Lambert Simnel 1477-1534 Biography

 

Lambert Simnel was born around 1477. It is thought that his father was either an organ maker, a joiner or a baker. Lambert was educated by Richard Symonds, a priest from Oxford. Symonds was a committed Yorkist who opposed Henry VII’s place on the throne. He thought that Simnel looked like Edward, Earl of Warwick and hatched a plan.

 

Pretender to the Throne

In 1487, the leaders of the House of York put Lambert forward as Edward, Earl of  Warwick. Warwick was the son of Edward IV’s younger brother, George Duke of Clarence.

 

The real Earl of Warwick had been imprisoned in the Tower of London by Henry VII because he was a threat to Henry’s place on the throne. The Yorkists spread the rumour that Warwick had escaped to make Lambert’s claim plausible.

 

Ireland

The challenge to Henry VII’s place on the throne began in Ireland because the Irish traditionally supported the House of York. The Earl of Kildare was convinced that Lambert was the Earl of Warwick and supported his claim. Lambert Simnel was crowned King Edward VI in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin on 24th May 1487. Edward IV’s daughter, Margaret Duchess of Burgundy, also believed Lambert’s claim and sent an army of around 2,000 to Dublin to support his cause.

 

Battle of Stoke

Lambert and his army, led by John de la Pole, Earl of Lincoln, landed at Furness in Lancashire on 4th June 1487. They began a march towards London intending to take the capital city. Meanwhile, Henry VII mustered his army and marched north to meet the invaders.

The two armies met at Stoke near Newark on 16th June. The Battle of Stoke Field lasted around three hours. Although Lambert’s force had some early successes, they were no match for Henry’s army and were easily beaten. Nearly half  Lambert’s soldiers were killed.

 

Consequences

Richard Symonds was captured and sentenced to life imprisonment. Henry knew that Simnel had been an innocent pawn in the scheme and put him to work in the royal kitchen. He later became Henry VII’s falconer and died in 1534.

 

First published 2017 – Updated – Sept 7 2024