March 20th 1471: Lancastrians arrayed in Norfolk

Caister Castle. A ruin since 1600

The Paston family of Norfolk kept all their correspondence. Their obsession was Caister Castle, which had been bequeathed to them by John Fastloff, but it was a disputed inheritance. It was also coveted by John Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk, who took it by force in 1469 whilst King Edward’s attention was on the disturbances which Warwick was fermenting. Norfolk was one of the Yorkist supporters called to London and interred by Warwick. Joining the Lancastrian cause seemed a good bet for getting their property back to the Pastons.

A letter from John de Veer, Earl of Oxford, who was guarding East Anglia against invasion, addressed to Henry Spelman, Thomas Seyve, John Seyve, James Radcliffe and John Brompton the older was found amongst the thousands of letters they had left; the Paston Papers:

I have credible tidings that the Kings great enemies and rebels are now arrived and landed in the northern parts of this land, to the utter destruction of his royal person, and subversion of all his realm, if they might attain; whom to encounter and resist, the Kings Highness has Canon commanded and assigned me, under his seal, sufficient power and authority to call, race, gather and assemble, from time to time, all his liege people of the Shire of Norfolk, and other places, to assist, aid and strengthen me in the same intent.

Wherefore, in the Kings name, and by authority aforesaid, I straightly charge and command you in your own persons defensibly arrayed, with as many men as you may goodly make, to be on Friday next coming at Lynn and so forth to Newark.

Warwick, through the King Henry, had given Oxford a commission of array for Norfolk which he was exercising. Some of the plan is revealed, with the assembly at [King’s] Lynn and then onward to Newark. They would know that they’d be gone for some time, and have to prepare for that.