Pontefract Castle at Pontefract was among such properties under threat which roused Bolingbroke to return to England to claim his rights to the Duchy of Lancaster and the properties of his father. Act 2, scene 1, of Shakespeare's play "Richard II" relates Bolingbroke’s homecoming in the words of Northumberland in the speech of the eight tall ships:- When he landed at Ravenspur on the Humber he made straight way for his castle at Pontefract. The King, being in Ireland at the time, was in no position to oppose Bolingbroke who deposed Richard and took the crown for himself as Henry IV. Richard
John Roches John Roches Sir John Roches (c.1333-1400), of Bromham, Wiltshire, was an English admiral, diplomat, magistrate and politician. He was made Ambassador to the Kingdom of Aragon from 30 October 1377 to 4 May 1378, and then again 20 June 1378 . He was then elected as Member (MP) of the Parliament of England for Wiltshire in 1381, May 1382, October 1382, February 1383, April 1384, November 1390, 1394, January 1397 and 1399. He was first appointed Admiral to the West a senior command of the English Navy from 22 May 1381 to 23 November 1383. He was then given the