Richard Ratcliffe of the two councilors (the other was William Catesby) who are reputed to have told the king that marrying Elizabeth of York would cause rebellions in the north. Ratcliffe was killed at the Battle of Bosworth Field, on 22 August 1485. Ratcliffe appears in Shakespeare's play "Richard III" as a minor character who executes Rivers, Grey and Vaughn. In the Andrew Wise 1597 (first) edition, Sir Richard's character appears first as "Sir Richard Ratliffe" (without the 'c') then as plain "Ratcliffe" (with the 'c', but no 'Sir' nor 'Richard') and finally as plain "Ratliffe". Richard Ratcliffe Sir Richard Ratcliffe, KG
Battle of Bosworth Field bringing along his erstwhile gaoler Sir James Blount. Oxford's presence raised morale in Henry's camp and troubled Richard III. In the early stages of the Wars of the Roses, the Stanleys of Cheshire had been predominantly Lancastrians. Sir William Stanley, however, was a staunch Yorkist supporter, fighting in the Battle of Blore Heath in 1459 and helping Hastings to put down uprisings against Edward IV in 1471. When Richard took the crown, Sir William showed no inclination to turn against the new king, refraining from joining Buckingham's rebellion, for which he was amply rewarded. Sir William's elder brother, Thomas Stanley,