What problems did the nobility cause 1444-1509

The major nobles:

• Duke of Gloucester was Henry’s uncle and heir presumptive until his death in 1447.

• Gloucester felt threatened by Henry VI’s favour toward his half brothers by his mother’s marriage to Jasper Tudor - made them earl of Richmond and Pembroke.

• The Beauforts.

• Duke of Buckingham and Warwick.

• William de La Pole - Duke of Suffolk.

The Beauforts:

• Descendants of John of Gaunt through Katherine Swynford - his third wife, still his mistress when Beaufort children born - technically illegitimate- later legitimised by royal decree.

• Powerful and wealthy - one became bishop of Winchester and cardinal of England - lent crown £200,000 to fight Hundred Years’ War.

• King made Edmund Beaufort Duke of Somerset in 1448.

Duke of Buckingham and earl of Warwick:

• Neither had claim to throne.

William de La pole:

• Most influential noble - minor by birth.

• King’s chamberlain - controlled access to Henry VI.

• This angered Richard, Duke of York - thought he should be king’s right hand man as the most senior nobleman in the land.

The Duke of Gloucester:

• Caused plenty of problems

• Constant critic of Henry VI’s peace policy with France - especially during truce of tours 1444.

• Arrested in 1447 to prevent him speaking out against royal policy on parliament.

• Died of a stroke - rumours that Suffolk tried to kill him.

Problems of law and order:

• As major landowners, leading members of the nobility often quarrelled over land ownership - especially during economic slumps when income from rents fell.

• Courts could not always be relied upon to adjudicate fairly in disputes - Paston family wanted to prosecute Lord Molehns for propert encroachment - warned their case would lose.

• Why - Moleyns associate of Suffolk.

• Other nobles causing trouble: Lord say and William Crowmer in Kent, William Tailboys - protected by Viscount Beaumont, the Percy family and Archbishop of York.