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were standing, to recall 'certain events of historical importance. 

 The battle of Tewkesbury was one of these. The various disputes 

 between the Houses of York and Lancaster for the throne of 

 England, which finally led to the battle of Tewkesbury and the 

 defeat of the Lancastrians, were cui-sorily touched upon. In this 

 memorable period of English history — (the 30 years' quarrel, during 

 which crowns and kings often changed places, twelve pitched 

 battles had been fought and the ancient nobility of England almost 

 annihilated), the last shuffle of the cards brought them to that 

 resolute and final struggle which Margaret of Aujou made for her 

 son Edward, Prince of Wales. She landed at Plymovith with her 

 son on the very day on which Warwick, the king maker, was 

 defeated and slain at Barnet. Her intention being to join the 

 troops gathered under Jasper, Earl of Pembroke, the son of Owen 

 Tudor in Wales, she marched from the rallying point of the 

 Lancastrians at Cerne Abbey towards Gloucester, the Duke of 

 Somerset, his brother, Lord John of Somerset, Baron Wenlock, 

 and the Earl of Devonshire commanding her forces. The gates of 

 that city being shut against them, they proceeded to Tewkesbury 

 with the intention of crossing the Severn. Edward, Earl of March, 

 son of Richai'd, Duke of York, after the death of his father at 

 Wakefield, had been proclaimed King, and assumed the title of 

 Edward IV. After the defeat and death of Warwick, finding 

 himself at the head of a considerable army, he at once pursued the 

 Lancastrians to the banks of the Severn. Advancing by way of 

 Bath and Cirencester, he refreshed his army at Cheltenham, where 

 he obtained information of the Queen's movements, re commenced 

 his pursuit, and at night encamped about three miles fi-om the 

 Queen's forces, who had fortified themselves at a place called ' the 

 Vineyard,' or ' Margaret's Camp.' The morning of Saturday, 4th 

 May, 1471, saw the first onset. Edward led the centre in person, 

 the Duke of Gloucester the front, and Lord Hastings the rear. 

 Artillery seemed to have been used on both sides. The conflict 

 was short and decisive. The Queen's troops were utterly routed ; 

 hemmed in on all sides, about three thousand fell. Many were 

 slain and many drowned in attempting to cross the mill-dam near 

 the battle field. Treachery seemed to have been at work on the 



