[2] As was the tradition of the day, a captured nobleman could buy his freedom though a ransom, and Northumberland stood to make a large sum of money from his success.

Seeking to safeguard to his ailing Treasury, and also to impose his authority on Northumberland, which was ruled as almost a private fief by the Percys, King Henry demanded the handover of the hostages, offering only a token payment.

Retreating to Scotland, Northumberland emerged again in 1405 to a further defeat, before attempting one last time to seize the throne, gathering together an army of lowland Scots and loyal Northumbrians and marching south once more toward York.

Northumberland’s body was hanged, drawn, and quartered; his head was placed on London Bridge, with other parts of his anatomy displayed elsewhere (as was the custom at the time for people who were deemed to be traitors).

A cross was erected on the supposed spot where Northumberland fell, the base of which was removed to the entrance of a wood lying close to Toulston Lane.