36. Surviving the War

During most of the Wars of the Roses, Hull remained loyal to Henry VI and the Lancastrian cause.  The Battle of Towton on 29th March 1461 though was a clear sign that Hull needed to switch allegiance for its own survival.  Towton was a ferocious ten-hour endurance test during which participants fought whilst being lashed by rain and snow.  The battle finished with the Yorkist army mercilessly killing fleeing Lancastrians until, it was said, their lifeless bodies formed a bridge across the river Coln.

In the face of this ruthlessness, Hull set about demonstrating its support for the newly crowned Yorkist king Edward IV.  The town sent him the customary gift of several barrels of wine and also provided his ally the Earl of Warwick with a ship and crew.  In May the Mayor and other prominent citizens rode to York to pledge their loyalty in person.  Doubtless during the course of this visit they made sure to mention that they had recently expelled 32 people from Hull who had failed to show support for the new king.

At least Edward’s victory meant that for the first time in many months, Hull could relax its security measures.  There were still though regular demands for men and equipment.  Eighty-eight inhabitants contributed £42 in coin and kind to equip the Mary Bedford for the king’s service.  These included a miller who donated corn to the value of 6s 8d and Peter and Lauren Berbruer who gave three barrels of beer.  Despite this public generosity, the town still had to borrow £200 pounds in 1461 to meet such demands.  It was also forced to dig up its pioneering system of underground water pipes in order to sell the lead.

Deep down though Hull’s people remained loyal to the deposed Henry VI, as when the chance came to snub Edward IV they took it.  After losing the support of the Earl of Warwick, Edward was forced into exile in 1469 and Henry was re-adopted as king.  Edward returned in 1471 landing at Ravenspurn, a small port near Spurn Head that has since fallen into the sea.  He then made his way to the nearest town but Hull refused to let him in.  The rest of the country though was more welcoming and Edward was soon back on the throne.  

Hull’s aldermen, knowing that Edward would now hold a grudge against them, began cultivating the support of his brother Richard, Duke of York, by provided him with men for his battles against the Scots.  When in 1483 Richard was raising an army to usurp the throne, Hull sent him twenty soldiers plus £15. Once Richard had taken the crown, his coat of arms was speedily placed above Beverley Gate.  All this grovelling paid off as Richard rewarded Hull with a grant to export goods without paying custom duties.

After only two years though Richard was gone, replaced by the largely unknown Henry Tudor.  Once again Hull’s Mayor and prominent citizens rode to York to pledge their loyalty to the new king.  Once again the town was called on to provide men for the king’s army as he cemented his rule.  Given the tremulous events of the past few years, the people of Hull must have wondered just how long this new king Henry VII would last.

Picture: The Historie of the Arrival of King Edward IV. A.D. 1471”(1838) Camden Old Series. Cambridge University Press, 1, pp. 1–40 https://doi.org/10.1017/S2042169900000687

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35. Hull’s Mayor Joins the War

Richard Hanson was well known in mid-15th century Hull.  He was one of the town’s top merchants, frequently to be found on the High Street conducting deals and inspecting merchandise.  Like other merchants he was involved with the town’s governance and was one of its longest serving aldermen.  He also became mayor four times when most people completed just a single term.  As mayor he would have been an unmissable figure, presiding over market days and town meetings dressed up in his robe, cape and furs.

Hanson served as mayor during a decade when England descended into war as the Lancastrians and Yorkists fought over who deserved to rule.  His final term began in 1460 as the conflict was in full swing.  Any plans he had for the future of the town had to be laid to one side, as his priority had to be keeping citizens safe from the violence happening all around them.

In autumn 1460, the Yorkists appeared to have the upper hand as they held King Henry VI a prisoner in London.  However, Queen Margaret was preparing to fight back by raising a new army and asked that men who supported the Lancastrian cause gather near Hull.  From across the north fifteen thousand answered her call including Richard Hanson.

A Yorkist army marched north to answer this new threat led by Richard, Duke of York. They faced a hazardous journey along waterlogged roads in the bitter winter weather.  The two sides met on 30th December near Wakefield with Richard and his tired troops facing an army twice their size.  Unsurprisingly the Yorkists lost and lost badly.  2000 died including their leader Richard whilst the Lancastrians suffered just 200 fatalities.

Throughout the war Hull had remained on the side of the Lancastrians, so town authorities were pleased when news came through of this victory.  They bought a horse from one of the town’s butchers and sent it to Queen Margaret’s army along with a barrel of wine.  Then however their happiness was punctured by the news that although the Lancastrian dead were few in number, among them was their mayor Richard Hanson.

The newly energised Lancastrian force began the march down to London but were forced to turn back after meeting resistance at St Alban’s.  Following this the Duke of York’s son, Edward, was proclaimed king.  Then, like his father before him, he too marched north to confront a Lancastrian army.  So the war dragged on and the lives of Hull’s citizens continued to revolve around protecting their town from attack, only now it was without the help of one their most experienced leaders.

Picture: Extract from 'Gregory's Chronicle: 1451-1460' taken from British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/camden-record-soc/vol17/pp196-210

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