Henry VI – What a bad start! Henry, you are simply not the man for the part!
Henry VI
It was 1437 and Henry had decided, at the age of fifteen, to take the reins of royal power. He was still smarting at his mother’s incredibly unwise dalliance with Owen Tudor.
‘Oh Queen Catherine, my most dearest mama!
Your antics with Owen Tudor caused the entire realm to laugh, and cry ha-ha!
Dear mother, I shall miss you greatly, although I am now almost a man grown!
But I could not bear to have that ghastly Welshman, Tudor anywhere near me whilst I sit on my throne!’
However, his mother was dead, and weighty matters awaited the young king’s attention. The situation in France had deteriorated with Charles VII having taken Paris in 1436 and Normandy falling increasingly under threat. Henry, who resembled his military orientated father Henry V in no way whatsoever, was inclined to favour a peaceful resolution of the French question. Old king Hal must have been turning in his tomb!
Henry V
‘Dad, to give us both our rightful due!
You ain’t me and I ain’t you!’
The king was a pious soul, preoccupied with learning, so he established a number of educational institutions such as Eton. He was horrified at the news of bloodshed in France and wanted it ended. He took the view that the time was right for peace and a truce was arranged with Charles VII in 1444. As part of the deal, Henry was to marry Margaret of Anjou, the King of France’s niece.
The marriage of King Henry VI and Margaret of Anjou.
‘The way to stop the war in France and get a piece of much needed peace!
Is to marry pretty Margaret of Anjou, the French king’s niece!’
Oh well, why not, the king was an age at which to marry. The marriage took place in the spring of 1445, Margaret was 15 and Henry, 23. Margaret was a forceful, somewhat devious character, the polar opposite of her new husband.
‘King Henry, one of the gentlest creatures ever to the throne, born!
Queen Margaret possessed talons as sharp as any thorn!
This was a happy time as the king’s subjects welcomed the union and the prospect of an heir to the throne. It also appeared that peace with France had now been finalised.
The situation in France goes from bad to worse.
However, the pleasant interlude was to be brief, as storm clouds were gathering on the horizon. The English people were really quite disturbed that part of the peace treaty involved England ceding Maine to the French. What was this? The big give away? Pretty soon much of Normandy was overrun by the French and by 1451 they had grabbed Gascony as well!
‘Bringing it all back home!
In Kent, did trouble quickly grow and greatly roam!’
The Kentish economy depended largely on its maritime commerce. However, this had been adversely affected by the situation in France. Also French marauders, without the English navy to stop them, were now attacking England’s southern coastline and causing havoc. This, combined with high taxation and accusations of corruption at court, confirmed in many minds that the country was without an effective government. This was the cause of an uprising beginning in Kent which would be known as Cade’s Rebellion. Henry was fast losing control!
‘The rebels of Kent were led by an Irishman, one Jack Cade!
They entered London and much destruction and slaughter was made!’
When the rebels marched to London and ransacked the city in June, Henry fled the city and sought sanctuary in the midlands.
‘As the rebels advanced on the city, the king ran away!
Leaving the people of London to stand alone and save the day!
Eventually the rebellion was defeated, but the king had played no part in reasserting royal authority. The people had expected leadership in the hour of crisis, but Henry had shown them only fear and abject cowardice.