Battle of Wakefield

This letter is of use here to address some of the issues that are raised in the letter from the Milanese Ambassador to France, dated a week after this one. The Paston Letters make no direct reference to the way in which the Battle of Wakefield was fought. This letter, dated 23 January 1461, does however note some of the dead, ‘And as for Colt, and Sir Jamys Strangwysse, and Sir Thomas Pykeryng, they be takyn or ellys dede’. It also shows that men are being recruited and travelling to join with their respective armies. Furthermore, it adds weight to the comment of the Milanese ambassador that there had been clashes after the Battle of Wakefield by saying that: ‘the pepill in the northe robbe and styll, and ben apoyntyd to pill all thys cwntre, and gyffe a way menys goods and lufflods in all the sowthe cwntre, and that wyll ask a myscheffe‘.

Key Points

• Colt, Sir Jamys Strangwysse, and Sir Thomas Pykeryng are believed to have died in the battle.

Provenance

The Paston family were an influential part of the East Anglian gentry. They had inherited from Sir John Fastolf and had interests in London. At the time of the Battle of Wakefield the family had not taken sides in the conflict. Their standing and situation in early 1461 is outlined here.

Chronicle Accounts of the Battle of Wakefield

The above letters are all written in the weeks that followed the Battle of Wakefield. The purpose of these letters was not to record the nature of the fighting, nor the scale of the battle. In most cases, the purpose of the letters was diplomatic whilst the Paston Letter included above is a more general passing of information about matters that may impact directly upon the affairs of that family. As such, none of the references written in the immediate aftermath of the Battle of Wakefield are specific to the battle itself, instead they focus mainly upon the responses to the battle and its outcome.

To begin to explore the the way in which the battle itself was fought, it is necessary to look at other sources of information from the period. One area that informs is the available Chronicle accounts that were written. These vary in terms of when they were penned and are often heavily influenced by the scribes affiliation to one party or the other. In the case of chronicles written relatively soon after the Battle of Wakefield, they are exclusively Yorkist in their leaning. Those written several decades later, after the fall of the House of York, tend to be more sympathetic to the Lancastrian cause.

Provenance of Chronicle Accounts

The provenance, accuracy and bias of the Chronicle accounts relating to the Battle of Wakefield is explored in detail in Keith Dockray’s article on the Battle of Wakefield.

Chronicle of England from Rollo to Edward IV

And the said Harry and his counsell for because the Comons of England found that Richard
Plantagenet othirwise called Richard late Duke of Yorke hadde more right and more title vnto the
Crowne of England than the saide Harry, he innocent goyng towarde Yorke at Wakefeld sette
vpon hym oute of array and kelled hym and his sonne the Erle of Routeland, the Erle of
Salusbury and Lord Harington with othir diuers gentills and comoners. (420-21)

Quoted on Page 73 of this thesis, in the footnotes.

Comments

This chronicle is believed to have been written relatively soon after the Battle of Wakefield. However, it is brief in its description of this and other events. As such it simply confirms that a battle had been fought in which the Duke of York, Earl of Rutland, Earl of Salisbury and Lord Harington with others had been killed. The provenance of this chronicle is explored in: Raluca Radulescu. “Yorkist Propaganda and ‘The Chronicle from Rollo to Edward IV.’” Studies in Philology, JSTOR.

Register of Abbot Whethamstede

Translated from the original Latin text

When this had been done, and he [the duke of York] had stood thus declared, and also proclaimed, both in the city of London, and also in all the notable towns of the surrounding counties, he immediately took, as if afterwards, both license and authority, to the Lord King, to march towards the northern parts, to subjugate the people of that country, who, at the instance of Lady Margaret the Queen, and of several of the lords adhering to her, rebelled against him, and against his own cry, by common will and concord. He was certainly licensed by the Lord the King, and took his journey towards the northern parts, taking the journey with him the illustrious lord, Lord Richard Neville, Earl of Salisbury; and as they went on, they both gathered together in the progress of their journey, by the authority of the royal commission, not a small multitude of the people, for the defence of their persons, and for the oppression of the opposing crowd. With whom, advancing separately, for the sake of having better hospitality in their journeys, they arrived at last at the said village of the Lord Duke, a town, namely, of Wakefield, which is below the capital of the County of York. When they heard that the northerners were approaching in the greatest number of the people, and that they had encamped not far from their camp, they chose a camp for themselves there near the town. and erecting their tents, they encamped in the same place for a day between the parties, punctuated by the time of the battle.

