The Battle of Towton was one of a series of clashes fought on Palm Sunday, 29 March, 1461. A Yorkist victory, the battle resulted in King Henry VI, Margaret of Anjou and their leading surviving supporters taking flight. Towton led to Edward IV‘s Yorkist regime being able to assert its control. The Battle of Towton is often described as being the largest and bloodiest battle in English history. This view has been challenged in recent years by some leading historians and archaeologists, with many sources being considered to be rather unreliable with regards figures.
This page largely covers source material, interpretations, and explores some of the questions most commonly raised about the Battle of Towton. For a more traditional narrative of events – some of which are disputable – see this page.
Interpretations of the Battle of Towton
The way in which the Battle of Towton has been described by historians and antiquarians has changed over the years. Early texts suggest that the clashes of late March 1461 were closely tied, all taking place on one day. Within a generation, there were references to fighting having taken place at Towton [or Saxton], Sherborn-in-Elmet and at Ferrybridge. Later histories then note a skirmish at Dintingdale. The bulk of contemporary sources, see below, do not describe the course of the battle. A narrative of the fighting itself emerged in Tudor era documents.
A notable change in the interpretation of evidence relating to the Battle of Towton took place in 1857, in Richard Brooke’s ‘Visits to Fields of Battle, in England, of the Fifteenth Century‘. Here, Brooke notes that the Battle of Ferrybridge took place on 27 or 28 March, that the skirmish at Dingtindale occured on 28 March, and that a battle at Towton was then fought on 29 March 1461. Brooke further notes that the Yorkist force camped at Saxton and the Lancastrian army at Towton. Whilst this interpretation is much different from well known accounts from earlier eras, it is one that was widely accepted as being accurate from it’s publication until the reinterpretation of the clashes that formed part of the Towton Battlefield Archaeology Project‘s study of the clashes.
Reinterpretation of the Battle of Towton
Many relatively modern versions of the Battle of Towton suggest a distinct Battle at Ferrybridge and a skirmish at Dintingdale. These clashes were said to have taken place over two or three days, 27-29 March, 1461. These histories have become widely accepted and are frequently referenced in the media. These include popular works by Boardman and Goodwin.
From the mid 1990’s a re-assessment of the orginal source material, along with multi-disciplinary studies of the battlefield and surrounding area, have led to this view being challenged. Often quoted figures of some 28,000 dead in the cash at Towton are thought to be exaggerated, or misunderstood, and interpretation of the combined evidence suggested that the events between the Yorkists arriving at Ferrybridge through to their victory on the field at Towton may well have been one single, rolling engagement, as opposed to distinct clashes over two days. This interpretation of events has been accepted by many, though not all, within the history and archaeology community and is explored in depth in the Towton Archaeology Project’s findings, published by Professor Tim Sutherland in the paper ‘Killing Time‘ in 2009.
Understanding of the Battle of Towton is based partly upon the various written sources [see below] from the time and years after the battle. It is also based upon research such as archaeological studies of the site. These studies inform as to the location of armies, weapons used, injuries incurred, are suggestive of the course of the battle, and provide evidence of use when assessing the true size and nature of the battle.
Key findings and evidence:
Many artifacts have been discovered as a result of metal detecting. Simon Richardson in particular has found a great deal of material on the Towton battlefield. These are all logged and gps coordinates of each are recorded. These finds provide a pattern of dispersal of things such as arrow heads which illustrate the size of the battles main points of contact. Similarly, these finds provide evidence of use when looking at written accounts such as the description of the Yorkist archers being deployed whilst making use of weather conditions.
A mass grave was discovered at Towton Hall in 1996. This was the first of its kind to be discovered anywhere in Western Europe. The mass grave, and others that have been located and surveyed nearby in subsequent digs, provide evidence of the nature of fighting. When these finds were first reported, there was a misunderstanding of some evidence which resulted in inaccurate suggestions that many of the bodies within the mass grave had been subjected to post battle executions: this has later been demonstrated to be an error. What is clear is that the battle was gruseome, with multiple wounds to many parts of bodies showing that the fighting was at least in parts quite frenzied and not particularly chivalrous.
Medieval Dead. TV Series incorporating episodes that focus on the Battle of Towton, including work by Tim Sutherland and Simon Richardson. Imbd listing with current warch options for your region [at the time of writing this is Amazon Prime in the UK]. Relevant episode: S1.E1 ∙ Richard III’s Lost Chapel.
Common Questions about the Battle of Towton
Where was the Battle of Towton fought?
A field of battle is known to have been between the villages of Towton and Saxton, near Tadcaster, in Yorkshire. This is known from contemporary accounts which reference the location in generalised terms [see sources below]. It is further proven by archaeological finds at the site, including weapons and some graves. There are also visible signs of the site having been memorialised in the years that followed the battle, such as tombs for the fallen. However, this only tells the story of one part of the fighting that took place in late March 1461. Towton was the culmination of a series of clashes, with documentary and archaeological evidence noting a clash at Ferrybridge , Sherborn-in-Elment and a skirmish nearby, at Dintingdale. Some sources also note action at or near Tadcaster which may clashes after that between Saxton and Towton. The bulk of evidence for the battle(s) lay in the main registered battlefield but analysis of the evidence has led to an interpretation that suggests that rather than there being several linked battles and/ or skirmishes, there was possibly just one ongoing clash with major flashpoints at Ferrybridge and Dintingdale. So the battlefield as such is that marked out and signed in the fields between the villages of Saxton and Towton but the fighting may have been one continuous clash fought over a much wider area ranging from the assaults on the river crossing at Ferrybridge, through Dintingdale, to Towton/Saxton, with a rout area stretching to the north of the main field of battle towards Tadcaster, with some of the rout taking place as far north as the walls of York: where some of the prisoners were taken and executed in the days following the battle of Towton.
When was the Battle of Towton fought?
The sources are in agreement that there was a clash near Towton on Palm Sunday of 1461. That is, 29 March 1461. There is, however, some ambiquity as to the date of the clashes that are known to have taken place at Ferrybridge, or the action at Dintingdale. Through source interpretation and understanding of differences in the way that days were demarcated in the late medieval era, the Battle of Ferrybridge could have been on the previous day, 28 March, or on the same day as the main clash on 29 March. See the paper ‘Killing Time’ for an in depth appraisal of the possibiities on the dating, and nature, of the connected clashes. The most recent academic thinking on the dates is that the full sequence of clashes took place on Palm Sunday, 29 March, 1461 – this will be outlined in depth in a forthcoming book by Dr David Grummitt and historian Paul Dawson.
Was the Battle of Towton the biggest and bloodiest battle ever to have been fought on English soil?
The numbers of those believed to have participated, or died, in the Battle of Towton are both figures that are subject to debate amongt historians. In terms of the casualties in the battle, the contemporary and near contemporary accounts have a range of figures:
9000 Lancastrian dead – Annales Rerum Anglicarum
28,000 – Heralds
20,000 – Paston Letters
28,000 – Milan State Papers
38,000 – Croyland Chronicle
35,000 – Gregory’s Chronicle
36,000 – Waurin
Similarly, some sources also suggest sizes for armies. These figures go up to 100,000 men having taken up arms at the battle.
Some modern historians dispute these figures [Some examples below]. There are several reasons why. The heralds and the first written accounts are noting the number of dead from the battle at either 20,000 or 28,000. These figures are being given within days of the battle having been fought. In simple terms, the heralds would not have had the time nor opportunity to have accounted for all dead in a battle so large, over a field of conflict that, inclusive of the rout, covers many square miles. It is at best an estimate based on the herald’s previous experiences of battles. As these figures are so much higher than any given for the previous battles of the Wars of the Roses, or those fought in the latter stages of the Hundred Years War, it can be surmised that these figures should be taken not as a literal ‘this many really died’ but more as a statement that the battle was incredibly large with far more casualties than the heralds and few witnesses who wrote of the battle had previously experienced. Later accounts with similar, or higher, figures, are similarly likely to be making a point that the Battle of Towton was huge, and bloody, rather than offering any definitive statement on the number of battlefield casualties.
