Simnel, Lambert

views updated Jun 11 2018

Simnel, Lambert (c.1475–c.1535). Simnel, one of the many pretenders to the throne of Henry VII, was put forward as Edward, earl of Warwick, nephew of Richard III, escaped from the Tower. He appears to have been the son of an Oxford tradesman. He was taken up by Richard Simon, a priest, and supported by the Yorkists. In May 1487 he was crowned as Edward VI in Dublin, summoned a parliament, and the following month was brought over to England with a formidable invading force. Henry VII met it at Stoke, 2 miles south-west of Newark, and was victorious. Simnel, a mere pawn, was pardoned and set to work as a scullion in the royal kitchens, living out the rest of his life in safe obscurity. The real earl of Warwick was executed in 1499.

J. A. Cannon

About this article

Lambert Simnel

All Sources -
Updated Aug 24 2016 About encyclopedia.com content Print Topic