And hearing the northerners, and their leaders, who were always in deceit, always in snares, sat diligently, and were often wont to throw out combs with hides, and marrubiums with honey, how the southerners governed themselves in their camp for a little while, and wandered about in the parts for accumulating victuals, and did not they should return every hour well alert, and fully prepared in arms against the ambushes and invasions of the enemy; soon, contrary to the promise made, and this day of battle punctuated, they rushed upon them, and overwhelming them with the mass of their multitude, compelled many to fall in the field, and some to flee from the field; but they captured the two said Lords alive in the war, and they themselves, and especially the Duke of York, engaged in much mockery.  For setting him upon a small mound of ants, and which I will call a lowly sward, made of marsh grass, and placing it upon his head in the manner of a crown, no differently than the Jews before the Lord, they bowed their knees his own before him, saying delusionally, “Hail, king, without government. Hail, king, without inheritance. Hail, leader and prince, completely without all people and possessions.” And with these, together with various others, speaking against him with reproachful and insulting words, they forced him at last, by the head severance, to leave a claim to be sure of a just revenge.

And they took the lord of Salisbury with them as far as the castle at the Broken Bridge, and there, at the impious and importunate instigation of certain perverts, they beheaded him. And it is evident in these few, what was the nature of the said Lord Duke’s return to the kingdom, entering the Parliament, and progressing to the parts of Borea, and finally a kind of retreat, by the fate of the world, from the earthly and transitory kingdom to the region, as it was hoped, heavenly, and lasting eternally without end.

Wherefore, for a prompter and more recent remembrance of the day, place, and year, of the death of the said Lord Duke, and upon the brevity of the name of his rightful heir, here is written further of all these in short metrical style under these words:

In the year one thousand, one hundred and four times, ten times,
Three days and twelve days, in the twelfth month of December,
Down in York, near Wakefield, County, Duke, lord of the town, is reported to have fought
A great conflict against the northern nation,
And several nobles, who presided over the nations themselves.
Whereupon he taught that fate is a matter of fortune. Accordingly
He avoids delaying, the Duke fell, born and his,
And the distinguished Earl. The fate of the war was the fate of Obvia themselves.
An omen and that fate had brought sorrowful change,
To be mourned by many; the right of the kingdom was his right.
The names and surnames of those illustrious men who fell in the said war, in the war he saw committed at Wakefield, see elsewhere in the second Register, a little shorter.

Comments

The Abbot is clearly sympathetic to the Yorkist cause. He has described the Lancastrians as rebels and notes that Richard Neville, Earl of Salisbury, was an illustrious lord. The Register suggests that both sides had large armies. Of the Yorkists he notes that they recruited ‘not a small multitude‘ and the ‘northerners’ [Lancastrians] advanced upon them with the ‘greatest number of the people‘. Unlike earlier and most other contemporary accounts, the Abbot hints at the nature of the clash. After several days of truce during which victuals had been acquired by the Yorkists, the Lancastrians fell upon them: ‘and this day of battle punctuated, they rushed upon them, and overwhelming them with the mass of their multitude, compelled many to fall in the field, and some to flee from the field‘. The attack was whilst a truce was in place but not wholly unexpected if Abbot Whetmanstede’s account is reliable. He notes that the Yorkists whilst gathering supplies were: ‘fully prepared in arms against the ambushes and invasions of the enemy; soon, contrary to the promise made… [the attack happened].’ In contrast to other accounts the Register notes that ‘they captured the two said Lords alive in the war‘ and that one of these was the Duke of York. In this account, the Duke is mocked by his captors on the field of battle, crowned by them, then beheaded by them. If accurate, he did not die in the battle itself but by means of a hasty execution. The Earl of Salisbury, says Whetmanstede, was taken to Pontefract Castle where, ‘there, at the impious and importunate instigation of certain perverts, they beheaded him‘. There is no reference to the fate of the Earl of Rutland, or any other Lords or knights who were at the Battle of Wakefield.

