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1453-1458 Wars of the Roses: First War

 Battle of Heworth Moor Birth of Edward of Westminster 1454 Battle of Stamford Bridge First Battle of St Albans Birth of King Henry VII John Neville married Isabel Ingaldsthorpe Margaret Beaufort marries Henry Stafford Loveday

1453-1458 Wars of the Roses: First War is in 15th Century Events.

Neville Percy Feud

by 27 Jul 1453, says Griffiths, the situation in the north had deteriorated so badly that the crown effectively abrogated its authority in the region, by writing directly to the two earls [Note Henry Percy 2nd Earl of Northumberland (age 60) and Richard Neville Earl Salisbury (age 53)], laying responsibility for ending the dispute on them, and instructing them to keep their sons in order. It was at this point too, that the commission of oyer and terminer of 12 July was re-issued.

Around 10 Aug 1453 John Neville 1st Marquess Montagu (age 22) summoned with Thomas Percy 1st Baron Egremont (age 30) to appear before a Royal Council; he ignored it.

In Sep 1453 John Neville 1st Marquess Montagu (age 22) ransacked the manor of Thomas Percy 1st Baron Egremont (age 30) breaking windows and tiles.

On 20 Oct 1453 John Neville 1st Marquess Montagu (age 22), and his brothers Thomas Neville (age 23) and Richard "Kingmaker" Neville Earl Warwick, 6th Earl Salisbury (age 24), met with Henry Percy 2nd Earl of Northumberland (age 60) and to negotiate peace.

Battle of Heworth Moor

On or before 24 Aug 1453 Thomas Neville (age 23) and Maud Stanhope 4th Baroness Cromwell Baroness Willoughby of Eresby were married. Maud Stanhope 4th Baroness Cromwell Baroness Willoughby of Eresby was the niece and heiress of Ralph Cromwell 3rd Baron Cromwell (age 50) meaning traditional Percy lands would become Neville lands. The Percy's, being the older family, especially Thomas Percy 1st Baron Egremont (age 30), took umbrage with the ensuing two year feud known as the Neville Percy Feud. He the son of Richard Neville Earl Salisbury (age 53) and Alice Montagu 5th Countess of Salisbury (age 46). He a great x 2 grandson of King Edward III of England.

On 24 Aug 1453 John Neville 1st Marquess Montagu (age 22) was ambushed at Heworth Moor York by Thomas Percy 1st Baron Egremont leading a force of 700 or more men when returning with his brother's wedding party from Tattershall Castle [Map] to Sheriff Hutton [Map].

Henry VI's First Illness

Chronicle of England by William of Worcester. 1453. This year, at Clarendon, King Henry VI suddenly fell into a severe illness of the head, so much so that he appeared to be devoid of reason.

Hoc anno apud Claryngtone rex Henricus VI. subito cecidit in gravem infirmitatem capitis, ita quod extractus a mente videbatur.

Chronicle of Robert Fabyan 1453. Aug 1453. And this yere the kyng laye longe syke at Claryngdowne, & was in great ieopardye of his lyfe.

In Aug 1453 King Henry VI of England and II of France (age 31) suffered his first bout of illness; a mental breakdown. He was unresponsive for a year. His paternal grand-father Charles VI of France suffered a similar illness; his sobriquet "Mad".

Birth of Edward of Westminster

An English Chronicle. 13 Oct 1453. The xxxij. yere of kyng Harry, and the yere of oure Lorde Ml.iiijc.liiij. [Prince Edward was born Saturday 13th October, feast of translation of Edw. Conf. 1453.] on the Saturday the xiiij. day of Octobre, in the feste of seynt Edwarde the Confessoure, was bore at Westmynstre Edward the furst sone of kyng Harry (age 31); whoos godfadres were master Johan Kempe (age 73), archebysshoppe of Caunterbury and bysshoppe cardinal of Rome, and Edmunde (age 47) duke of Somerset, his godmother was the [folio 190b] duchesse of Buckynghame (age 45): and master William Wayneflete (age 55), bysshop of Wynchestre, hym baptized.

Chronicle of Robert Fabyan 1453. 13 Oct 1453. And in ende of this mayers yere, and begynnynge of the xxxii yere of the kyng, that is to meane, vpon the daye of Translancion of seynt Edwarde, or the xiii day of Octobre, the quene (age 23), at Westmynster, was delyuered of a fayre prynce, for the whiche great reioysynge and gladnesse was made in sundry placys of Englonde, and speciallye within the cytie of London, wherof the expressement of the cyrcumstance wolde axe longe leysoure to vtter. This prynce beynge with all honour and reuerence sacryd & crystened, was named Edwarde, and grewe after to perfyght and goodlye personage; and lastlye of Edwarde the iiii was slayen at Tewkysburye felde, as after to you shall be shewyd, whose noble mother susteynyd not a little dysclaunder and obsequye of the common people, sayinge that he was not the naturall sone of kynge Henrye, but changyd in ye the cradell, to hyr great dyshonour and heuynesse, which I ouer passe.

