This Inquisition Post Mortem was called for by letters patent and was heard on 25th September 1472. The investigation, therefore, was requested by the crown. This was later the subject of a court of common… 

Commission of oyer and terminer held at Pontefract Castle On 21st September 1474 Richard Duke of Gloucester, acting to impose and preserve his control of the region, opened a commission of oyer and terminer. The… 

Land rights played a major role in the governance of the land and regularly resulted in claims and counterclaims for manors or smallholdings. The frequency of such contests is one reason why so many enfeoffments were… 

King Henry VI founded Eton College as a Charity School for poor boys. IT’s foundation date was 12th September 1440. Henry intended that the boys would then progress to Kings College, Cambridge, also founded by… 

It’s easy to forget that as a nation stumbles into Civil War, life goes on as normal in most respects. Here’s one such example. Whilst the Lancastrian and Yorkist factions are busily arming themselves, the… 

International diplomacy had a large impact on London merchants and those who had employment directly tied to trade with the continent. Any policy change could make or break people’s livelihoods. Throughout the reign of Henry… 

Wool was the backbone of the English economy. Customs duties levied on wool formed a large proportion of national revenue. The woollen trade had suffered though. War was one factor, but competition had increased, customs duties… 

Sir John Fastolfe was an influential member of the gentry. He held lands in East Anglia and positions in London. Fastolfe died without natural heirs, and the execution of his will became a long and… 

The Plumpton family were influential merchants operating mainly in London. They were wealthy by the standards of the day and had dealings with Parliament and the nobility. The Gascoigne family were from the gentry, reasonably…