Question 1
Using these four sources in their historical context, assess how far they support the view that the early actions of Richard, Duke of York during the years 1450 to 1455 clearly demonstrate his
ambition for the crown.
Source A: One of the demands of the Cade rebels in 1450.
We, considering the king our sovereign lord, by the insatiable greed and malice of persons about him both daily and nightly inform him good is evil and evil good. They say the Commons of England would destroy the king and his friends and then bring the duke of York to be king, so, by false lies they make him to hate and destroy his friends, but cherish his false traitors. It is a heavy thing the good duke of Gloucester was impeached to treason and we demand the high and mighty prince the duke of York, exiled by the false noising of the duke of Suffolk, be taken back about the king.
Three Fifteenth-century Chronicles, which provide contemporary accounts of England recorded in London.
Source B: A chronicler, who was a London lawyer, describes the fears and sympathies of Londoners in 1450.
The Commons chose Sir William Oldhall, knight with the duke of York, as speaker of the Parliament. People stood in great dread and doubt for the conflict between the lords. On November 23, the duke of York with 3,000 men came riding through the city with his sword borne before him and went to the Parliament and the king. And on the following morning came riding through the city the duke of Norfolk with a great crowd of armed men. Then came the earl of Warwick with a great company of men prepared for war and the lords’ men assaulted the duke of Somerset’s house and despoiled his goods. At the same time was raised a great sum of money to send to Bordeaux, the soldiers driven out of France and Normandy with no means to live but robbed when they desired nothing but to save the rights of the king.
Robert Bale’s Chronicle, written before 1461.
Source C: An account written in England for the duke of Burgundy on the events of 1455.
Early in the morning of May 22, the king sent a herald to the duke of York to know why he had come with so many people. The duke replied he intended in all ways to have the traitors who were with the king so they could be punished and if he could not have them by friendly and voluntary means he would have them by force. Reply was made on the king’s behalf that he did not have any traitors near him but the duke of York himself who had risen against his crown.
The Dijon Relation, 1455.
Source D: A description of Richard, Duke of York claiming the throne in 1460, written by an English abbot.
While the lord king was assembled with the prelates, peers and commons at Westminster for the good government of the realm, soon, almost at the beginning of the Parliament, the duke of York with the pomp of a great following, arrived in no small exultation of spirit; for he came with horns, trumpets, men at arms and very many other servants. He marched straight through the great hall to where the king usually held Parliament and advanced with determined step to the royal throne. He laid his hand on it, awaiting the applause of the people, but the archbishop of Canterbury asked him if he had come to see the king. The duke seemed irritated and replied curtly, ‘I know of no other person in this realm more deserving of that title than I.’
Whethamstede’s Chronicle, written before 1465.
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Answer
