Biography of Richard Ratclyffe 1430-1485
Richard Ratclyffe and Agnes Scrope were married.
Around 1430 Richard Ratclyffe was born to Thomas Ratclyffe (age 39).
In 1455 [his father] Thomas Ratclyffe (age 64) died at Barton Alkrington, Lancashire.
In 1483 Richard Ratclyffe (age 53) was appointed High Sheriff of Westmoreland.
Around Sep 1483 King Richard III of England (age 30) created a number of new Garter Knights from his key supporters to fill the stalls made vacant by his recent accession:
221st Francis Lovell 1st Viscount Lovell (age 27).
222nd Thomas Howard 2nd Duke of Norfolk (age 40).
223rd Richard Ratclyffe (age 53).
224th Thomas Stanley 1st Earl of Derby (age 48).
225th Thomas Burgh 1st Baron Burgh (age 52).
On 22 Aug 1485 King Richard III of England (age 32) was killed during the Battle of Bosworth. His second cousin once removed Henry Tudor (age 28) succeeded VII King England. Earl Richmond forfeit.
Those supporting Henry Tudor included:
John Blount 3rd Baron Mountjoy (age 35).
John Cheney 1st Baron Cheyne (age 43).
Richard Guildford (age 35).
Walter Hungerford (age 21).
Thomas Stanley 1st Earl of Derby (age 50).
Edward Woodville Lord Scales (age 29).
Edward Courtenay 1st Earl Devon (age 26).
Rhys ap Thomas Deheubarth (age 36).
Jasper Tudor 1st Duke Bedford (age 53).
William Beaumont 2nd Viscount Beaumont (age 47).
Giles Daubeney 1st Baron Daubeney (age 34).
William Stanley (age 50).
Roger Kynaston of Myddle and Hordley (age 52).
Henry Marney 1st Baron Marney (age 38).
William Brandon (age 29) was killed.
James Harrington (age 55) was killed.
John Howard 1st Duke of Norfolk (age 60) was killed and attainted. He was buried firstly at Thetford Priory, Norfolk [Map] and therafter at Church of St Michael the Archangel, Framlingham [Map]. Duke Norfolk, Baron Mowbray, Baron Segrave forfeit.
John Sacheverell (age 85) was killed.
Philibert Chandee 1st Earl Bath
William Norreys (age 44), Gilbert Talbot (age 33), John de Vere 13th Earl of Oxford (age 42) and John Savage (age 41) commanded,.
Robert Poyntz (age 35) was knighted.
Those who fought for Richard III included:
John Bourchier 6th Baron Ferrers of Groby (age 47).
John Conyers (age 74).
Thomas Dacre 2nd Baron Dacre Gilsland (age 17).
William Berkeley 1st Marquess Berkeley (age 59).
Richard Fitzhugh 6th Baron Fitzhugh (age 28).
John Scrope 5th Baron Scrope of Bolton (age 48).
Thomas Scrope 6th Baron Scrope Masham (age 26).
Henry Grey 4th or 7th Baron Grey of Codnor (age 50).
Edmund Grey 1st Earl Kent (age 68).
Ralph Neville 3rd Earl of Westmoreland (age 29).
John de la Pole 1st Earl Lincoln (age 23).
Humphrey Stafford (age 59).
George Talbot 4th Earl of Shrewsbury (age 17).
Thomas Howard 2nd Duke of Norfolk (age 42) was wounded, captured and imprisoned in the Tower of London [Map] for three years. He was attainted; Earl Surrey forfeit.
Francis Lovell 1st Viscount Lovell (age 29) fought and escaped.
John Zouche 7th Baron Zouche Harringworth (age 26) was captured.
John Babington (age 62), William Alington (age 65), Robert Mortimer (age 43), Robert Brackenbury, Richard Ratclyffe (age 55) and Richard Bagot (age 73) were killed
Walter Devereux Baron Ferrers of Chartley (age 53) was killed.
William Catesby (age 35) was executed at Leicester, Leicestershire [Map] after the battle.
George Stanley 9th Baron Strange Knockin 5th Baron Mohun Dunster (age 25) held as a hostage by Richard III before the Battle of Bosworth.
