March 16th 1471: Building an Army

Marching to battle at Tewkesbury Medieval Festival

George Duke of Clarence was busy. He was moving quickly through the west country, collecting support, and writing letters to Sir Henry Vernon. Yesterday he was in Bristol, writing about the Earl of Shrewsbury. Today, he has moved on to Wells and asking for intelligence about the Earl of Northumberland. ‘Henry Vernon we Pray you to finde the means as secretly as ye can to have sure and trusti men in the North and wheresoever therl of Northumberland bees to espie of the guyding there …’.

The Earls of Northumberland were the power in the North, guarding the Scottish border. The fourth Earl, Henry Percy, was from a Lancastrian-supporting family. His father had died at Towton in 1461. When Edward took the crown, Henry Percy was arrested and held in the Tower of London. His title was granted to John Neville, younger brother of the Earl of Warwick. In 1469, though, in the midst of Warwick’s rebellion he was given his freedom and restored to his lands and title, swearing fealty to King Edward. A very disgruntled John Neville was given the title of Marquess of Montagu, which alienated him from the Yorkists and he had been instrumental in driving Edward out of the country.  The Earl stayed loyal to Edward.

Clarence also wrote of Edward’s movements, the desperate need for better information and asking him to have soldiers standing by for his call.

We be ascertained that it is said about London that King Edward is sailed by the coasts of Norfolk towards Humber. Wherefor we pray you to send thidden to enquire and understand of the truth, and to certify us thereof, and if he be on those coasts that always ye have spies there to certify us from time to time of the tidings of the guyding, on coming to us and another always abiding us in the other places, doing you effectual devoir [duty] herein as our  very trust is in you, not sparing for the costs, for we will allow you at your accompts the uttermost of the expenses that ye shall make on that behalf. Willing and desiring you that because of these tidings ye do the greater devoir to arredie you with as many as ye can make a defensible array as well of our tenants as of yours to bee ready to come to us within an hour’s warning like as we wrote to you but late by your servant.

Things were heating up.