OCR Specification focus:
‘the Leicester Parliament; the Southampton Plot (1415); developments in Government’
Richard II’s deposition had left England politically unsettled. By 1415, Henry V sought to consolidate authority, suppress dissent, and strengthen governance ahead of his campaigns abroad.
The Leicester Parliament, 1414–1415
The Leicester Parliament was a crucial session of 1414–1415 in which Henry V consolidated his position as king and strengthened his administrative structures.
The Great Hall of Leicester Castle, a principal setting for parliamentary meetings when sessions were summoned to Leicester. Its long timbered hall conveys how crown, lords and commons convened outside Westminster when needed. This image provides architectural context for the Leicester gathering referenced in the specification. Source
Key Developments
Legislation on Lollardy: Henry V reinforced laws against heresy, marking his determination to uphold orthodoxy and stability.
Financial Grants: Parliament approved taxation to fund Henry’s French campaigns, showing cooperation between Crown and Commons.
Administrative Reform: Efforts were made to address corruption and inefficiency within royal government, emphasising accountability.
Parliament: The legislative assembly in medieval England, composed of Lords and Commons, that advised the king and granted taxation.
The Leicester Parliament highlighted Henry’s approach of combining religious orthodoxy, military preparation, and institutional reform to underpin his authority.
The Southampton Plot, 1415
Background
In July 1415, as Henry V prepared for his campaign in France, a conspiracy was uncovered at Southampton. Its aim was to overthrow Henry and replace him with Edmund Mortimer, Earl of March, who had a rival claim to the throne through the Mortimer line.
Conspirators
Richard, Earl of Cambridge (brother-in-law of the king).
Henry Scrope, Baron Scrope of Masham, a trusted royal servant.
Sir Thomas Grey of Heton, a northern knight.
Aims and Motivations
To depose Henry V in favour of Edmund Mortimer.
Motivated by dynastic rivalry and dissatisfaction with Henry’s centralising policies.
Possibly influenced by disaffected nobles who had lost influence under Henry’s firm rule.
Discovery and Suppression
Edmund Mortimer himself revealed the plot to Henry, demonstrating loyalty to the king.
The conspirators were arrested swiftly at Southampton.
They were executed before Henry’s departure for France, signalling that treason would be met with uncompromising severity.
The Bargate, the medieval north gate of Southampton, where Richard, earl of Cambridge, and Henry Scrope were executed in August 1415 for the Southampton Plot. The location illustrates Henry V’s decisive repression of conspiracy before the French campaign. This photograph provides topographical context directly tied to the plot’s outcome. Source
Treason: The crime of betraying one’s sovereign or country, especially by attempting to overthrow the ruler.
The Southampton Plot reinforced Henry’s legitimacy and decisive kingship, as he acted quickly and ruthlessly to suppress threats before launching his campaign.
Developments in Government
Consolidation of Royal Authority
Henry V’s handling of Parliament and conspiracy demonstrated his ability to enforce centralised royal control.
The front (enthroned) side of Henry V’s ‘Golden’ Great Seal, used to authenticate royal grants and letters patent. It exemplifies how royal government validated decisions in Henry’s reign—linking ideology and administration. (The National Archives page also discusses the document the seal authenticated; this extra detail is beyond the syllabus but helpful for context.) Source
Key Features of Government Reform
Council of the King: Henry relied on a trusted inner council to advise him, limiting opportunities for factionalism.
Financial Management: Parliament’s cooperation in granting subsidies showed Henry’s skill in securing resources for war.
Legal and Religious Authority: By acting against heresy and rebellion simultaneously, Henry tied the Crown’s authority to both justice and orthodoxy.
Promotion of Loyalty: Nobles such as Edmund Mortimer were drawn into Henry’s orbit, rewarded for their loyalty despite their dynastic claims.
Broader Significance
The suppression of the Southampton Plot just before the campaign of Agincourt (1415) highlighted Henry’s determination to leave no internal opposition behind.
His reforms in governance provided the structural support for the successful war effort in France.
By enforcing discipline at home, Henry projected an image of an unquestioned ruler, which enhanced his prestige abroad.
The Interconnection of Parliament, Plot, and Reform
Leicester Parliament laid the legislative and financial groundwork for Henry’s policies.
Southampton Plot revealed the fragility of dynastic politics but also strengthened Henry by eliminating traitors.
Developments in government tied both Parliament and the suppression of conspiracy into a coherent strategy of reinforcing monarchy.
In essence, 1415 was a pivotal year in which Henry V balanced domestic reform and military ambition, establishing a government strong enough to support his campaigns abroad. The Leicester Parliament demonstrated parliamentary cooperation, the Southampton Plot tested his security, and his government reforms strengthened his position as a monarch prepared for war and determined to enforce unity.
FAQ
Although Mortimer was the intended figurehead for the conspirators, he informed Henry V of the plot rather than joining it. This act demonstrated his loyalty and removed suspicions about his dynastic claim. Mortimer’s decision also reinforced Henry’s authority, as it turned a potential rival into a visible supporter.
Southampton was the embarkation point for Henry V’s army preparing to invade France in 1415. The concentration of troops, nobles, and supplies created a moment of vulnerability. A conspiracy exposed here would directly threaten the campaign. Suppressing the plot at Southampton itself symbolically reassured the army before departure.
Henry IV often struggled with parliaments, facing challenges over finance and legitimacy.
In contrast, Henry V achieved greater cooperation, securing taxation smoothly.
The Leicester Parliament demonstrated a more confident monarch who could combine strong demands with parliamentary consent. This contrast highlighted the consolidation of power under Henry V compared with his father.
The swift and public executions of high-ranking men such as Scrope and Cambridge signalled that no status guaranteed immunity from royal justice. It reinforced that loyalty was expected above kinship or personal grievances. This message deterred wavering nobles from entertaining treasonous plots, especially during wartime preparations.
Henry’s emphasis on efficiency in government provided stable foundations for war.
Financial management: Parliament’s grants secured the necessary funds for the expedition.
Administrative reliability: Streamlining offices reduced corruption, ensuring supplies reached the army.
Political stability: By neutralising domestic threats, Henry minimised distractions abroad.
These reforms meant the campaign began with both political unity at home and logistical support abroad.
Practice Questions
Question 1 (2 marks):
Who was revealed as the intended replacement for Henry V in the Southampton Plot of 1415?
Mark Scheme:
1 mark for identifying Edmund Mortimer.
1 additional mark if the answer specifies Earl of March.
Question 2 (6 marks):
Explain how the Leicester Parliament and the Southampton Plot of 1415 helped Henry V to strengthen his authority as king.
Mark Scheme:
Up to 2 marks for explaining the role of the Leicester Parliament:
e.g. granting taxation for the French campaign (1 mark).
e.g. reinforcing laws against heresy and showing cooperation between king and parliament (1 mark).
Up to 2 marks for explaining the impact of the Southampton Plot:
e.g. Mortimer revealed the conspiracy, showing loyalty and undermining the rebels (1 mark).
e.g. executions demonstrated Henry’s decisive suppression of treason (1 mark).
Up to 2 marks for linking both events to the strengthening of royal authority:
e.g. Henry combined parliamentary cooperation with ruthless punishment of opposition to consolidate power before Agincourt (1 mark).
e.g. these actions showed both political skill and uncompromising kingship (1 mark).
