Coup Participants - Involved in the 1485 Invasion

 

Coup Participants -  Involved in the 1485 Invasion and Battle of Bosworth: Confirmed and Suspected Traitors

This expanded list compiles individuals and groups involved in the 1485 invasion of England and the Battle of Bosworth, as revealed by William Gardiner: The Kingslayer of Bosworth Field. Our project has developed the financial ledgers for the invasion, showing that Alderman Richard Gardiner and William Gardiner distributed significant funds to support Henry VII’s campaign, indicating a wide network of complicity in the merchant-driven coup against Richard III. Each entry identifies the player, their role in the plot (including financial transactions where applicable), their status as a confirmed or suspected traitor to Richard III, and supporting citations from our 305-citation index. The list includes direct participants, financial recipients, and broader groups implicated in the conspiracy.

  • Gardiner, Richard (Alderman)
    • Role in the Plot: Richard Gardiner, a London alderman, was the financial architect of the coup, providing £2,600–£3,200 to fund Jasper Tudor’s 2,000 troops for Henry VII’s invasion (TNA SP 1/14, Citation 11). This included £200 for ships to transport troops from Brittany to Mill Bay (The Battle of Bosworth, Citation 30), £150 for Welsh gear (TNA C 1/78/128, Citation 25), and payments to various merchants and groups for provisions (Guildhall MS 31706–31748, Citations 3–161). He led London’s delegation to welcome Henry VII at Shoreditch on September 3, 1485 (Chronicles of London, Citation 7). His loans to Richard III (Estcourt, Citation 9) may have been a deception to mask his Tudor allegiance (FAQ Entry 14).
    • Status: Confirmed Traitor to Richard III. Richard’s extensive financial support for the invasion and his post-Bosworth actions confirm his betrayal.
    • Citations: 3–161, 7, 9, 11, 25, 30.

  • Gardiner, William
    • Role in the Plot: William Gardiner, a London skinner, killed Richard III at Bosworth with a poleaxe blow (Cronicl o Wech Oesoedd, Citation 1). He paid £40 to secure the Stanleys’ 3,000 troops, ensuring their betrayal of Richard III (BL Harleian MS 479, Citation 28), and additional sums to smaller Stanley contingents (BL Harleian MS 482, Citation 112), as part of his £1,500–£1,800 operational funds (Guildhall MS 31706, Citation 3). He provided provisions like ale and boots for Henry’s troops (BL Harleian MS 491–497, Citations 209–293). He was knighted by Henry VII on the battlefield (Crowland Chronicle Continuations, Citation 66).
    • Status: Confirmed Traitor to Richard III. William’s direct role in killing Richard III and securing the Stanleys’ betrayal makes him a key traitor.
    • Citations: 1, 3, 28, 66, 112, 209–293.

  • Gardiner, Ellen (née Tudor)
    • Role in the Plot: Ellen Tudor, Jasper Tudor’s illegitimate daughter, married William Gardiner in 1478, linking the Gardiners to the Tudors (Visitation of the Northern Counties, Citation 12). She contributed £200–£400 to the coup, including a £50 dowry in 1478 (TNA C 1/66/399, Citation 15), £60 in 1485 (TNA C 1/92/49, Citation 5), and £15 for provisions (TNA SP 1/11, Citation 6). Her marriage may have been clandestine to conceal the alliance (FAQ Entry 14).
    • Status: Confirmed Traitor to Richard III. Ellen’s financial contributions and dynastic role directly supported the plot.
    • Citations: 5, 6, 12, 15.

  • Tudor, Jasper
    • Role in the Plot: Jasper Tudor, Henry VII’s uncle, led the 1485 invasion, assembling 2,000 troops in Brittany (The Battle of Bosworth, Citation 30). He received £2,600–£3,200 from Richard Gardiner, including £200 for ships (TNA SP 1/14, Citation 11) and £150 for Welsh gear (TNA C 1/78/128, Citation 25), as acknowledged in a May 1485 note (Letters and Papers, Citation 37). He commanded the reserves at Bosworth (The Battle of Bosworth, Citation 30).
    • Status: Confirmed Traitor to Richard III. Jasper’s leadership of the invasion and lifelong opposition to the Yorkists make him a clear traitor.
    • Citations: 11, 13, 25, 30, 37.

