Biography of Richard Welles 7th Baron Welles, Baron Willoughby 1428-1470

On 15 May 1464 a Yorkist army commanded by John Neville 1st Marquess Montagu (age 33) defeated a Lancastrian army commanded by Henry Beaufort 2nd or 3rd Duke of Somerset (age 28) at Hexham, Northumberland [Map] during the Battle of Hexham.

Those fighting for York included John Stafford 1st Earl Wiltshire (age 36), John Scrope 5th Baron Scrope of Bolton (age 26) and Richard Welles 7th Baron Welles, Baron Willoughby (age 36).

Henry Beaufort 2nd or 3rd Duke of Somerset was beheaded following the battle. The general pardon which he has previously received was annulled. Duke Somerset, Marquess Dorset, Earl Somerset and Earl Dorset forfeit for the second time. His son Edmund Beaufort 3rd Duke of Somerset (age 25) was styled by supporters of the House of Lancaster as Duke of Somerset but had not right to do so.

Philip Wentworth (age 40) was executed at Middleham [Map].

Before 03 Feb 1470 [his son] Robert Welles 8th Baron Willoughby 8th Baron Welles attacked Gainsborough Old Hall, Lincolnshire [Map] home of Thomas Burgh 1st Baron Burgh of Gainsborough (age 39), a senior Yorkist, Edward IV's (age 27) Master of the Horse. It isn't known whether this attack was a consequence of local or national issues. King Edward IV of England summoned Robert's father Richard Welles 7th Baron Welles, Baron Willoughby (age 42) and uncle-in-law Thomas Dymoke (age 42) (married to [his sister] Margaret Welles (age 38) sister of Robert Welles 8th Baron Willoughby 8th Baron Welles) to London. Both initially went into Sanctuary, Westminster Abbey [Map] but were pardoned on 03 Mar 1470.

After 03 Mar 1470 [his son] Robert Welles 8th Baron Willoughby 8th Baron Welles continued to resist King Edward IV of England (age 27) by raising forces in Lincolnshire. King Edward IV of England travelled north and threatened Robert Welles 8th Baron Willoughby 8th Baron Welles with the execution of his father (age 42) and Thomas Dymoke (age 42) if Robert persisted in rebellion.

On 12 Mar 1470 King Edward IV of England (age 27) commanded at the Battle of Losecoat Field (Empingham).

Thomas Dymoke (age 42) and Richard Welles 7th Baron Welles, Baron Willoughby (age 42) were beheaded at Queen's Cross, Stamford before the battle¹. His son [his son] Robert succeeded 8th Baron Welles.

The name 'Losecoat' not contemporary, and its meaning of men "losing their coats" may have been invented in the 19th Century. The name Losecoat appears to be first used in the 16th Century Hall's and Holinshed's Chronicles.

The 1475 attainder of Richard and Robert Welles refers to the battle having taken place "in a field called 'Hornefeld' in Empyngham",

Note 1. Some sources say on battlefield immediately prior to the battle, some after the batte

Chronicle of Jean de Waurin. 12 Mar 1470. And when he learned that indeed Sir Robert Welles did not cease from his false and disloyal enterprise, but instead showed himself firmly as his adversary and was armed with a deployed banner, the King and the great lords with him decided that it was neither expedient nor honourable for the King to expose himself to the risk of battle without first obtaining justice against Sir Robert Welles and his accomplices for the perverse and disloyal treason they had committed against his royal majesty. Thus, the King immediately commanded that under his banner they [Thomas Dymoke (age 42) and Richard Welles 7th Baron Welles, Baron Willoughby (age 42)] be executed on the spot, which was done. Having executed this order, the King then marched his army forward toward the rebels.

Et quant il sceut que veritablement ledit sire Robert de Vellus ne desistoit pas de sa faulse et desleale emprinse, ains se moustroit formeement son adversaire et estoit en armes a baniere desploiee, fut advise par le roy et les grans seigneurs estans avecques luy quil nestoit pas expedient ne honnourable au roy de exposer sa personne en adventure de bataille sans premiers avoir justice lesdis seigneur de Vellus et ses complices prisonniers pour les parverses et desloyalles trahisons par eulz commises a lencontre de sa royalle mageste, si commanda le roy presentement sur les champz desoubz sa baniere yceulz estre executez jusques a mort, comme ilz furent; et ce fait fist le roy marchier son ost avant vers lesdis rebelles.

Before 16 Mar 1475 [his daughter] Joan Welles 9th Baroness Willoughby of Eresby died.

Christopher Willoughby 10th Baron Willoughby (age 22) de jure 10th Baron Willoughby de Eresby. Margaret Jenney Baroness Willoughby of Eresby (age 15) by marriage Baroness Willoughby de Eresby.

King Edward IV of England (age 32) had father and son [Richard Welles 7th Baron Welles, Baron Willoughby and [his son] Robert Welles 8th Baron Willoughby 8th Baron Welles] posthumously attainted some five years after the Welles' Rebellion [see Patent Rolls] to ensure [his son-in-law] Richard Hastings Baron Willoughby (age 42) would continue to enjoy the benefit of the Welles' estates.

Another example of King Edward IV of England being somewhat disingenuous with the legal system to his own advantage. He, Edward was, in effect, disinheriting Christopher Willoughby 10th Baron Willoughby who should have inherited Baron Willoughby de Eresby and [his half-brother] John Welles 1st Viscount Welles (age 25) who should have inherited Baron Welles following Joan's death.

Patent Rolls. 16 Mar 1475. Exemplification, at the request of William Broune of Staumford, Westminster. 'marchaunt,' of the tenour of an article in an act (English) of attaint in the Parliament summoned at Westminster on 6 October, 12 Edward IV. and continued by divers prorogations to 23 January, 14 Edward IV. ordaining that whereas Richard Welles late of Hellowe, co. Lincoln, knight, caused [his son] Robert Welles late of Hellowe, knight, and Thomas Delalaunde late of Horblyng, co. Lincoln, knight, and others to assemble together against the king and they made war against the king on 12 March, 10 Edward IV. in a field called 'Hornefeld' in Empyngham, co. Rutland, the said Richard, Robert and Thomas be convicted of high treason and forfeit all the possessions which they had on the said 12 March except the manors of Lilleford, co. Northampton, and Hokyngton, co. Cambridge, whereof Thomas FitzWilliam the elder and Thomas FltzWilliam the younger were seised to the same time that they made estate thereof to [his daughter] Jahne late the wife of [his son-in-law] Richard Hastynges (age 42), knight, and heirs in fee and after the said Richard and Jahne sold the same manors to the said William and of the same levied a fine to the use of him and his heirs. [Rolls of Parliament, VI. 144.]