On 13 Oct 1453 Edward of Westminster Prince of Wales was born to Henry VI (age 31) and Margaret of Anjou (age 23) at Westminster Palace [Map]. King Henry had suffered his first bout of mental illness three months before. When presented with Prince in January 1454 he made no response - see Paston Letters Volume 2 235. A letter from Prospero di Camulio, Milanese Ambassador to the Court of France, etc., to Francesco Sforza, Duke of Milan makes reference to Henry having said that the child "must be the son of the Holy Spirit". Various online sources suggest the child was fathered by either Edmund Beaufort 1st or 2nd Duke of Somerset (age 47) or his son-in-law James Butler 1st Earl Wiltshire 5th Earl Ormonde (age 32) without referring to contemporarty sources. In 1459 the English Chronicle makes reference to Edward having illegitimate eight years after his birth ... "The quene was defamed and desclaundered, that he that was called Prince, was nat hir sone, but a bastard goten in avoutry [adultery]"

1454 Battle of Stamford Bridge

On 08 Oct 1453, the council wrote to the earl of Westmorland (age 47) and congratulated him on not assisting the Middleham branch. It also wrote again to Salisbury (age 53) and Northumberland (age 60)

In retaliation, Sir John Neville raided the absent Earl of Northumberland's house at Catton, in Yorkshire, and all but ruined it. The next day, Richard Percy attacked a house on Neville property.

On 20 Oct 1454 both the Neville and Percy families summoned their retainers to their respective castles: Percy to Topcliffe Castle [Map], Neville to Sheriff Hutton Castle [Map] separated by a distance of around four miles.

On 31 Oct 1454 or 01 Nov 1454 John Neville 1st Marquess Montagu (age 23) and Thomas Neville (age 24) captured Thomas Percy 1st Baron Egremont (age 31) and Richard Percy (age 28) in a skirmish known as the Battle of Stamford Bridge. [Note. The second battle at Stamford Bridge [Map] with the first being in 1066]. The brothers were taken to Middleham Castle [Map]. Thomas Percy 1st Baron Egremont was subsequently fined £11,200 in damages which, with an income of £100, he was unlikely to ever pay. He was, therefore, taken to Newgate Prison, London [Map] in which he stayed until he escaped in 1456.

Battle of Arkinholm

On 01 May 1455 the Douglas rebellion was brought to an end at the Battle of Arkinholm near Langholm. Archibald Douglas Earl of Moray (age 29) was killed. Hugh Douglas 1st Earl Ormonde was executed. John Douglas (age 22) escaped.

First Battle of St Albans

The Chronicle of St Albans by Abbot John Whethamstede. 22 May 1455. The King, accompanied by nobles and various armed men, came to the town of St. Albans, and there in the midst of St. Peter's Street, engaged in a great battle or conflict with the Duke of York (age 43). Finally, with his side succumbing, he withdrew to a private location. And the original cause or occasion of that war, or conflict, was as follows:

Indeed, it happened in times past, while the Duchy of Normandy remained under the dominion of the King, and the King used to appoint there an illustrious lord who would hold his place and maintain the newly subjected people in peace and tranquillity through the administration of justice, that after the death of the illustrious, and truly illustrious, Prince, Lord John, Duke of Bedford , who had ruled there for a long time, the King, on the advice of his Council, directed the Duke of York, his fairly close kinsman, to that place, and entrusted him with the governance of that land for a period of five years, assigning a suitable stipend for his soldiers.

Rex cum proceribus, virisque armatis variis, ad villam Sancti Albani venit, ibidemque in medio Vici Sancti Petri grande habens bellum, sive conflictum, cum Domino Duce Eboraci, tandem, subcumbente sua parte, ad privatum locum se subtraxit. Et erat belli istius, sive conflictus, causa originalis, sive occasio, talis.—

Dudum siquidem, dum Ducatus Normanniæ sub ditione Regis subsisteret, soleretque Rex dirigere illuc illustrem dominum aliquem, qui teneret ibidem suum locum, et populum, noviter subjectum, in pace et tranquillitate per ministrationem justitiæ conservaret, accidit ut, post mortem illustris, et vere illustris, Principis, Domini Johannis, Ducis Bedfordiæ, qui ibidem per tempora longa regimen legitur. habuisse, Rex, de avisamento sui Concilii, Dominum Ducem Eboraci, suum in gradu satis propinquo consanguineum, illuc dirigeret, sibique per quinquennium commisit patriæ illius regimen, ac stipendium congruum pro suis stipendiariis assignaret.

