The exact link between the Beauforts and particularly Edmund Beaufort and the young Thomas Vaughan is not known, he may or may not have known Vaughan personally, it may be that as a young boy, he was placed as a page in one of Beaufort’s households, but as he grew into adulthood it was Edmund Beaufort, along with Adam Moleyns, Bishop of Chichester, who sponsored his claim for denizenship, this granted Vaughan rights that all Englishmen had, that is protection under the law, being able to own and dispose of property and take legal action in the English courts.
In the years that Thomas Vaughan grew from a boy into a man, Edmund Beaufort had made a name for himself in France as a commander of English forces following his alleged affair with the widowed Catherine of Valois, it has been speculated that the baby was born to Catherine in 1431 was Beaufort’s, an idea based on the fact he was named Edmund! This ‘dalliance’ with the queen did not harm Beaufort's career, he was continually given important posts in France, created Earl of Dorset and Knight of the Garter in 1438. He controversially replaced Richard Duke of York as Lieutenant of France in 1447, resulting in great animosity between the two men.
By this time Thomas Vaughan was in his early twenties, he had worked his way up the administrative ladder eventually being responsible for managing and receiving all the revenue of estates in Abergavenny. In 1431, while Vaughan was in Wales keeping the peace, counting taxes and pushing papers around his desk, in Windsor Castle Owen Tudor had made his way into Catherine of Valois bed, within two years their affair would result in the birth of two boys, both would change the course of history. In the years 1446 to 1448 Thomas Vaughan arrived at court, his appointment as Esquire to the twenty-six-year-old Henry VI corresponds with Edmund Beaufort becoming the Duke of Somerset. On the 12th June 1446 Vaughan became custodian of the Beauchamp estates in Herefordshire on the death, that same month, of Henry Beauchamp and it was about this time that both Edmund and Jasper Tudor arrived at the court of their half-brother Henry VI. Thomas Vaughan’s last appointment of the decade was as councillor to Jasper, the younger of the Tudor brothers.
Four years earlier, following the death of their mother, Catherine of Valois, the two boys had been placed under the care of Katherine de la Pole, and it was she who introduced and encouraged the relationship with Henry VI, this was more to do with lack of money to continue their support, rather than noticing that they were a couple of likely candidates for the ‘Wales Got Talent’ contest. Henry accepted Edmund and Jasper Tudor into his court, it may have been for dynastic reasons or personal reasons, no one really knows, although it must have been of some comfort to a quiet and retiring king to have brothers on whom he thought he could rely.
The boy's father, Owain ap Marededd ap Tudur’s origins, just like Thomas Vaughan’s, are somewhat vague, he is said to have arrived at the court of Henry V in 1415, but at some point, he was under the command of the Welsh warrior Dafydd Gam, the maternal grandfather of the Vaughans of Tretower and a staunch opponent of Owain Glyndwr. Tudor’s affair with Catherine of Valois had been conducted away from court and resulted in a number of other children, besides Edmund and Jasper. The twenty or so years that covered the Tudor son's adolescence under the control of the aforementioned Katherine de la Pole appears to have been unremarkable and prior to them being formally recognised as Henry VI’s legitimate uterine brothers in 1452 and their ennoblement as earls of Richmond and Pembroke, their ‘Welshness’ can be called into question, Edmund, it seems, had no connection with the Welsh until after his marriage to the teenage Margaret Beaufort in 1452, and neither did Jasper until he moved into Pembroke Castle and took up Lancaster's cause.
In 1450 Henry VI had been on the throne of England for twenty-eight years, and although the Yorkist leaders and the English people still had a fondness for their king they had come to dislike what Henry’s government and those within his court stood for, there was discontent among the people of the countryside, a breakdown in law and order and civil unrest, two men, Richard Duke of York and one Jack Cade, were prepared to stand up a be counted.
Vaughan was now in London, he was there to take up his new post as Master of the King’s Ordnance, which began on the 23rd June 1450, he may have arrived in the early months of that year, maybe between the time of the execution of William de la Pole, the much disliked Duke of Suffolk, who met his death on board ship off the coast of Kent and the arrival of Jack Cade’s men.
It was a city that was about to be plunged into turmoil and whose streets would run red with blood.
In the years that Thomas Vaughan grew from a boy into a man, Edmund Beaufort had made a name for himself in France as a commander of English forces following his alleged affair with the widowed Catherine of Valois, it has been speculated that the baby was born to Catherine in 1431 was Beaufort’s, an idea based on the fact he was named Edmund! This ‘dalliance’ with the queen did not harm Beaufort's career, he was continually given important posts in France, created Earl of Dorset and Knight of the Garter in 1438. He controversially replaced Richard Duke of York as Lieutenant of France in 1447, resulting in great animosity between the two men.
By this time Thomas Vaughan was in his early twenties, he had worked his way up the administrative ladder eventually being responsible for managing and receiving all the revenue of estates in Abergavenny. In 1431, while Vaughan was in Wales keeping the peace, counting taxes and pushing papers around his desk, in Windsor Castle Owen Tudor had made his way into Catherine of Valois bed, within two years their affair would result in the birth of two boys, both would change the course of history. In the years 1446 to 1448 Thomas Vaughan arrived at court, his appointment as Esquire to the twenty-six-year-old Henry VI corresponds with Edmund Beaufort becoming the Duke of Somerset. On the 12th June 1446 Vaughan became custodian of the Beauchamp estates in Herefordshire on the death, that same month, of Henry Beauchamp and it was about this time that both Edmund and Jasper Tudor arrived at the court of their half-brother Henry VI. Thomas Vaughan’s last appointment of the decade was as councillor to Jasper, the younger of the Tudor brothers.
Four years earlier, following the death of their mother, Catherine of Valois, the two boys had been placed under the care of Katherine de la Pole, and it was she who introduced and encouraged the relationship with Henry VI, this was more to do with lack of money to continue their support, rather than noticing that they were a couple of likely candidates for the ‘Wales Got Talent’ contest. Henry accepted Edmund and Jasper Tudor into his court, it may have been for dynastic reasons or personal reasons, no one really knows, although it must have been of some comfort to a quiet and retiring king to have brothers on whom he thought he could rely.
The boy's father, Owain ap Marededd ap Tudur’s origins, just like Thomas Vaughan’s, are somewhat vague, he is said to have arrived at the court of Henry V in 1415, but at some point, he was under the command of the Welsh warrior Dafydd Gam, the maternal grandfather of the Vaughans of Tretower and a staunch opponent of Owain Glyndwr. Tudor’s affair with Catherine of Valois had been conducted away from court and resulted in a number of other children, besides Edmund and Jasper. The twenty or so years that covered the Tudor son's adolescence under the control of the aforementioned Katherine de la Pole appears to have been unremarkable and prior to them being formally recognised as Henry VI’s legitimate uterine brothers in 1452 and their ennoblement as earls of Richmond and Pembroke, their ‘Welshness’ can be called into question, Edmund, it seems, had no connection with the Welsh until after his marriage to the teenage Margaret Beaufort in 1452, and neither did Jasper until he moved into Pembroke Castle and took up Lancaster's cause.
In 1450 Henry VI had been on the throne of England for twenty-eight years, and although the Yorkist leaders and the English people still had a fondness for their king they had come to dislike what Henry’s government and those within his court stood for, there was discontent among the people of the countryside, a breakdown in law and order and civil unrest, two men, Richard Duke of York and one Jack Cade, were prepared to stand up a be counted.
Vaughan was now in London, he was there to take up his new post as Master of the King’s Ordnance, which began on the 23rd June 1450, he may have arrived in the early months of that year, maybe between the time of the execution of William de la Pole, the much disliked Duke of Suffolk, who met his death on board ship off the coast of Kent and the arrival of Jack Cade’s men.
It was a city that was about to be plunged into turmoil and whose streets would run red with blood.
This conflict came to be known as Cade’s Rebellion and it was one of the most important uprisings to take place in England since the Peasants Revolt some sixty-nine years earlier. Cade’s attempted to come to some sort of agreement along the diplomatic route when he presented, prior to the uprising, Fifteen Articles of Complaint, of which author Michael Miller writes.
“They were an eloquent and detailed description of the people's feelings at the time, and showed a great ability of expression. Alienation of the Crown's property
and the half-hearted enforcement of Resumption Statutes lead to the natural corollaries that the Crown could not pay its debts, and the enrichment of the undeserving had made them arrogant and tyrannical.The overbearing attitude of the King's favourites, and their corrupt ways, was insufferable”
But these were dismissed and battle commenced.
The taking of London was a success for Cade, his forces had stormed the Tower of London, but had failed to take control of it. By the first week of July, a number of important kings' men were executed and by the 5th the rebels left the city threatening to return the following day. Later pardons were offered and Cade and his men began their return journey home. Vaughan, as part of Henry VI’s household, would have been aware that Cade was now branded a traitor and a price placed on his head, he may have even seen Cade’s decapitated head perched high on a spike if he crossed over London Bridge. Henry and his court learnt nothing from Cade's rebellion, and Miller rather amusingly writes:
‘King Henry VI and his Court, for want of anything constructive to do, went on Royal Progresses through the Midlands’
“They were an eloquent and detailed description of the people's feelings at the time, and showed a great ability of expression. Alienation of the Crown's property
and the half-hearted enforcement of Resumption Statutes lead to the natural corollaries that the Crown could not pay its debts, and the enrichment of the undeserving had made them arrogant and tyrannical.The overbearing attitude of the King's favourites, and their corrupt ways, was insufferable”
But these were dismissed and battle commenced.
The taking of London was a success for Cade, his forces had stormed the Tower of London, but had failed to take control of it. By the first week of July, a number of important kings' men were executed and by the 5th the rebels left the city threatening to return the following day. Later pardons were offered and Cade and his men began their return journey home. Vaughan, as part of Henry VI’s household, would have been aware that Cade was now branded a traitor and a price placed on his head, he may have even seen Cade’s decapitated head perched high on a spike if he crossed over London Bridge. Henry and his court learnt nothing from Cade's rebellion, and Miller rather amusingly writes:
‘King Henry VI and his Court, for want of anything constructive to do, went on Royal Progresses through the Midlands’
Thomas Vaughan, as Master of the King’s Ordnance, had under his direct control all weapons within the Tower of London. The building in which the business of Ordnance was conducted was situated in a set of small houses behind the tower on the northwest side of the inner ward, Vaughan must have been quick to realise the dangers of its position during Cade’s revolt, if Cade's men had taken the Tower it would have been easy for them to gain access, via this office and take possession of a large amount of weaponry. With this in mind Vaughan petition the king stating
“for lack whereof there hath grown great hurt, and daily doth, unto said ordnance…..praying for a certain assignment of certain space of the Tower liberties”
Henry, it seems, agreed with Vaughan and his new office was built in a safer position the south side of the inner ward, which incidentally accidentally burnt down in 1788.
Thomas Vaughan was the first man to be offered the post of Master of King’s Ordnance, previous to this there was no such position. The Office of Ordnance existed from around 1414, a direct result of Henry V’s French wars. The Master of the King’s Ordnance was a specific role, proof you could say that Vaughan was now a well-respected member of Henry’s household, he would hold the position for the rest of his life. Three years later, in 1453, Henry VI granted Garlek House, situated on Brook Street, Stepney to Vaughan, the house was not far from Ratcliff Cross, an area that was used for the purposes of collecting the customs on goods that were unloaded from trading vessels on the Thames.
The house was said to have been ‘a meeting place for the influential.” men like Sir John Fogge, and John Scott, both Lancastrian adherents who, like
Vaughan defected to the other side.