That being said, all of the contemporary commentary does state that the casualties were in the tens of thousands. The range is from 20,000 to 36,000, so in terms of documentary evidence, the death toll does at first glance seem to be at least 20,000. Again, this figure is thought to be unlikely. The basis for this is that such figures would be a riduculously large proportion of the fighting age men in England at the time. The population in total was thought to be roughy 2.8 million in 1461, so 28,000 dead would be one percent of the national population, or roughly 2% of all males, or a higher % of fighting age males. All of which are highly improbable. It is also thought unlikely that such a large number of men could be arrayed for the battle. Towton Battlefield Society and the Battlefields Trust have held expert led talks that illustrate how difficult either side would have found it to call upon such large numbers of men and move them from points across the country to the field of battle: see the respective websites, membership may be required for access to talks.
Was the Battle of Towton fought in a Blizzard?
Several of the contemporary and near contemporary sources about the Battle of Towton do note inclement weather on the day the battle was fought.
Hearne’s Fragment / the Howard Chronicle states:
all the time it snowed
The Croyland Chronicle describes the rout:
The blood, too, of the slain, mingling with the snow which at this time covered the whole surface of the earth, afterwards ran down in the farrows and ditches along with the melted snow, in a most shockiiig manner, for a distance of two or three miles.
Edward Hall’s account expands upon the impact of the weather. He states that
their fell a small snyt or snow, which by violence of the wyn was driuen into the faces of them, which were of kyng Heries parte
Perhaps more notably, Hall also notes how the snow impacted upon the course of the battle. He was the first to do so, though his account has been much repeated in narratives of the battle ever since:
The lord Fawconbridge, which led the forward of kyng Edwardes battaill (as before is rehersed) being a man of great polecie, and of much experience in marciall feates, caused euery archer vnder his standard, to shot one flyght (which before he caused them to prouide) and then made them to stad still. The northre me, feling the shoot, but by reason of jr snow, not wel vewing y distance betwene them and their enemies, like hardy men shot their schiefe arrowes as fast as they might, but al their shot was lost, & their labor vayn or they came not nere the Southerme, by. xl. taylors yerdes. Whe their shot was almost spent, the lord Fau conbridge marched forwarde with his archers, which not onely shot their awne whole sheues, but also gathered the arrowes of their enemies, and Jet a great parte of them flye agaynst their awne masters, and another part thei let stand on y groud which sore noyed the legges of the owners, when the battayle ioyned.
There are then several references to snow in accounts that are relatively contemporary to the battle. Of these only one makes any direct reference to the weather having an impact on the way in which the battle was fought. In this, Edward Hall tells of the Yorkists using the wind and snow to their advantage, with their Lancastrian foe unable to respond in kind due to the weather conditions. That it had snowed is corroborated in the Croyland Chronicle with its reference to snow in the area in which the rout took place. Three references to snow, with no particular agreement on the depth of snow, how long any snow fell for, how windy it really was, or details of other weather conditions on the day, make it hard to state for certain that the battle was or was not fought in a blizzard. Towton, like many parts of Yorkshire, is prone to rapidly changing weather and it is quite possible for a snow storm to have lasted a matter of minutes before being replaced by bright sunshine. Nontheless, any references to snow do suggest that conditions for at least part of the day were wintery and this would inevitably impact upon some if not all of the battlefield to some extent.
Modern estimates of the death toll at Towton:
Andrew Boardman
In his book on the Battle of Towton (revised twice) Boardman notes that some 10,000 were incapacitated by the archers under Lord Fauconberg (p170 2009 edition). He further goes on to suggest that sources corroborate the 28,000 dead figures. Boardman’s analysis has been examined numerous times over the years. Most recently, it has been explored by Graham Evans chair of the Northamptonshire Battlefields Society. Evans notes some disrepencies in Boardman’s reasoning: for example, the numbers sent to the battle by towns are based on inaccurate figures and not Commissions of Array as suggested by Boardman. The analysis of Boardman’s suggestions can be read here. However, by Boardman’s 2022 revision of his work, his analysis alters. In the most recent version of his work on Towton he notes:
“daunting mathematical dilemma, whether approximately 10,000 or 100,000 soldiers took part in the Battle of Towton and if 3,000 or 38,000 of these men were left dead on the field…”
He then goes on to explore the figures and concludes that the Lancastrians could have fielded 25,000 and the Yorkists 20,000 (p166 2022 edition).
I am inclined to believe that approximately 10,000 men may have been killed on both sides on the actual battlefield of Towton, 5000 more in the immediate rout… (p168 2022 edition)
George Goodwin
In the Prologue to his book Fatal Colours, Goodwin describes Towton as being:
…the costilest encounter ever fought on English soil. The number of those who died is comparable with losses on the first day of the Battle of the Somme in 1916, but this was from a combined English and Welsh population of around three million…
Dr Simon Payling
Writing for the History of Parliament Project, Payling analyses the number of Peers and Members of Parliament who are known to have fought in, or perished at, the Battle of Towton. Some 27 Peers out of 50 nationally are known to have participated. Just 5 of these, all Lancastrians, died in the battle. Further to this, 8 of 36 Parliamentarians (inclusive of the 5 Peers) who fought for the House of Lancaster perished. He notes that the figures for the Yorkist army are harder to verify but that of ten known Yorkist sympathising Members of Parliament who may have fought at Towton, 2 are believed to have died. Neither armies list of notable men is guaranteed to be complete but the evidence shows that roughly 20% of those on the Lancastrian side died, and that the figure for the Yorkists was lower. When these statistics are considered for the wider armies, a figure of 28,000 seems implausible. Dr Payling’s article can be found here.
Tim Sutherland
In the paper Killing Time, Professor Tim Sutherland suggests:
The correct number of deaths may in truth lie between 2,800 and 3,800, which once again is simply lower by a factor of ten than every contemporary figure and generally in line with the alleged deaths from the other Medieval battles from the Wars of the Roses. It is possible that these conflicts were only regarded as being so large due to a combination of propaganda, the unusually large number of deaths amongst the nobles and the contemporary notion that the perceived conflict apparently lasted a whole day—an occurrence rarely experienced in Medieval battles. In essence, had the Heralds estimated correctly when claiming that more than 28,000 men had died?
Towton Battlefield Society
The Society have undertaken research into the number of combatants. This comprises a list of men proven to have participated in the campaign. The evidence for this comes from various sources, be that chronicle accounts noting their presence, Wills referencing their participation or death at Towton, contemporary letters, Civic documentation etc. The list is far from complete as such records tend to exist fo men of some note. Therefore it comprises the Peers of the Realm, Knights, the Gentry, Merchants, Servants, and men of the households of these people. It does not include the names of those who had been arrayed as part of a local levy, meaning that there is an element of educated guesswork to be done as to how many men would have been in the retinue of any given lord, knight, or town. (For some these numbers have been stated in places but such records are not necessarily reliable or accurate). The names and numbers of them are therefore an indication of the battles size, rather than a definitive list of those involved. The list, in pdf format, is here.
Contemporary Sources on the Battle of Towton
William Paston to John Paston, 4 April 1461
To my maister John Paston jn hast.
