Biography of Lambert Simnel 1477-1534

On 16th June 1487 a Lancastrian army defeated a Yorkist army at the Battle of Stoke Field; considered by many to be the last battle of the Wars of the Roses.

The Lancastrian army of Henry Tudor comprised:

John de Vere 13th Earl of Oxford (age 44).

Jasper Tudor 1st Duke Bedford (age 55).

George Talbot 4th Earl of Shrewsbury (age 19).

Henry Willoughby (age 36).

John Cheney 1st Baron Cheyne (age 45).

John Mordaunt (age 31).

Richard Neville 2nd Baron Latimer of Snape (age 19).

William Norreys (age 46).

Edward Norreys (age 23) wounded.

John Paston (age 43).

George Stanley 9th Baron Strange Knockin 5th Baron Mohun Dunster (age 27).

Edward Woodville Lord Scales (age 31).

Thomas Lovell, knighted.

Henry Marney 1st Baron Marney (age 40).

Edward Belknapp of Blackfriars in London

William Lyttelton (age 37) who was knighted after the battle.

The Yorksists:

John de la Pole 1st Earl Lincoln (age 25) was killed. Earl Lincoln extinct.

Thomas Fitzgerald (age 29) and Martin Schwartz were killed.

Lambert Simnel (age 10) fought and was captured. He was pardoned by King Henry VII and put to work in the in the royal kitchen as a spit-turner. When he grew older, he became a falconer. Almost no information about his later life is known.

Francis Lovell 1st Viscount Lovell (age 31) fought and escaped. He was attainted. Baron Deincourt, Baron Lovel of Titchmarsh, Baron Holand forfeit.

Edmund Peckham was granted the manors of Alford, Eccles, Alderley, Chester, and Flint.

Historia Regis Henrici Septimi by Bernado Andrea. [16th June 1487] He [King Henry VII] had just finished and was ready to reply to the Earl of Oxford, when, since time was pressing, he commanded silence and ordered that action be taken swiftly due to the urgency of the moment. Then, almost headlong, they seized their arms, like doves scattered by a dark storm. And now, the royal army was approaching the bands of the barbarians, who, having taken up a position on the brow of a hill, were drawn up and prepared, lying in wait for our men. But the Lord, the God of vengeance, avenging their unjust rage, sent a sudden whirlwind, just as He had done when Constantine fought against the enemies of the Church. As battle broke out and while it seemed our forces were being overcome, they who were thought to be defeated ended up subduing the enemy. Then suddenly, a great shout rose up to the heavens: "King Henry!" And the blast of trumpets from all sides filled the ears of all with joy. There, that wretched little would-be king [Lambert Simnel (age 10)], who, as I mentioned before, had been crowned in Ireland, was captured in battle. When asked by what audacity he had dared to commit so great a crime, he did not deny that he had been forced into it by certain infamous men of his own sort. Then, when he was questioned about his family and parentage, he confessed that they were entirely low-born people, engaged in menial occupations, altogether unworthy to be recorded in this history. As for that Earl of Lincoln, he met an end fitting for his deeds: for he was slain on the battlefield, as were many others, among whom their leader and commander, Martin Schwartz, a man otherwise highly skilled in the arts of war also fell while fighting bravely. Through the grace of Almighty God, a victory was granted to our king, who lost very few of his own men in the battle. He returned to London, giving thanks to God, accompanied by the entire host in celebration.

Finierat cum jam respondere parato ut ante comiti Oxoniensi rex quia tempus urgebat silentium indicit ac temporis angustiæ consulendnm imperavit. Illi ferme præcipites, atra ceu tempestate columbæ, arma capessunt. Jamque barbarorum turmis appropinquabat regius exercitus; illique supercilio montis instructi paratique mostros operiebantur. Sed Deus ultionum Dominus injustas illorum iras vindicans, repentino venti turbine, velut dum Constantinus adversus ecclesiæ hostes dimicaret, exorto dum præliantur, nostri qui putabantur superati illos denique subjecerunt. Tunc subito ad eethera exortus clamor "Rex Henricus," clan gentibus undique tubis, aures omnium lætitia complevit. Ibi nebulonum ille regulus in Hibernia ut ante dixi coronatus misellus bello capitur; qui interrogatus qua audacia tantum facinus vapulo facere ausus esset, a quibusdam suæ sortis flagitiosis hominibus se fuisse coactum non negavit.

