This Day in History: 1484-06-08

On 8th June 1484, whilst staying at Pontefract Castle between 30th May and the 13th June, in seeking a truce between England and a weak and divided France (due to the conflict between the houses of Orleans and Bourbon), Richard III signed a treaty forming an alliance between England and Brittany, thereby refraining from war until the following April 25th. There was a secret codicil in the treaty that stated in return for the aid of 1,000 archers  against France and for grants of the revenues of rebels’ estates, Pierre Landois, treasurer and chief officer of Brittany, would return Henry Tudor to the same ‘careful custody’ in which he had been kept until the death of Edward IV.