Chronicle of England by Jean de Waurin Volume 6. [22 May 1455]. Then the two forces, seeing each other and advancing, began to march, and each side fired so accurately that from the arrows and gunpowder the horses kicked up, the air became so thick that the sun lost its brightness. The battle was so terrible that there was no one who spared brother or cousin, so much so that in the end the King lost the day. Some say, as I was informed, that the King was wounded by an arrow in the arm, and the Duke of Somerset (age 49), the Earl of Northumberland (age 62), Lord Clifford (age 41), and many other great lords and gentlemen died in the battle.

And the King was taken by some of his men towards London, but the Duke of York (age 43) did not pursue him; rather, very pleased with his victory, he returned to York with the two earls mentioned above.

Chronicle of Gregory 1450. 22 May 1455. Ande that year there was a batayle at Synt Albonys by-twyne Kyng Harry the VI (age 33). and the Duke of Yorke (age 43), and this batayle was the weke be-fore Whytte Sonday. And Kyng Harry was in harnys his owne propyr person, and was hurte with the shotte of an arowe in the necke. And the Duke of Yorke brought him unto London as King and not as a presener. The Erle of Wyltschyre (age 34) bare the kyngys baner that day in the batayle, for he was at that tyme namyd but Syr Jamys Urmon;b and this said Jamys sette the kyngys baner agayne an howse ende and fought manly with the helys, for he was a feryd of lesynge of beute, for he was namyd the fayryd knyght of this londe. And with yn a lytyl whyle aftyr was made the Erle of Wyltschyre.

On 22 May 1455 the Wars of the Roses commenced with the First Battle of St Albans. Richard Plantagenet 3rd Duke of York (age 43) commanded with Richard "Kingmaker" Neville Earl Warwick, 6th Earl Salisbury (age 26), Richard Neville Earl Salisbury (age 55), Edward Brooke 6th Baron Cobham (age 40) and Walter Strickland (age 44).

The Lancastrians ...

Edmund Beaufort 1st or 2nd Duke of Somerset (age 49) was killed. His son Henry Beaufort 2nd or 3rd Duke of Somerset (age 19) succeeded 2nd Duke Somerset, 5th Earl Somerset. Note his father is frequently incorrectly referred to as the second Duke and Henry as the third Duke. His father's Dukedom, however, was a new creation.

Henry Percy 2nd Earl of Northumberland (age 62) was killed. His son Henry Percy 3rd Earl of Northumberland (age 33) succeeded 3rd Earl of Northumberland, 6th Baron Percy of Alnwick, 14th Baron Percy of Topcliffe. Eleanor Poynings Countess Northumberland (age 33) by marriage Countess of Northumberland.

Thomas Clifford 8th Baron Clifford (age 41) was killed. His son John "Butcher" Clifford 9th Baron Clifford (age 20) succeeded 9th Baron de Clifford, 9th Lord Skipton. Margaret Bromflete Baroness Clifford (age 21) by marriage Baroness de Clifford.

William Cotton (age 45) and Richard Fortescue (age 41) were killed.

Humphrey Stafford 1st Duke of Buckingham (age 52) was wounded and captured.

King Henry VI of England and II of France (age 33), John Dudley 1st Baron Dudley (age 54) and Edmund Dudley (age 30) were captured.

Henry Beaufort 2nd or 3rd Duke of Somerset was wounded. James Butler 1st Earl Wiltshire 5th Earl Ormonde (age 34) and John Wenlock 1st Baron Wenlock (age 55) fought.

Richard Cotton of Hampstall Ridware (age 51) and his son William Cotton of Connington in Huntingdonshire (age 27) were killed.

Archaeologia Volume 20 Section VIII. An Account of the First Battle of St. Albans from a contemporary Manuscript. Communicated by Joun Baytey, Esq. F.S. A. of His Majesty's Record Office in the Tower; in a Letter to Henry Extis, Esq. F. R. S. Secretary.

Read 19th December 1822.

His Majesty's Record Office, December 12, 1822.

DEAR SIR,

I inclose a curious Account of the first Battle of St. Albans, which may prove interesting to the Society of Antiquaries: it is copied from a manuscript, in a co-eval hand, found in the Tower, among a large quantity of private letters and accompts of Sir William Stonor, Knt [William Stonor (age 5)?] who, from his correspondence, appears at that time to have been much about the Court, and was also a Steward of the Abbot of St. Albans. The original is written in a book consisting of a few leaves of a small quarto size, and, on comparing the writing with some of the other papers, it seems to be in the hand of Sir William himself.

