Francis and the Scottish campaign 1482

In the last years before Edward IV`s death, the king intended to resolve the always difficult relations with England`s northern neighbours, which frequently burst into violence on both sides, by an invasion. Preparations were made by men of such high standing as his (only remaining) brother, Richard, Duke of Gloucester and Lord Howard. Edward himself intended to lead the invasion but eventually decided against it due to "adverse turmoil", instead leaving the campaigns to his brother Richard.

The details of this campaign have been covered elsewhere, but as happens sadly often, little to no attention has been paid to Francis`s part in the campaign and where he was during them. This is understandable since he was of comparatively low standing as compared to many others involved with it, and not then much of a political player, of much interest to observers. However, despite this, a bit has survived about Francis`s involvement and actions during the campaigns.

It is known that Francis was knighted by Richard, on 22nd August 1481, (though the year is disputed and sometimes put as 1480), in Hutton-by-Berwick. He was not the only one to be knighted there and then by Richard - so was his brother-in-law, Richard FitzHugh, for example - but it suggests he had been comporting himself well during what fighting there had been.

Despite this and the honour, as I have pointed out in an earlier article, there is some indication Francis, while apparently not bad at fighting when he had too, was not very keen on doing do. A letter written by him to William Stonor in the next year, 1482, survives and indicates as much. Writing on 24th June, almost exactly a month after Richard first led an attack into Scotland, which saw Dumfries burned, and the Duke of Albany arrive in England to ask for his support for his claim to the throne, Francis stated that "it is said in this contre the King purposes to send Northwardes my lorde of Gloucestre, and my broder Parr and such other folke of worship as hath eny reule in the said northe parties, trustyng we shall have warr of the Scottes". Since, as Wendy E.A. Moorhen points out, in an article that can be read on the website of the Richard III Society, Richard had been "confirmed as Lieutenant-General of the North" twelve days earlier at Fotheringhay, it seems that news were travelling slow, as Francis, writing at Tanfeld, had only heard unspecific rumours about this.

The letter, interestingly, also makes it clear that Francis was not involved in the attacks led into Scotland a month earlier, though it gives no clue as to why. It also does not explain why Francis apparently did not see those attacks as "warre", though the suggestion is that a larger Scottish army was expected, rather than just such attacks at the border, which there had been several of on both sides in the previous years.

As alluded to above, Francis did not show much enthusiasm about the prospect. Apologising to Stonor for not having returned south (from his mother-in-law`s manor of Tanfeld) to be "with the King at the feste of Seynt John Baptist now late passid, to have attende upon his good grace", he states that he intents "as hastely as I can have a convenient seasson" to return to the south.

Sadly, we do not know when Francis was contacted by Richard and/or someone else preparing the invasion, but given his involvement in the fighting the year before and his stated intention to remain in the north for the reason for joining it, it is probably safe to say that he did join Richard`s army, likely bringing some men of his own.

According to Moorhen, the "army crossed the border" in the middle of July, laying siege to Berwick, which surrendered to the army, though only partially, the citadel refusing to do so. Richard deputised Lord Stanley to remain at Berwick, marching on through Scotland mostly unopposed, due to the infighting at the Scottish court. Not long after the English army crossed into Scotland, the Scottish "dissatisfied subjects had taken their king prisoner" (Moorhen), his captors were fine with trying to come to terms with Richard, and Richard could take Edinburgh without a fight.

Where Francis was during all this, we do not know. However, it has been pointed out by J.M.William`s in her essay ‘The Political Career of Francis Viscount Lovell (1456-?)’ that on 10th August 1482, Francis was "among the lessors of the manor of Remenham, Berkshire, to Thomas Lovell for twenty years, to the use of Edmund Mountfort, knight". She speculates that this means Francis was then back south, where this agreement was made.

While this is of course guesswork, it is an idea worth looking at. While the details of such a business interaction would have been handled by Francis`s and the other men`s lawyers, and the transaction would not have required his presence, it is a safe assumption that he would have been consulted about it before any decisions were made final. This would suggest the final agreement was made before Francis joined Richard`s army bound for Scotland and then for some reason delayed for several weeks, or that Francis had already returned by then.

Since the paperwork for the transaction is, according to Williams, in the Westminster Abbey Muniments and was therefore in all likelihood completed somewhere in the south or middle of England, Francis however had been in the north for a while before going to war and had, moreover, mentioned wanting to return to the south as soon as he could after that, it seems that there is something to Williams` speculation, and Francis was possibly no longer with Richard and the rest of the army, men of high standing and common men alike, in Scotland.

If so, the question as to why naturally arises. Since Francis had explicitly mentioned staying in the north to fight, if apparently without much liking the idea, it is quite unlikely that he did not join the fighting after all, more so since he had also fought the year before. Nor is it likely that he left Scotland early without a good reason, which a transaction like that would not have been. Again, it is unlikely that he would have simply chosen, or in fact been allowed, to leave after clearly having expected to fight and having done so into late summer in 1481.

Added to that is the fact that not half a year later, Edward IV bestowed a signal honour on Francis by elevating him to viscouncy, an honour he only bestowed on one other man during his reign. While, as I have addressed before, it is probable that Richard may have spoken to Edward about this and used his influence to see it happened, it is very improbable Edward would have obliged him in this and honoured a man who had chosen to stay away from the fighting or left it early for his own reasons.

In fact, it even seems somewhat unlikely he would have so honoured a man who left the fighting early for some perfectly understandable and pressing, yet unrelated, reason over many who had remained, such as Francis`s above-mentioned brother-in-law, who was moreover related to Edward by blood.

Therefore, if Francis genuinely was back in the south by 10th August 1482, it is likely he left Richard`s army and company because he could not stay anymore, possibly because he sustained a minor injury, for example when first laying siege to Berwick. This could have rendered him unable to fight for some time, for example if it was on his fighting arm or a leg, making him a liability to take along on the ride through Scotland, where Richard continued to take and burn cities, yet have left him healthy enough to undertake a less strenous journey back south.

Such an injury could even explain Edward`s decision to honour Francis in January 1483 even more, as at the time, the whole capital, and even Parliament was singing Richard`s praises for his successful campaign. Rewarding a friend of his who had been involved in the campaign and had moreover gotten injured during it, would have been a popular move and pleased Richard at the same time.

Again, it is sheerest speculation. All we do know is that Francis was involved in the fighting in 1481, apparently doing a good job at it, was not involved in the early part of the campaign in 1482 but, apparently, was part of the invasion that happened later that year. How long he stayed with that army, if he left earlier and if so why, there are only hints about. All we do know is that whatever he did, it apparently earned him the favour of King Edward IV.