Background to the conflict

Following the Battle of Pilleth on 22 June 1402, King Henry IV ruled a country within troubled borders. Welsh forces still posed a threat from the west, Norman privateers crossed the channel and raided the south coast and the Scots led by Douglas crossed the border and raided the northern counties (Warner 1975). On 14 September 1402 Douglas was defeated and captured by Earl Percy of Northumberland and his son, Henry Percy, also known as 'Hotspur'. Following their successful protection of Henry's northern border at their own expense, the Percys expected the ransom from Douglas to offset their expenses, even though it was the king's by right. Henry claimed the ransom and it appeared to have been one demand too many from the English King (ibid).­

As a result the Percys plotted to dethrone Henry and replace him with Edward Mortimer who they believed had a stronger legal claim to the English crown. They therefore sided with the French and the Welsh under Owain Glyndwr, and released Douglas, who also rallied a Scottish force against Henry (Warner 1975). Unbeknown to Henry, they then began to make their move against him with Hotspur planning to join forces with Glyndwr near Shrewsbury. The King, who had mistakenly been hurrying north to support the Percys against a possible invasion from the Scots, was shocked to hear of the rebellion and soon diverted his forces to counter this new combined threat. By reaching Shrewsbury before the rebels Henry's son, prince Henry (also known as Harry and later King Henry V) held the town and prevented Hotspur joining forces with Glyndwr, thereby reducing the size of the opposing rebel force (Priestley 1979).