March 12th 1471: Rebuffed at Cromer

Banners from the Street Banners of Tewkesbury collection

Warkworth’s Chronicle describes a rough crossing of the North Sea and a great disappointment upon reaching East Anglia:

… and sailed toward Englonde, and hade grete troble uppon the see with stormys, and lost a schyppe withe horse; and purpost to have londede in Northfolke, and one of the Erle [of] Oxenfordes brother withe the comons of the cuntre arose up togedere, and put hym abake to the see ageyne.

The ‘Arrivall’ explains what happened. They landed at Cromer. Sir Robert Chamberlain and Sir Gilbert Debenham were sent ashore to check the lie of the land. Unfortunately for them, Warwick had anticipated their arrival and taken care to intern Edward’s supporters. They were told that the Earl of Oxford was patrolling the land and brought this intelligence back to Edward, who decided to sail further north, to a hoped-for better reception.

… and came before Crowmere, the Tusedaye, agayne even, the xij, day of Marche ; whithar the Kynge sent on land Ser Robart Chambarlayne, Syr Gilbert Debenham, Knyghts, and othar, trustinge by them to have some knowledge how the land inward was disposed towards hym, and, specially, the countries there nere adioyninge, as in party so they browght hym knowledge from suche as for that caws wer sent into thos parties, from his trew servaunts and partakars within the land, whiche. tolde them, for certayne, that thos parties wer right sore beset by th'Erle of Warwyke, and his adherents, and, in especiall, by th'Erle of Oxenforde, in such wyse that, of lyklyhood, it might not be for his wele to lande in that contrye; and a great rawse was, for the Duke of Norfolke was had owt of the contrye, and all the gentlemen to whom th'Erle of Warwyke bare any suspicion ware, afore that, sent for by letars of privie seale, and put in warde about London, or els found suerty ; natheles, the sayd ij Knyghts, and they that came on land with them, had right good chere, and turned agayne to the sea. Whos report herd, the Kynge garte make course towards the north partyes. (The ‘Arrivall’)

Sir Robert and Sir Gilbert both had estates in East Anglia, and were presumably chosen because of that. Sir Gilbert had also been joint Commissioner of Array for Suffolk and responsible for raising ships for the King’s service, to combat piracy around the coast.