Rebellions 2 - Perkin Warbeck, Earl of Warwick and 'The White Rose'

Perkin Warbeck imposture

• He claimed to be Richard, Duke of York

• Tried to flee to France in 1491, then had to flee to Margaret of Burgundy in 1492 after the Treaty of Etaples

Warbeck’s first rebellion attempts

• Warbeck tried to invade England, royal agents (Sir Robert Clifford) warned Henry, Warbeck was quickly defeated then he fled to Scotland

• However still significant, as the conspirators had an accomplice in the heart of Henry’s gov - Sir William Stanley (Lord Chamberlain at the time, Henry’s step uncle)

Warbeck’s second rebellion attempt

• 1496, small Scottish force crossed the border on Warbeck’s behalf

• However Warbeck’s interests were soon sacrificed when James IV gave into Henry’s offer of marriage to his daughter. Margaret

Warbeck’s final rebellion attempt

• Tried seek the English throne by trying to exploit the uncertainties made by the 1497 Cornish Rebellion

• His forces were crushed and Warbeck surrendered to the king

• Henry originally had Warbeck stay at court confined to the tower, but after he allegedly tried to escape with the Earl of Warwick he was accused by treason and they were both tried and executed

‘The White Rose’

• In order to secure dynastic security, Henry had to deal with Edmund de le Pole and Richard de la Pole

• Henry had Edmund (Earl of Suffolk) imprisoned in the Tower of London

• Henry VIII then had him executed for treason much later in 1513

• Left Richard de la Pole nicknamed the ‘White Rose’ when he was in exile, was killed in 1525 whilst fighting for the French forces at the Battle of Pavia