His father was killed at the First Battle of St Albans in 1455, and four years later the Yorkists were charged with treason, and they fled, following the Rout of Ludford Bridge.
These attempts were concentrated in the north of England and directed by the Lancastrian Queen, Margaret of Anjou (Henry VI's wife).
As a result, Sir Ralph Percy surrendered Bamburgh Castle to Edward IV, on Christmas Eve 1462 in return for a free pardon.
Sir Ralph took control of both Bamburgh and Dunstanburgh Castles, under his surrender agreement with Edward.
Fighting in the north continued, exacerbated by a Scottish invasion led by James III, Margaret of Anjou and Henry VI in 1463.