Monday, 29 January 2018

34. Hull Prepares to Defend Itself

Remains of Beverley Gate, Hull, before the 2017 refurbishment

Autumn 1460 found England in limbo.  After winning the Battle of Northampton, the Yorkists now held King Henry VI prisoner, however nobles in Parliament wouldn’t agree to Richard, Duke of York, replacing him as king.  They preferred the compromise of Edward, Richard’s son, succeeding after Henry died. The Duke of York though wanted to wear the crown himself and wasn’t prepared to give up the fight now.  As both sides prepared for yet more violence, across the country people looked on wondering if they would get caught up in the conflict.  With no one else to turn to, it was every town for itself. 

In Hull one of the first security measures to be put in place was to close all entrances into the town aside from Beverley Gate, so that visitors could be more easily monitored.  To guard against attack from the river, gates or bars were placed at the end of staithes.  At the top of Bishop’s Lane, where the ground had been too soft to build the town wall, barrels of stones were used to block up the gap in the defences.

Hull’s aldermen were given additional powers to try and prevent people causing trouble.  Their permission had to be sought if a stranger wished to stay in town more then one night.  If the aldermen suspected you were hiding an unauthorised stranger, they had the authority to search your house.  And they would only give permission for your guest to stay, if you promised you would be responsible for their behaviour.

Defending Hull was a team effort. At any one time, a quarter of the town’s men were on guard duty either along the walls or patrolling the streets.  Archers were stationed at the end of each staith.  Men were called upon to take their turn digging ditches in front of the barbicans at Hessle, Myton, and North Gates.  If you failed to turn up to do your bit, you were fined.  Plus no doubt your neighbours would make it very clear what they thought of you putting everybody’s lives at risk.

The fact Hull was a port made it vulnerable.  No ship was allowed to dock until the aldermen had interrogated the captain, purser and master as to their motives for coming to Hull and a limit was introduced on the number of sailors that could be on shore at any one time.  To guard the quayside, a ship belonging to Claus Orton was requisitioned, equipped with guns and anchored by the jetty.  More than 100 people also dipped their hands into their pockets to buy an iron chain to string across the mouth of the river Hull.

On this high state of alert the people of Hull tried to continue with their everyday lives despite knowing that at any moment they may be called on go and fight to protect their homes and families.  They waited for the nobles to stop squabbling and decide who should be king, however as Christmas 1460 approached the issue was still not resolved.



Photos: Top, remains of Beverley Gate, Hull; Bottom, surviving example of defensive gate with barbican, Walmgate, York.


Sunday, 14 January 2018

33. An Unwelcome Visitor

Bricks indicating the former location of a watchtower in Hull's defensive wall

As befitting any medieval noble worth his salt, Thomas Percy, Baron Egremont, held quite a few official posts.  One of these was Admiral of the Humber, which gave him rights over dealing with maritime misdemeanours in Hull’s admiralty court.  Previous holders of this post had been content to bask in the prestige of the title and leave the actual mundane admin to Hull’s aldermen.  Egremont though decided he wanted to more hands on, so in April 1460 he marched on Hull flanked by a mass of armed supporters and demanded his right to chair a session of the admiralty court.

Egremont was not the kind of man you wanted to be involved with.  He’d previously tried to incite revolt at York, which had included dragging the town’s mayor to Bootham Bar and publicly attacking him.  These actions got Egremont sent to jail, where he remained for two years before escaping.  Understandably therefore, Hull’s aldermen were not overly keen to let him into their town and instead closed and barred the gates against him.

The aldermen then sent a messenger to King Henry VI pleading for help, together with some wine in the hope that even royals could be swayed by the gift of a bottle (or in this case two entire barrels).  Then Hull bunkered down and waited for Henry’s response.  Egremont prowled threateningly outside, promising death to those who crossed his path.  A 24-hour watch was placed all along Hull’s defensive walls to monitor his movements.  Inhabitants rattled around inside their town fearing what would happen if Egremont tried to force the gates or attempt a hostile landing on the quayside.

It took two long weeks for the king’s answer to arrive.  When it did, Hull’s streets sounded with the clang of the Guildhall bell as citizens were called together to hear the reply.  It was bad news.  Egremont had to be let in.  On the plus side though, most of his army had to stay outside.  He could bring in with him just 60 horsemen, which was the minimum retinue someone of noble birth could reasonable be asked to have without it being an insult.  As an extra precaution, it was decided that the guards along the walls would remain for as long as Egremont stayed.

The Mayor and two hundred of Hull’s most esteemed inhabitants formally received Egremont as he entered through Beverley Gate.  He was entertained and given a good meal which doubtless included a glass or two.  It was then humbly explained to him that the business of the admiralty court could not be settled just yet as most unfortunately crucial documents relating to the Admiral of the Humber’s rights were down in London.  If this displeased Egremont, he didn’t get an opportunity to enact his revenge.  Just a few months later he was dead, executed after being on the losing side at the battle of Northhampton.

Picture: Bricks in Princes Dock Street showing the former location of a watchtower in Hull’s defensive wall