Robin of Redesdale
Robin of Redesdale, sometimes called "Robin Mend-All", was the leader of an insurrection against King Edward IV of England.[1] His true identity is unknown, but it is thought he could have been either Sir John Conyers of Hornby (d. 1490) or his brother Sir William Conyers of Marske (d. 1469), or even both. Whoever he was, the power behind his rebellion was Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick ("Warwick the Kingmaker").[2]
During April 1469, the rebellion was raised in the north of England. The rebels were defeated in April by John Neville, Earl of Northumberland, but further troops were raised and the rebels openly denounced the government of Edward IV, demanding that he remove his wife's family, the Woodvilles, from positions of power.
On 26 July, the rebel army met and defeated Edward's army (commanded by William Herbert, Earl of Pembroke) at the Battle of Edgecote Moor. Although they were victorious, Robin himself was reported to have died in the battle, hence his identification with William Conyers who was killed at Edgecote. However, his mantle was temporarily assumed by someone else, apparently Sir John Conyers, when Warwick raised a further rebellion early in 1470. This second "Robin of Redesdale" submitted to Edward IV in March 1470.