Please you to knowe and wete of suche tydyngys as my lady of York hath by a lettre of credens vnder the signe manuel of oure souerayn lord Kyng Edward, whiche lettre cam vn-to oure sayd lady this same day, Esterne Evyn, at xj clok, and was sene and red be me, William Paston. Fyrst, oure souerayn lord hath wonne the feld, and vppon the Munday next after Palme Sunday he was resseyued in-to York with gret solempnyté and processyonz. And the maire and comons of the said cité mad ther menys to haue grace be Lord Montagu and Lord Barenars, whiche be-for the Kyngys comyng in-to þe said cité desyred hym of grace for þe said cyté, whiche graunted hem grace. On the Kyngys parte is slayn Lord Fitzwater, and Lord Scrop sore hurt. John Stafford. Horne of Kent, ben ded, and Vmfrey Stafford, William Hastyngys, mad knyghtys, with oþer; Blont is knygth, &c. Vn the contrary part is ded Lord Clyfford, Lord Nevyle, Lord Welles, Lord Wyllouby, Antony Lord Scales, Lord Harry and be supposyng þe Erle of Northumberland, Andrew Trollop with many oþer gentyll and comons to þe nombre of xx ml.
“Paston letters and papers of the fifteenth century, Part I.” In the digital collection Corpus of Middle English Prose and Verse. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/Paston. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections.
An interpretation of the content of this letter written by Professor Tim Sutherland [Towton Battlefield Archaeology Project] is available via the project’s facebook page, here.
Calendar of State Papers and Manuscripts in the Archives and Collections of Milan 1385-1618.
George Nevill, Bishop of Exeter, Chancellor of England, to Francesco Coppino, Bishop of Terni, Apostolic Legate in Flanders.
Then on the 12th of March he set out towards the North with a large and magnificent army, having previously, on the 7th, sent on my brother to the West to collect troops.
The king, the valiant Duke of Norfolk, my brother aforesaid and my uncle. Lord Faucomberge, travelling by different routes, finally united with all their companies and armies near the country round York. The armies having been re-formed and marshalled separately (refacti et ordinati li exerciti a la despicata), they set forth against the enemy, and at length on Palm Sunday, near a town called Feurbirga, about sixteen miles from the city, our enemies were routed and broken in pieces. Our adversaries had broken the bridge which was our way across, and were strongly posted on the other side, so that our men could only cross by a narrow way which they had made themselves after the bridge was broken. But our men forced a way by the sword, and many were slain on both sides. Finally the enemy took to flight, and very many of them were slain as they fled.
Site of Bloody Bridge over Cock Beck on Old London Road. On this site many Lancastrians were slaughtered at the battle of Towton, Wars of the Roses 29-3-1461. Copyright Ian S and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
That day there was a great conflict, which began with the rising of the sun, and lasted until the tenth hour of the night, so great was the pertinacity and boldness of the men, who never heeded the possibility of a miserable death. Of the enemy who fled, great numbers were drowned in the river near the town of Tadcaster, eight miles from York, because they themselves had broken the bridge to cut our passage that way, so that none could pass, and a great part of the rest who got away who gathered in the said town and city, were slain and so many dead bodies were seen as to cover an area six miles long by three broad and about four furlongs. In this battle eleven lords of the enemy fell, including the Earl of Devon, the Earl of Northumberland, Lord Clifford and Nevill with some cavaliers; and from what we hear from persons worthy of confidence, some 28,000 persons perished on one side and the other. O miserable and luckless race and powerful people, would you have no spark of pity for our own blood, of which we have lost so much of fine quality by the civil war, even if you had no compassion for the French! (o gente infelice et disgratiata et popolo potente che non deveria havere compassione ali franzosi se bene non havessero alcuna scintilla di pieta verso el sangue nostro che habiamo perduto si bella compagnia per la bataglia civile).
If it had been fought under some capable and experienced captain against the Turks, the enemies of the Christian name, it would have been a great stroke and blow. But to tell the truth, owing to these civil discords, our riches are beginning to give out, and we are shedding our own blood copiously among ourselves, while we were unwilling to give help in men and money to the army of his Holiness against the infidel Turks, despite all the instances of his Holiness and your Reverence. But the limitations of writing do not permit me to state my mind on all these things.
‘Milan: 1461’, in Calendar of State Papers and Manuscripts in the Archives and Collections of Milan 1385-1618, ed. Allen B Hinds( London, 1912), British History Online
An interpretation of the content of this letter written by Professor Tim Sutherland [Towton Battlefield Archaeology Project] is available via the project’s facebook page, here.
Abbot Whetmanstede’s Register
Note: this is a rough translation of a text that is originally in Latin. It is not a fully edited, or peer reviewed, translation of the work.
Thus trusting in the Lord God, and in the Lord himself. Placing all his confidence in his expedition, he had the Lord himself as his helper, as he had been for a long time Theodosius the Great had, while against Eugene and Arbogasten was about to commit war. Just like that indeed, because of his faith and faith in the Lord while you were living, the Lord himself was absent, and there was such a great wind he caused a whirlwind to blow in the face of the enemy, while they were fighting close by, so that it reverberated and reflected, not to mention every shot, or archery, of his own, and destroyed, nay, even, so confounded and weakened the leaders themselves, that one of them, that is, Arbogastes, in battle would fall, but the other, that is, Eugene
fleeing from the field, he would procure his own destruction; in the same way, and as if through all things, because of the trust he had in the Lord, the Lord himself was also present, and gave him power against his enemies, and therefore such grace, that the wind which he had before blowing in his face, as soon as he was about to fight against the enemy, he took the verse in such a way, on the contrary, as to slow down the whole of the enemy’s shooting, and repulse it, and cause it to do no, or little, damage to himself or his people, or to inflict injury. Having thus been annulled, annulled, and frustrated by his total shooting, afterwards, when they had come to axes and hatchets, to axes and hammers, and to other larger instruments, there was a very terrible fight, indeed most terrible, on both sides, and especially on the part of the Prince.
For here you could see Aecidem, the Duke of Northfolchaie, with his soldiers tendered there the young Hector, Count, of course, of Warwyci with his soldiers, he saw Achilles, the Lord, the second Achilles, from Facunbrigge, with his Quirites, rush into the enemy, and prostrate them as he permitted, as he writes. The poets, although they could not paint the whole of Pergamum with fluid, they painted, and painted, in no other way, the whole royal road from the field of battle, up to almost the walls of the city of York for a distance of six miles, with red blood, although the Lord had let down the blood from the eye and dipped it with a new color too much, and he blushed more than prodigiously.
For they themselves were the most valiant military commanders, and not undeservedly compared to the commanders already mentioned. For at the beginning of the war, while these archers were aiming at the Boreals and sending out their bows to shoot at the dark hearts of the righteous, the leaders themselves compelled them at first, because they would not keep the Lord’s testament, nor walk in his law, which dictates that the elder son should always be heir to the younger son. to be carried forward, like the other sons of Ephraim, to turn their backs in the day of war. But afterwards, because there was a further perverted and exasperating generation, a generation he saw, such as did not direct their hearts with the Lord, nor were their spirits faithful with Him, therefore they rushed upon them with so much force and effort to force them and narrow them down. there is no other way to flee from their face than lambs are wont to flee from the jaws of wolves, or doves fly from the talons of hawks with trembling wings. Their leaders and captains, as many as they had at their head, either prostrated themselves on the ground, together with their standards and banners, or forced them to flee to hiding-places, where they could hide themselves from the edge of the sword.
Whethamstede, Johannis. Riley, Henry [ed]. Chronicle of the Abbey of St. Albans. Volume Two: Regisra Johannis Whethamstede, Willelmi Albon, Et Willelmi, Walingford, Abbatum Monasterii Sancti Albani. Rolls Series. Longman, London ( 1872). Derived from various, including Archive.org
Papal bull of Paul II of 6 Nov. 1467
…The pope having learned that …in the parish of Towton…there is a certain chapel of St Mary the virgin…because on Palm Sunday six years ago about 30,000 men were slain in defence of Edward, king of England, … which men were buried partly in the cemetery of the said chapel, and partly hard by it; and that the King [Edward] proposes at his expense to repair the said chapel, which is almost desolate and destroyed, and to enlarge it, to end that divine services may be performed therein.
