ABSTRACT
King Edward had learnt from the mistakes of the Lancastrian court and understood how quickly the burden of taxation could erode his popularity. Edward and his Council were working on more clandestine measures, offering pardons and bribes to Oxford's fellowship, many of were seduced to the extent that the defence was substantially depleted; on 15 February the Earl capitulated. The matter of a French expedition seems to have been in Edward's mind from at least 1472, for in November of that year Parliament granted the King a subsidy in the amount of ten per cent of income tax. Edward had already determined, with the full support of Council, that the Scots required a more lasting lesson, and a major expedition was planned for spring 1481. Both Gloucester and Clarence entered into indentures to supply the King with men-at-arms and archers.