Henry Percy 4th Earl of Northumberland (age 36) betrayed King Richard III of England (age 32) by not committing his forces at the Battle of Bosworth.
John Iwardby (age 35) was killed.
The History of King Richard the Third by Thomas More. Now was it so devised by the Protector and his Council that the same day in which the Lord Chamberlain was beheaded in the Tower of London, and about the same hour, was there-not without his assent-beheaded at Pomfret the before mentioned lords and knights that were taken from the King at Northampton and Stony Stratford. Which thing was done in the presence and by the order of Sir Richard Radcliff, knight, whose service the Protector specially used in the Council and in the execution of such lawless enterprises, as a man that had been long secret with him, having experience of the world and a shrewd wit, short and rude in speech, rough and boisterous of behavior, bold in mischief, as far from pity as from all fear of God. This knight, bringing them out of the prison to the scaffold, and showing to the people about that they were traitors, not suffering them to speak and declare their innocence lest their words might have inclined men to pity them and to hate the Protector and his part, caused them hastily, without judgment, process, or manner of order to be beheaded, and without other earthly guilt, but only that they were good men, too true to the King and too close to the Queen.
Now when the Lord Chamberlain and these other lords were thus beheaded and rid out of the way, then thought the Protector that, while men mused what the matter meant, while the lords of the realm were about him out of their own strengths, while no man knew what to think nor whom to trust, before ever they should have space to dispute and digest the matter and make parties, it were best hastily to pursue his purpose and put himself in possession of the crown, before men could have time to devise any ways to resist. But now was all the study by what means this matter, being of itself so heinous, might be first broken to the people, in such a way that it might be well taken. To this counsel, they took diverse opinions, such as those thought suitable to be trusted, likely to be induced to the part, and able to stand them in position, either by power or policy.
Among whom, they made of counsel Edmund Shaa, knight, then Mayor of London, who upon trust of his own advancement, whereof he was of a proud heart highly desirous, should frame the city to their appetite. Of clergy men they took such as had intelligence and were in authority among the people for opinion of their learning, and had no scrupulous conscience.
Among these had they John Shaa, clerk, brother to the Mayor, and Friar Penker, Provincial of the Augustine Friars, both doctors of divinity, both great preachers, both of more learning than virtue, of more fame than learning. For they were before greatly esteemed among the people, but after that never.
The History of King Richard the Third by Thomas More. Wherewith he took such displeasure and thought, that the same night, he said unto a secret page of his: "Ah, whom shall a man trust? Those that I have brought up myself, those that I had thought would most surely serve me, even those fail me and at my commandment will do nothing for me."
"Sir," said his page, "there lies one outside in your bedchambers who, I dare well say, to do your Grace pleasure, the thing were right hard that he would refuse," meaning by this Sir James Tyrell, who was a man of right goodly personage and for nature's gifts, worthy to have served a much better prince, if he had well served God and by grace obtained as much truth and good will as he had strength and wit.
The man had a high heart and sore longed upward, not rising yet so fast as he had hoped, being hindered and kept under by the means of Sir Richard Radcliff and Sir William Catesby, who, longing for no more partners of the Prince's favor, and namely, none for him, whose pride they knew would bear no peer, kept him by secret plans out of all secret trust. Which thing this page well had marked and known. Because this occasion offered very special friendship with the King, the page took this time to put him forward and, by such a way, do him such good that all the enemies he had, except the devil, could never have done him so much harm.
For upon this page's words King Richard arose (for this communication had he sitting on the stool, an appropriate court for such a council) and came out into the bedchambers, where he found in bed Sir James and Sir Thomas Tyrell, of person alike and brethren of blood, but nothing of kin in qualities. Then said the King merrily to them: "What, sirs, be you in bed so soon?" and calling up Sir James, revealed to him secretly his mind in this mischievous matter, in which he found him nothing unfriendly.
Wherefore on the morrow, he sent him to Brakenbury with a letter, by which he was commanded to deliver Sir James all the keys of the Tower for one night, to the end he might there accomplish the King's pleasure in such thing as he had given him commandment. After which letter was delivered and the keys received, Sir James appointed the next night to destroy them, devising before and preparing the means.
