John Howard, baron Howard and first duke of Norfolk, was one of the most important men of the Yorkist period. He was a consistently loyal supporter of the Yorkist dynasty from the late 1450s until his death at Bosworth in 1485.  He was an indefatigable royal servant, active in the military field, as an agent of the Crown at home in East Anglia, as a councillor at Westminster and as an ambassador who became England's leading envoy to France. And yet there were other men of the period, equally significant in their careers, for whom no biographies have been forthcoming.

Preface                                                                             Prologue: The Rise of the Howards                                               1. The Duke of Norfolk's Retainer                                               2. The Yorkist Servant, 1461-1464                                               3. The Yorkist Servant, 1465-1471                                                 4. The King's Councillor, 1471-1475                                     5. The King's Councillor, 1476-1483                                     6. The Reign of Edward V                                                         7. The Reign of Richard III                                                       8. Domestic Life                                                                  9. Local Affairs                                                              10. Shipping and Business Interests                                             Appendix: The date of Howard's birth Index