ENGLAND. 



637 



History. 



Reconcilia- 

 tion be- 

 tween the 

 two fac- 

 tion*. 

 A. D. 1458. 



Which is of 

 short conti- 

 nuance. 



The Earl 

 of Warwick 

 flics to Ca- 



rt ct urns. 

 A. D. 1460. 



And defeats 

 the royalists 

 at North- 

 ampton. 



The Huke 

 i York 

 claims the 

 cnwn. 



clerness. He was carried back in triumph to London, 

 where the parliament restored the protectorship to Uich- 

 ard but limited its continuance to the period of the 

 Prince of Wales' majority, who was now about three 

 years of age. The queen, whose ambition, supported 

 by her native vigour and perseverance, impelled her 

 to attempt the recovery of her authority, prevailed 

 upon her husband to re-assert his prerogative She 

 took advantage of the Duke of York's absence from 

 court, and carried Henry to the House of Lords, to 

 whom he signified his intention of resuming the go- 

 vernment. This step was so unexpected, that no op- 

 position was made to it ; and it was accordingly de- 

 clared that Richard's power was at an end. and that the 

 king was reinstated in the sovereign authority. The 

 Duke even acquiesced in this irregular measure ; but 

 soon after, having reason to suspect that designs were 

 formed against his life, he withdrew to his castle of 

 Wigmore. Hostilities were again about to be renew- 

 ed ; when the mediation of the Archbishop of Canter- 

 bury prevented for a time the effusion of blood. He 

 proposed that the great leaders of both factions should 

 meet in London, and be solemnly reconciled. An out- 

 ward reconciliation was accordingly effected ; and in 

 a solemn procession to St Paul's, the Duke of York 

 led Queen Margaret, and the chiefs of the opposite 

 parties marched hand in hand with each other. 



But this seeming harmony wasbut of short continuance; 

 a scuffle which happened between the retainers of the 

 Earl of Warwick, and those of the king, revived their 

 animosity and hatred. The Earl apprehending his life 

 to be aimed at, fled to his government at Calais, and the 

 Yorkists immediately prepared for hostilities. The 

 royalists, under Lord Audley, though superior in num- 

 bers, were defeated at Bloreheath by the Earl of Sa- 

 lisbury, who was hastening to join the Duke of York at 

 Ludlow. But when a general engagement drew near, 

 a Ixxly of veterans, which Warwick had brought over 

 from Calais, deserted to the king, which so dismayed 

 the rebels, that they separated without coming to action. 

 The Duke fled to Ireland, and the Earl of Warwick, 

 with some of the chiefs of his party, retired to Calais. 

 This nobleman was the most celebrated general of his 

 ge, and had rendered himself extremely popular among 

 the military, by his bravery and munificence. Nume- 

 rous partisans flocked to his standard, and he soon 

 found himself in a condition again to take the field. He 

 landed in Kent with the Earl of Salisbury, and Edward 

 eldest son of the Duke of York, and was received in 

 London amidst the acclamations of the populace. The 

 royal army hastened from Coventry to give him battle. 

 They met at Northampton, and the action continued for 

 five hours. Both sides fought with the utmost obsti- 

 nacy, but the desertion of Lord Grey of Rutliin, who 

 commanded the van of the royalists, turned the battle 

 in favour of Warwick, who gained a complete victory. 