I remain, dear Sir, your's very faithfully,

JOHN BAYLEY.

To Henry Ex is, Esq &c. &c. &c.

Battle of Clyst Heath

On 15 Dec 1455 the Courtenay family, Earls of Devon since 1355, and Bonville family resolved their differences at the Battle of Clyst Heath. Thomas Courtenay 13th Earl Devon (age 41) defeated William Bonville 1st Baron Bonville (age 63). Battle something of an over-statement; the number of dead reported by one chronicler as being twelve. Following the battle the victorious Courtenay's attacked Bonville's Shute Manor.

Birth of King Henry VII

On 28 Jan 1457 King Henry VII of England and Ireland was born to the late Edmund Tudor 1st Earl Richmond and Margaret Beaufort Countess Richmond (age 13) at Pembroke Castle [Map]. He a great x 3 grandson of King Edward III of England.

John Neville married Isabel Ingaldsthorpe

On 25 Apr 1457 John Neville 1st Marquess Montagu (age 26) and Isabel Ingaldsthorpe (age 16) were married by Cardinal Thomas Bourchier (age 39) at Canterbury Cathedral [Map]. She the heir of her father Edmund Ingaldsthorpe who had died the previous year. Eight manors were settled on them in jointure. He the son of Richard Neville Earl Salisbury (age 57) and Alice Montagu 5th Countess of Salisbury (age 50). They were second cousin once removed. He a great x 2 grandson of King Edward III of England. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Edward I of England.

In 1460 a petition noted "The Nevilles state that Isabel was found to be Ingoldisthorpe's daughter and heir. When they requested livery of the estates from the chancellor in Chancery, he refused on the grounds that the king had granted the marriage and wardship to the queen (age 29). The Nevilles disputed this as Isabel was 14, and not a minor at common law. John Neville made recognizances in £1,000 to the queen on the understanding that if it was found that such a grant to the queen was not available, then she would not take any money from Neville. The Nevilles are unable to have a day in their law, and the queen has still levied part of the £1,000, and they are forced to sue a special livery at great expense. They request that the recognizances by annulled, and that women of the age of 14 when their ancestors die should have no problem of obtaining livery of their lands and tenements." See National Archives UK John Nevyll (Neville), knight; Isabel Neville, wife of John Neville, knight. SC 8/28/1398 1460.

Margaret Beaufort marries Henry Stafford

On 03 Jan 1458 Henry Stafford (age 33) and Margaret Beaufort Countess Richmond (age 14) were married probably at Maxstoke Castle [Map]. Her third marriage (second if you don't include the one annulled) aged fourteen and already the mother of the future King Henry VII. She had no further issue. She the daughter of John Beaufort 1st Duke of Somerset and Margaret Beauchamp Duchess Somerset (age 48). He the son of Humphrey Stafford 1st Duke of Buckingham (age 55) and Anne Neville Duchess Buckingham (age 50). They were second cousins. He a great x 2 grandson of King Edward III of England. She a great x 2 granddaughter of King Edward III of England.

Loveday

Chronicle of Gregory 1450. 24 Mar 1458. Ande this same year at Covyntre there was made a pesse [Note. peace] by-twyne the Duke of Somersett Harry (age 22), and the Earl of Saulysbury (age 58), and the Erle of Warwycke (age 29), for the dethe of his fadyr Duke of Somersette, that the Duke of Yorke (age 46) put to dethe at Synt Albonys. And this tretys was made at Covyntre, in the holy tyme of Lentyn, by the mene of Kyng Harry the VI. And alle that holy tyme of Lentyn there might noo mane man that shulde preche by-fore the King, but that he shulde shewe his sarmon in wrytyng, were he docter or other, in so moche the lordys woldys A B C wolde assygne what he schulde say, as for any thynge that longyd unto the common wele, and yf he passyd her commaundement he schulde lese his costys, and goo as he come, withowte mete and drynge. But a becheler of holy devynyte come to that cytte, and whenn he come to preche byfore the kyng, as Maystyr Wylliam Saye, Dene of Poulys and Dene of the kyngys chapylle, hadde desyryd and asygnyd, A B C axyd his name, and his name was Mayster Wylliam Ive, at that tyme beyng at Wynchester in Wycham is college. And A B C said that they moste nedys se his sarmon and his purposse, that he was a vysyd to say by-fore the King the Sonday nexte comynge. And he full goodly toke them his papyr; and they seyng and redynge his papyr, commaundyd to leve out and put a way many troughtys. But that same Mayster Wylliam Ive said but lytylle, but whenn he come to pulpyt he sparyd not to sayd the troughthe, and reportyd by-fore the kyng that A B C made the sarmonys that were said fore, and not thoo that prechyd, and that causyd that þe men that prechyd hadde but sympylle sarmons, for her purposse was alle turnyde upsodowne 3 and that they hadde made love days as Judas made whythe a cosseb with Cryste for they cyste ovyr the mane. The grete rewarde that he hadde for his labyr was the rydyng of viij xx myle yn and out for his travayle, and alle his frendys full sory for hym. But qui veritatem dicit caput fractum habebit, &c. And that same year alle thes lordys departyd from the Parlyment, but they come nevyr alle togedyr after that tyme to noo Parlyment nor conselle, but yf it were in fylde with spere and schylde.

