PERCY, SIR HENRY, called HOTSPUR (1364-1403), eldest son of Henry, 1st earl of Northumberland, was born on March 20, 1364. He saw active service when he was fourteen at the siege of Berwick. His zeal in border warfare won the name of Hotspur for him from his opponents. In 1386 he was sent to Calais, and raided French territory, but was shortly afterwards recalled to defend England against a naval attack by France. In popular story and ballad he is known as one of the heroes of Otterburn or Chevy Chase. In the summer of 1388 the Scots invaded England by way of Carlisle, sending a small body under the earls of Douglas, Mar and Moray to invade Northumberland. The earl of Northumberland remained at Alnwick, but sent his sons Sir Henry and Sir Ralph against the enemy. In hand-to hand fighting before the walls of Newcastle, Douglas is said to have won Sir Henry's pennon, which he swore to fix upon the walls of Dalkeith. The Scots then retreated to Otterburn, where Percy, who was bent on recovering his pennon, attacked them on a fine August evening in 1388. Douglas was slain in the battle, though not, as is stated by Walsingham, by Percy's hand : Henry Percy was captured by Sir John Montgomery, and his brother Ralph by Sir John Maxwell. Hotspur was released on the pay ment of a heavy ransom, to which Richard II. contributed L3,000, and in the autumn his term as warden of Carlisle and the West March was extended to five years. In 1399 together with his father he joined Henry of Lancaster. Henry IV. gave the charge of the West March to Northumberland, while Henry Percy re ceived the castles of Bamburgh, Roxburgh and Berwick, and the wardenship of the East March, with a salary of £3,000 in peace time and £12,000 in war. During the first year of Henry's reign Hotspur was appointed justiciar of North Wales and con stable of the castles of Chester, Flint, Conway, Denbigh and Carnarvon. Henry also gave him a grant of the island of Anglesey, with the castle of Beaumaris. William and Rees ap Tudor cap tured Conway Castle on April 1, 1401, and Percy in company with the prince of Wales set out to recover the place, Percy pro vidirig the funds. In May he reported to the king the pacification of Merioneth and Carnarvon, and before the end of the month Conway was surrendered to him. His demands for arrears of pay were, however, refused, and he had the same difficulty in obtain ing money for his northern charge that he had experienced in Wales. Anglesey was taken from him, and he was deprived of Roxburgh Castle in favour of his rival, the earl of Westmorland.
The Scots again invaded England in the autumn of 1402, headed by the earl of Douglas and Murdoch Stewart, son of the duke of Albany, but were heavily defeated by Northumberland and Hotspur at Humbledon, or Homildon Hill, on Sept. 14.. Disputes with the king arose over the disposal of the Scottish pi/toners, Percy insisting on his right to hold Douglas as his personal prisoner, and he was summoned to court to explain. It is related that when he arrived Henry asked for Douglas, and Hotspur de manded in return that his brother-in-law, Edmund Mortimer, should be allowed to ransom himself from Owen Glendower, with whom he was a prisoner. High words followed, in the course of which Henry called Percy a traitor, struck him on the face, and drew his sword on him. Percy is said to have answered this de fiance with the words, "Not here, but on the field." This was late in 1402, and in 1403 Hotspur issued a proclamation in Cheshire stating that Richard II. was alive, and summoning the inhabitants to his standard. He was joined by Douglas, Glen dower, and Thomas, Earl of Worcester, who together proclaimed the young earl of March king. When he arrived at the Castle Foregate, Shrewsbury, early July 21, and demanded provisions, he found the king's forces had arrived before him. He retired in the direction of Whitchurch, and awaited the enemy about 31 m. from Shrewsbury. After a long parley, the Scottish earl of March, fighting on the royal side, forced on the battle in the afternoon, the royal right being commanded by the prince of Wales. Hotspur was killed, the earls of Douglas and Worcester, Sir Richard Venables of Kinderton, and Sir Richard Vernon were captured, and the rebel army dispersed. Worcester, Venables and Vernon were executed the next day. Percy's body was buried at Whitchurch, but was disinterred two days later to be exhibited in Shrewsbury. The head was cut off, and fixed on one of the gates of York.