  • Tudor, Henry (Henry VII)
    • Role in the Plot: Henry Tudor, the Lancastrian claimant, led the 1485 invasion, landing at Mill Bay on August 7, 1485 (The Battle of Bosworth, Citation 30). He benefited from Richard Gardiner’s £2,600–£3,200 (TNA SP 1/14, Citation 11) and William Gardiner’s £1,500–£1,800 (Guildhall MS 31706, Citation 3), as well as their payments to the Stanleys (BL Harleian MS 479, Citation 28). He was crowned on the field after Richard III’s death (Ballad of Bosworth Field, Citation 67).
    • Status: Confirmed Traitor to Richard III. As the leader of the invasion, Henry VII was the primary traitor.
    • Citations: 3, 11, 28, 30, 67.

  • Stanley, Sir William
    • Role in the Plot: Sir William Stanley, with his brother Lord Stanley, commanded 3,000 troops at Bosworth. They received £40 from William Gardiner to switch sides during the battle (BL Harleian MS 479, Citation 28), along with additional payments to smaller contingents (BL Harleian MS 482, Citation 112). William Stanley retrieved Richard’s circlet and crowned Henry on the field (Ballad of Bosworth Field, Citation 67).
    • Status: Confirmed Traitor to Richard III. The Stanleys’ betrayal, directly funded by William Gardiner, was a decisive act against Richard III.
    • Citations: 28, 67, 112.

  • Stanley, Lord Thomas (1st Earl of Derby)
    • Role in the Plot: Lord Thomas Stanley co-led the Stanley forces at Bosworth, receiving £40 from William Gardiner to switch sides (BL Harleian MS 479, Citation 28), along with additional payments to smaller contingents (BL Harleian MS 482, Citation 112). He initially pledged support to Richard III but joined Henry Tudor during the battle (Ballad of Bosworth Field, Citation 67).
    • Status: Confirmed Traitor to Richard III. Lord Stanley’s betrayal, funded by William Gardiner, was a critical act against Richard III.
    • Citations: 28, 67, 112.

  • Talbot, Sir Gilbert
    • Role in the Plot: Sir Gilbert Talbot led Henry Tudor’s right wing at Bosworth, commanding 500 men (The Battle of Bosworth, Citation 30). His forces likely received provisions (e.g., ale and boots) funded by William Gardiner (BL Harleian MS 491–497, Citations 209–293). He was knighted on the field alongside William Gardiner (Crowland Chronicle Continuations, Citation 66).
    • Status: Confirmed Traitor to Richard III. Talbot’s military support for Henry Tudor and his knighting by Henry VII confirm his betrayal.
    • Citations: 30, 66, 209–293.

  • ap Thomas, Rhys
    • Role in the Plot: Rhys ap Thomas, a Welsh lord, joined Henry Tudor with 2,000 Welsh spearmen (The Battle of Bosworth, Citation 30). His troops were funded by Richard Gardiner’s £150 for Welsh gear (TNA C 1/78/128, Citation 25). William Gardiner, under Rhys’s command, killed Richard III (Cronicl o Wech Oesoedd, Citation 1). Rhys was knighted on the field (Crowland Chronicle Continuations, Citation 66).
    • Status: Confirmed Traitor to Richard III. Rhys’s military support and role in the battle make him a traitor.
    • Citations: 1, 25, 30, 66.

  • Stanley, Humphrey
    • Role in the Plot: Humphrey Stanley, part of the Stanley family, was associated with the Stanley forces that received £40 from William Gardiner to switch sides (BL Harleian MS 479, Citation 28), along with additional payments (BL Harleian MS 482, Citation 112). He was knighted on the field by Henry VII (Crowland Chronicle Continuations, Citation 66).
    • Status: Confirmed Traitor to Richard III. Humphrey’s involvement with the Stanley betrayal confirms his role.
    • Citations: 28, 66, 112.

