Jun 1497-1499 Cornish Rebellion and Perkin Warbreck

Around Apr 1497 Cornish rose in rebellion against taxes being raised by King Henry VII of England and Ireland (age 40) to support his wars against Scotland and against changes to the operation and privileges of the Cornish tin mining industry. The rebel army of 15,000 sought to replace Henry's ministers who they saw as responsible for the taxation: Cardinal John Morton (age 77) and Reginald Bray (age 57), the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. The army travelled from Cornwall through Devon and Somerset attempting, unsuccessfully, to recruit more men. At Wells, Somerset [Map] they were joined by James Tuchet 7th Baron Audley, 4th Baron Tuchet (age 34) who took on command. The rebel army then travelled through Salisbury and Winchester, Hampshire [Map].

When Henry became aware of the rebel army he diverted his main army led by Giles Daubeney 1st Baron Daubeney (age 46) to meet the rebels. Daubeny's army camped at Hounslow Heath [Map] on 13 Jun 1497.

On 16 Jun 1497 the rebel army reached Blackheath, Greenwich [Map] where they expected to be met by an army of Kent rebels. No uprising had taken place in Kent in their support. Contrarily, Kent forces had mobilised for the King under George Grey 2nd Earl Kent (age 43). In view of this thousands deserted overnight.

Wriothesley's Chronicle 1485-1509. Aug 1497... and in August Perkin Warbeck (age 23) landed in Cornewale,^g and by pursuit fledd to Bowdley St. Marie [Map],^h but by appoyntment he came to the Kinge, followinge the Courte.ⁱ

Note g. In Whitsand Bay; and, having sent his wife, the Lady Catherine Gordon, for safety to Mount St Michael, assumed the title of Richard IV.

Note h. The Sanctuary of Beaulieu [Map] in the New Forest, written in Arnold "Bewdeley sent wary," which has been erroneously transcribed in our MS. "St. Marie."

Note i. In Arnold this passage is, "and so remained following the Court."

On 17 Jun 1497 the Cornish rebel army was destroyed at the Battle of Blackheath aka Deptford Bridge.

Richard Guildford (age 47) was created Knight Banneret.

Edward Stafford 2nd Earl Wiltshire (age 27), Henry Willoughby (age 46), Edward Belknapp of Blackfriars in London and Thomas Fiennes 8th Baron Dacre Gilsland (age 25) fought at Deptford, Kent [Map].

Giles Brugge 6th Baron Chandos (age 35), John Hussey 1st Baron Hussey of Sleaford (age 32), Robert Sheffield (age 36), Edward Stanhope 1462-1487, John Peche (age 47) and Robert Constable (age 19) were knighted by King Henry VII of England and Ireland (age 40).

Thomas West 8th Baron De La Warr 5th Baron West (age 40) commanded.

James Tuchet 7th Baron Audley, 4th Baron Tuchet (age 34) was captured by Gruffydd ap Rhys ap Thomas Deheubarth (age 19).

After 17 Jun 1497 John Dynham 1st Baron Dynham (age 64) acted in judgement of James Tuchet 7th Baron Audley, 4th Baron Tuchet (age 34). He was tried as a peer and sentenced to be beheaded spending his last night in Newgate Prison, London [Map].

On 28 Jun 1497 James Tuchet 7th Baron Audley, 4th Baron Tuchet (age 34) was beheaded at Tower Hill [Map]. He was buried at Blackfriars Church Holborn. His head was placed on a spike at London Bridge [Map]. Baron Audley of Heighley in Staffordshire and Baron Tuchet forfeit.

Chronicles of London. Sep 1497. Also this present moneth of Septembre landed in Cornewall Perkyn Werbek (age 23) w^t iij smale Shippes only, and w^t hym to the numbre of an hundreth or vj score persones, which entred ferther vnto a Towne called Bodman, where he was accompaned w^t iij or iiij m^l men of Rascayll and most parte naked men. And there proclaymed hym silf kyng Richard the iiijw^th, And Second Son vnto kyng Edward the iiijw^th late kyng of Englond.

Chronicle of Robert Fabyan 1499. 12 Feb 1499. And upon Shrove Tuesday was put in execution, at Saint Thomas Watering [Map], a stripling [Ralph Wulford (age 20)] of twenty years of age, which had himself to be the son or heir to the Earl of Warwick's lands, and was the son of a cordwainer of London.

On 19 May 1499 Arthur Prince of Wales (age 12) and Catherine of Aragon (age 13) were married by proxy at Tickenhill Manor, Bewdley [Map]. Roderigo de Puebla stood in for Catherine. The service was performed by John Arundel Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry.