A Fake Prince Lands in Furness History Gets Weird in 1487

Lambert Simnel in Furness: A Pretender’s Gamble

Imagine, if you will, the year is 1487. England, still reeling from the Wars of the Roses—a right royal ruckus that left the country in quite a state, wouldn’t you know. Suddenly, a rumour sweeps the land like a biting northerly wind—a young lad, Lambert Simnel by name, is claiming to be the rightful heir to the throne! Blimey!

Now, here’s the rub. Simnel, you see, wasn’t exactly cut from royal cloth. More likely, he was a commoner, perhaps the son of a craftsman, caught up in a scheme as daft as a brush. But those who weren’t too keen on the new king, Henry VII, well, they were all ears, weren’t they?

Why Did Lambert Simnel Land in Furness?
And where did Simnel and his band of merry men choose to make their grand entrance? Furness, of all places! Picture it: a wild and windswept corner of the north-west coast. Grey skies loom overhead, the wind howls through ancient forests, and the crashing waves of the Irish Sea batter the rugged coastline. Not exactly the place you’d expect a royal pretender to land, is it?

Historians still haven’t quite figured out why Lambert Simnel landed in Furness, but here are a few notions:

A Strategic Hideaway for Lambert Simnel in Furness
Perhaps they fancied a bit of peace and quiet. Furness, miles away from the hustle and bustle of London, would have been a proper hideaway for those plotting against the king. Mist swirling through the valleys, concealing their movements—the only sounds the bleating of sheep and the cries of ravens. A right eerie backdrop for a rebellion.

Yorkist Support and Lambert Simnel in Furness
Or maybe the locals weren’t too fond of Henry VII. There’s speculation that parts of the north remained loyal to the Yorkist cause, and Lambert Simnel’s Furness landing offered hope for a return to the old order. Imagine the whispers in the taverns, furtive glances in the market square—a community caught in the crossfire of royal ambition. A bit of “Tudor Takeover Trouble,” eh?

Lambert Simnel’s Rebellion Ends in Defeat
Sadly for Simnel and his crew, their little escapade went down like a lead balloon. They failed to rally enough support, and King Henry—never known for leniency—put a stop to their shenanigans at the Battle of Stoke in June 1487. One can almost hear the clash of steel, the cries of the wounded, and the thunder of hooves.

What Happened to Lambert Simnel?
As for young Lambert Simnel—luckily for him, he was just a lad. Rather than execution, Henry VII spared him and put him to work in the royal kitchens. From pretender to the throne to pot-washer. What a turn up!

Legacy of the Lambert Simnel Furness Episode
Lambert Simnel’s landing in Furness might seem like a mere footnote in Tudor history, but it’s a cracking yarn. It shows how even the farthest reaches of the kingdom weren’t immune to royal drama. It reminds us that history can be a right rum business, full of twists, turns, and the odd pretender landing in Cumbria!