Gone Medieval — History Hit

Episode: Plantagenets at War: A Fight for the Throne (Jan 30, 2026)

Host: Matt Lewis
Guest: Dr. Hannes Kleineke (Editor, History of Parliament Trust's House of Commons 1461-1504 project)

Episode Overview

In this episode, Matt Lewis is joined by Dr. Hannes Kleineke to explore the dramatic political struggle during the minority of Henry VI, focusing on the infamous "Parliament of Batts" (1426). Set against the backdrop of a fractious regency, the episode unpacks the personalities and ambitions behind the crisis, the near-collapse of governance, and how Parliament became both the battleground and broker for resolution during this dangerous time.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Succession Crisis and Political Context (01:15–06:33)

• England’s Precarious Position (1426): Following Henry V’s sudden death in 1422, his infant son Henry VI inherited the crowns of England and France. Powerful relatives soon vied for effective control.
• Main Power Players:
  • John, Duke of Bedford — Regent-command over English France.
  • Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester — Appointed Protector in England, characterized as "absolutely the wrong guy for it" (11:40).
  • Cardinal Henry Beaufort, Bishop of Winchester — Wealthy, influential, Chancellor, and key government financier.

“The best way of describing Humphrey is he’s a bit of a shit. Quite simply, a shit. He spends his entire life jostling for more power.”
— Dr. Hannes Kleineke (07:34)

2. The Fault Lines: Personality, Power, and Rivalry (06:34–17:21)

• Humphrey’s Limitations: He lacks the political skill or trustworthiness required, and others doubt his motives from the start.
• Bedford and Gloucester’s Arrangement: Bedford is given France (“the older and more significant monarchy”); Gloucester gets England, but only as a “dummy prize.”
• Cardinal Beaufort’s Role: Acts as stabilizer, attempts good governance, but is also self-interested—Beaufort’s desire for ecclesiastical power clashes with Humphrey’s ambitions.

“Never, ever apply logic or common sense when we’re talking about history.”
— Dr. Hannes Kleineke (14:07)

3. London Bridge Incident and Escalation (17:23–20:32)

• Clash on London Bridge (1425): Near-battle between Humphrey (backed by Londoners) and Beaufort (supported in Southwark).
• Bedford’s Drastic Intervention: The crisis prompts Bedford to leave France and restore order in England.

4. The Parliament of Batts: Setting, Precautions, and Tension (20:32–27:33)

Why Leicester?

• Location Chosen for Safety: To distance proceedings from volatile London factions, Parliament is convened at Leicester Castle.

Security Measures and “Batts”

• Weapon Ban: Delegates told to leave swords and shields behind (as recorded by a London chronicler).
• Inventive Circumvention:
  • Attendees bring wooden bats, stones, and lumps of lead hidden in sleeves.
  • The title “Parliament of Batts” comes from these improvised weapons.

"So they leave their swords at home and instead bring large wooden bats. ... They all know how to handle their wooden clubs.”
— Dr. Hannes Kleineke (24:38)

• Parliament’s Continuing Rituals: “To this day, at the start of every Parliament, the staff busy themselves tying up 650 little silk loops so that any member ... can hang up their swords.” (27:33)

5. The Child King and Parliament’s Objectives (30:48–34:35)

• Henry VI’s Presence: The four-year-old king is present (and later knighted by Bedford), a bizarre but essential symbol of legitimacy.
• Parliament’s Priority: Main task is to achieve a truce or settlement between Humphrey and Beaufort; also to approve funding for ongoing war in France.

"…the first session, which lasts for just over a month ... is entirely eaten up by the squabble between Bedford and Gloucester.”
— Dr. Hannes Kleineke (31:36)

6. Outcomes and Legacy (34:35–41:31)

Peace Brokered (of Sorts)

• Bedford Forces Settlement:
  • Lords swear to uphold any agreement.
  • Humphrey and Beaufort forced to shake hands; “I don’t know what the other hand was doing, but I suspect it might have been grasping the hilt of a dagger...”
• Beaufort Sidelined: Ultimately sent on crusade against the Hussites—“He cannot have been pleased...”
• Humphrey Gains at Home: Humphrey emerges as the political victor, at least temporarily.

