Document A impresses the reader with Warbeck’s strong qualities and his participation on the duping of King Henry VII. He is both willing and strong-minded and partakes in the education Margaret of Burgundy provides for him on his ancestry and his role within England. His actions suggest he is comfortable with portraying on opposition to the King, despite his threat being false. With this in mind, the evidence in Document E is contradictory in its approach. It should be noted that this source is written by Warbeck himself and might have been writing to depict a used and exploited young man, rather than the strong character he was thought to be. Document E describes in detail the ordeals Warbeck was dutiful in, but the tone implies his actions occurred against his will. Looking at both Documents, it is apparent that both relay a chain of events. However, the fact that both have different perspectives suggests that further resources are needed to analyse the character of Warbeck and therefore show the reliability of the extracts.
“Perkin Warbeck was a serious threat to Henry VII only because of the backing he gained outside England.”
Warbeck found foreign support when the British people failed to assist him in his attack on the crown. Henry had previously placed bonds and acts of attainder of the lords of England and offered pardons to rebels as a way of ensuring that when there was trouble, there would be a lack of support.
Margaret of Burgundy chose to support Warbeck as she had previously done in 1486-1487 with Lambert Simnel, in hope to regain her status over the King, who had killed her brother Richard of York.
Warbeck also had support from Charles V of France, who had lost support from England and had disputes over Brittany. However, when Henry and Charles agreed to resolve their differences, and sign the Treaty of Etaples, which stated that rebels could not be concealed, Warbeck was dismissed. Warbeck then returned to Margaret, who had given the control of Burgundy to Archduke Philip. When Henry protested of the harbouring of Warbeck, Philip ignored him, this resulted in a trading ban from England. Warbeck also had support from Maximillian, who he promised could be his claimant if he should die before reaching the crown.
Despite all his foreign backing, which was probably the most important reason he was such a dangerous threat, the support Warbeck received within England itself was equally as major in possibility. In 1494 Henry learnt of conspiracies within his own Government. The discovery that Sir William Stanley had been conversing with Warbeck reminded Henry that inside help was still a problem. It also became apparent that English authority within his kingdom needed addressing. Stanley had been almost second in command. Henry tightened his reign and lost all confidence and trust in those who surrounded him. An English supported attack was also visibly dangerous, as it would have been easier for Warbeck to gather together troops and supplies.
Warbeck’s threat lasted between 1491 – 1499, which could suggest he was either a large threat or a relatively small one who simply couldn’t form enough support to attack the King.
From the evidence in the Documents, Warbeck moved from country to country, city to city suggesting that he never had a firm base of support in any particular place. Document C is the only source, which seems to imply English support, and this was from the Cornish who were already rebelling. Therefore Documents A, B, D and E, back the proposal that Warbeck’s main threat came from his foreign support. However, Henry over came this by his Treaties and Truces. The execution of Warbeck demonstrated to both the English and foreign leaders that Henry was secure upon the throne and remained so until his death in 1509.