A military summons by Richard

I may have asked before inw hich case I beg patience. I have
searched everywhere to no avail for a primary source, copy of a
summons to Bosworth from Richard. All I have at present is one by
Tudor and the comments of Croyland suggesting that Richard was very
thretening. Anything that might help me put Croyland's comments into
perspective would help. If I recall correctly Edward IV and Warwick
issued similar but I need actual sources if I am to combat
Croyland's implication.

Don¹t know about pre Bosworth, although I cannot remember ever reading any
with Richard threatening, but there is the early example of Richard at
Castle Rising with his brother and other supporters and Rivers trying to
raise troops and failing miserably, only to have Richard go out and bring
back hundreds! Not bad for a 16 year old. Charisma? Buckets full!
Paul

> From: "brunhild613" <brunhild@...>
> Reply-To:
> Date: Mon, 08 Sep 2003 17:25:58 -0000
> To:
> Subject: A military summons by Richard
>
> I may have asked before inw hich case I beg patience. I have
> searched everywhere to no avail for a primary source, copy of a
> summons to Bosworth from Richard. All I have at present is one by
> Tudor and the comments of Croyland suggesting that Richard was very
> thretening. Anything that might help me put Croyland's comments into
> perspective would help. If I recall correctly Edward IV and Warwick
> issued similar but I need actual sources if I am to combat
> Croyland's implication.
>
>
>
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--- In , "brunhild613"
<brunhild@n...> wrote:
> I may have asked before inw hich case I beg patience. I have
> searched everywhere to no avail for a primary source, copy of a
> summons to Bosworth from Richard. All I have at present is one by
> Tudor and the comments of Croyland suggesting that Richard was very
> thretening. Anything that might help me put Croyland's comments
into
> perspective would help. If I recall correctly Edward IV and Warwick
> issued similar but I need actual sources if I am to combat
> Croyland's implication.

Brunhild, I don't know how time-sensitive this is, but...there are
some sourcebooks I can look at that may have something approachign
what you're looking for. Unfortunately, I won't be able to get to
them before this weekend. Can certainly try then, if you're still in
need of the information.

Kellie

--- In , "brunhild613"
<brunhild@n...> wrote:
> I may have asked before inw hich case I beg patience. I have
> searched everywhere to no avail for a primary source, copy of a
> summons to Bosworth from Richard. All I have at present is one by
> Tudor and the comments of Croyland suggesting that Richard was very
> thretening. Anything that might help me put Croyland's comments
into
> perspective would help. If I recall correctly Edward IV and Warwick
> issued similar but I need actual sources if I am to combat
> Croyland's implication.

There are several quoted in full in Peter Hammond & Anne
Sutton's "Richard III - The Road to Bosworth Field". Some extracts
with the relevant threats!:

1. From Nottingham, 22nd June, to commissioners of array for
Yorkshire:
". . . . We therefore will and straitly command you that in all haste
possible after the receipt hereof ye do put our commission heretofore
directed unto you for the mustering and ordering of our subjects in
new execution, according to our instructions which we send unto you
at this time with these out letters. And that this be done with all
diligence as ye tender out surety, the wele of yourself and of all
this our realm.. . . "
The accompanying instructions included the following:
"Item, that the commissioners on the King's behalf give straitly in
commandment to all knights, squires and gentlemen to prepare and
arready themselves in their proper persons to do the King service
upon an hour warning, when they shall be thereunto commanded by
proclamation or otherwise. And that they fail not so to do upon the
peril of losing their lives, lands & goods. . . Item, to show to all
lords, noblemen, captains & other that the King's noble pleasure and
commandment is that they truly and honourably, all manner quarrels,
grudges, rancours & unkindness laid apart, attend to execute the
King's commandment, and every of them to be loving & assisting to
other in the King's quarrel & cause, showing them plainly that
whosoever attempt the contrary, the King's Grace will so punish him
that all other shall take example by him, etc."