Foreign Policy Impact

• Humphrey vs. Beaufort:
  • Humphrey pushes for continued war vs. France, intent on fulfilling Henry V’s ambitions.
  • Beaufort is more financially pragmatic, acknowledging England is “bled dry” and in need of reconciliation or at least peace.
• Shifting Fortunes: The Parliament’s outcome set the tone for several years, but ultimate events—especially Joan of Arc’s rise and the French coronation—overtake English ambitions.

“The war had to end either by victory or by other means. And I suspect...Bedford was a little bit more on the martial side, but he would have seen those realities as well.”
— Dr. Hannes Kleineke (39:11)

7. The Role of Parliament: Development and Limitations (41:31–53:17)

• Parliament as Arbiter: Uncommon for Parliament to settle personal royal disputes directly, but Henry VI’s infancy left Parliament and the Lords as the only authority.
• Constitutional Boundaries:
  • Parliament is generally kept at “arm’s length” from actual constitutional decisions (e.g., deposition, succession), with major actions usually rubber-stamped by select groups outside the official body.
  • The 1426 Parliament is a rare case of Parliament itself being the main forum for resolving a royal feud.
• Long-term Impacts:
  • This Parliament is important in the gradual growth of Parliament’s role around taxation.
  • The Commons begin to resist taxation more frequently, setting patterns for later in Henry VI’s reign.

8. Medieval Legacies in Modern Parliament (54:11–57:14)

• Medieval Practices Today:
  • Example: At prorogation, Royal Assent is still (ceremonially) pronounced in Norman French (“Le Roi le veult”).
  • Ceremonial practices, such as sending Black Rod to summon the Commons and the doffing of hats—prominent legacies of the medieval period.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester:
  “He spends his entire life jostling for more power…he is absolutely the wrong guy for it.” (07:34, 11:40 — Dr. Hannes Kleineke)

• About Medieval Parliament’s Violence:
  “They leave their swords at home and instead bring large wooden bats... and then rocks to throw at each other.” (24:38 — Dr. Hannes Kleineke)

• On Rituals Enduring Today:
  "To this day, ... there is still provision ... to leave their swords on the mantelpiece." (27:33 — Dr. Hannes Kleineke)

• On the Parliament's Dysfunction:
  “It’s very, very odd to essentially listen to Gloucester complaining endlessly about all the horrible things that his uncle has tried to do to him. There’s one story ... where he goes, ‘It was only because a dog barked ... they found a man hiding behind a wall tapestry who was meant to kill him. And it was all Beaufort’s doing.’” (31:36 — Dr. Hannes Kleineke)

• On Parliament’s Power and Limitations:
  “In a sense, yes, but I hesitate to speak of constitutional solutions here. Throughout the 15th century, it’s very much a case that Parliament is kept at arm's length from any constitutional decisions.” (43:28 — Dr. Hannes Kleineke)

Key Timestamps

• 01:15 — Setting the scene: death of Henry V and the crisis in the regency
• 06:34–10:10 — Profiles of Gloucester, Bedford, and Beaufort
• 17:23 — The London Bridge stand-off
• 20:32–24:38 — Why Parliament was moved to Leicester; origin of “Parliament of Batts”
• 30:48 — The child king’s presence; the opening of Parliament
• 31:36–34:35 — Parliament’s business dominated by personal feuding
• 36:38 — The “handshake” peace; Beaufort’s outmaneuvered
• 39:11 — Beaufort’s pragmatism vs. Humphrey’s militance
• 41:31–43:28 — Parliament’s evolving constitutional role
• 54:11–57:14 — Medieval rituals continuing in modern Parliament

Conclusion

This episode of Gone Medieval offers both entertaining anecdotes and rich context for one of the English Parliament’s most notorious meetings. The “Parliament of Batts” is revealed not just as a near-comical episode of medieval violence averted, but as a moment highlighting the fragility of regency, the limits of both personal agency and constitutional development, and the enduring adaptability of Parliament. Through lively storytelling and sharp expertise, the episode underscores how the struggles of 1426 echoed through later medieval and even modern British political life.

For Further Listening:

• Dr. Hannes Kleineke's previous episode: How Parliament Came to Westminster
• Dan Jones on Henry V (background to the crisis)