May 1485 Dec 1485 Bosworth

On 22nd August 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 of England.

Humphrey Cotes (age 35) died. It isn't clear on which side he was fighting.

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).

John Wingfield.

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, Baron Howard 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 of 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 Earl Lincoln 1st (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 by not committing his forces at the Battle of Bosworth.

John Iwardby (age 35) was killed.

Chronicle of Edward Hall [1496-1548]. 30th October 1485. After this he [King Henry VII of England and Ireland (age 28)] with great pompe was cōueighed to Westmynster, and there the thirtye daye of Octobre was with all ceremonyes accustomed, enoynted & crouned kyng by the whole assent as well of the cōmons as of the nobilite, & was named kyng Henry the. vij. of that. name, which was in the yere of our redempcion. M. cece. Ixxxvi. Frederyke the. iij. then beynge Emperour of Almayne, Maximilian his sonne then beynge newely clected kyng of Romanes, Charles the. viij. reignyng over the Frenche nacion, & lames the iij. rulyng the realme of Scotland. Which kyngdome he obteyned & enioyed as a thyng by God elected. & prouided, and by his especiall fauoure & gracious aspecte compassed and acheved. In so muche that m& comonly reporte that. vii. C. xcvii. yeres passed, it was by a heavenly voyce reueled to Cadwalader last kyng of Brytons that his stocke and progeny should reigne in this land and beare domynion agayn: Wherupo most men were persuaded in their awne opinion that by this heauenly voyce he was prouided & ordeyned longe before to enioye and obteine this kyngdom, whiche thing kyng Henry the. vi. did also shewe before asyou have heard declared. Wherefore he beynge by right and iust tytle of temporal inheritaunce, & by prouision of deuyne purueyauce thus crouned and proclaimed kyng: First of all vsyng the antique example of the Athenienses, whiche is to perdon and put out of memory all crymes and offences before tyme agaynst hym or his lawes perpetrated or cōmitted, he called his high court of parliamét at Westmynster the. vii. daye of Nouembre for thestablishyng of all thinges aswell cGeernyng the preseruacion and maintenaֹֹֹūce of his royal person, as the admynistracion of iustice and preferment of the cōmon wealth of this realme and dominion, in the which he caused to be proclaimed that all men were perdoned, acquited & clerely discharged of all offences, peynes of death and execucions, and should be restored to their landes and moueable goodes whiche woulde submit them selfes to his clemency and by othe be obliged truly to serue and obeye bym as their sovereigne lorde, & who woulde be obstinate & refuse to returne to his parte, should be accepted and taken as a publike enemy to hym and his countrey. By reason of which proclamacion, a great nombre that came out of diverse sanctuaries and privileged places obteyned grace, forgetting clerely the diversite of faccions & voyce of partakyng. After this he began to remembre his es- peciall frendes & fautours, of whome sone he anaunced to honoure & dignite, & some he enriched with possessions & goodes, every ma according to his desert & merite. And to begvnne, laspar (age 53) his vncle Erle of Penbrooke, he created duke of Bedforde, Thomas lorde Stanley (age 50) he promoted to be erle of Darby, & lord Chandew of Briteine his especiall frende he made erle of Bathe, Sir Gyles Dawbeney (age 34) was made lorde Dawbeney, Sir Robert Willoughby (age 33) was made lord Brooke which be in their degree barons and peeres of the realme. And Edward Stafford (age 7) eldest son to Henry late duke of Buckingham, he restored to his name dignitie and possessions, which kyng Richard did confiscate and attaynted. Beside this in this parliamēt was this notable acte assented to and concluded as foloweth.