2. Same day to all sheriffs:
". . . We therefore will and straitly command you that incontinently
upon the receipt heref ye fully dispose you to make your continual
abode within the shire town of your office, or your deputy for you,
to the intent that it may be openly known where ye or he shall be
surely found, for the performing and fulfilling of such things as on
our behalf or by our said commissioners ye shall be commanded to do,
not failing hereof in any wise as ye will answer unto us at your
uttermost peril. . . "

3. Proclamation issued on 23rd June from Westminster (probably by
Bishop Russell), giving the King's will:
". . . For the which . . . the King our sovereign lord willeth,
chargeth and commandeth all and every of the natural and true
subjects of this his realm . . . like good and true Englishmen to
endeavour themselves with all their powers for the defence of them,
their wives, children and goods and hereditaments, against the
malicious purposes and conspirations which the said ancient enemies
[ie the French] have made with the King's said rebels and traitors
for the final destruction of this land, as is aforesaid. And our
sovereign lord, as a well-willed, diligent and courageous prince,
will put his most royal person to all labour and pain necessary in
this behalf for the resistance and subduing of his said enemies,
rebels and traitors to the most comfort, wele and surety of all his
true and faithfull liege men and subjects.
And, over this, our said sovereign lord willeth and commandeth all
his said subjects to be ready in their most defensible array to do
his Highness service of war, when there be open proclamation or
otherwise shall be commanded to do so, for the resistance of the
King's said rebels, traitors and enemies. And this under peril,
etc. . . ."

4. From Beskwood Lodge to various Vernons, 11th August:
". . . God being our guide, we be utterly determined in our own
person to remove in all haste goodly that we can or may. Wherefore we
will and straitly charge you that ye in your person with such number
as ye have promised unto us sufficiently horsed and harnessed be with
us in all haste to you possible, to give unto us your attendance
without failing, all manner escuses set apart, upon pain of
forfeiture unto us of all that ye may forfeit and lose. . . ."

I don't know how usual these sort of "under peril" clauses were -
you'd need to be able to compare them with comparable summonses from
other reigns. The one about quarrels suggests Richard feared the old
problem of the Wars of the Roses - ie peoople taking sides against
their local enemies rather than considering the higher principles.
There was certainly a lot of that going on in the South.

Marie

>
> Brunhild, I don't know how time-sensitive this is, but...there are
> some sourcebooks I can look at that may have something approachign
> what you're looking for. Unfortunately, I won't be able to get to
> them before this weekend. Can certainly try then, if you're still
in
> need of the information.
>
> Kellie

Kellie, that would be terrific if you do have anything. I found the
Tudor one very quickly, I am assuming sonething from Richard
survives. All I heave meantime is the one from Norfolk to Paston. I
hope to reach this lesson in abour a week and a half/2 weeks. My new
students were astonished to learn that the murdering hunchback (all
they knew about him!) is the only king in the world to have his
own "fan club"! They nearly fell off their perches at the idea! And
I am pleased to report that 2 of my upper 6th are now very keen
Ricardians and reading voraciously about him and keen to join the
protests about the Tower of London's labels as discussed earlier!
Quite incensed, they were! I did manage to turn the Simnel debate
into what i hope will be a worthwhile lesson scheme, but that won't
be for some weeks yet. I would like to thank everyone for their
various contributions that have given me so much new material to hit
the 6th form with!
Brunhild

Marie - many thanks! That is perfect. And compares most
interestingly with the Henry Tudor example I have. It doesn't really
fit in with Croyland's description of them, despite the threats.
Brunhild

