Henry IV – Illness and two failed rebellions.
‘Oh to gain widespread approval for my new regime!
Oh, yes that is indeed my most earnest, earthly dream!’
Henry IV.
Archbishop Scrope’s rebellion 1405
Richard Scrope, Archbishop of York.
There had been a rebellion led by the Archbishop of York, Richard Scrope in May 1405, who had denounced Henry as a usurper and a wastrel. Another complaint was unnecessarily high levels of taxation. Scrope had amassed a large force and Henry hurried north in order to deal with the emergency. In the event, Scrope was tricked into disbanding his men by the Earl of Westmoreland, a supporter of the king. Westmoreland told Scrope that his demands would be met, but first he must tell his army to disband. Scrope addressed his men and said:
‘You loyal men may take your leave, the king will grant all that we desire!
Go hither to your homes in the towns and villages of this great county of Yorkshire!’
Cheering uproariously and throwing their hats in the air, Scrope’s men departed in high spirits.
‘The Earl of Westmoreland stood with the visor of his helmet down!
Was this to hide an irritated frown?
Nay, Westmoreland knew that by lying, he had committed a grievous sin!
On his face was spread an enormous, devilish grin!
Ralph Neville, 1st Earl of Westmoreland.
Scrope was then promptly arrested by a grinning Westmoreland and held at Pontefract. Grabbing the stunned Archbishop by the shoulder, he said:
‘C’mon you old fool of a traitor!
It’s off with you to Pontefract in chains and the king will deal with you later!’
The Archbishop was brought before the king as soon as he had reached York, and was condemned to death. Executing an Archbishop was no casual undertaking, but Henry would brook no opposition. Indeed, Henry personally led the unfortunate prelate to his place of execution outside York on June 8th. Scrope, a man of great learning and gentle good manners was a popular figure, and many mourned his death.
‘You have executed the holy Archbishop, Richard Scrope!
For a peaceful life thereafter, you King Henry, now have no hope!’
Divine retribution?
Then on that early summer’s day in 1405, with Scrope’s corpse barely cold, a strange thing happened. Henry was struck by a sudden and extremely painful, mysterious ailment. He screamed aloud that his skin was burning and red pustules appeared on his body. The illness soon abated, but there would be regular relapses for the rest of his life. Some, including at least one chronicler thought it to be divine punishment for the execution of Archbishop Scrope.
‘Oh, dear King Henry, the execution of Archbishop Scrope was an event that put you at your ease!
Oh my goodness, how now! Yes, how now, is it that you are afflicted with a terrible skin disease!’
By 1406, Henry had passed through a number of crises and his throne was no longer in any real danger. Nevertheless, he was still a little nervous about antagonising the nobility. Henry allowed the magnates a degree of independence that they had not enjoyed under Richard II.
Percy’s last hurrah!
Would the north ever be at peace? Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland, had once been a loyal supporter of King Henry IV. However, disputes over money had since soured their once cordial relationship. Percy had supported Glendower and more latterly, the rebellion of Archbishop Scrope. His support for Scrope had resulted in the confiscation of his estates and his banishment to Scotland. In early 1408, he returned to England with a small army, hoping that he would be joined by many others. This was not to be, but even at the age of 66 years the spirit of rebellion shone bright within him. On the 19th February, the old earl’s hopes were finally dashed on a snow covered Yorkshire moor by the county sheriff, Thomas Rokeby. Percy was killed and his head was sent south to London, where it was placed to adorn the top of London bridge as a warning of what will befall traitors to the realm.