On 1 March 1484 Elizabeth Woodville left the sanctuary at Westminster Abbey. She paid homage to Richard III in exchange for his public promise to find suitable marriage partners for her daughters. The decision to leave…
Richard Neville 16th Earl of Warwick was viewed as key to the fortunes of the Yorkist faction in early 1461 by foreign commentators. This is noted frequently by men such as Francesco Copino, Bishop of…
On 28 February 1458 a Great Council Meeting took place in London. It was designed to bring about a resolution to disputes across England. With the Earl of Devon dying whilst on his way to London for…
On 20 February 1447 Humphrey Duke of Gloucester was arrested. He was taken into custody, where he died in suspicious circumstances on 23 February. Good Duke Humphrey Duke Humphrey, the King’s uncle, was a hugely…
On 24 February 1462 King Edward IV granted a charter to the Barber’s of London. The Barber’s had been recognised previously, with written evidence dating to 1308. However this grant of a charter marked a…
On 20 February 1461 Francesco Coppino the Bishop of Terni and Apostolic [Papal] Legate wrote from Brill [Brielle] in the Netherlands. Whilst this letter contains little as to events in England, it does illustrate the…
On 4 March 1461 the Yorkists proclaimed that Edward, by now Duke of York, was King of England. The proclamation took place in London. It occurred whilst King Henry VI was alive, and without Parliament…
Rumour was clearly rife in London in the aftermath of the Second Battle of St. Albans. Letters from the Milanese papers illustrate the variety of reports that they were hearing. They were often contradictory, sometimes…
Francesco Sforza, Duke of Milan had an interest in the events taking place in England in 1460-61. Though far away, the Duke’s economic and diplomatic interests were potentially impacted by changes taking place in England.…
The aftermath of the Second Battle of St. Albans saw the Lancastrians and Yorkists jockying for position. The Citizens of London and its surrounding areas were subsequently found wanting for peace, seeking assurances, and making…