Papal bull of Paul II of 6 Nov. 1467. (Calendar of Papal Letters, vol. xii, p.623) C270/26/30
Jean de Waurin
When the Earl of March [Edward] and his supporters were warned that King Henry was in the field they rejoiced, because they wished only to fight; the earl told his captains to ready their men to take the field before the enemy approached too close, which they did diligently: so it happened, while the battles were ordered scouts were dispatched to reconnoitre the land, and since the two armies were only four miles apart they very soon detected the enemy’s scouts, upon which they sent word to the Earl of March how they had seen a great abundance of armed men in the field, and remaining long enough only to see the royal standard they returned hurriedly to Edward Earl of March, to whom they recounted the manner in which the enemy were arrayed. When advised of this the earl went the length of his battles until, reaching the cavalry, he said to them with a smile ‘Friends, I ask that today you might be good and loyal to one another, because we fight in a just cause’, to which each assented with a loud cry. Then word came to the earl that the king’s advance guard were advancing; the Earl Edward had scarcely time to regain his position under his banner when Lord Rivers and his son with six or seven thousand Welshmen led by Andrew Trollope, and the Duke of Somerset with seven thousand men more, charged the Earl of March’s cavalry, put them to flight and
chased them for eleven miles, so that it appeared to them that they had won great booty, because they thought that the Earl of Northumberland had charged at the same time on the other flank, but he failed to attack soon enough, which was a misfortune for him as he died that day. In this chase died a great number of men of worth to the Earl of March who, witnessing the fate of his cavalry was much saddened and angered: at which moment he saw the Earl of Northumberland’s battle advancing, carrying King Henry’s banner; so he rode the length of his battle to where his principal supporters were gathered and remonstrated with them….
Thanking them for their response the earl dismounted and, sword in hand, affirmed that this day he wished to live or die with them….Then he put himself before his standard facing his enemies, who advanced purposely yelling “King Henry!” So followed a day of much slaying between the two sides, and for a long time no one knew to which side to give the victory so furious was the battle and so great the killing: father did not spare son nor son his father. But finally, through the great efforts principally of the Earl of March , God gave him victory and he gained the day over his enemies.
Waurin, Jehan de Recuiel des Croniques et Anchiennes Istories de la Grant Bretagne, a present nomme Engleterre v, ed. Sir William Hardy and E L C P Hardy (Rolls Series 1891) pp339-341. and quoted by HIstoric England here.
Robert Fabyan
The kynge than so holdynge his iourney, incite with his enemyes at a vyllage. ix. myles on this halfe Yorke callvd Tow ton or Shyreboroe, and vpon Palme Sonday gaue vnto them batayll, $ whiche was so cruell, that in the felde and chace were slayen vpon. xxx. M. men ouer $ men of name, of the whiche hereafter some ensue. That is to say, the erle of Northumberlande, the erle of Westmerlade, y lorde Clyfforde, the lorde Egromonde, syr lohfi syr Andrev»e Trollop, and other to the noumber of. xi. or of moo.
And amonge other at the same ft-Ue was taken y erle of Deuonshyre, and after the erle of Wyltshyre ; which sayde eile of Deuonshyre was sent vnto Yorke, & there after behedyd.
Fabyan, Robert. Ellis, Henry (ed). The new chronicles of England and France, in two parts. Reprinted from Pynson’s edition of 1516. The first part collated with the editions of 1533, 1542, and 1559; and the second with a manuscript of the author’s own time, as well as the subsequent editions: including the different continuations. To which are added a biographical and literary preface, and an index. Via Archive.org
A Brief Latin Chronicle, edited by John Stow
And when they had crossed the Trent near Ferebrigge, and arrived, since the army of King Henry was not far from the said town, they immediately prepared for battle. On the most holy day of Palm Sunday, in the afternoon, between Ferebrigge and Tadcaster, and when the lines of both armies approached to strike each other with blows, most of the knights, the men-at-arms on the part of King Edward, turned their backs, and hostilely took away the said Edward’s carriage and baggage. But King Edward, with a manly spirit, encouraged his men to fight; and the leader of the Northfolk, the Earl of Warwick, Lord Fauconbrigge, with his troops, dashing boldly upon the adversaries, prostrated most of them, and inflicted upon them a terrible slaughter, many of their own party being slain. And when, after a long battle, the Northern warriors, seeing that they were weaker, had fled and committed a siege; Many of the Northerners themselves, complaining of escaping by the waters, were drowned. God alone truly knows the number of those who were slain there, together with his citizens; according to the estimation, however, their number exceeded [xxvii thousand]. Many lords and many more soldiers fell there together with the commoners.
‘A brief Latin chronicle‘, in Three Fifteenth-Century Chronicles with Historical Memoranda by John Stowe, ed. James Gairdner( London, 1880), British History Online
A Short English Chronicle, edited by John Stow
And than our Kynge Edwarde made him redy with hym the Duke of Northffolke, the Erle of Warwyke, the Erle of Kent, with oþer lordis, knyghtes, and squyers northewarde, and hem folowed grete multitude of pepull, and thei mette be side Shireborne with the lordes of the northe on ether syde lyke an c.ml. And ther was slayne on bothe partes xxxvj ml. vijc. lxxvij. And ther wan Kynge Edwarde the felde thanked by Jesu. And than rode the kynge to Yorke and ther he was rialy resseyved. And ther he in the castell toke the Erle of Devynsshyre and oþer mo, and did lett smyte of her hedes. And Kynge Harrye fled with his quene an deverse lordis with hem to Berwyke, and they delyverd that towne and many oþere castelles in the northe to the Scottis and to the Frensshemen for to have socoure of hem. And after that Kynge Edward came a yene to London, and ther he was rialy resseyved, and forthe with he was crowned at Westmester the xxviij daye of June on Seint Petirs evyn. And there he made his ij brethern dukys, that is to sey, Lorde George Duke of Clarence, the Lorde Richard Duke of Glowcester, and he made many knyghtes and squyers.
‘A Short English Chronicle: London under Henry VI (1422-71)‘, in Three Fifteenth-Century Chronicles with Historical Memoranda by John Stowe, ed. James Gairdner( London, 1880), British History Online
Hearne’s Fragment / Howard Chronicle
Note: there are several versions of this text. The author of the original text is now believed to be Thomas Howard, 2nd Duke of Norfolk.
And when the foreprickers [scouts] came to Ferrybridge, there was a great skirmish in which John Ratcliff then Lord Fitzwalter was slain. And thereupon they advanced themselves until they came to Towton eight miles out of York upon a Friday at night, awaiting the residue of their company, which were assembled in good order on the Saturday, the eve of Palm Sunday [28 March 1461]. And about four of the clock at night the two battles joined and fought all night till on the morrow in the afternoon. About noon the aforesaid John, Duke of Norfolk, with a fresh band of good men of war came to the aid of the newly elected King Edward. This field was sore fought; for there were slain on both sides 24,000 men, and all the time it snowed. There were slain the Earls of Northumberland and Westmoreland with Sir Andrew Trolloppe and others, and the Earls of Devonshire and Wiltshire were taken and beheaded there. And the deposed King Henry and his queen with Harry, Duke of Somerset, and others, in great haste fled to Scotland. When this victory had been obtained. King Edward followed the chase for a little while, but shortly he returned to York where he kept his Easter.
Hearne’s Fragment cited in Thomae Sprotti Chronica, ed. T. Hearne, Oxford, 1719 via Google Books. Or via Hearne’s Fragment, here.
