Burgundian Siege of Calais
The Burgundian siege of Calais began on 9 July 1436. It was the result of the rapidly changing diplomatic situation in France at the time. The English had been allied with Burgundy from the time…
Land rights and war
8 July 1487 Plumpton Letter: The Earl of Shrewsbury to Sir Robert Plumpton regarding land rights. One consequence of the wars was the seizing of lands from those who had lost. In some cases, this was…
Liveried Apparel
The court had several Wardrobes. The Great Wardrobe was essentially the clothing and apparel of the King. There was a Privy Wardrobe, and members of the royal family and nobility often had their own. The…
1475 Invasion of France
On 4th July 1475 Edward IV and his army set sail for Calais at the start of the English invasion of France. The invasion had been proposed years earlier, prior to the readeption. Following the reclamation…
Ralph Shaa’s sermon
On 22nd June 1483 Ralph Shaa [also spelt Shaw] preached a sermon in London in which he stated that Edward IV‘s marriage was not valid under canon law. The implication of this was that the children…
Battle of Stoke Field
The Battle of Stoke Field, fought on 16th June 1487, was the last major battle of the Wars of the Roses. It is often overshadowed by the Battle of Bosworth, but in terms of battlefield…
Death of Philip the Good of Burgundy
The death of Philip the Good on 15 June 1467 came at a significant time for English diplomacy. As the Duke of Burgundy died, England were engaged in talks with the Duke’s son, Charles, about…
Elicit Taking of Wardships by William de la Pole
On 14th June 1439, William de la Pole, Earl of Suffolk elicited wardships for himself. One of the longer-term causes of the Wars of the Roses was the way the administration of Government was undertaken. It led…
Richard duke of Gloucester’s letter to York, 10th June 1483
On 10th June 1483 Richard Duke of Gloucester wrote to the City of York asking for assistance against those who wish him harm. In a period in which things were changing very quickly in and around court…
Perkin Warbeck and Edward Plantagenet attempt to escape
Perkin Warbeck and Edward Plantagenet attempted to escape from the Tower of London on 9th June 1498. Perkin Warbeck was a pretender to the throne, having claimed to be Richard, Duke of York the younger of…