Intervention in the Neville-Percy feud was attempted several times. Each sought to bring about a peaceful resolution to tension in the north east. Some were via arbitration, others direct orders. On 8 October 1453 the King’s Council ordered the Neville and Percy families to bring an end to their warlike behaviour. Further attempts were made in 1458, via a Loveday and a series of Bonds and Fines.

Neville-Percy feud

The conflict between the Neville and Percy families had been ongoing for some time. Matters had only got worse as both families built up a large base of retainers. Younger members of each family were eager to press home claims. These clashes were not the only ones in the period, a selection of examples of regional clashes can be found here.

Acts of War by members of the Neville and Percy familues

Hostility was open and regular. Lord Egremont was recruiting and distributing Livery in May of 1453, an act usually only done in war. He then ignored royal summonses.

The Neville’s marched on Topcliffe, a Percy base, because of this. July saw clashes at Sandholme, Halton and Swinden. In August 1453, a servant of the Earl of Salisbury had been kidnapped and imprisoned by the Percy’s.

Intervention in the Neville-Percy feud

1453

A house believed to be that of Lord Egremont was ransacked by Sir John Neville and his men. The King had already been ignored by the hot-headed Lord Egremont, and now Henry VI was unwell. Council intervened. A letter in the King’s name stated to the Earls of Salisbury and Northumberland that they were aware of the pairs:

‘…greatest assembly of liegemen, and thereto had appointed time and place, that ever was made within this land at any time that man can think…’

Consequences for the pair were also mentioned. The feuding needed to stop. It was not just Council that intervened to keep the peace. Extant letters show that the Earls were in contact with the Archbishop of York, who acted as a mediator. The feuding did not, however, come to an end.

1458

The Duke of York, and Earls of Salisbury and Warwick were ordered to each pay 45l per annum in perpituity for the repose of the souls of the Lancastrian lords who had been slain in the First Battle of St. Albans. The entry within the Close Rolls notes that the funds would pay for the maintenance of masses, prayers [suffragies], and alms [almouse].

Declaration of John the abbot of Saint Albone and the covent, that where the kynge by lettres patentes, yeven at Westminster 24 March, 36 Henry VI, awardede amonge other, for consideracions in the same declared, that within tow yeres by Richard duke of Yorke, Richard erle of Warrewyke and Richard erle of Salesbury and by their charges ther bee yeven and amortessed to the monasterie, where the bodyes of Edmund late duke of Somerset, Henri late erle of Northumbrelonde and Thomas late lorde Clyfford slain in a metyng and encounteryng at Seint Albones been beryede, 45li. of yerely lyvelode for masses, suffragies, obit and almouse for their soules and the soules of al other slayne there at that tyme, the same to be kept perpetually as shall be declared hereafter, and that the duke of York and erles of Warrewyk and Salisbury pay in every of the two yeres afore amortesment 45li. or the rate therof for thafferant of the tyme the mortesment shall remayne undoone, they have resceived of the seide duke and erles 45li. for a hoole yere, and therof acquite them. Yeven 11 February, 37 Harry VI. English.

‘Close Rolls, Henry VI: 1458‘, in Calendar of Close Rolls, Henry VI: Volume 6, 1454-1461, ed. C T Flower( London, 1947), British History Online

Attempts to Keep the Peace in the North

The Percy-Neville feud had rumbled on for years in the north. Initially the feud had seen younger sons of the Earls of Salisbury and Northumberland take up arms. Most notably this was John Neville, the future Marquess of Monatgu, and Thomas Percy, Lord Egremont. It had seen clashes at Heworth and Stamford Bridge, and a large standoff at Topcliffe. Attempts to rein in the younger and junior members of the families had failed.

St. Albans

The Earls themselves, and the Earl of Warwick, had become involved in 1453. In 1455 the northern feud was played out on the streets of St. Albans, with men of the Earl of Warwick slaying the 2nd Earl of Northumberland and Lord Clifford. Edmund Beaufort, Duke of Somerset, was also killed, as animosity on both a regional and national level were addressed with the sword.

Loveday and Bonds

The deaths at St. Albans led to further animosity and trouble in the north. Efforts to stop the troubles had failed, largely being ignored. In 1458 in a final, ill-fated, bid to stop the violence, a ‘Loveday Parade‘ was held alongisde which were a series of bonds, fines, and restrictions. The terms of some of these are outlined in the passage quoted above.

Image Credits

• Fearured image. Photograph of Topcliffe. A Percy held manor. Source, Topcliffe.org.uk

Read about other examples of regional violence in the 15th century here.