Having set sail from Burgundy on the 11th, Edward IVs fleet disembarks at Ravenspur on this day in 1471. His fleet of 36 ships carried a small army of 1200 men, including those provided to him by Charles the Bold.
Edward’s voyage had not gone according to plan. It had been intended for the invasion force to land on the coast of East Anglia where he would see his force bolstered by the retinues of John Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk and John de la Pole, Duke of Suffolk.
However, when his fleet arrived at the shore of East Anglia, his agents who went ashore discovered that the coast was guarded.
14th March 1471: Edward IV lands at Ravenspur.
Edward chose for his fleet to head north, to the isolated stretch of land that is now known as Spurn Head. From here his army marched to York, harassed by men in the Livery of Lord Montagu.
The Earl of Northumberland, the main potential threat in the north, chose to take no action against Edward’s band.
Once at York he had to persuade the City to allow him entry. Which they did on the basis of him being the Duke of York. Edward began to muster men to his cause. His restoration campaign was now well and truly underway.
Croyland Chronicle Account
For the said king Edward, being provided with troops and ships by Charles, duke of Burgundy, about the middle of the ensuing Lent after his banishment effected a landing with fifteen hundred English followers in the district of Holdemesse at the same spot at which Henry the Fourth had formerly landed when about to dethrone king Eichard.
Passing through the city of York, he assumed no other title beyond that of duke, as being heir to his father ; for it was necessary to use some dissimulation there, as many of the people were opposed to him. After this, he arrived, without any resistance being offered, before the city of Coventry, in which the eads of Warwick and Oxford had shut themselves with a great body of troops.
In the meantime, the duke of Clarence before-named, brother to king Edward, had been fully reconciled to the king by the mediation of his sisters, the duchesses of Burgundy and Exeter of whom, the one without the kingdom, and the other within it, entreated the duke to make peace with his brother :after which, he hurried with a very lai^e force from the western parts of the kingdom to the king’s assistance. The numbers on the king’s side thus increasing every day, the earls at Coventry did not dare venture either to proclaim war against the king or to accept the pitched battle which was offered them by him.