The nobility were reluctant to enter a civil war, and pledged their allegiance to Henry VI.
• February 1457 – a Council was established for Prince Edward of Wales, Henry VI’s son, to
take control of his birthright. This included prominent Lancastrians such as Shrewsbury and
Viscount Beaumont. Their decisions compromised York’s positions, such as granting his
castles to Jasper Tudor to settle a dispute. Margaret controlled appointments to her son’s
council, linking Lancastrian supporters and establishing her control.
• Loveday, 24 March 1458 – Henry attempted reconciliation between the Lancastrians and
Yorkists, with a public display at St Paul’s Cathedral. Loveday did nothing to reconciliate the
factions, instead increasing tensions.
• Autumn 1458 – Warwick involved in a brawl at court that was suspected of being an
assassination attempt.
• Role of Margaret of Anjou – Margaret forged friendships and associations with members of
the aristocracy, seeking to stabilise her position against York. After 1455, Margaret’s
influence over Henry increased. She settled the royal court in the Midlands so that their
resources could be used to support Henry. However, Margaret had no independent
authority and had to work within the political framework to gain personal following. She
used her supporters and allies to weaken the influence of York, such as Jasper and Edmund
Tudor in Wales and the Marches.
• 1458 – Warwick was given further finances to support his fleet in Calais, which he used to
defy royal authority. In May, Warwick attacked a Castilian fleet and seized the Bay fleet of
the Hanseatic League. Warwick was summoned to Westminster to explain himself. These
piratical raids kept the garrison paid and loyal, continuing into 1459.
• By 1459, factional rivalries gradually impacted English society in a limited way, in the shortterm and only affecting certain groups of society such as the involved aristocratic families
and the residents of St Albans.
