Lambert Simnel

Over what years did Simnel pose a threat to Henry?

Lambert Simnel was a 10-year old boy (the son of an organ maker) from [blank_start]Oxford[blank_end]. The city was a Yorkist stronghold. [blank_start]Richard Symonds[blank_end], a priest, saw his opportunity – he detected a striking resemblance to the younger prince ([blank_start]Richard of York[blank_end]) and decided to train him to impersonate him. However, in the light of fresh rumours about the Earl of Warwick, he decided Simnel would impersonate Warwick.

Symonds took Simnel to Ireland as this had been a centre of [blank_start]Yorkist[blank_end] support since [blank_start]Richard, Duke of York[blank_end] (father of Edward IV and Richard III) had been Lord Lieutenant in the 1450s. The current Lord Lieutenant was Lord Kildare and, he along with other leading Irish nobles, proclaimed Simnel as [blank_start]Edward VI[blank_end]. He was also supported by Margaret of Burgundy, who was the sister of Edward IV. She sent money and 2000 soldiers to Ireland to support Simnel. These troops were led by Martin Schwartz. This support led to Simnel being crowned as Edward VI in [blank_start]Dublin[blank_end] in [blank_start]May 1487[blank_end].

Why was this current situation a threat to Henry?

The Battle of Stoke [blank_start]16th June 1487[blank_end] The army from Ireland landed on the 4th June at Furness in Lancashire. They marched across the Pennines and then turned south. However, Simnel and Lincoln received less support than they expected as people were not keen on a return to civil war. The King was prepared to confront an invasion and met the rebels just outside Newark. He had around [blank_start]12,000[blank_end] troops whereas the forces from Ireland numbered around [blank_start]8000[blank_end]. However, many on Henry’s side held back on the battlefield to see how events would turn out. Despite the attack from the experienced German soldiers and the daredevil tactics of the Irish, Henry began to gain the upper hand. After 3 hours of battle Lincoln, Schwartz, Broughton and Geraldine (the Irish leader) had all been killed. [blank_start]Lovel[blank_end] either fled or was killed – he was never seen again. Simnel and Symonds were both captured. Henry ordered all the German mercenaries to leave the country immediately and then executed all the remaining Irish soldiers.

What happened to Symonds after the Battle of Stoke?

What happened to Simnel after the Battle of Stoke?