Croyland / Crowland Chronicle
The wretched northmen, upon hearing of this, turned their backs before the face of the pursuer, and, hastening their flight, in their alarm were compelled, much against their will, to leave behind them the booty which they had collected in various places, and had been bent upon carrying with them on their return. Upon this, he pursued them as far as a level spot of ground, situate near the castle of Fomfiret and the bridge at Ferrybridge, and washed by a stream of considerable size ; where he found an army drawn up in order of battle, composed of the remnants of the northern troops of king Henry. They, accordingly, engaged in a most severe conflict,* and fighting hand to hand with sword and spear, there was no small slaughter on either side. However, by the mercy of the Divine clemency, king Edward soon experienced the favour of heaven, and, gaining the wished-for victory over his enemies, compelled them either to submit to be slain or to take to flight. For, their ranks being now broken and scattered in flight, the king’s army eagerly pursued them, and cutting down the fugitives with their swords, just like so many sheep for the slaughter, made immense havoc among them for a distance of ten miles, as far as the city of York. Prince Edward, however, with a part of his men, as conqueror, remained upon the field of battle, and awaited the rest of his army, which had gone in various directions in pursuit of the enemy.
When the solemnities of the, Lord’s day, which is known as Palm Sunday, were now close at hand, after distributing rewards among such as brought the bodies of the slain and gave them burial, the king hastened to enter the before-named city. Those who helped to inter the bodies, piled up in pits and in trenches prepared for the purpose, bear witness that eight-andthirty thousand warriors fell on that day, besides those who were drowned in the river before, alluded to, whose numbers we have no means of ascertaining. The blood, too, of the slain, mingling with the snow which at this time covered the whole surface of the earth, afterwards ran down in the farrows and ditches along with the melted snow, in a most shockiiig manner, for a distance of two or three miles.
Riley, Henry T (ed). Ingulph’s chronicle of the abbey of Croyland with the continuations by Peter of Blois and anonymous writers. London. H G Bohn (1854). Pages 425-426. Via Archive.org
Gregory’s Chronicle
The xiij day of Marche the kynge, owre newe Kynge Edwarde, toke hys jornaye unto the Northe, and the Duke of Northefolke with hym. The Erle of Warwycke and the Lorde Fauconbrygge, with many knyghtes, squyers, and comyns, to the nombyr of ii c Mlmen.
And the xxviij day of Marche, that was [t]ePalme Sunday evyn, the Lorde Fewater was slayne at Ferybryge, and many with hym was slayne and drownyd. And the Erle of Warwycke was hurte yn hys legge with an arowe at the same jornaye.
Ande the xxix day of the same monythe of Marche, that was Palme Sunday, the kyng mette with the lordys of the Northe at Schyrborne. And there was on Harrys party that was kynge—
Prynce Edwarde, Kyng Harrys son.
The Duke of Exceter.
The Duke of Somersett.
The Erle of Northehumberlond.
The Erle of Devynschyre.
The Lorde Roos.
The Lorde Bemound.
The Lorde Clyfforde.
The Lorde Nevyle.
The Lorde Wellys.
The Lorde Wylby.
The Lorde Harry of Bokyngham.
The Lorde Ryvers.
The Lorde Schalys.
The Lorde Maule.
The Lorde Ferys of Groby.
The Lorde Foschewe.
The Lorde Lovelle.
Syr Thomas Hammys, captayne of alle the fote men.
Syr Androwe Thorlloppe.
Syr Thomas Tressam.
Syr Robert Whytyngham.
Syr John Dawne.
And the yonge Lorde of Schrouysbury, and many moo othyr, bothe lordys, knyghtys, and squyers.
Here ben the namys of the lordys that were slayne in the felde in Kynge Harrys party.
The Erle of Northehumberlond,
The Lorde Clyfforde,
The Lorde Nevyle,
The Lorde Wellys,
The Lorde Maules,
And many moo then I can reherse; but whythe [t]es and othyr that were slayne in the fylde ys a grete nombyr, by syde xlij knyghtys that were slayne aftyr; the hoole nombyr ys xxxv Mlof comeners. Jhesu be [t]ou marcyfulle unto hyr soulys. Amen.
And the lordys before wretyn fledde, the substance in to Schotlond with the Kynge Harry and Quene Margarete, and sone the Prynce with hym, fulle of sorowe and hevynys, no wondyr. God knowythe, but every man deme the beste tylle the trought be tryde owte. For many a lady lost hyr beste be lovyd in that batayle.
The Erle of Devynschyre was seke, and myght not voyde a waye, and was take and be heddyd. And the Erle of Wylte schyre was take and brought unto Newe Castell to the Kynge. And there hys hedde was smete of, and send unto London to be sette uppon London Brygge. And Docter Morton, the Prynces chaunceler, was take with hym and put in the Towre, but he schapyd a way longe tyme aftyr, and ys by yonde the see with the Quene, &c.
Ande the Kynge taryd in the Northe a grette whyle, a made grete inquerens of the rebellyens a-gayne hys fadyr. And toke downe hys fadyrs hedde fro the walle of Yorke. And made alle the contray to ben sworne unt hym and to hys lawys. And then he returnyd unto Lundon agayne.
‘Gregory’s Chronicle: 1461-1469’, in The Historical Collections of a Citizen of London in the Fifteenth Century, ed. James Gairdner( London, 1876), British History Online
Near Contemporary and Tudor accounts of the Battle of Towton
Great Chronicle of London
[In March 1461 Edward IV] journeyed northwards [until] he came upon a village named Sherborn near York where, on Palm Sunday [29 March] he encountered with King Henry’s host, which was of great multitude and in it many lords of name, with knights and other men of honour. But that notwithstanding, after a sore and long and unkindly fight — for there was the son against the father, the brother against brother, the nephew against nephew — the victory fell to King Edward, to the great loss of people on both sides. [Of supporters of Henry VI there] were slain above 20,000, besides lords and men of name [who included] the Earls of Northumberland, Westmorland and Wiltshire, Lords Welles, Clifford, Fitzwalter and Dacre, and the Earl of Westmorland’s brother Sir John NeviIle…. When the field was won by King Edward, and word thereof soon after brought to King Henry and Queen Margaret in York, at once they fled towards Scotland with such small company as they had, among which were the Duke of Somerset and Lord Roos.
Thomas, A H, and Thornely, I D, eds. Great Chronicle of London. London, 1938. Pages 196—7. Google Books.
John Rastell
Sone after this, this kynge Edwarde, with his lordes, and a great comanye and bande of men, toke his iourney northwarde, to subdue his enemyes, and met wt them at a place called Towton, .ix. myles from Yorke; with whome he had than a cruell and mortall battell; but kynge Edwarde had the victorye, that in the field and chase there were slayne above .XXX.M. men. There was slayne the erle of northumberlande, the erle of Westinyrlande, the lorde Clyffofde, the lord Egremounde, Andrew Trollope, and many other. And in the same fylde was taken the erle of Deuonshyre, the erle of Wylkeshyre; whiche erle of devonshyre was after at Yorke beheded. But kynge Henry and the quene, the yonge duke of Somercet, the lorde Rose, and other, be- ynge than at Yorke, herynge of the losse of this fyide, fled towarde Scotlande, and, vpon the morowe folowynge, kynge Edwarde entered into Yorke with his people, and there hylde his estate.
Rastell, John. The pastyme of people The cronycles of dyuers realmys and most specyally of the realme of Englond breuely co[m]pylyd [and] empryntyd in chepesyde at the sygne of the mearemayd next to pollys gate. Cum priuilegio. Published by John Rastell c1530. Via Archive.org or the University of Michigan.
Itinerary of John Leland (1535-1543) edited by LT Smith
From Leade to Saxton village a mile. Wher Mr. Hundesgate dwellith. In the chyrch yard were many of the bones of men that were killid at Palmesunday feld buried. They lay afore in 5. pittes, yet appering half a mile of by north in Saxton feldes. Towton village is a mile from Saxton, wher is a great chapell begon by Richard 3. but not finished. Syr John Multon’s father layid the first stone of it. In this chapelle were buried also many of the men slayn at Palmesunday feeld. This feeld was as much fought in Saxton paroch as in Towton, yet it berith the name of Towton. (L.T. Smith, p.43).
