Henry VI – Part One

Factional disputes in England

By the time he was 15 years old Henry VI was regularly attending Council meetings. Before he was 18 he had planned the foundation of colleges at Eton and Cambridge. However, he is said to have shown a feebleness of mind and spirit and a gentleness of nature little suited to the fierce rivalries of the time. Those in favour spoke of his remarkable intelligence whilst others, probably those out of favour, described him as an idiot. This was a time when the Crown was deeply in debt and the highest nobles extremely rich.

Cardinal Beaufort

Cardinal Beaufort, said to be the richest man in England, propped up with cash both the Court and the Council and was thus indispensable; he and an associate, the Earl of Suffolk, had great influence on government policy. The fallout in 1426 between Cardinal Beaufort and Duke Humphrey had eventually been resolved by the intervention of Duke John. However, in 1441 with John dead the Cardinal turned once again on Duke Humphrey, who was now married to Eleanor Cobham. The Duke himself was too powerful to attack so the Cardinal focused on his wife, who was accused of witchcraft. She was found guilty, made to walk three days through the streets of London and then consigned to prison for life. In this trial of strength between two leading Lancastrians it was Beaufort who was triumphant.

The ever lengthening list of losses in France was disastrous for the national pride of England. Ordinary folk remembered Crecy, Poitiers and Argincourt. Where was the fruit of these glorious victories? What profit had there been from the enormous sums raised by taxation? Who was responsible for the war going so badly? These questions came more and more to the fore.