Sir Richard Ratcliffe
Ratcliffe was from a relatively modest Cumberland family but his grandfather had a position in the household of Edward IV, and this presumably led to his own service to the Crown.
He fought at Tewkesbury in 1471 and was knighted for this service. That same year Ratcliffe was made a magistrate of the North Riding and was appointed to Gloucester’s council at Middleham. In 1475 Ratcliffe became a member of the Corpus Christi Guild in York, two years before Richard, duke of Gloucester and his wife Anne did.
He then spent much of his career in the North of England and was with Richard on the Scottish campaign of 1480-2.
During the succession crisis of 1483 Ratcliffe commanded the northern troops requested by Gloucester for support against a possible Woodville coup, but which were in the end not needed. During the movement southwards, Ratcliffe was present at the execution of Anthony Earl Rivers.
At Richard III’s coronation, Ratcliffe was one of four knights who held the canopy over the head of the King during the anointing. Traditionally, this duty only fell to knights of the Garter. Ratcliffe at this time did not hold this honour, while the other three did. Sir Richard became a Garter knight two months later.
During his short reign Richard trusted Ratcliffe’s judgement, usually took his advice and lavished him with financial rewards.
According to the contemporary Croyland Chronicle, It was Ratcliffe and William Catesby who advised Richard III not to consider marrying Elizabeth of York, after the death of his wife Queen Anne.
Ratcliffe fought on Richard III’s side at Bosworth and was killed. His death was not immediately known and Henry Tudor issued a warrant for his arrest.
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