John Benet’s Chronicle

Et in vigilia sancti Andrie prorogatum est parliamentum usque vicesimum octavum diem mensis Januarii. Et in vigilia sancti
Nicholai pro tune die Veneris dux Eboraci, Comes Sarum et Comes Retelande exierunt de London’ usque villam de Notingham’ et sic usque castrum de Sandalle cum xij milibus hominum. Et in Crastino sancti Thome martyris venit quasi subito contra eos
dux Somersetie et Cum eo Comes de comitatu Devonie, Comes Northumbrie, dominus la Ros, dominus Cleford, dominus la
Nevylle, dominus la Fiz Hew, dominus la Warre, Baro de Greystoke et multi alii quasi viginti milia. Et ibi? interfectus est Comes Sarum et Comes Retlandie, dominus Thomas Nevylle, dominus Thomas Heryngton’ et multift alii numero quasi milia hominum. Et ibi interfectus est Ricardus dux Eboraci.

Harriss GL, Harriss MA. III John Benet’s Chronicle for the years 1400 to 1462. Camden Fourth Series. 1972;9:151-233. doi:10.1017/S0068690500002877

Comment

Benet notes that the Duke of York, Earl of Salisbury and Earl of Rutland had marched from London to Sandal Castle via Nottingham. They had a force of 8000 men. The Lancastrian army was led by the Duke of Somerset, Earls of Devon and Northumberland, Lords Clifford, Roos, Neville [of Westmorland], FitzHugh, Warre, Baron Greystoke and ‘many others‘. Bent says that the Lancastrian force numberered 20,000 men. Of the battle itself, Benet says nothing beyond the names of some notable men who were slain [the Duke of York, Earls of Rutland and Salisbury, Lords Thomas Neville and Lord Harington]. He states that about a thousand men perished in the battle.

John Bale’s Chronicle

Item upon Cristemas day and newyeres day the king yede crouned a procession at powles and on cristemas day the king fested atte Bisshops paleys at london the maior aldremen of this citee and er was greet rialte. And on the morn after newe yeresday cam hevy word and tidings to the king and my lord of Warrewik that the duke of york, the Erie Rutland his sone and the Erie Salesbury wer trayterously and ageinst lawe of armes be taking of Tretys graunted, mordred and slain in the north beside pountfreite in a feld called wakefield by the fals meanes and power arrered by the duk of Somerset the Erie Northumberland the lorde Roos and the lord Clifford and the lorde Nevyll and andrewe trollop and ojiers.

Bale’s Chronicle in Six Town Chronicles. via archive.org

Comment

Bale says that news of the Battle of Wakefield reached the Earl of Warwick on 2 January 1461. It identifies the Duke of York and Earls of Rutland and Salisbury as having been ‘mordred and slain in the north beside pountfreite in a feld called wakefield‘. Of the Lancastrian force it notes it having led by the Duke of Somerset, Earl of Northumberland, the Lords Roos, Clifford, Neville [of Westmorland] and also notes that Andrew Trollope was present. Bale notes ‘false meanes‘ but does not elaborate upon this so could mean trickery, or simply that the Lancastrians were the rebel force on this occasion.

Chronicle of England – the Waurin Theory

The Duke of York, therefore, being retreated to Wakefield, upon hearing news that Queen Margaret was coming with a great force of armed men to fight him, accompanied by the Duke of Somerset, was greatly astonished, as he did not have sufficient troops at the moment to resist such great power. He and the Earl of Salisbury, along with others in their company, spoke together to conclude their affairs. They sent for men from all sides, fortifying themselves to the best of their ability within the town. However, all this was in vain because at the moment they were attacked, most of their men had gone out for foraging. Additionally, Andrew Trollope, who was a very cunning military man, told the Duke of Somerset that he knew well that they could not force the Duke of York out of the town without a great loss of men. He found a way throughout the night to dress his men in coats bearing the badge of the Ragged Staff, which belonged to the Earl of Warwick (age 33) and were recognized as such, thus they appeared to be four hundred of the bravest men, well-instructed in what they had to do secretly. Their plan was to go straight to the town and tell the Duke of York that they came from the county of Lancashire to aid him.