Towten feld, where King Edwarde the 4. father was slayn, is a 3.miles from Shirburn yn Yorkshire, and thereby rennith Cokbek, and goith into Warfe ryver a this side Tadcastre. Yn Towten Feld self was a geat multitude of men slayne and ther buried. Mr. Hungate, Grauntfather of the Courte, gatherid a great number of the bones, and caussid them to be buried in Saxton chirch yarde. Hungate Clerk of the Stable to the Quene is one of this Hungates younger sunnes that now dwellith at Saxton. The Lorde Dacres slayne at Towten feld is buried in Saxton chirch yard, and hath a meane tumbe. The Earle of Westmerland killid in the same feld is buried withyn Saxton chirch. Saxton toune and lordship longgid to Mr. … and there is his dwelling place. Saxton is 3 mile and a half from Shirburne in Yorkshir. There is a chapel or heremitage upon Towten feld in token of prier and memory of men slayne there.
Leland, John. The itinerary of John Leland in or about the years 1535-1543. Edited by Lucy Toulmin Smith. G Bell (London). 1907-10. Page 43, via Archive.org
John Hardyng’s Chronicle
At [Towton feld}* he faught on Palmesondaye, Wher then therle Henry of [Northu] berland, The lord Neuell, the lord Clifford that daye; The lord Dacres, were ae I vnderstand ; The kyng Henry then out of the land, To Berwike toune y stounte’ in Scotland groud, With certain lordes and with the quene y “stound,
And gaue the toune and castell to the Scottes, By whole assent of his simple counsaill, Whiche might well bee accompted then for sottes, As foules that were then of no gouernaill: In to Scotland with foule misgouernaill, The quene Margarete, and the dukes both twoo Of Excester and Somerset, fled also.
The lord Roos and eke the lord Moleyns, And the chief iudge, that called [was Forscue, And Tailboys also” with other eiuill capitains, That after shall? full sore repent and rewe 3 If thei [also well, as I nowe, Scotland knewe, Thei would not so haue hasted thitherward, From the presence and grace of kyng Edward.
Kyng Edward thus had then the victorie, With his lordes and menne that were full” trewe. That halpe hym so, and were contributorie To wyn his right, whiche then the people knewe; To Yorke he went, and found it not vntrewe, To Duresme also’ and [to the’ Newcastell, That to hym were as trewe as any stele.
Hardyng, John. Ellis, Henry (ed). The Chronicle of John Hardyng. London : Printed for F. C. and J. Rivington; T. Payne; Wilkie and Robinson; Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown; Cadell and Davies; J. Mawman; and R. H. Evans (1812). Via Archive.org
Anglia Historia by Polydor Virgil
‘…By which occasion this Edward, brought in hope of victory, prepared as great forces as he could possible, that in the conflict of one day he might perfect all his travailes and victories. Thus bring strong, with these forces aforesaide he marches towards Yorke, and when he came about XI miles from the same he encamped himself at a village called Towton. When King Henry knew that his enemies were at hande, upon the which he was rather a minded to have prayed then fought, that the next day after he might have better successe in the field. But it came to pass by mean of the soldiers who, as their manner is, like not upon lingering, that the very self same day, by day break in the morning, after he had with many wonders exhorted every man to do his particular desire, he was forced to cause sound the alarm. His adversaries were there as ready as he; the archers began the battaile; but when their arrows were spent the matter was dealt by hand strokes with so great slaughter that the very dead carcases hindered them that fought. Thus did the fight continue more than ten hours in equal balance when at the last King Henry espied the forces of his foes increase and his own somewhat yeelde, when by new exhortation he had compelled to presse on more earnestly, he with a few horsemen removing a little out of that place, expected the event of the fight; but beholde, sodenly his soldiers gave the backe, which when he sawe he fledd also. There was wanting of both parties about twentie thousand men. Among these was Henry the earl of Northumberland, and Andrew Trolop and many other men of name. The numbers of prisoners and wounded persons, where of some were cured and some dyed, were fully ten thousand. That battaille weakened wonderfully the force of Englande, seeming those who were killed had been able, both for number and force, to have enterprised any forreigne warre.
Virgil, Polydor. Ellis, Henry (ed). Three Books of Polydor Virgil. Anglia Historia. Pages 110-111. Camden Society, London (1844). Via Archive.org
Edward Hall’s Chronicle
By reason wherof, he assembled together a puyssant army to thentent to gyue to his enemies a fierce and sharpe battayle, & so in one day to obteyn his purpose and make an ende of all his treble. When his army was redy, and all thinges prepared, he departed out of London the. xii. day of Marche, & by easy iourneys came to the castell of Pomfret, where he rested, appoyntyng the lorde Fitzwater, to kepe y passage at Ferybridge, with a great number of talle personages. Let no man thi’nke or yet imagine, that ether the counsaill of kynge Henry, or his vigilant queue, either neglected or forgat to know or searche what their enemies did, but that they prepared to their power all y men, that theyv either could perswade or allure to their purpose to take their part. And thus thinking them selfs furnished, committed the gouernaiice of the armye to the duke of Somerset, the erle of Northumberland, and y lord Clifford, as men desiring to reuenge y death of their paretes slayn at the first battayle of sainct Albons. These noble capitaynes, leauing kyng Henry, his wyfe, and sonne, for their most sauegard in the citie of Yorke’ passed the ryuer of Wharfe, with all their power, entendinge to prohibite kyng Edward to passe ouer the ryuer of Ayree, and for the more expedition and exployt of their purpose.
After many comparisons made betwcne the erle of Northumberland, and the lord Clifford, bothe beyng in lusty yought, & of francke corage) the lord Clifforde determined with his light horsemen, to make an assaye to suche as kepte the passage of Ferybridge, and so departed from the great army on the Saturday before Palmsondaye, and early or his enemies were ware, gat the bridge, and slew the kepers of thesame, and al such as woulde withstand him. The lord Fitzwater hearyng the noyse, sodainly rose out of his bed, and vnarmed, with a pollax in his hande, thinking y it had byn a fray emogest his me, came doune to appeace thesame, but or he either began his tale, or knew what the matter meat, lie wasslayne, ^ and with hym the Bastard of Salisbury, brother to the erle of Warwycke, a valeaunt yong gentelman, and of great audacitie. When the erle of Warwycke was euformed of this feate, be like a man desperate, mouted on his Hackeney, and came blowyng to kyng Edward saiyng : syr I praye God haue mercy of their soules, which in the beginnyng of your enterprise, haili lost their lifes, and because I se no succors of the world, I remit the vengeaunce and punishment to God our creator and redemer, and with that lighted doune, and slewe his horse with his swourcle, saiyng : let him flic that wil, for surely I wil tary with him that wil tary with me, and kissed the crosse of his swourde.
(after many comparisons made betwcne the erle of Northumberland, and the lord Clifford, bothe beyng in lusty yought, & of francke corage) the lord Clifforde determined with his light horsemen, to make an assaye to suche as kepte the passage of Ferybridge, and so departed from the great army on the Saturday before Palmsondaye, and early or his enemies were ware, gat the bridge, and slew the kepers of thesame, and al such as woulde withstand him. The lord Fitzwater hearyng the noyse, sodainly rose out of his bed, and vnarmed, with a pollax in his hande, thinking y it had byn a fray emogest his me, came doune to appeace thesame, but or he either began his tale, or knew what the matter meat, lie wasslayne, ^ and with hym the Bastard of Salisbury, brother to the erle of Warwycke, a valeaunt yong gentelman, and of great audacitie. When the erle of Warwycke was euformed of this feate, be like a man desperate, mouted on his Hackeney, and came blowyng to kyng Edward saiyng : syr I praye God haue mercy of their soules, which in the beginnyng of your enterprise, haili lost their lifes, and because I se no succors of the world, I remit the vengeaunce and punishment to God our creator and redemer, and with that lighted doune, and slewe his horse with his swourcle, saiyng : let him flic that wil, for surely I wil tary with him that wil tary with me, and kissed the crosse of his swourde.
