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Duke of York's Early Life and Marriage

This document discusses the origins of the conflict between the House of Lancaster and the House of York in 15th century England. It describes how Richard of York married Cecily Neville, strengthening his connections to other noble families. When Richard came of age, he was entrusted to the household of Ralph Neville, Earl of Westmorland, a supporter of Lancaster, to ensure Richard did not pursue his own dynastic ambitions. The document also describes events surrounding King Henry VI, such as his procession through London which garnered public support, and his knighting of young companions including Richard, who was restored to the title of Duke of York.

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Manoel Galvão
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41 views1 page

Duke of York's Early Life and Marriage

This document discusses the origins of the conflict between the House of Lancaster and the House of York in 15th century England. It describes how Richard of York married Cecily Neville, strengthening his connections to other noble families. When Richard came of age, he was entrusted to the household of Ralph Neville, Earl of Westmorland, a supporter of Lancaster, to ensure Richard did not pursue his own dynastic ambitions. The document also describes events surrounding King Henry VI, such as his procession through London which garnered public support, and his knighting of young companions including Richard, who was restored to the title of Duke of York.

Uploaded by

Manoel Galvão
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

The Origins of the

78

Agincourt.

By

this time, the

Conflict

young Duke was

already a married

man. Some time before i8 October 1424 (the exact date is not known)
he had married Cecily Neville, the youngest daughter of Ralph
Neville, Earl of Westmorland by Joanna Beaufort. Cecily had been
born in 141 5 at Raby Castle in County Durham, and because of her
good looks was popularly known as 'the Rose of Raby'. She was her
father's twenty-second child, and many of her brothers and sisters
had married well; thus by virtue of his marriage York found himself
closely related to most of the great magnates of England, which in
the future would prove useful for building up a powerful affinity.
Cecily's father had had to purchase Richard's marriage from the
Crown, which held him in wardship, at a cost of 3000 marks. In
December 1423 Richard had gone to live at Raby Castle with
Westmorland's younger children, which enabled him to become
well-acquainted with his bride. His father-in-law paid out 200 marks
a year for his maintenance, and presumably considered this money
well spent because Richard was a great matrimonial prize by virtue
of his birth and hoped-for inheritance. The Council doubtless felt
that the Earl was the right man to be entrusted with the upbringing
of York, since Westmorland had been a loyal supporter of the House
of Lancaster since 1399 and would ensure that his charge was raised in
such a way as to prevent him from getting any ideas about his own
dynastic status.
In April 1425 the

Queen once

again brought the King to London.

When the procession stopped at St Paul's, Gloucester lifted Henry


down from the litter and then he and Exeter led the three-year-old to
where he dutifully said his prayers and looked gravely
about him. He was then carried out into the churchyard and, to the
people's delight, placed on a horse and taken in procession through
the city. Two days later he went with his mother to open Parliament.
So appealing did he look that the crowds watching cried out their
blessings, saying that he appeared to be the very image of his famous
father, and expressing hopes that he would grow up to display the
same martial zeal.
Around this time, the Council decided that the King needed some
companions of his own age, and decreed that all noble boys in royal
wardship should be brought up with Henry at court. On 19 May
1426 the King was knighted by Bedford, then he in turn conferred
knighthood on some of his young companions and Richard of
Cambridge, who on that same day was formally restored to the
dukedom of York. Later that year, the Duke of Exeter, who had

the high altar,

been responsible for the King's upbringing, died.

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