When the Duke of York, who never suspected treachery, saw these companions approaching, he was very joyful and allowed them inside the town. That same night, the Duke of York ordered a strong guard because he knew well that the Duke of Somerset was in the fields, intending to confront him with all his might.

But when day broke, Andrew Trollope, accompanied by other soldiers all wearing the badge of the Ragged Staff, sent word to the Duke of York, without revealing his identity, that they were a large force come to his aid. The Duke was overjoyed and marched out of the town with the intention of engaging his enemies. At that moment, Andrew Trollope, the traitor, knowing that the Duke of Somerset was nearby, initiated the skirmish, and the Duke of Somerset, ready for action, charged fiercely upon the Duke of York and his men. Quickly, Andrew Trollope and his group, as well as those who had been sent by him into the town that night, turned against the Duke of York and his followers. In this battle, the Duke of York, the Earl of Rutland his son, the Earl of Salisbury, Sir Thomas Neville his son, and many other noble men of their company were killed. This battle took place outside the town of Wakefield on the penultimate day of December in the year fourteen sixty. Queen Margaret was very joyful upon hearing this news, as were all those supporting her cause. On the other hand, the Earls of March and Warwick, who had lost their fathers in this battle, were deeply saddened and angered, but for the time being, they could not rectify the situation.

Waurin, Jean. A Chronicle of England. Volume Six, Chapter 3.

Comment

Waurin notes that the Duke of York and Earl of Salisbury had been shocked by the size of a Lancastrian force gathering in the north and had recruited to address the situation. He also notes that the Duke of York, Earls of Rutland and Salisbury and Sir Thomas Neville were slain in the battle of Wakefield on 30 December 1460.

The Waurin Theory

Waurin’s Chronicle is the earliest to elaborate on the possibility of the Duke of York and Earl of Salisbury having been deceived.

“He [Andrew Trollope] found a way throughout the night to dress his men in coats bearing the badge of the Ragged Staff, which belonged to the Earl of Warwick (age 33) and were recognized as such, thus they appeared to be four hundred of the bravest men, well-instructed in what they had to do secretly. Their plan was to go straight to the town and tell the Duke of York that they came from the county of Lancashire to aid him”.

Waurin then says that Trollope sent word to the Duke of York, without revealing his own identity, that this group of 400 men were supporters of the Yorkist cause. The Duke was ‘overjoyed‘ by this and allowed Trollope’s band to approach. This was then used by the Lancasatrians to ensnare the Yorkists in a trap. As Trollope’s men arrived they revealed their true colours, attacking the Duke of York’s men, at this signal, the Duke of Somerset launched another assault. Thus the Yorkists were taken by surprise and hit by two attacks at the same time.

The suggestion here then is that the Lancastrians utiised a trick designed by Andrew Trollope to lure the Duke of York from the relative safety of Sandal Castle. It was timed so that Trollope’s detachment arrived whilst many of the Yorkist force was away from the castle foraging. So, even if the Yorkists relaised a trap was being set, they would not have their full force available.

Waurin is the only contemporary or near contemporary account to put this version of events forward. It is unclear where he received this account from and as he was a Burgundian Chronicler, it is also the case that he may have heard accounts designed to blur the reality of what had happened, or to overstate the level of ingenuity of the Lancastrians. Note the differences Waurin’s account has with those in An English Chronicle [above] on the possible use of deceit by the Lancastrian force at Wakefield.

Croyland Chronicle

After the conclusion of these matters, towards the close of the same year, it being the week of our Lord’s Nativity, the said Richard, duke of York, incautiously engaged the northern army at Wakefield which was fighting for the king, without waiting to bring up the whole of his own forces; upon which, a charge was made by the enemy on his men, and he was without any mercy or respect relentlessly slain. There fell with him at the same place many noble and illustrious men; and countless numbers of the common people, who had followed him, met their deaths there, and all to no purpose.

