Who was Lambert Simnel

A. Lambert Simnel (about 1475-1525) was pretender to the English throne. He, like Perkin Warbeck (click here for a feature on him) impersonated Richard, Duke of York, presumed to have been murdered as one the 'princes in the Tower'.

Q. So how did he great involved in such a plot

A. Little is known of his early life, but by 1486 he was noticed by Richard Simon (sometimes called Symonds), an Oxford priest. Simon trained him to impersonate Richard, Duke of York, younger son of Edward IV.

A rare Lambert Simnel groat minted in 1487

A. Plans changed dramatically. In 1486, Simon took Simnel to Ireland, claiming that he was Edward, Earl of Warwick, another Yorkist claimant to the throne held by the Lancastrian Henry VII. Warwick was also rumoured to have died in the Tower. The Irish administration believed him. Simnel was lodged in Dublin Castle with great honour, proclaimed Edward VI, King of England, and on 24 May crowned in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin. Even acoin was minted to commemorate his coronation.

Q. What next

A. England. A great conspiracy grew up to grab England back for the Yorkists. It was led by John de la Pole, Earl of Lincoln, who, eldest son of the Duke of Suffolk by Elizabeth, sister of Edward IV. Richard III had named him successor, just before he lost his crown to Henry.

Q. So what did Henry do about all this

A. Tipped off about the forthcoming rebellion, Henry had the real Earl of Warwick taken from the Tower and paraded through the streets of London. He also issued a general pardon for all offences, including treason, if the offenders surrendered.

Q. And the rebels

A. The Earl of Lincoln and Lord Lovell, obtained 2,000 German soldiers from Yorkist sympathiser Margaret, Duchess of Burgundy, then, under the command of Captain Martin Swart, they set off the join Simnel in Ireland. Within days, they invaded England - but Henry was well prepared.

Q. How

A. He had already summoned a council of war and - and made a number of orders combating civil disobedience. He issued a stringent proclamation against robbing churches, ravishing women, or even taking food and drink without paying for them at the prices 'assized by the clerk of the market' ... on pain of execution. Strict discipline was enforced throughout the army. The King advanced to Nottingham, where his forces were joined by a large contingent of the Earl of Derby's men. They moved on to Newark and at the nearby village of Stoke, they met and utterly defeated the invaders.

Q. A massacre

A. Yes - Simnel's army of Irishmen, armed only with primitive weapons, fought bravely, but were cut down in masses. All the leaders - Lincoln, Lovell and Sir Thomas Broughton - either died on the field, or vanished. Simnel and his tutor, Simon, were taken prisoner.

Q. And what happened to them

A. Simon was imprisoned for life. Lambert Simnel - after all, he was just a boy of 11 or 12 - was taken into service a scullion in the royal kitchen.

Q. Scullion

A. Odd-job boy to do all the rough work. It was menial and probably unpleasant work. But at least he kept his head.

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By Steve Cunningham