Our Camp

Companie of the

Silver Arrow

Richard, Lord Welles (1431-1470), was a prominent Lincolnshire nobleman and a former Lancastrian. His father, Lionel, had been killed fighting for the house of Lancaster at the Battle of Towton in March 1461. Although Welles was attainted by the first parliament of Edward IV, his son Richard, who had himself fought for Henry VI at the Battle of St. Albans in 1461, submitted to the new king and regained his father's lands. Perhaps because he was related to the Neville family, Welles was also allowed to assume his father's title in 1468.

The Welles uprising in the spring of 1470 provided Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick, with a second opportunity to overthrow Edward IV. Early in 1470, Richard’s son Sir Robert Welles, and his brothers-in-law Sir Thomas Dymmock and Sir Thomas de la Lande attacked the manor house of Sir Thomas Burgh, a Lincolnshire gentleman who was Edward IV's Master of Horse. Richard Welles was summoned to appear before Edward IV for Robert’s actions. Richard was executed on the field before the Battle of Loosecote in 1470 before both armies. Richard’s son Robert then led the rebel army against Edward IV at Loosecote.

 Semper Paratus

Companie of the Silver Arrow.

The year of our lord 1461.

Experienced archers, and well skilled in weaponry they live for the spilling of blood in exchange for coin or anything of value. Mostly these men are Loyal to Richard, Lord Welles. Richard, once Lancastrian, swore allegiance to the Yorkist King Edward IV after Towton and was pardoned at Gloucester.

“A Welles, A Welles”

 be thy battle cry

Not wishing to provoke the Yorkist King, Edward IV, Richard sends his men along with their families to act as personal bodyguard to his half-sister Cecily de Welles, wife of Sir Robert Willoughby at Kings Langley, the site of the old palace of Edmond the first Duke of York. Retained men earn little whilst being rested and so once more these men take arms as mercenaries to wear the badge of the Companie of the Silver Arrow and any livery that takes their fancy including the colours of the Lord  Welles with their own Silver Arrow badge upon it.

Paul Hanson is Karen’s husband and is the groups first ‘combatant’ archer. Paul is multi skilled and able to turn his hand to most things including metal work, carpentry and even sewing.

Mistress Karen Hanson is Paul’s wife and joins us on the battlefield. She will also be seen around camp weaving and cooking. Karen is best described as the camps ‘MUM’