Whilst the Yorkists had won a decisive victory at Towton, it did not mean that they had total control of the country. There was armed resistance in pockets and strong Lancastrian sentiment in large parts…
News of the Second Battle of St. Albans reached diplomatic circles in London very quickly. Just 25 miles to the north of London, the defeat of the Yorkist force had immediate implications for the City…
On 9 February 1450 Thomas Cheyne was hanged, drawn and quartered. Cheyne, or Hermit Bluebeard as he called himself, was from Kent. In 1449 and 1450, the region’s people were becoming increasingly dissatisfied with the Government. …
27 December 1462: Dunstanburgh surrenders Remarkably the North Eastern Castle of Dunstanburgh surrendered to the Yorkists the day after Bamburgh surrendered. It marked a significant change in the fortunes of both sides in the north…
On 19 December 1483 Richard III issued orders relating to the Duchess of Buckingham. In 1483 the Duke of Buckingham had risen in revolt against the rule of King Richard III. The rebellion had failed, and upon…
King Henry VI [of England] was crowned King of France in Paris on 16 December 1431. One of the outcomes of King Henry Vs successful campaigns in France was a Treaty that agreed that upon…
On 4 November 1461, Act of Attainder. An attainder was a legal device used by Parliament to strip somebody of their rights, titles, or lands, or all of those. They could be applied solely to…
John Tiptoft Earl of Worcester, was known as ‘the butcher of England’. Already a wealthy Earl, he was recalled from the Holy Land upon Edward IV‘s accession and appointed initially as chief justice of North…
On 21 August 1484 John de la Pole Earl of Lincoln, was appointed Lieutenant of Ireland. John de la Pole, Earl of Lincoln, was one of the House of York’s senior members. He had served…
On 17 August 1469, Humphrey Stafford Earl of Devon was lynched in Bridgewater by the citizens on their own initiative. Humphrey Stafford came from a cadet branch of the Stafford family. He was distantly related…