The New Murrey and Blue blog

This book covers the period 1471-1485, so the focus is very much on the Yorkist era.

The author states in the preface ‘This is not a book for easy reading; it is to give information.’

This is fair summary. It is not a light read by any means, but if does give a great deal of information and the research done by Dr. Sutton must have been monumental. This will be obvious to any reader who has conducted even the most basic research connected with medieval history.

The first part of the book is essentially about people and events. For example, there is a chapter on the truce between Richard III and James III of Scots. However, the impression this part of the book gave me was the amount of sheer routine administrative work that had to be done to govern the area. Being a knight or squire in the northern counties at this time was definitely not just about hawking, hunting and jousting for a lady’s favour.

To gain the respect and appreciation of Duke and King you had to involve yourself in a great deal of tedious business, to say nothing of travelling many miles over difficult country and dealing with local notables, abbots, mayors, bailiffs and the like – as well as the Scots.

The second part of the book is a comprehensive gazetteer of the far northern counties, though only the coastal areas of Yorkshire are mentioned. We are told what settlements there were, who owned them, what privileges they enjoyed and what obligations, what fortifications they had and whether those fortifications were in good order. We are also told what connection, if any, the places had with Duke Richard.

This is not a book for the casual reader. Indeed, I would go so far as to say that a good working knowledge of the north and the people who lived there is a distinct advantage in understanding the content. However, for a serious student of Richard III, or of the politics of the north in his time, this work is invaluable and will prove a superb reference point for any number of queries.

Dr. Anne F. Sutton passed away in 2022; this book is a fine memorial to the quality of her research and her contribution to the cause of Richard III.