Stafford brothers seek sanctuary in Culham Abbey
In 1486 a number of Yorkist lords plotted a rebellion against the new Tudor regime. Among them were Humphrey and Thomas Stafford. They raised a force whilst King Henry VII headed north to seek out…
Rumour: Earl of Warwick plots to restore Henry VI. In 1467.
In 1469 a series of rebellions were instigated by the Duke of Clarence and Earl of Warwick. The causes of the revolts are varied but in general terms relate to foreign policy, cronyism, and disfatisfaction…
Richard Duke of Gloucester passed judgement on captured Lancastrians at Tewkesbury
On 6 May 1471, Richard Duke of Gloucester, sat in judgement over Lancastrians captured after the Battle of Tewkesbury. These senior Lancastrians had sought sanctuary within Tewkesbury Abbey. Yorkists forced them out, resulting in a hastily…
Earl of Lincoln and Viscount Lovell land in Ireland with 2000 mercenaries
John de la Pole and Francis Lovell landed in Ireland with 2000 Swabian and Swiss Troops on 5th May 1487. The remaining senior Yorkists remained resolute in their bid to regain the crown. The Earl…
Cecily Neville, Duchess of York
Born on 3 May 1415, Cecily Neville was to become the wife of Richard 3rd Duke of York. She lived throughout the whole course of the Wars of the Roses, into the Tudor regime. Royal…
Licence to perform Alchemy
Alchemy is the science of turning basic objects into gold. It has been viewed as a dark art at times and associated with magic which in the middle ages could be viewed as heresy. The…
Edward IV’s letter to John Paston
The Paston Family of East Anglia were significant landowners. The family had grown in power and significance following the Black Death. They invested sensibly, and marriages were arranged that served them well. The Paston Family:…
Edward IV’s vision at Daventry
Edward IV is well known for having used hard to explain sights as motivation tools. The Sun in Splendour was adopted as his personal badge resulted from his men seeing a parhelion before the Battle…
Proclamation against Sedition
City of York records dated 5 April 1485 show Royal Proclamations were made forbidding seditious talk suggesting that the King had poisoned his Queen, Anne Neville, to facilitate a marriage to his niece. Any sedition…
Edward IV’s entry into York, Aptil 1461
The manner of the Yorkist entry into the City of York following the Battle of Towton was recorded in the Paston Letters. It provides a valuable insight into the way in which the victors conducted…