North had been a stronghold of Richard III.

• Many northerners may have resented Tudor rule.

• Suspicion of southern government interference increased tensions.

The Yorkshire Rebellion (1489): causes: The Role of the Earl of Northumberland

• Henry Percy, 4th Earl of Northumberland attempted to justify the tax at Topcliffe.

• He was attacked and lynched by a mob.

• His retinue failed to defend him:

  • Possibly due to weakened loyalty after Richard III’s death.

The Yorkshire Rebellion (1489): events: Murder of Northumberland

• His death signalled:

  • Serious hostility to taxation.

  • Breakdown of law and order.

• Particularly shocking because:

  • The Percy family traditionally governed the North.

  • He was responsible for security on the Scottish Marches.

• His heir was a minor → created a power vacuum.

The Yorkshire Rebellion (1489): events: Escalation Under Egremont

• Leadership passed to:

  • Sir John Egremont (Yorkist sympathiser).

• Rebels claimed they opposed the king’s “evil councillors.”

• Fear of royal reprisals may have pushed the revolt further.

The Yorkshire Rebellion (1489): events: Royal Response

• Henry feared:

  • A tax protest could become a pro-Yorkist rebellion.

• He personally accompanied:

  • The Earl of Surrey to suppress it.

• The rebellion collapsed quickly.

• Ringleaders were executed at York.

• Egremont escaped to Margaret of Burgundy.

The Yorkshire Rebellion (1489): impact: Limits on Henry’s Taxation Policy

• After 1489, Henry was careful:

  • Not to demand taxation in the North against custom.

• This limited:

  • His willingness to pursue large-scale foreign wars.

The Yorkshire Rebellion (1489): Overall Assessment

• Was serious regionally, especially due to Northumberland’s murder.

• But it was short-lived and quickly crushed.

• Its greatest significance lay in:

  • Forcing Henry to moderate taxation policy.

  • Demonstrating the political dangers of ignoring regional tradition.

The Cornish Rebellion (1497): Causes: Taxation for War with Scotland

• Henry VII raised taxes to fund military campaigns against James IV.

• Cornwall was geographically distant from Scotland.

• Many Cornish people believed the conflict did not concern them, making the tax seem unfair.

• Like the Yorkshire rising (1489), taxation was the main trigger.

The Cornish Rebellion (1497): Causes: Regional Grievances

• Cornwall had a strong sense of regional identity and autonomy.

• There was resentment towards central government demands imposed from London.

The Cornish Rebellion (1497): Causes: Regional Grievances

• Some leaders may have had Yorkist connections:

  • Lord Audley joined the rebellion later.

  • His family had ties to Edward IV.

• He may have hoped to gain influence if Perkin Warbeck became king.

The Cornish Rebellion (1497): Events: Start of the Rebellion (May 1497)

• Led initially by:

  • Michael An Gof (Michael Joseph the Blacksmith)

  • Thomas Flamank

• Rebels marched from Cornwall into Somerset.

• At Wells, Lord Audley joined and became a leading figure.

The Cornish Rebellion (1497): Events: March Toward London

• Rebels moved through:

  • Salisbury

  • Winchester

  • Farnham

  • Guildford

• They faced little resistance.

• Attempted to gain support from Bristol, but failed.

• Planned to link their revolt with Warbeck’s claim.

The Cornish Rebellion (1497): Events: Battle of Blackheath (17 June 1497)

• Royal forces defeated the rebels at the Battle of Blackheath, just outside London.

• Leaders were executed:

  • Lord Audley

  • Michael An Gof

  • Thomas Flamank.

• Thousands of participants were later fined after investigation.

The Cornish Rebellion (1497): Events: Warbeck’s Later Landing

• Warbeck landed in Cornwall on 7 September 1497.

• Claimed support of around 8,000 followers.

• Attempted to capture Exeter but failed.

• Royal forces defeated him after two weeks.

• Warbeck fled to sanctuary.

The Cornish Rebellion (1497): Impact: Demonstrated Serious Regional Discontent

• Large rebel force marched across southern England with little opposition.

• Showed weaknesses in royal control in distant regions.

The Cornish Rebellion (1497): Impact: Temporary Threat to the Tudor Regime

Particularly dangerous because:

• Warbeck’s Yorkist claim was involved.

• England faced threats on two fronts (Cornwall and Scotland).

The Cornish Rebellion (1497): Impact: Immediate Political Stabilisation

• After defeating the rebels at Battle of Blackheath, Henry VII moved quickly to stabilise the situation.

• He:

  • Agreed a truce with James IV.

  • Cancelled the next round of parliamentary taxation, addressing one of the main causes of unrest in Cornwall.

The Cornish Rebellion (1497): Impact: Treatment of Perkin Warbeck

• Perkin Warbeck left sanctuary after being promised his life would be spared.

• He confessed that his claim to the throne was false.

• Henry used him for public humiliation:

  • Warbeck was repeatedly paraded through London.

  • Taken around the country to demonstrate his defeat.

  • Placed in the stocks after attempting to escape.

• In June 1498, he was imprisoned in the Tower of London in chains.

The Cornish Rebellion (1497): Impact: Execution of Warbeck and the Earl of Warwick

• While imprisoned, Warbeck communicated with Edward, Earl of Warwick.

• They appear to have planned:

  • An escape attempt.

  • Possibly a renewed claim to the throne.

• In November 1499, both men were executed.

• Some historians suspect Henry may have encouraged the plot to justify removing these rivals.

The Cornish Rebellion (1497): Impact: Diplomatic Consequences

• The removal of Yorkist claimants helped secure an important diplomatic alliance.

• The Spanish monarchs agreed to the marriage of:

  • Arthur, Prince of Wales

  • and Catherine of Aragon.

• This marriage took place in 1501.

• Spain likely wanted the Yorkist threat eliminated before approving the alliance

The Cornish Rebellion (1497): Overall significance

The Cornish uprising had important long-term consequences:

• Strengthened Henry VII’s control after a major rebellion.

• Allowed him to eliminate two key Yorkist claimants (Warbeck and Warwick).

• Helped secure a major European alliance with Spain, strengthening Tudor legitimacy.