The duke being thus removed from this world, the northmen, being. sensible that the only impediment was now withdrawn, and that there was no one now who would care to resist their inroads, again swept onwards like a whirlwind from the north, and in the impulse of their fury attempted to overrun the whole of England.

Ingulph’s chronicle of the abbey of Croyland with the continuations by Peter of Blois and anonymous writers.

Comment

The account in the Croyland Chronicle was penned by the first continuor in the 1470’s. It notes that the Duke of York engaged the enemy ‘incautiously’ and without having waited for all of his forces to be present. The enemy, the Lancastrians, charged the Duke’s men and he along with ‘many noble and illustrious men and countless numbers of the common people‘ were slain. The aftermath of the battle of Wakefield was the Lancastrian advance on London, described as being ‘like a whirlwind from the north‘.

The new chronicles of England and France, in two parts : by Robert Fabyan

Therefore it was agreed by the lordys tha at London present, that the duke of Yorke shulde take r hym the erle of Salesbury, with a certeyn people, to fetche in the sayde quene and lordys abouesayde ; the whiche duke & erle departyd from Lodon w theyr people vpon the seconde daye of Deceber, so sped them northwarde. Wherof the quene with hyr lordys beynge ware, & hauynge with them a great strength of northerne1, mette w the duke of Yorke vpon the. xxx. daye of December nere a towne in the northe callyd Wakefelde, were atwene them was foughten a sharpe fyght, in whiche the duke of Yorke was slayen, w his sone callyd erle of Rutlande, & syr Thomas Neuyll, sone vnto the erle of Salesbury, with many other, & y erle of Salesbury was there taken on lyne with dyuerse other. Whan the lordys vpon the quenys “partye hadde gotten this vyctory, anon they sent theyr prysoners vnto Pountfreyt, the whiche were after there behdyd, that is to meane, the erle of Salesbury, a man of Lodon, namyd lohn Harowe, ard an other capytayne namyd Hanson, whose heddys were sent vnto Yorke, and there set vpo the gatys.

The new chronicles of England and France, in two parts : by Robert Fabyan. Edited by Sir Henry Ellis and published in 1811. Pages 637-638.

Comment

Fabyan states that the Duke of York and Earl of Salisbury marched from London on 2 December and fought at Wakefield on 30 December 1460. The battle itself is noted only as being ‘a sharpe fyght, in whiche the duke of Yorke was slayen, w his sone callyd erle of Rutlande, & syr Thomas Neuyll, sone vnto the erle of Salesbury, with many other‘. The Earl of Salisbury ‘with dyuerse other‘ was captured, taken to Pontefract and beheaded. The heads of those executed were sent to York and displayed upon the gates of the city.

A Chronicle of London

and the duke of Yorke came out of Irland, and to Westm the xth day of Octobre, and there made clayme to the crowne ; aggrement was made bitwene the kyng and him, and he was made protectour, his title allowid to be kyng after the kyngs deceas ; and ayenst Cristmas went northward and was slayne at Wakefelde with other

A Chronicle of London, from 1089 to 1483; written in the fifteenth century. Page 141.

Comment

An incredibly brief summary of the events of late 1460. It simply notes the return of the Duke of York in October 1460, the Act of Accord, and that the Duke was then slain at Wakefield with others.

Gregory’s Chronicle

And the ix day of December nexte folowyng the Duke of Yorke, the Erle of Salysbury, the Erle Rotlond (he was the Duke of Yorke ys secunde sone, one the beste dysposyd lorde in thys londe), and Syr Thomas Haryngdon, whythe many mo knyghtys and quyers and grete pepylle with hem, and soo departyd owte of London towarde Yorke, &c.

