THE POSSIBILITY

1483

WERE THE PRINCES REALLY DEAD?

Fans of conspiracy theories can add another, historical one to their list as Henry’s actions surrounding Perkin Warbeck have raised several questions. Firstly, there’s no recorded evidence of Henry investigating the fate of the two princes, nor any suggestion of a search of the tower occurring. Others have questioned how close Elizabeth Woodville’s loss of property and removal to Bermondsey Abbey were to Lambert Simnel’s appearance and if they can truly be coincidences. Indeed, one school of thought has gone further and suggested that in fact Simnel claimed to be one Edward V and not Edward Earl of Warwick, with this claim being constructed by Henry VII, who could parade the real Warwick, but would have no such luck with Edward. There is plentiful evidence to this theory, including accounts by poet Bernard André and Henry VII’S eagerness to destroy the records of the Irish Parliament. Did he perhaps destroy something else with them?

1485

THE CONTINUED WAR OF THE ROSES?

Under the rule of Henry VII, the House of York could have perhaps expected numerous repercussions, but the king was shrewd enough not to anger the nobles and provoke further threats to his place on the throne. Margaret,daughter of the Duke of Clarence, was married to one of Henry’s oldest supporters – possibly to prevent her being used in a Yorkist rebellion. Perhaps the most unfortunate was Edward, Earl of Warwick, who had he been given his freedom could have similarly been used as a focal point for rebellion. While his imprisonment was likely not too unpleasant, he would eventually be executed alongside Perkin Warbeck for attempting to escape. There is some suggestion this was in fact requested by Spanish monarchs before Katherine was to be given to the Tudors. Had a pretender seized the throne, it‘s unsure how the Houses of York and Lancaster would have continued.