Dacre's elder brother, Ralph, was summoned to parliament by Henry VI as Baron Dacre in 1459. The brothers remained on the side of the House of Lancaster when Henry VI was deposed by Edward IV of the House of York, and both fought for Lancaster at the Battle of Towton of 1461. His brother Ralph was killed in the fighting, and after the battle Dacre and his brother were attainted, but he had received a general pardon by 21 June 1468.