A-level
HISTORY
AQA A-level History Component 2B The Wars of the Roses,
1450–1499 (7042/2B) Updated Test Bank 2026
Materials
For this paper you must have:
• an AQA 16-page answer book.
Instructions
• Use black ink or black ball-point pen.
• Write the information required on the front of your answer book. The Paper Reference is
7042/2B.
• Answer three questions.
In Section A answer Question 01.
In Section B answer two questions.
Information
• The marks for questions are shown in brackets.
• The maximum mark for this paper is 80.
• You will be marked on your ability to:
– use good English
– organise information clearly
– use specialist vocabulary where appropriate.
Advice
• You are advised to spend about:
– 1 hour on Question 01 from Section A
– 45 minutes on each of the two questions answered from Section B.
7042/2B
, 2
Section A
Answer Question 01.
Source A
From ‘The Complaint of the Poor Commons of Kent’, a manifesto addressed to
King Henry VI, by Jack Cade, 4 June 1450, prior to the march on London.
We believe the King, our Sovereign Lord, is betrayed by the limitless greed and malicious
purpose of certain false and unsuitable persons who are around His Highness day and
night. Daily they inform him that good is evil and evil is good. They assert that, at his
pleasure, our Sovereign Lord is above his laws and that he may make them and break
them as he pleases. The contrary is true. 5
These evil advisors say that the commons of England would first destroy the King’s
friends and afterwards the King himself, in order to raise the Duke of York to be king. By
their false means and lies, they make him hate and destroy his friends and cherish false
traitors. These men will not allow anyone to come to the King’s presence for any reason,
without bribes. It should not be so. Any man should be allowed to come to him to ask for 10
the King’s grace or judgement.
We seek remedy for this.
Source B
From an account of 1452 in the ‘Chronicle of England’, a contemporary history written at
Peterborough Abbey by anonymous authors. Henry VI favoured Peterborough Abbey.
Source B cannot be reproduced here due to third-party copyright restrictions
Source B demonstrates that military force was used to resolve a political dispute,
which suggests challenges were very severe.
, 3
Source C
From a letter sent to Thomas Bourchier, Archbishop of Canterbury, from the
Duke of York and his followers, 20 May 1455. This was allegedly intercepted by the
Duke of Somerset.
We hear that there is great rumour and wonder at our coming. Many doubts have been
created in the mind of His Royal Majesty concerning our faith and duty to His Highness.
Yet neither by our coming, nor by our manner, do we intend to cause anything other
than to honour our Sovereign Lord and protect his prosperity and welfare.
We leave aside our own particular quarrels, which we shall never value above the duty, 5
faith, love and affection which we owe to our Sovereign Lord and to his realm and
people. We understand those who have called the council at the King’s town of
Leicester have alleged they have done so for the safety of the King. This, by common
assumption, implies mistrust of some persons. We, therefore, his true and humble
liegemen, have joined together to act, in accordance with our duty, for the safety of the 10
King. We propose, with God’s grace, to clear ourselves of this mistrust.
0 1 With reference to these sources and your understanding of the historical context,
assess the value of these three sources to an historian studying challenges to Henry VI
in the years 1450 to 1455.
[30 marks]
Turn over for Section B
Turn over ►
HISTORY
AQA A-level History Component 2B The Wars of the Roses,
1450–1499 (7042/2B) Updated Test Bank 2026
Materials
For this paper you must have:
• an AQA 16-page answer book.
Instructions
• Use black ink or black ball-point pen.
• Write the information required on the front of your answer book. The Paper Reference is
7042/2B.
• Answer three questions.
In Section A answer Question 01.
In Section B answer two questions.
Information
• The marks for questions are shown in brackets.
• The maximum mark for this paper is 80.
• You will be marked on your ability to:
– use good English
– organise information clearly
– use specialist vocabulary where appropriate.
Advice
• You are advised to spend about:
– 1 hour on Question 01 from Section A
– 45 minutes on each of the two questions answered from Section B.
7042/2B
, 2
Section A
Answer Question 01.
Source A
From ‘The Complaint of the Poor Commons of Kent’, a manifesto addressed to
King Henry VI, by Jack Cade, 4 June 1450, prior to the march on London.
We believe the King, our Sovereign Lord, is betrayed by the limitless greed and malicious
purpose of certain false and unsuitable persons who are around His Highness day and
night. Daily they inform him that good is evil and evil is good. They assert that, at his
pleasure, our Sovereign Lord is above his laws and that he may make them and break
them as he pleases. The contrary is true. 5
These evil advisors say that the commons of England would first destroy the King’s
friends and afterwards the King himself, in order to raise the Duke of York to be king. By
their false means and lies, they make him hate and destroy his friends and cherish false
traitors. These men will not allow anyone to come to the King’s presence for any reason,
without bribes. It should not be so. Any man should be allowed to come to him to ask for 10
the King’s grace or judgement.
We seek remedy for this.
Source B
From an account of 1452 in the ‘Chronicle of England’, a contemporary history written at
Peterborough Abbey by anonymous authors. Henry VI favoured Peterborough Abbey.
Source B cannot be reproduced here due to third-party copyright restrictions
Source B demonstrates that military force was used to resolve a political dispute,
which suggests challenges were very severe.
, 3
Source C
From a letter sent to Thomas Bourchier, Archbishop of Canterbury, from the
Duke of York and his followers, 20 May 1455. This was allegedly intercepted by the
Duke of Somerset.
We hear that there is great rumour and wonder at our coming. Many doubts have been
created in the mind of His Royal Majesty concerning our faith and duty to His Highness.
Yet neither by our coming, nor by our manner, do we intend to cause anything other
than to honour our Sovereign Lord and protect his prosperity and welfare.
We leave aside our own particular quarrels, which we shall never value above the duty, 5
faith, love and affection which we owe to our Sovereign Lord and to his realm and
people. We understand those who have called the council at the King’s town of
Leicester have alleged they have done so for the safety of the King. This, by common
assumption, implies mistrust of some persons. We, therefore, his true and humble
liegemen, have joined together to act, in accordance with our duty, for the safety of the 10
King. We propose, with God’s grace, to clear ourselves of this mistrust.
0 1 With reference to these sources and your understanding of the historical context,
assess the value of these three sources to an historian studying challenges to Henry VI
in the years 1450 to 1455.
[30 marks]
Turn over for Section B
Turn over ►