“for lack whereof there hath grown great hurt, and daily doth, unto said ordnance…..praying for a certain assignment of certain space of the Tower liberties”
Henry, it seems, agreed with Vaughan and his new office was built in a safer position the south side of the inner ward, which incidentally accidentally burnt down in 1788.
Thomas Vaughan was the first man to be offered the post of Master of King’s Ordnance, previous to this there was no such position. The Office of Ordnance existed from around 1414, a direct result of Henry V’s French wars. The Master of the King’s Ordnance was a specific role, proof you could say that Vaughan was now a well-respected member of Henry’s household, he would hold the position for the rest of his life. Three years later, in 1453, Henry VI granted Garlek House, situated on Brook Street, Stepney to Vaughan, the house was not far from Ratcliff Cross, an area that was used for the purposes of collecting the customs on goods that were unloaded from trading vessels on the Thames.
The house was said to have been ‘a meeting place for the influential.” men like Sir John Fogge, and John Scott, both Lancastrian adherents who, like
Vaughan defected to the other side.
The events of years between 1450 and 1459 can be equated to a giant roller coaster ride, with both sides at differing times, riding the front car.
Following Cade’s rebellion the country was plunged into chaos, in 1451 England lost the French province of Guyenne, in 1452 Bordeaux was retaken, but by the following year it was lost again, this left only Calais as England's the last remaining French territory.
This loss was a devastating blow to the country as a whole but it was the straw that broke the camel’s back, poor Henry VI went out of his mind. The king’s illness would be the first of a number of such occurrences, the cause can only be speculated, was it a defective Valois gene, was it the shock of the loss of French lands or was he just a sensitive soul whose coping mechanism kicked in in times of stress.
Either way, it left the government taking the strain.
Richard Duke of York, the ‘leader of the opposition’, had been effectively exiled, if he wasn’t in France he was in Ireland. When the king was taken ill it was agreed that York should become Protector of the Realm, a post which he took up in 1454 but lost again in the January of 1455. When King Henry VI 'regained his senses,' Edmund Beaufort was given back his former post, and matters were made worse when Beaufort was given the Captaincy of Calais, which really rubbed York up the wrong way. It was at this time York gained, as an ally, Richard Neville Earl of Warwick. Warwick, like York, was not on friendly terms with Edmund Beaufort, he was in dispute over lands in Wales. Beaufort, during the king’s illness, was more or less in complete control of government and this disadvantaged Warwick, frustrated and angry he joined York’s cause.
In the second half of 1455, partly as a result of the wars with France and the deteriorating state of the wool trade, King Henry’s Parliament issued an Act of Resumption, which they considered would ease the strain on the royal finances. Thomas Vaughan was among a number of nobles who were granted an exemption from this act.
“Provided also that this Act of Resumption shall not extend to be prejudicial to Thomas Vaughan, esquire, by whatever name he is called, with regard to a grant made by us to him for term of his life, of a messuage and certain housed and gardens in Colman Street, London; or with regard to a grant made ny su to him of a messuage called Garlic, with an attached garden, in the Parish of Stepney, in the County of Middlesex: but that our said grants and letters patent individually made of the aforesaid shall be good and effectual to the said Thomas, according to the tenor and purport of the same grants and letters patent, notwithstanding the said act”
The exemption enabled Vaughan to hold onto Garlek House until the early part of 1457 when it became the property of the crown. That year Vaughan was made Member of Parliament for Marlborough and Justice of the Peace for Middlesex, before the year was out Garlek House was regranted jointly to him and Jasper Tudor.
Following Cade’s rebellion the country was plunged into chaos, in 1451 England lost the French province of Guyenne, in 1452 Bordeaux was retaken, but by the following year it was lost again, this left only Calais as England's the last remaining French territory.
This loss was a devastating blow to the country as a whole but it was the straw that broke the camel’s back, poor Henry VI went out of his mind. The king’s illness would be the first of a number of such occurrences, the cause can only be speculated, was it a defective Valois gene, was it the shock of the loss of French lands or was he just a sensitive soul whose coping mechanism kicked in in times of stress.
Either way, it left the government taking the strain.
