WIGMORE CASTLE, HEREFORDSHIRE. 249 



On the 12th of October, 1453, Queen Margaret gave birth to a 

 son, and the Duke of York was now admitted to a place in the Ca- 

 binet. The king became imbecile, and York was appointed Pro- 

 tector of the reahn. The queen's hatred continued ; but after the 

 lapse of a year Henry recovered, and the protectorate ended. 



The command of Calais was now taken from the Duke of York, 

 and given to his enemy, Somerset, which gave fresh excitement to 

 his indignation, and he retired to meditate revenge in his northern 

 possessions. His brother-in-law, Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick, 

 was very rich and powerful. He was joined by him and Lord Cob- 

 ham, and they put themselves in hostile array to expel the Duke of 

 Somerset. Henry, attended by this nobleman, the Duke of Buck- 

 ingham, the Earls of Stafford, Northumberland, and Wiltshire, with 

 Lord Clifford, marched to St. Albans, to prevent their entering 

 London, and arrived time enough on the 22nd of May, 1455, to 

 garrison that town. Buckingham was sent to inquire the cause of 

 armed insurgents coming against their sovereign.* York demanded 

 the surrender of Somerset ; adding, that he and his friends, unless 

 this were done, were ready to perish in the field. Henry answered 

 by a spirited remonstrance, and both parties prepared for the en- 

 counter. 



The royal troops did not exceed 2,000 men ; but, possessing the 

 town, they had the advantage, although their antagonists were one- 

 third more numerous. Lord Clifford had the charge of the barriers, 

 which were vigorously assaulted, but without success. Warwick 

 attacked the garden side, his forces burst through the entrench- 

 ments and fought hand to hand with the Lancastrians in the streets. 

 The Duke of York, with great generalship, continually sent rein- 

 forcements to the weakest points. The king was struck in the neck 

 by an arrow. His three generals fell dead in the fray, and this 

 became the signal for flight. The unfortunate monarch, deserted 

 and bleeding, sought refuge in the house of a tanner : hither the 

 Duke of York immediately repaired, and by the most respectful con- 

 duct shewed that he warred solely against Somerset. Although the 

 king was his prisoner, and the Duke hed fair pretext to claim the 

 crown, he had due regard to his oath of allegiance; and Henry, in con- 

 sequence, received him and his friends into favour. He was appoint- 

 ed Constable of England — Warwick, Captain of Calais, with the 

 custody of the sea — and Bourchier, treasurer, with full pardon for 

 their offences. In November, the king again became ill, and the 



• Whethamstede. 