 The slaughter fell chiefly on the nobility and gentry ; 

 and the Duke of Buckingham, the Earl of Shrewsbury, 

 with the Lords Beaumont and Egremont, were killed 

 in the action or pursuit. Henry wat again taken pri- 

 soner ; but Margaret and her infant son escaped into 

 Scotland. This victory was followed by the arrival of 

 the Duke of York from Inland, and a parliament was 

 assembled at We-tminster to decide upon his claim to 

 the crown. Richard was now at the head of a victo- 

 rious armv, .<n-l could have stepped into the throne 

 without ri-^is 1 iii'-f ; but his moderation and irresolute 

 temper made I'im averse even to the le.ist appearance 

 of violence. He now, for the first time, openly advan- 



ced his claim to the crown, and pleaded his cause before History, 

 the House of Peers. He stated his title by descent ; TV"-*' 

 detailed the cruelties by which the house of Lancaster 

 had paved their way to power ; described the calami- 

 ties which attended the present reign, and called upon 

 them to do justice to the lineal succession. His claim 

 was taken into consideration, and was solemnly debated 

 for several successive days. It was at last decided that 

 his title was certain and indefeasible ; but it was also 

 determined that Henry should enjoy the crown during 

 life ; that Richard should have the present administra- j s ap p int 

 tion of the government, and should be acknowledged ed succes- 

 the true and lawful heir to the monarchy, to the utter sor to 

 exclusion of the young Prince of Wales. Henry. 



Margaret did not continue long in her retreat. Her 

 spirit rose superior to her misfortunes. She possessed 

 inexhaus'ible resources in the energies of her own mind. 

 She animated her old friends by her courage and per- 

 severance, and new ones were attracted by compassion 

 for her helpless situation. No time was to be lost, and 

 however unfavourable the present aspect of her interests, 

 she determined again to assert the rights of her family. 

 By her insinuating address, by caresses and promises, 

 she so gained upon the northern barons, that they all 

 armed in support of her cause ; and she found herself 

 at the head of an army 20,0(>0 strong, before her ene- 

 mies were informed of her intentions. The Duke of 

 York hearing of her return, but unacquainted with her 

 force, hastened with 5000 troops to suppress her ad- 

 herents. But when he came to Wakefield, he was sur- 

 prised to find himself completely outnumbered. Dis- 

 regarding, however, the dictates of prudence and ex- 

 perience, he listened only to the suggestions of pride. 

 Richard, though deficient in political courage, was emi- 

 nent for his personal bravery. He deemed it unworthy 

 of liis character and reputation to retire before a woman, 

 and he boldly offered battle to the enemy. His little And killed 

 army was surrounded and cut to pieces : the body of at the battle 

 Richard was found among the slain. His head was cut / Wake- 

 off by order of Margaret, and fixed upon the gates of 

 York with a paper crown upon it, in derision of his 

 title. His second son, the Earl of Rutland, and the 

 Earl of Salisbury, were taken prisoners. Salisburj was 

 immediately beheaded by martial lav.' ; the other, a 

 youth only of seventeen, was barbarously murdered in 

 cold blood by the Earl of Clifford, in revenge of his fa- 

 ther's death, who fell in the battle of St Albans. 



Margaret improved her victory by hastening to Lon- 

 don, but weakened her army by sending a detachment 

 under the Earl of Pembroke, against Edward, the new 

 Duke of York. Pembroke was defeated at Mortimer's 

 cross, with the loss of 4000 men. Hi.s father, Sir Owen 

 Tudor, was taken prisoner, and immediately beheaded 

 by Edward's orders : and this spirit of revenge, when 

 once begun, continued to actuate both parties during 

 this long protracted contest. On the approach of Mar- Second bat- 

 garet, Warwick, who had been left with the command tlcof st Al- 

 of the Yorkists in London, led out his army, and gave ^"^j, 1 ") 

 battle to the enemy at St Albans. The Queen was T^,,' ; s ' e 

 again victorious. Warwick was compelled to fly and victorious. 

 take shelter in the capital, which was firmly attached A. D. 1461. 

 to his party, and the king was left in the hands of the 

 victors. 



But Margaret was scarcely conscious of her triumphs, 

 when she was threatened by the advance of Edward on 

 the opposite side, with a superior army, and found her- 

 self under the necessity jf retiring to the north. The she mire9 

 young Duke then entered London amidst the shouts of to "^ nonk 

 the citizens. The beauty of his person, his youth, .his 