THE lusty kyng Edward, perceiuyng the courage of his trusty frtkl the erle of Warwycke, made proclamacion that all men, whiche were alrayde to fighie, shoulde incontinent departe, and to all me that tarried the battell, he promised great rewat des with this addicion, that if any souldiour, which volutariely would abide, and in, or before the conflict flye, or turue his backe, that then he that could kill him should haue a great remuneracio and double wages. After thys proclamacio ended the lord Fawconbridge, syr Water Ulont, Robert Home with the forward, passed the ryuer at Castelford. iii. myles from Ferebridge, entending to haue enuironed and enclosed I he lord Clyfford and his copany, but they beyng therof aduertised, departed in great haste toward kyng Henries army, but they mete with some that Theconthey loked not for, and were attrappod or they were ware. For the lord Clifforde, either biidge.F for heat or payne, putting of his gorget, sodainly w an arrowe (as some say) without an hedde, was striken into the throte, and incontinent rendered hys spirite, and the erle of Westmerlandes brother and all hi« company almost were there slayn, at a place called Dintingdale, not farr fr5 Towton. This ende had he, which slew the yong erle of Rutland, kneling on his knees : whose yong sonne Thomas Clifford was brought vp \V a sheppcrd, in poore habile, & dissimuled behauior euer in feare, to publish his lignage or degre, till kyng Henry the. vii. obteyned the croune, and gat the diadeine : by whome he was restored to his name and possessions. When this conflict was ended at Ferebridge, the lord Fawcdbridge, bauyng the foreward, because the duke of Northfolk was fallen sycke, valeaiitly vpon Palmsunday in the twylight, set furth his army, and came to Saxton, where he might apparantly perceyue the hoste of his aduersaries, which were accompted. Ix. M. men, and therof aduertised kyng Edward, whose whole army, they that knew it, and payed the wages, aflirme to. xlviii. M. vi. C. &. Ix. persons, which incotinet with y erle of Warwycke set forward leuyng the rereward vndery^ gouernace of syr Ihon Wenlocke, and syr Ihon Dynham and other. And first of all he made proclamacion, that no prisoner should be take, nor one enernie saued. So thesame day about, ix. of the clocke, which was the. xxix. day of Marche, beyng The conflict Palmsundaye, both the hostes approched in a playn felde, betwene Towton and Saxto. “tSaxtovpo When eche parte perceyued other, they made a great shoute, and at thesarnc instante time, their fell a small snyt or snow, which by violence of the wyn was driuen into the faces of them, which were of kyng Heries parte, so that their sight was somwhat blemished and minished. The lord Fawconbridge, which led the forward of kyng Edwardes battaill (as before is rehersed) being a man of great polecie, and of much experience in marciall feates, caused euery archer vnder his standard, to shot one flyght (which before he caused them to prouide) and then made them to stad still. The northre me, feling the shoot, but by reason of jr snow, not wel vewing y distance betwene them and their enemies, like hardy men shot their schiefe arrowes as fast as they might, but al their shot was lost, & their labor vayn or they came not nere the Southerme, by. xl. taylors yerdes. Whe their shot was almost spent, the lord Fau conbridge marched forwarde with his archers, which not onely shot their awne whole sheues, but also gathered the arrowes of their enemies, and Jet a great parte of them flye agaynst their awne masters, and another part thei let stand on y groud which sore noyed the legges of the owners, when the battayle ioyned. The erle of Northumberlad, and Andrew Trolopc, whiche were chefetayns of kyng Hf-ries vawgard, seynge their shot not to preuayle, hasted forward to ioine with their enemies : you may besure the other part northing retarded, but valeaontly fought with their enemies. This battayl was sore foughte, for hope of life was set on side on euery parte and takynge of prisoners was proclaymed as a f great offence, by reason wherof euery man determined, either to conquere or to dye in the; felde. This deadly battayle and bloudy conflicte, continued, x. houres in doubtfull victorie. The one parte. some time flowyng, and sometime ebbyng, but inconclusio, kyng Edward so coragiously comforted his me, refreshyng the wery, and helping the wounded, that the other part was discomfited and ouercome, and Jyke me amased, fledde toward Tadcaster bridge to saue the selfes : but in the meane way there is a litle broke called Cocke, not very broade, but of a great deapnes, in the whiche, what for hast of escapyng, and what for feare of folowers, a great number were drent and drowned, in so much that the common people there affirme, that men alyue passed the ryuer vpon dead carcasis, and that the great ryuer of Wharfe, which is the great sewer of y broke, & of all the water comyng from Towton, was colored with bloude. The chace continued all night, and the most parte of the next day, and euer y’ Northren men, when they saw or perceiued any aduauntage, returned again and fought with their enemies, to the great losse of both partes. For in this. iii. dayes were slayn (as they Agmt knew it wrote) on both partes. xxxvi. M. vii. C.’lx. and. xvi. persons, all Englishmen and of Englishmen. one nacio wherof the chefe were the erles of Northumberland, and Westmorland and the lord Dakers the lord Welles, syr Ihon Neuel, Andrew Trolop, Robert Home, and many other Knyghtes and Esquiers, and the erle of Deuonshyre taken prisoner, but the dukes of Somerset and Excester fled from the felde and saued themselfes. This conflict was in maner vnnaturall, for in it the sonne fought against the father, the brother against the brother, the nephew against the vncle, and the tenaut against his lord, which slaughter did not onely sore debilitate and muche weke the puyssance of this realme, considering that these dedde men, whe thei were liuyng had force ynough to resist the greatest princes power of all Europe : But also gaue a courage to outward enemies and foren potetates, to inuade and make warre in this realme, which thinge was not vnlikely to haue ensued, if either Lewes the French kynge had bene at this time quiet in his realme, or lames kynge of Scottes hadbene of age and master of him selfe, yet thanked he God, for although the gate of a conquest were opened, yet it was shut agayn, or it was espied.
Hall, Edward. Hall’s chronicle : containing the history of England, during the reign of Henry the Fourth, and the succeeding monarchs, to the end of the reign of Henry the Eighth, in which are particularly described the manners and customs of those periods. Carefully collated with the editions of 1548 and 1550. J Johnson etc, London (1809). Via Archive.org
Annales, or, a generall chronicle of England
The same 12. day of March, in the afternoone, King Edward having prepared a great army, being accompanyed with the Duke of Norfolk, the Lord Fauconbridge, the Loerd Fitzwalter, Sir John Wenlocke, John Stafford, Henry Patlife of Framiferne, Roger Wolferstone and others, with great triumph, rode through the city of London to Bishop gate and tooke his journey toward the north, where betweene Shirburne in Elmet and Tadcaster, all the north part met him, and on Palme Sunday the 29. of March, fought a great battel between Towton and Saxton in which were slaine, Henry Percy, Earle of Northumberland, the Earle of Shrewbury; the Earle of Devonshire, John Lord Clifford, the Lord Beaumond, John, Lord Nevill, the Lord Willoughby, Leo, Lord Wells, the Lord Roos, the Lord Scales, the Lord Grey, Reynolph, Lord Dacres, the Lord Fitzhugh, the Lord Molineaux, Lord, Henry Buckingham: knights, two Bastard sonnes of Henry Holland, Duke of Ercester, Richard Percy, John Heyton, Gerueyes Clifton Edmond Hamis, Thomas Crakenthorpe, John Crakenthorpe, William Havill, John Ormonde, Anrew Trolope, Roger Mollyn, Radulph Pigote, Henry Norbohew, David Trolope, John Burton, Captaine of York, and many other knights, and squires, whole names were not then noted. The whole number slaine, were acounted by some to be 33,000. but by other some 35091, many of these were first buried in five pits yet appearing halfe a mile off by North Saxton Church in the field, there master Burgate [should read Hungate] caused them to be brought from thence, and to be buryed in the church-yard of Saxton: the Lord Dacres hath there a mean tombe. Towton village is a mile from Saxton, where a great chappell was begunne by Richard the third, but not finished, in which chappell were buried also many of the men slaine at Palmesunday field. This field was as much in Saxton parish as in Towton, yet it bore the name of Towton.
