Paper 2 Section B/B: Medieval England: the reign of Edward I, 1272–1307

June 2021

Q1: How convincing is Interpretation A about royal finance under Edward I?

Explain your answer based on your contextual knowledge and what it says in Interpretation A.

Answer:

For example, it is convincing because royal finance changed because Edward had a great need for money to fund expensive wars in France, Wales, and Scotland. This meant that he had to come to an agreement with the nobility. So he had to back down on challenging them on what they owned and owed him. He used Parliament to gain power and influence because they could approve taxes, such as the customs duty of 7s 6d on every sack of wool exported through London and 13 other ports. This was ratified by Edward’s first Parliament meeting in 1275. more than one aspect of the interpretation. For example, it is convincing because Edward needed to get back the lands, rights and income which had been taken from the Crown under his weak father, Henry III. He let it be known through the Hundred Rolls Inquiry in 1274 that he wanted to know what people thought they were entitled to own. Edward also minted new coins meaning that the economy was stable. The clipping of coins had damaged England’s economy because people saw the coins were worth less but now this was stopped. The new coinage encouraged trade which led to more duties being paid which in turn gave the King a greater For example, royal finance changed because Edward put a tax on wool in 1275. He got Parliament to increase it when he needed to go to war, such as with Scotland or France. Answers may show understanding/support for interpretation, but the case is For example, the King put a tax on wool.

Q2: Explain what was important about the Church during the reign of Edward I.

Answer:

the consequences of the stated development (the Church during the reign of Edward I) in the broader historical context (Medieval England). This is For example, what was important about Edward’s relations with the church was that there were disputes about taxation, privileges and jurisdiction. The reason Edward fell out with Peckham was because by attacking pluralities he hindered Edward’s main method of adding to the incomes of some of his civil servants. But generally Peckham was loyal and the worst dispute was with Winchelsea who had the power to excommunication. Edward’s anger was probably because the dispute coincided with his troubles in 1297 with the nobility which forced him to back down – a humiliation he never forgave Winchelsea. For example, it was important that Edward I clashed with his Archbishop John Peckham over whether priests should be allowed to hold more than one job within the church. This was known as plurality. Some priests never visited their parishes although they were paid by them. Although Edward agreed in principle, he did not want Peckham to get too powerful. He passed laws such as the 1279 Statute of Mortmain which limited the amount of land the church the identified consequences, supporting by factual knowledge and For example, generally Edward had good relations with the church but he didn’t always get his own way – he wanted Robert Burnell as the new Archbishop of Canterbury but he had to accept John Peckham who became Archbishop of Canterbury in 1279. For example, Edward I was a devout Christian. He had fought in the Crusades for the Christian faith, and he spent a lot of money on new religious buildings

Q3: Write an account of how Edward I conquered Wales.

Answer:

reasoning supported by a range of accurate and detailed factual knowledge and understanding. For example, an explanation of different impacts/ consequences of change in the broader historical context. For example, Edward conquered Wales militarily and then brought in a new political order. Along with the castles that he built to give him military control of Wales he built new towns and encouraged English people to move there. The Welsh were kept out at night. From these new towns with their English settlers, Edward kept control of Wales, and increased his wealth. For example, Edward defeated the Welsh rebels under Llewellyn ap Gruffydd in 1283. He made the English conquest of Wales permanent by constructing quickly a series of castles around Llywelyn’s traditional homeland in Snowdonia and passed the statute of Rhuddlan in 1284 which brought English law to govern Wales. simple understanding of consequence(s) with supported with factual For example, Edward took an army into Wales to defeat Llewellyn ap Gruffydd in 1282–83 and executed him. He then built castles to keep the Welsh under For example, Edward fought against Llewellyn ap Gruffydd in Wales in 1277. should demonstrate their ability to construct and develop a sustained line of reasoning which is coherent, relevant, substantiated and logically structured.

Q4: ‘The main reason for building a fortified manor house at this time was to show the

successful career of its owner.’ How far does a study of Acton Burnell Castle support this statement? Explain your answer. You should refer to Acton Burnell Castle and your contextual knowledge. and AQA will be happy to rectify any omissions of acknowledgements. If you have any queries please contact the Copyright Team.

Answer:

To support their answer students could include aspects of the site such as: location, function, structure, design, people connected with the site, how the site reflects culture, values and fashions of the time and how the site links to important events and/or developments of the specified period. understanding of the site. For example, Robert Burnell was very important to the King. His house – Acton Burnell Castle in Shropshire, and the lands around it showed his successful career. He acted with Edward’s authority whether as a diplomat sorting out problems with the French King for Edward’s lands in Gascony, or taking on the senior nobles through the Quo Warranto Inquiries and the Hundred Rolls investigations which Robert Burnell organised. Edward even trusted him to run the country while the King was away on a Crusade. But Acton Burnell Castle was built for another reason. It was a comfortable country retreat for the Kings Chancellor. He could relax here, amongst friends, family, and away from Answers may suggest that one factor has greater merit. and understanding of the site. For example, Acton Burnell does show the very successful career of Robert Burnell who was a powerful figure in Edward’s government working in the Chancery in London. He became rich under Edward buying up the debts of poor knights. Edward rewarded him for his work with the right to hold a weekly market in his home town of Acton Burnell and annual fairs. He made him Bishop of Bath and Wells in 1275. Edward even tried to have Burnell elected as Archbishop of Canterbury but he would have been a poor choice because he had a mistress and several children. For example, many fortified Manor houses such as Acton Burnell Castle and Stokesey Castle were built not only to show a successful career but also to impress the people of an area with the importance of a local family and enhance its reputation. Robert Burnell makes his Acton Burnell Castle the centre of his estates in Shropshire. He was dedicated to acquiring the ownership of land through his high position to further the long-term interests of his family and their careers, such as those of his younger brothers, Hugh, William, and Philip. He successfully reacquired the estates of his ancestors from the late 1260s. cause(s) by simple reasoning supported with factual knowledge and understanding of the site. For example, Robert Burnell built Acton Burnell Castle and it was impressive because the King, Edward I allowed Burnell to crenelate it. This was a privilege and showed how much Edward valued Burnell. The King allowed him to chop down the royal forest nearby to help with the building of the Castle. The King even held a Parliament at Acton Burnell in Shropshire. For example, Robert Burnell was Edward I’s Chancellor, he was one of the most important men in England. He built Acton Burnell Castle.