Grafton's Chronicle [1507-1573]. [30th October 1485]. After thys, he wyth great pompe was conueyed to Westminster, and there the thirtie King Henry the daye of October was wyth all ceremonies accustomed, annoynted and crowned Kyng by seuenth crowned the whole assent as well of the commons as of the Nobilitie, and was named king Henry the seuenth of that name, Frederike the thirde then beyng Emperour of Almayne, Maximilian hys sonne then beyng newely elected king of Romaynes, Charles the eyght reygning ouer the French nation, and Iames the thirde rulyng the realme of Scotlande. Which James the thirde kingdome he obteyned and enioyed as a thing by God elected and prouided, & by hys king of Scottes, especiall fauour and gracious aspect compassed and acheeued. In so much that men commonly reported that. 797. yeres passed, it was by a heauenly voyce reuealed to Cadwalader last king of Brytons that his stock and progeny should reigne in thys land and beare dominyon agayne: Wherevpon most men were perswaded in their awne opinion that by this heauenly voyce he was prouided and ordeyned long before to enioy and obteyne this kingdome, which thing king Henry the sixt did also shew before, as you haue heard declared. Wherefore he beyng by right and iust tytle of temporall inheritaunce, and by the prouision of deuine purueyaunce thus crowned and proclaymed king: First of all vsyng the antique example of the Athenians, which is to pardon and put out of memorie all crymes and offences before tyme agaynst hym or hys lawes perpetrated or committed, he called hys high court of Parliament at Westmynster the seuenth day of Nouember for boldeeranwest the stablyshing of all things as well concerning the preseruation and mayntenaunce of hys general pardo royall person, as the admynistration of iustice and preferment of the common welth of A parliamēt graunted. thys realme and dominion, in the which he caused to be proclaymed that all inen were pardoned acquyted and cleerely discharged of all offences, paynes of deathe and executions, and should be restored to their landes and moueable goodes, which would submit themselues to his clemencie & by othe be bound truely to serue and obey him as their souereigne Lord, & who so would be obstinate and refuse to returne to hys part, should be accepted and taken as a publike enemy to him and his Countrey. By reason of which proclamation, a great number that came out of dyuers Sanctuaries and priuileged places obteyned grace, forgettyng clerely the diuersitie of factions and voyce of partaking. After this he began to remember his especiall friends and fautors, of whom some he aduaunced to honour and dignity, and some he enriched with possessions and goodes, euery man according to his desert and merite. And to begin, Iasper his Vncle Erle of Penbrooke, he created Duke of Bedforde, Thomas Lorde Stanley he promoted to the Erle of Darby, and the Lorde Chandew of Britayne his especiall friend he made Erle of Bathe, Syr Gyles Dawbeny was made Lorde Dawbeny, syr Robert Wylloughby was made Lorde Brooke which be in their degree Barons and Peeres of the realme. And Edwarde Stafford eldest sonne to Henry late Duke of Buckyngham, he restored to his name, dignitie and possessions, which king Richard did confiscate and attainted. Beside thys, in this Parliament was this notable act assented to and concluded as foloweth.

Vatican Regesta Vol. DCLXXXV Secretarum Tomus IV 2 Innocent VIII. [23rd July 1486] 10 Kal. Aug. Decree, at the petition of king Henry (age 29) and queen Elizabeth (age 20), that a notarial copy of the process before James, bishop of Imola, Apostolic Nuncio with the power of a legate de latere, in regard to the dispensation granted by him to them to contract marriage, notwithstanding the impediment arising from their being related in the double fourth degree of kindred, shall have the same credence as the original letters of the said bishop. The Pope (age 54) exemplifies the said letters and process as follows:

Public instrument, setting forth that in the year of the Incarnation 1486, after the computation of the English church, the 4th indiction, anno 2 Innocent VIII [16th January 1486], in the chapel of St. Mary [the Virgin] on the east side of the cathedral church of St. Paul, London [Map], before James, bishop of Imola, apostolic legate to England and Scotland, in presence of the below-written notaries public, appointed by the said bishop as scribes in the below-written matter of dispensation, and witnesses below-named, there appeared in person Master Robert Morton (age 51), Archdeacon of Winchester, and John de Giglis, I.U.D., as proctors of king Henry, and Richard Hill, dean of the chapel of the household of the said king, and David William, doctor of decrees, dean of St. Mary's Arches, London, as proctors of the lady Elizabeth, eldest daughter of the late king Edward IV, who produced their mandates of procuration and presented to the said legate a schedule of petition on behalf of the said king and lady, praying him to dispense them to marry, notwithstanding the impediment of their relationship in the fourth and fourth degrees of kindred, as was specified by the said Master Robert Morton.

The said instrument exemplifies the said procurations and schedule, as follows:

(i) A public instrument, setting forth that in the year of the Incarnation, etc., 1486, the 4th indiction, anno 2 Innocent VIII, January 14, in a certain great chamber within the palace royal at Westminster, before Thomas, archbishop of York (age 62) and legate of the apostolic see, John, bishop of Worcester (age 56), chancellor of England, and Jasper duke of Bedford (age 54), and many other nobles and magnates, in the presence of me, Richard Spencer, notary public below-written, the said king, present in person, appointed Masters John de Giglis, I.U.D., and Robert Morton, master or keeper of the rolls of the chancery of the said king, as his proctors to appear before the said bishop and legate (who, as is said, has faculty from the apostolic see to dispense a certain number of persons related in the fourth and fourth degrees of kindred and affinity to contract marriage), and to request him to exhibit, etc., the said letters, and execute them in accordance with the desire of the said king, etc. Of all which things, done on the above date and in the above place, in the presence of the above-named witnesses and of Richard Spencer, clerk, of the diocese of Lincoln, notary public by apostolic and imperial authorities, registrar-principal of the court of Canterbury, and keeper of the registers of the same court, the said notary has made the present public instrument, and, being otherwise engaged, has caused it to be written by another, and has published and drawn it up in this public form, and has signed it with his wonted sign and name;.