--- In , "mariewalsh2003"
<marie@r...> wrote:
> --- In , "brunhild613"
> <brunhild@n...> wrote:
> > I may have asked before inw hich case I beg patience. I have
> > searched everywhere to no avail for a primary source, copy of a
> > summons to Bosworth from Richard. All I have at present is one
by
> > Tudor and the comments of Croyland suggesting that Richard was
very
> > thretening. Anything that might help me put Croyland's comments
> into
> > perspective would help. If I recall correctly Edward IV and
Warwick
> > issued similar but I need actual sources if I am to combat
> > Croyland's implication.
>
> There are several quoted in full in Peter Hammond & Anne
> Sutton's "Richard III - The Road to Bosworth Field". Some
extracts
> with the relevant threats!:
>
> 1. From Nottingham, 22nd June, to commissioners of array for
> Yorkshire:
> ". . . . We therefore will and straitly command you that in all
haste
> possible after the receipt hereof ye do put our commission
heretofore
> directed unto you for the mustering and ordering of our subjects
in
> new execution, according to our instructions which we send unto
you
> at this time with these out letters. And that this be done with
all
> diligence as ye tender out surety, the wele of yourself and of all
> this our realm.. . . "
> The accompanying instructions included the following:
> "Item, that the commissioners on the King's behalf give straitly
in
> commandment to all knights, squires and gentlemen to prepare and
> arready themselves in their proper persons to do the King service
> upon an hour warning, when they shall be thereunto commanded by
> proclamation or otherwise. And that they fail not so to do upon
the
> peril of losing their lives, lands & goods. . . Item, to show to
all
> lords, noblemen, captains & other that the King's noble pleasure
and
> commandment is that they truly and honourably, all manner
quarrels,
> grudges, rancours & unkindness laid apart, attend to execute the
> King's commandment, and every of them to be loving & assisting to
> other in the King's quarrel & cause, showing them plainly that
> whosoever attempt the contrary, the King's Grace will so punish
him
> that all other shall take example by him, etc."
>
> 2. Same day to all sheriffs:
> ". . . We therefore will and straitly command you that
incontinently
> upon the receipt heref ye fully dispose you to make your continual
> abode within the shire town of your office, or your deputy for
you,
> to the intent that it may be openly known where ye or he shall be
> surely found, for the performing and fulfilling of such things as
on
> our behalf or by our said commissioners ye shall be commanded to
do,
> not failing hereof in any wise as ye will answer unto us at your
> uttermost peril. . . "
>
> 3. Proclamation issued on 23rd June from Westminster (probably by
> Bishop Russell), giving the King's will:
> ". . . For the which . . . the King our sovereign lord willeth,
> chargeth and commandeth all and every of the natural and true
> subjects of this his realm . . . like good and true Englishmen to
> endeavour themselves with all their powers for the defence of
them,
> their wives, children and goods and hereditaments, against the
> malicious purposes and conspirations which the said ancient
enemies
> [ie the French] have made with the King's said rebels and traitors
> for the final destruction of this land, as is aforesaid. And our
> sovereign lord, as a well-willed, diligent and courageous prince,
> will put his most royal person to all labour and pain necessary in
> this behalf for the resistance and subduing of his said enemies,
> rebels and traitors to the most comfort, wele and surety of all
his
> true and faithfull liege men and subjects.
> And, over this, our said sovereign lord willeth and commandeth all
> his said subjects to be ready in their most defensible array to do
> his Highness service of war, when there be open proclamation or
> otherwise shall be commanded to do so, for the resistance of the
> King's said rebels, traitors and enemies. And this under peril,
> etc. . . ."
>
> 4. From Beskwood Lodge to various Vernons, 11th August:
> ". . . God being our guide, we be utterly determined in our own
> person to remove in all haste goodly that we can or may. Wherefore
we
> will and straitly charge you that ye in your person with such
number
> as ye have promised unto us sufficiently horsed and harnessed be
with
> us in all haste to you possible, to give unto us your attendance
> without failing, all manner escuses set apart, upon pain of
> forfeiture unto us of all that ye may forfeit and lose. . . ."
>
> I don't know how usual these sort of "under peril" clauses were -
> you'd need to be able to compare them with comparable summonses
from
> other reigns. The one about quarrels suggests Richard feared the
old
> problem of the Wars of the Roses - ie peoople taking sides against
> their local enemies rather than considering the higher principles.
> There was certainly a lot of that going on in the South.
>
> Marie