ANTIQUITIES OF NORTHUMBERLAND. 107 



The civil government of the town is by a Dailijf. He is appoint- 

 ed by the lord of the manour, and is commonly continued for 

 life. He is an officer of great antiquity. He has the fame power 

 within his jurifdiction, as the mayor of a city, or a juftice of 

 peace, within the county. 



I 



In Hex&am/birv, on the plains, called the Levels, by the rivulet 

 of Dlvil (h), a bloody battle was fought between the two houfes 

 of Lancajler and York, 1463 ; and a deciiive victory obtained by 

 the General of the latter, the Marquis of Mintacutc, who forced 

 the intrenchments. Of the victorious party, were the Ogle's, 

 and the Manners s, of this county. Oi : the vanquifhed \vcre the 

 Percy s, the Roots, the J\ r eviH's, the Tallboys' 1 ! and the Greys. The 

 unfortunate K. Henry rode full fpecd out of the field. His atten- 

 dants were many of them taken in the puriuit ; the furniture of 

 their horfes of blue velvet. Upon one of them was found the 

 high cap of ftatc called Abacot, adorned with two rich crowns, 

 which was prefented to the victorious Edward at York, May 4. His 

 competitors, Henry and his t^ueen, and ibme of their partizans, 

 were abandoned to extreme mifery. Single and alone, the Queen 

 wandered with her little foil in her arms, expofcd to dangers, 

 and the affaults of robbers, till flie readied France, her native 

 land. The duke of Exeter, their friend, became an exile in Bur- 

 gundy, where he had neither fhoes or (lockings to put on, and 

 begged his bread from door to door (I). The Duke of Somerfet. 



was 



t-.~ - 







(h) Dowill. Hoi. Chron. vol. ii. p. 666, 667. 

 Dowell. Draytan's Poly-Olbion, p. 154. 



(!) During the civil wars between the two houfes cfLanfnfl.r anJIV/?, were fought inEnglana 

 fevenor eight cruel battles, and in them {lain three or fourfcore princes and lords of the blood 

 royal. The reft that efcaped being all young lords, whofe fa'iers died in tliefe battles above 



P 2 mentioned, 