Note b. kiss.

A Brief Latin Chronicle. 24 Mar 1458. In the year of our Lord 1457 [Note. March 1457 is in 1458 in the Gregorian Calendar], during the sacred Lenten season, a peace was made in London between Lord Richard, Duke of York, the Earl of Warwick, and the Earl of Salisbury, with their followers on one side, and the Duke of Somerset, the Earl of Northumberland, and Lord Clifford, with their followers on the other side, mediated by the illustrious King Henry and other spiritual and temporal lords of the kingdom; for there had been grave and dangerous disturbances [First Battle of St Albans] by some lords at the town of St Albans; the killing of whom had disturbed and inflamed the hearts of many, but was somewhat quelled by a certain satisfaction made, with the Most High granting peace. However, it did not last long.

Anno Domini millesimo cccc°.lvij., sacro tempore quadragesimali, London' facta est concordia inter Dominum Ricardum ducem Eboracensem, Comitem de Warwyc, et comitem Sarum, cum suis, ex parte una, et ducem Somersetie, et Comitem Northumbrie et dominum Clifford, cum suis, ex parte altera, per illustrem regem Henricum et alios dominos regni spirituales et temporales; gravis enim, et periculosa quorundam dominorum apud villam Sancti Albani; quorum interfeccio inquietans et accendens corda multorum, satisfactione quadam facta, prestante Altissimo, partim sopita est. Sed non diu permansit.

Chronicle of Robert Fabyan 1458. 24 Mar 1458. In token and for joy wherof, the King, the Queen, and all the said lordys, upon our Lady day annunciacion in Lent, at Paulys went solempnly in processyon, and soone after euery Lord departyd where his pleasure was. And in ther moneth of2.... folowing, was a great fray in Flete strete, atwene the inhabytauntys3 of the saide strete; in which fray a gentylman, being the quenys attourney, was slayen. Vpon the Thursday in Whitson weke, the Duke of Somerset, with Antony Ryuers, and other, iiii. kepte iustis of peace before the Queen within the Towre of London, agayne thre esquyers of the quenys, and in lyke maner at Grenewych the Sonday folowing. And upon Trynyte Sunday or the Monday folowing, certeyne shyppys, apperteyning unto the Earl of Warwick (age 29), mette with a flote of Spanyardys, and after longe and cruell fyght, toke. vi. of them laden with iron and other marchaudyse, and drowned and chasyd to the noumber of. xxvi. not without sheding of blode on both partyes; for of the Englyssheme were slayen an hundreth, and many moo woundyd and sore hurte.

Note 1. ii. edit. 1533. 1542. 155

Note 2. of March. MS.

Note 3. the men of court and the inhabytauntys.

On 24 Mar 1458 at Westminster Hall [Map] King Henry VI (age 36) made a great speech [See Chronicle of St Albans] the purpose of which was to ensure future peace in his Kingdom. Some were required to pay fines in recomponse for deaths at the First Battle of St Albans some three years before, some prisoners were released, some were bound to good behaviour, and future arbitration.

After the speech King Henry VI, Queen Margaret (age 28), John "Butcher" Clifford 9th Baron Clifford (age 22), Richard Neville Earl Salisbury (age 58), Richard "Kingmaker" Neville Earl Warwick, 6th Earl Salisbury (age 29), Henry Beaufort 2nd or 3rd Duke of Somerset (age 22), Richard Plantagenet 3rd Duke of York (age 46), Henry Percy 3rd Earl of Northumberland (age 36) and Thomas Percy 1st Baron Egremont (age 35) processed, hand-in-hand to St Paul's Cathedral [Map] and a ttended a service presided over by Cardinal Thomas Bourchier (age 40).