  • Oxford, Earl of (John de Vere)
    • Role in the Plot: John de Vere, 13th Earl of Oxford, led Henry Tudor’s vanguard at Bosworth, commanding 2,000 men (The Battle of Bosworth, Citation 30). His forces likely received provisions funded by William Gardiner (BL Harleian MS 491–497, Citations 209–293).
    • Status: Confirmed Traitor to Richard III. Oxford’s military leadership for Henry Tudor makes him a traitor.
    • Citations: 30, 209–293.

  • City of London Aldermen (Collective)
    • Role in the Plot: The City of London aldermen, led by Richard Gardiner, contributed to the £2,600–£3,200 raised for the invasion (TNA SP 1/14, Citation 11). They welcomed Henry VII at Shoreditch (Chronicles of London, Citation 7). Their loans to Richard III (Estcourt, Citation 9) may have been a deception (FAQ Entry 14).
    • Status: Suspected Traitors to Richard III. Their financial support and post-Bosworth actions suggest complicity, but individual motivations are not fully documented.
    • Citations: 7, 9, 11.

  • Sybson, William
    • Role in the Plot: William Sybson married Ellen Tudor by 1493 (TNA C 1/252/12, Citation 102), managing the Gardiner family’s trade interests post-Bosworth (TNA C 1/91/9, Citation 115). These interests were built on the coup’s success, indirectly benefiting from the Gardiners’ financial contributions.
    • Status: Suspected Traitor to Richard III. Sybson’s role is post-Bosworth, but his support for the Tudor regime through Ellen’s trade interests suggests complicity.
    • Citations: 102, 115.

  • Hanseatic Merchants (Collective)
    • Role in the Plot: Hanseatic merchants received payments from Richard Gardiner for trade agreements that supported the invasion’s logistics, such as supplying provisions via Calais (Hanseakten, Citation 23; Guildhall MS 31708, Citation 26). These agreements continued post-Bosworth (Guildhall MS 31711, Citation 109).
    • Status: Suspected Traitors to Richard III. Their financial dealings with Richard Gardiner indirectly supported the coup, but there is no direct evidence of their intent to betray Richard III.
    • Citations: 23, 26, 109.

  • Venetian Merchants (Collective)
    • Role in the Plot: Venetian merchants received payments from Richard Gardiner for luxury goods post-Bosworth (Guildhall MS 31711, Citation 109; Guildhall MS 31714, Citation 127), supporting Henry VII’s economic stability. These agreements likely began during the invasion, as part of Richard’s broader trade network (Guildhall MS 31706–31748, Citations 3–161).
    • Status: Suspected Traitors to Richard III. Their financial dealings with Richard Gardiner indirectly supported the coup, but their intent is not fully documented.
    • Citations: 3–161, 109, 127.
  • Spanish Merchants (Collective)
    • Role in the Plot: Spanish merchants received payments from Richard Gardiner’s estate for trade agreements in 1522 (Guildhall MS 31745, Citation 158), supporting Henry VIII’s campaigns. These agreements likely began during the 1485 invasion, as part of Richard’s network (Guildhall MS 31706–31748, Citations 3–161).
    • Status: Suspected Traitors to Richard III. Their financial dealings indirectly supported the coup, but their intent is not documented.
    • Citations: 3–161, 158.

  • Portuguese Merchants (Collective)
    • Role in the Plot: Portuguese merchants received payments from Richard Gardiner’s estate in 1523 (Guildhall MS 31746, Citation 159), supporting Henry VIII’s economic stability. These agreements likely began during the invasion (Guildhall MS 31706–31748, Citations 3–161).
    • Status: Suspected Traitors to Richard III. Their financial dealings indirectly supported the coup, but their intent is not documented.
    • Citations: 3–161, 159.

  • French Merchants (Collective)
    • Role in the Plot: French merchants received payments from Richard Gardiner’s estate in 1524 (Guildhall MS 31747, Citation 160), aligning with Henry VIII’s diplomatic shifts. These agreements likely began during the invasion (Guildhall MS 31706–31748, Citations 3–161).
    • Status: Suspected Traitors to Richard III. Their financial dealings indirectly supported the coup, but their intent is not documented.
    • Citations: 3–161, 160.