Stow, John. ‘The Annales or General Chronicle of England‘ 1615 edition, pages 415-416. Via Google Books
17th century accounts of the Battle of Towton
A Chronicle of the Kings of England
But before he [Edward] could have leisure to be Crowned, he was forced once again to try his fortune in the Field of Battel, For King Henry in the North was raising a new Army, against whom King Edward upon the twelfth of March, marched with his Forces from London: and by easy Journey came to Pontfret Castle, from whence the Lord Filzwater was sent to Guard the passage at Ferribridg, to stop the enemies approach that way; King Henry likewise advanced forward, sending his power under the Conduct of the Duke of Somerset, the Earl of Northumberland, and the Lord Clifford, whilst himself with his Queen and Son stay at York. The lord Clifford very early on palm-Sunday, with a troop of Northern men, falls upon those that guarded Ferribridge, and defeated them with the slaughter of the Lord Fitzwater, and the Bastard of Salisbury. The Earl, of Warwick hearing of this defeat comes posting to King Edward’s camp; and in his presence killing his horse, protested his resolution to stand with him to the death. Upon this Resolution of the earls, the king made presently Proclamation, that all who are afraid to fight should at their pleasyre depart; but to those that would flee he promised a good reward adding withal, that if any that stayed should after turn his back or flee, then he that should kill him should have double pay. After this he gave order to the Lord Fauconbridge and sir Walter Blunt, to lead on the Vaward, who in their march about Dandingdale, encountered with the Lord Clifford (who formerly in cold blood had slaughtered the young Earl of Rutland) and he being stricken in the Throat with an Arrow, (some say ) without a head, and presently dying: The Lord Nevil Son and Heir of the Earl of Westmoreland was also slain, with most of their Companies, and the rest put to flight. The next day likewise (the Duke of Norfolk being dangerously sick, to whom that place was assigned) Fauconbridge and Blunt continue the leading of the Vant-guard; and on Palm-Sunday, by break of day, they came to a plain Field between Towton and Saxton, from whence they made a full survey of King Henry’s Army; and certified King Edward that the Enemy was threescore thousand strong, where his Army was but forty thousand and six hundred. Where upon a second proclamation was made through the Camp, that no quarter should be kept, nor Prisoner taken. The Armies being both in sight, the Lord Fauconbridge gave direction to the Archers (upon a signal by him given) to shoot every man a flight-Arrow (for that purpose provided) and then to fall back three strides and stand. The Northern men in the mean time plyed their bows till all their sheaves were empty, but their arrows fell short of the enemy by threescore yards: and not only did no hurt to the Enemy, but did hurt to themselves, for their arrows being spent, and coming to hand-blows, their own arrows sticking in the ground, galled their shins and pierced their feet. Ten hours the battle continued doubtful, till the Earl of Northumberland being slain, with the Lord Beaumont Gray, Dacres’ and Wells, Sir john Nevil, Andrew Trollop and many other Knights and Esquires. the Earls of Exeter and Somerset fled, leaving the Conquest to King Edward; but the bloodiest that ever England felt, for there fell that day fix and thirty thousand seven hundred threescore and sixteen persons, no prisoners being taken but the Earl of Devonshire. The Battel ended, King Edward hastened to York.
Baker, Sir Richard. A chronicle of the kings of England. 1684. Via Archive.org
Boylston, A., Novak, S., Sutherland, T., Holst, M., & Coughlan, J. (1997). Burials From the Battle of Towton. Royal Armouries Yearbook, 2(1), 36–39. https://doi.org/10.1080/30650682.1997.12426585
SUTHERLAND, TIM. “KILLING TIME: CHALLENGING THE COMMON PERCEPTIONS OF THREE MEDIEVAL CONFLICTS—FERRYBRIDGE, DINTINGDALE AND TOWTON—‘THE LARGEST BATTLE ON BRITISH SOIL.’” Journal of Conflict Archaeology, vol. 5, no. 1, 2009, pp. 1–26. JSTOR, https://www.jstor.org/stable/48601933.
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‘Milan: 1461’, in Calendar of State Papers and Manuscripts in the Archives and Collections of Milan 1385-1618, ed. Allen B Hinds( London, 1912), British History Online
“Paston letters and papers of the fifteenth century, Part I.” In the digital collection Corpus of Middle English Prose and Verse. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/Paston. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections.
Chronicle and later Accounts of the Battle of Towton
Baker, Sir Richard. A chronicle of the kings of England. 1684. Via Archive.org
Brooke, R. Visits to Fields of Battle, in England, of the Fifteenth Century. London, 1857. Pages 81-130. Via Project Gutenburg.
Fabyan, Robert. Ellis, Henry (ed). The new chronicles of England and France, in two parts. Reprinted from Pynson’s edition of 1516. The first part collated with the editions of 1533, 1542, and 1559; and the second with a manuscript of the author’s own time, as well as the subsequent editions: including the different continuations. To which are added a biographical and literary preface, and an index. Via Archive.org
Gregory, William. ‘Gregory’s Chronicle: 1461-1469‘, in The Historical Collections of a Citizen of London in the Fifteenth Century, ed. James Gairdner( London, 1876), British History Online
Hall, Edward. Hall’s chronicle : containing the history of England, during the reign of Henry the Fourth, and the succeeding monarchs, to the end of the reign of Henry the Eighth, in which are particularly described the manners and customs of those periods. Carefully collated with the editions of 1548 and 1550. J Johnson etc, London (1809). Via Archive.org
Hardyng, John. Ellis, Henry (ed). The Chronicle of John Hardyng. London : Printed for F. C. and J. Rivington; T. Payne; Wilkie and Robinson; Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown; Cadell and Davies; J. Mawman; and R. H. Evans (1812). Via Archive.org
Hearne, Thomas. Hearne’s Fragment [Also known as The Howard Chronicle] cited in Thomae Sprotti Chronica, ed. T. Hearne, Oxford, 1719 via Google Books. Or via Hearne’s Fragment,
Leland, John. The itinerary of John Leland in or about the years 1535-1543. Edited by Lucy Toulmin Smith. G Bell (London). 1907-10. Page 43, via Archive.org
Rastell, John. “The pastyme of people The cronycles of dyuers realmys and most specyally of the realme of Englond breuely co[m]pylyd [and] empryntyd in chepesyde at the sygne of the mearemayd next to pollys gate. Cum priuilegio.” In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A68635.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections.
Riley, Henry T (ed). Ingulph’s chronicle of the abbey of Croyland with the continuations by Peter of Blois and anonymous writers. London. H G Bohn (1854). Pages 425-426. Via Archive.org
Stow, John. ‘The Annales or General Chronicle of England‘ 1615 edition, pages 415-416. Via Google Books
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Stow, John. ‘A Short English Chronicle: London under Henry VI (1422-71)‘, in Three Fifteenth-Century Chronicles with Historical Memoranda by John Stowe, ed. James Gairdner( London, 1880), British History Online
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Waurin, Jean de. Recuiel des Croniques et Anchiennes Istories de la Grant Bretagne, a present nomme Engleterre v, ed. Sir William Hardy and E L C P Hardy (Rolls Series 1891) pp 339-341. Hathi Trust. Note: multiple editions and translations of this work are available, many of which are linked to via the Hathi Trust page.
Whethamstede, Johannis. Riley, Henry [ed]. Chronicle of the Abbey of St. Albans. Volume Two: Regisra Johannis Whethamstede, Willelmi Albon, Et Willelmi, Walingford, Abbatum Monasterii Sancti Albani. Rolls Series. Longman, London ( 1872). Derived from various, including Archive.org