(ii) A like public instrument, setting forth that on the same date as in the preceding, and in a certain chamber within the royal palace of Westminster, before John, bishop of Worcester, chancellor of England, John lord de Wellys (age 36), Master William Smyth, dean of the chapel royal of Wymbourn in the diocese of Salisbury, and other witnesses, in the presence of the above notary, Richard Spencer, the above lady Elizabeth, present in person, appointed Masters Richard Hill, dean of the chapel of the king's household, and David William, doctor of decrees, dean of St. Mary's Arches, London, and commissary-general of the official of the court of Canterbury and president of the said court, in the absence of the said official, as her proctors to appear, etc., as in the preceding. Of all which things, done on the above date and in the above place, in the presence of the abovenamed witnesses and of … Richard Spencer, clerk, etc., as above, the said notary has made, written, subscribed, published, and drawn up in this public form the present public instrument, and has signed it with his wonted sign and name;.

(iii) The petition to James, bishop of Imola, apostolic legate to England and Scotland, on behalf of the most serene prince and lord, the lord Henry, by the grace of God king of England and France and lord of Ireland, of the one part, and of the most illustrious (clarissime) lady, the lady Elizabeth, eldest legitimate and natural daughter of the late Edward, sometime king of England and France and lord of Ireland, of the other part, setting forth that whereas the said king Henry has by God's providence won his realm of England, and is in peaceful possession thereof, and has been asked by all the lords of his realm, both spiritual and temporal, and also by the general council of the said realm, called Parliament, to take the said lady Elizabeth to wife, he, wishing to accede to the just petitions of his subjects, desires to take the said lady to wife, but cannot do so without dispensation, inasmuch as they are related in the fourth and fourth degrees of kindred, wherefore petition is made on their behalf to the said legate to grant them dispensation by his apostolic authority to contract marriage and remain therein, notwithstanding the said impediment of kindred, and to decree the offspring to be born thereof legitimate.

Historia Regis Henrici Septimi by Bernado Andrea. As the dreadful slaughter of King Edward’s sons was once again revived in memory, behold, seditious men devised another new crime; for, in order to cloak their fabrication with falsehood, they wickedly put forward a certain common-born boy, said to be the son either of a baker or of a cobbler, as Edward the Fourth’s son. So great is the power of audacity among them that, when they conceive hatred against their king, they take no care to fear either God or men. Thus, a deception having been contrived among them, rumor reported that Edward’s second son had been crowned king in Ireland. And when such a report had been brought to the king, he himself, being most shrewd, questioned them closely about everything: namely, how and by whom the boy had been brought there, where he had been brought up, where he had so long resided, what friends he had, and many other such matters he wisely investigated. Messengers were sent, various, according to the variety of circumstances, and .... who asserted that, if the boy were such as he was claimed to be, he would easily recognize him, was sent across. He, however, already schooled in wicked art by those who had known Edward’s times, answered with the utmost readiness all the questions put to him. At last, not to make the matter long, through the false instruction of those who prompted him, he was believed by many, men likewise prudent, that he was Edward’s son; and this belief was held so firmly that very many did not hesitate to face death on his behalf. Observe what follows. Such was in those days the ignorance even of illustrious men, such blindness (lest I call it pride or malice), that the Earl of Lincoln¹ ....

Crudescente iterum filiorum Eduardi regis diro funere, ecce aliud novum facinus seditiosi homines excogitarunt; quippe ut fictionem suam mendacio velarent quemdam vulgo natum, puerum, sive pistoris, sive sutoris, filium Eduardi Quarti scelerata mente jactaverunt. Tantum apud eos valet audacia ut neque Deum neque homines, quum in regem suum odium conciperent, formidare curent. Sic, igitur, excogitata inter ipsos fallacia, Eduardi secundum filium in Hibernia regem coronatum fama retulit. Cumque ad regem talis rumor delatus esset, ipse ut est sagacissimus ab illis percontatur omnia; quomodo videlicet et a quibus illuc delatus sit, ubi educatus, ubi tamdiu moratus, quos haberet amicos, et alia hujusmodi permulta sapienter investigat. Nuncii missi pro rerum varietate varii, postremo .... qui se illum si talis esset facile cogniturum asserebat, transmissus est. Ille autem arte mala jam instructus ab his qui Eduardi tempora notaverant ad omnia caduciferi interrogata promptissime respondebat. Tandem, ne longum faciam, falsa suggerentium instructione a plurimis eisdemque prudentibus viris Eduardi filius credebatur, adeoque firmiter tenebatur ut plerique mortem oppetere pro illo minime dubitarent. Quod sequitur specta. Tanta fuit illis diebus illustrium etiam virorum ignorantia, tanta cæcitas (ne superbiam aut malitiam dixerim), ut comes Linconiensis ....

Note 1. John de la Pole (age 25), around 1462-1487. He was created Earl of Lincoln by his uncle King Edward IV. He was a 3 x great grandson of King Edward IV through both his maternal grandparents Richard, Duke of York, and Cecily "Rose of Raby" Neville. He was killed at the Battle of Stoke Field on 16th June 1487.