Richard Duke of York, the ‘leader of the opposition’, had been effectively exiled, if he wasn’t in France he was in Ireland. When the king was taken ill it was agreed that York should become Protector of the Realm, a post which he took up in 1454 but lost again in the January of 1455. When King Henry VI 'regained his senses,' Edmund Beaufort was given back his former post, and matters were made worse when Beaufort was given the Captaincy of Calais, which really rubbed York up the wrong way. It was at this time York gained, as an ally, Richard Neville Earl of Warwick. Warwick, like York, was not on friendly terms with Edmund Beaufort, he was in dispute over lands in Wales. Beaufort, during the king’s illness, was more or less in complete control of government and this disadvantaged Warwick, frustrated and angry he joined York’s cause.
In the second half of 1455, partly as a result of the wars with France and the deteriorating state of the wool trade, King Henry’s Parliament issued an Act of Resumption, which they considered would ease the strain on the royal finances. Thomas Vaughan was among a number of nobles who were granted an exemption from this act.
“Provided also that this Act of Resumption shall not extend to be prejudicial to Thomas Vaughan, esquire, by whatever name he is called, with regard to a grant made by us to him for term of his life, of a messuage and certain housed and gardens in Colman Street, London; or with regard to a grant made ny su to him of a messuage called Garlic, with an attached garden, in the Parish of Stepney, in the County of Middlesex: but that our said grants and letters patent individually made of the aforesaid shall be good and effectual to the said Thomas, according to the tenor and purport of the same grants and letters patent, notwithstanding the said act”
The exemption enabled Vaughan to hold onto Garlek House until the early part of 1457 when it became the property of the crown. That year Vaughan was made Member of Parliament for Marlborough and Justice of the Peace for Middlesex, before the year was out Garlek House was regranted jointly to him and Jasper Tudor.
The roller coaster ride continued and the tension mounted but eventually it all came to blows at St Albans, considered by some, to be the first battle of the civil war. In a battle that lasted just one hour, a number of notable Lancastrian nobles including, Henry Percy, Thomas Clifford, and Thomas Vaughan’s patron, Edmund Beaufort were killed. After the battle Henry VI was captured, York assured Henry of his loyalty and along with Warwick accompanied the king to London. Just under two months later, at the beginning of July the king opened Parliament and following that Henry, along with Margaret and their son were moved to Hertford Castle. That November saw the Duke of York appointed as Protector for a second time, and just like the first protectorate it was short, it ended in the last week of February 1456, but York remained an important member of the Royal Council. Three very trouble years ensued and the end of which the Duke of York, with Richard Neville as his enforcer, would make his play for the crown of England.
Between April and the October of 1459, Thomas Vaughan had come to the decision that he would no longer support the Lancastrian cause, Ralph A Griffiths, professor at Swansea University states the reason for this was “ the approaching conflict between Queen Margaret and Richard, duke of York.” Griffiths also states that Vaughan was at Ludford, and fled the country with the main Yorkist leaders as they went into exile. The Duke of York and his son Edmund of Rutland headed for Ireland and Richard Neville, his father and York’s eldest son Edward, later Edward IV fled to Calais, as did Thomas Vaughan, where Warwick had held onto his position as Captain of the town.
Nine months later Thomas Vaughan would return to England, and his new life under the Yorkist banner would begin.
Between April and the October of 1459, Thomas Vaughan had come to the decision that he would no longer support the Lancastrian cause, Ralph A Griffiths, professor at Swansea University states the reason for this was “ the approaching conflict between Queen Margaret and Richard, duke of York.” Griffiths also states that Vaughan was at Ludford, and fled the country with the main Yorkist leaders as they went into exile. The Duke of York and his son Edmund of Rutland headed for Ireland and Richard Neville, his father and York’s eldest son Edward, later Edward IV fled to Calais, as did Thomas Vaughan, where Warwick had held onto his position as Captain of the town.
Nine months later Thomas Vaughan would return to England, and his new life under the Yorkist banner would begin.