Deinde super generis ac parentum conditione interrogatus, viles omnino personas, vilibusque officiis, nec in hac historia inseri dignis, omnes fuisse confessus est. Comes autem ille Linconiensis dignum factis exitium pertulit; nam in campo interemptus est, et item alii permulti, quorum dux atque imperator Martinus Souarp, vir alioquin bellicis artibus egregie doctus, fortiter pugnando corruit. Parta Dei Optimi Maximi gratia a rege nostro victoria, paucis admodum suorum in eo bello trucidatis, Londinum Deo gratulatum revertitur, tota comitante caterva.

Collectanea by John Leland. [16th June 1487] On the Morne, whiche was Satirday, the King erly arros, and harde 2 Masses, wherof the Lorde John Fox, Bisshop of Excester, sange the Ton; and the King had 5 good and true Men of the Village of Ratecliff whiche shewde his Grace the beste Way for to conduyt his Hoste to Newark, whiche knew welle the Countrey, and shewde wher wer Marres, and wher was the River of Trent, and wher wer Vilages or Grovys for Busshements, or strayt Weyes, that the King might conduyt his Hoste the better. Of whiche Guides the King gave 2 to th Erle of Oxinforde to conduyt the Fowarde, and the Remanent reteyned at his Pleasure.

And so in good Order and Array, before 9 of the Clok, beside a Village called Stook, a large Myle out of Newarke, his Fowarde recountrede his Enemyes and Rebells, wher by the Helpe of Almighty God he hadde the Victorye. And ther was taken the Lad [Lambert Simnel (age 10)] that his Rebells callede King Edwarde, whos Name was indede Lambert, by a Vaylent — and a gentil Esquier of the King's Howfe, called Robert Bellingham. And ther was slayne th' Erle of Lincoln John, and dyvers other Gentilmen, and the Viscount Lorde Lovell put to Flight. And ther wer slayne of Engllsshe, Duche, and Irisfhemen iiij M [4000], and that Day the King made 13 Banerctts, and LIJ [52] Knyghts, whos Names ensueth:

Theis bee the Names of the Baneretts. Sir Gilbert Talbot, Sir John Cheyny, Sir William Stow [These III [3] wer made byfor the Batell].

And after the Batell wer made the fame Day: Sir John of Aronndell, Sir Thomas Cokesay, Sir John Forstin, Sir Edmund Benyngfelde, Sir James Blount, Sir Richarde Crofte, Sir Humfrey Stanley, Sir Richarde De La Ver, Sir John Mortymer, Sir William Trouthbek.

The Names of the Knyghts made at the same Bataill: Sir James Audeley, Sir Edwarde Norres, Sir Robert Clifforde, Sir George Opton, Sir Robert Abroughton, Sir John Pafton, Sir Fenry Willougby, Sir Richard Pole, Sir Richard Fitzlewes, Sir Edwarde Abroi, Sir George Lovell, Sir John Longvile, Sir Thomas Terell, Sir Roger Bellyngam, Sir William Carew, Sir William Trouthbek, Sir Thomas Pooli, Sir William Vampaoe, Sir James Harrington, Syr John Devenysshe, Sir John Sabarotts, Sir Thomas Lovell, Sir Humfrey S a vage, Sir Antony' Browne, Sir Thomas Grey, Sir Nicholas Vaux, Sir William Tynvytt, Sir Amyas Pallet, Sir RaufF Langforth, Sir Henry Bould, Sir William Redmyll, Sir Thomas Blount, Robert Cheyny, Sir John Wyndan, Sir John A. Mufgrove, Sir George Nevell, Sir James Parker, Syr Edwarde Darell, Sir Edwarde Pykerynge, Sir Thomas of Wolton, Syr William Sandes, Syr Robert Brandon, Syr Mores Barkley, Sir John Dygby, Sir Raf Shirley, Sir William Litilton, Sir William Norres, Syr Thomas Hanfeide, Sir Chriftofer Wroughton, Syr Thomas Lyn, Sir Mofes Aborongh, Syr Thomas Manyngton