Lambert Simnel The Lambert Simnel and Perkin Warbeck represented major threats to Henry VII throne. How accurate is this statement refers to years 1485-99? The legacy of the Wars of the Roses created an atmosphere in which opposition to Henry was rife. The Yorkists were keen to find revenge as they had been deprived of the throne, a grudge felt strongly, especially by Margaret of Burgundy who also had the means and resources to plot against Henry.
Lambert Simnel and Perkin Warbeck were products of this environment and so essentially confronted Henry with the same problems. It was not the individual pretenders, but the same group of scheming and vengeful players, that endangered Henry. Because of these similar foundations, the only way we can assess whether either threat can be described as major is to look at the surrounding variable factors and the adopted natures of each threat. During Henry’s reign he was approached with many pretenders who tried there upmost to overthrow him, over the period of his reign he became experienced and understood of how to deal with these pretenders. Warbeck first claimed the English throne at the court of Burgundy in 1490. In 1491, he landed in Ireland in the hope of gaining support for his claim as Lambert Simnel had four years previously. However, little was found and he was forced to return to the European mainland. There his fortunes improved. He was first received by Charles VIII of France and was officially recognised as Richard of Shrewsbury by Margaret of Burgundy, who was Edward IV's sister and the widow of Charles I, Duke of Burgundy. It is not known whether or not she knew he was a fraud, but she tutored him in the way of Yorkist court. Henry complained to Archduke Philip, who had assumed control of Burgundy in 1493, about the harbouring of Warbeck, but he ignored him. So Henry imposed trade embargo on Burgundy, cutting off their important trade links with England. Warbeck was also welcomed by various other...