Threats to the Crown: Part 3

A genuine claimant 

The Earl of Suffolk

1499- 1506.

• 1499 Suffolk (a Yorkist) was being punished for his brother's activities against Henry VII in the early years of his reign.

 

• Suffolk was summoned to ordinary court (which was humiliating as he was not surrounded by his peers) and he fled to Burgundy. 

• 1499- Henry VII issued arrest orders for Suffolk and he returned to England later that year.

• 1501- Suffolk fled England again and sought the help of Maximilian. He referred to himself as the White Rose, making it clear that he was a Yorkist contender to the throne.

• Maximilian promised to help the Yorkist heirs. Henry gave him £10,000 but Maximilian made no move to expel Edmund de la Pole from Burgundy. £250,000 was received in loans that were never repaid. Henry also reluctantly agreed to trade concessions.

• 1505 - Henry suspended trade between England and Burgundy.

• The situation changed following the death of Isabella of Castille.

• Archduke Philip of Burgundy was forced to land in England due to a freak storm. He extracted £138,000 from Henry and in return he surrendered Suffolk to Henry.

• Suffolk was paraded through the streets of London and imprisoned in the town. He was initially kept alive but executed by Henry VIII in 1513.