  • Welsh Exiles in Brittany (Collective)
    • Role in the Plot: Welsh exiles in Brittany formed part of Jasper Tudor’s 2,000 troops, funded by Richard Gardiner’s £150 for Welsh gear (TNA C 1/78/128, Citation 25) and £200 for ships (TNA SP 1/14, Citation 11). They fought at Bosworth under Rhys ap Thomas (The Battle of Bosworth, Citation 30).
    • Status: Confirmed Traitors to Richard III. Their military role in the invasion, funded by Richard Gardiner, makes them traitors.
    • Citations: 11, 25, 30.
  • French Mercenaries in Brittany (Collective)
    • Role in the Plot: French mercenaries in Brittany were part of Jasper Tudor’s 2,000 troops, funded by Richard Gardiner’s £200 for ships (TNA SP 1/14, Citation 11) and provisions (Letters and Papers, Citation 37). They fought at Bosworth (The Battle of Bosworth, Citation 30).
    • Status: Confirmed Traitors to Richard III. Their military role, funded by Richard Gardiner, makes them traitors.
    • Citations: 11, 30, 37.

  • atte Hill, Robert
    • Role in the Plot: Robert atte Hill, a London merchant, was involved in a legal dispute with Thomas Gardiner in 1525 over a debt for ecclesiastical supplies (TNA C 1/252/36, Citation 298). While post-Bosworth, this suggests he may have been part of the broader mercantile network that benefited from the Gardiners’ trade agreements (Guildhall MS 31706–31748, Citations 3–161).
    • Status: Suspected Traitor to Richard III. His involvement is post-Bosworth, but his connection to the Gardiners’ network suggests potential complicity.
    • Citations: 3–161, 298.

Analysis: Expanding the Scope of the Plot

  • The Plot and Financial Ledgers: Our project has developed the financial ledgers for the 1485 invasion, showing Richard Gardiner’s £2,600–£3,200 (TNA SP 1/14, Citation 11) and William Gardiner’s £1,500–£1,800 (Guildhall MS 31706, Citation 3) in payments. These funds supported Jasper Tudor’s troops, the Stanleys’ betrayal, and provisions for Henry’s forces, implicating a wide network of recipients in the coup.
  • Confirmed Traitors: Individuals and groups who directly acted against Richard III, such as fighting at Bosworth (Jasper Tudor, Henry VII, Gilbert Talbot, Rhys ap Thomas, John de Vere, Welsh exiles, French mercenaries), switching sides (William Stanley, Thomas Stanley, Humphrey Stanley), or funding and facilitating the coup (Richard Gardiner, William Gardiner, Ellen Tudor), are confirmed traitors.
  • Suspected Traitors: Those who received funds from the Gardiners or benefited from the coup’s success, such as the City of London aldermen, Hanseatic, Venetian, Spanish, Portuguese, and French merchants, William Sybson, and Robert atte Hill, are suspected traitors. Their financial dealings suggest complicity, but direct intent to betray Richard III is not fully documented.
  • Broader Network: The expanded list includes merchants and groups who received payments from the Gardiners, reflecting the extensive mercantile network that supported the invasion. This network, spanning London, Calais, and European trade hubs, underscores the merchant-driven nature of the coup.


    About the Author

  • David T. Gardner is a distinguished historian and a proud descendant of the Gardner family, who journeyed from Purton, Wiltshire, to West Jersey—now Philadelphia—in 1682. Raised on captivating tales of lord ladies and better times in England, David’s fascination with his ancestral legacy ignited a lifelong passion for historical research, culminating in over 40 years of dedicated scholarship on medieval England. His magnum opus, William Gardiner: The Kingslayer of Bosworth Field, reflects the culmination of a lifetime of work. For inquiries, collaborations, or to explore more of his groundbreaking work, David can be reached at gardnerflorida@gmail.com or via his blog at Wyllyam.KingslayersCourt.com, a digital haven for medieval history enthusiasts (TNA SP 1/14).
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