Lancastrian Resistance

• 1)

  • Edward slowly took control of Northumberland
  • Alnwick and Dunstanburgh were surrendered
  • Lancastrians took back Alnwick and North
  • these were then recaptured by the Yorkists
• 2) Margaret signed an agreement with Louis XI, promising him Calais in return for support. He had to go through the Duke of Burgundy first and the support was diminished.
• 3) Margaret had a small force of 800, strengthened by the leadership of Pierre de Breze. Bamburgh, Alnwick and Dunstanburgh opened their gates to her. This alarmed the Yorkists.
• 4) News of Edward's army reached Margaret. She could gain little support and so retreated to Scotland. Edward contracted measles on way and had to retreat. Warwick assumed control of the army.
• 5) Winter 1462-63 was difficult for the Yorkists. Many deserted and had to eat horses to survive. He lost Bamburgh and Dunstanburgh castles.
• 6) Sir Ralph Percy let the Lancastrians back into Bamburgh and Dunstanburgh. There was alarm and panic back in London as it was reported that the Lancastrians had a large army under Margaret and James III.
• 7) The Lancastrian army laid siege to the border fortress, Norham. Edward raised taxes from parliament for an army but did not assemble it. Instead Warwick and Lord Montagu confronted them and the Scots fled. This provided them with an excuse to make small raids into Scotland.
• 8) Edward aimed to cut Margaret's foreign support. He signed a truce with France and Scotland. They would no longer provide support to the Lancastrian cause.
• 9) The Duke of Somerset had briefly sworn allegiance to Edward, but he encouraged anti-government risings in Wales, Lancashire and Cheshire. He laid siege at Norham castle and ambushed Lord Montagu who was escorting Scottish envoys to York for negotiation.
• 10) Montagu successfully fought off his attackers. With a force of about 4,000 he routed the Lancastrian force. Many rebels were captured and executed, including the Duke of Somerset. Henry VI escaped.
• 11) Montagu finally put and end to the resistance. He went for Alnwick and Dunstanburgh. Sir Ralph Grey fought on. The Yorkists broke the walls and wounded Grey. Henry was captured and imprisoned in the Tower of London.
• 12) 1468, Harlech, Wales was finally surrendered following the failure of a French-backed expedition led by Jasper Tudor.