Ande the same yere, the xxx day of December, the Duke of Exceter, the Duke of Somersett, the Erle of Northehomberlond, the Lorde Roos, the Lorde Nevyle, the Lorde Clyfforde, with many mo lordys, knyghtys, squyers, and gentyllys, and the commyns of the Quenys party, met with the Duke of Yorke at Wakefylde, and there they made a grete jorney a-pon the Lorde and Duke of Yorke, and toke hym and the Erle of Saulysbury, the Erle of Rutlond, and the Lorde Haryngdon, and Syr Thomas Nevyle, and Syr Thomas Haryngdon, and many mo knyghtys were take a slayne by syde alle the comyns. But thys good Duke of Yorke with hys lordys a-fore sayde loste hyr heddys; God have marcy on there soulys, for they loste in that jorneys the nombyr of xxv C men. And in the Quenys party were slay but ii c men, &c.

‘Gregory’s Chronicle: 1451-1460‘, in The Historical Collections of a Citizen of London in the Fifteenth Century, ed. James Gairdner( London, 1876), British History Online

Comment

Gregory’s Chronicle states that the Yorkist lords departed London for the north on 9 December 1460. On 30 December a battle was fought at Wakefield. On the Lancastrian side were the Dukes of Exeter and Somerset, Earl of Northumberland, Lords Roos,, Clifford and Neville and many others. The fighting itself at Wakefield is barely noted, simply as the Lancastrians ‘made a grete jorney a-pon‘ the Yorkists. This chronicle confrms that the Duke of York, Earls of Salisbury and Rutland, Lord Harington and Sirs Thomas Neville and Thomas Harington were killed, along with many others. The Duke and his lords ‘loste hyr heddys’. Yorkist losses are said to have totalled 1500 men, and the Lancastrians 200 losses.

A Short English Chronicle

This yere the Duke of Yorke, the Erle of Rotland, and the Erle of Salysbury, with myche oþper pepull, rode northewarde to kepe her Crystmas. And there lay in her wey at Wakefelde to stope hem the Duke of Excester, the Duke of Somerset, the Erle of Wildeshire, the Lord Roose, with other lordys and myche other pepull, and os fell upon hem and slowe the Duke of Yorke, the Erle of Rotlonde, the Erle of Salysbury, and Harowe and Pekerynge, mercers, and myche other pepull; and this was done on newe yeris evyn. And a none after the quene reysed all the northe and all oþper pepull by the wey, compelled, dispoyled, rubbed, and distroyed all maner of cattell, vetayll, and riches to Seint Albones.

‘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

Comments

A Short English Chronicle is typically attributed to John Stow. In it he notes the Duke of York, Earls or Rutland and Salisbury and many others marching north. At Wakefield the Dukes of Exeter and Somerset, accompanied by the Earl of Wiltshire, Lord Roos and others met them in battle. The Chronicle notes that the Duke of York and Earls of Rutland and Salisbury, with others, were killed. It provides no description of how the battle was fought, nor or precisely how any of the nobles were killed.

Brief Notes (Stowe)

Item, eodem anno, die Martis post festum Natalis Domini venit dominus de Somershet filius ” ad dominum ducem Ebora- censem existentem apud castrum de Powmfr’ prope Sothwerke,” capta prius et concessa treuga usque feriam quintam post festum Epiphanie proximo sequentem; sed predictus dominus de Somershet, fracto federe pacis, repente et fraudulenter cum exercitu ibi prope in silva vel nemore abscondito, irruit super prefatum dominum ducem Eboracensem, et eum interfecerunt, et comitem de Salysbery et comitem de Roteland, capitaneum de Kent, et quendam fratrem ductorem belli, et alii {sic) quasi ix. milia hominum ex utraque parte, in loco vocato Wakfeld grene, et Sandynforde, et capita pra^dictorum dominorum suspensa erant super muros castri de Pownfray, et caput ducis erat coronatum cum [Added in another hand : etc., Ut
dicitur]

BRIEF NOTES. in Three Fifteenth-Century Chronicles with Historical Memoranda by John Stowe, ed. James Gairdner( London, 1880 Lollard Society [Page 154]

Comments

Brief Notes states that the battle was fought nearr Pontefract which is unusually places as being near Southwark. In the commentary it says that a truce had been agreed between the two sides which was to last until the 5th day after Epiphany [11 January 1461]. The Duke of Somerset broke the truce suddenly and fraudulently, attacking the Yorkists with a force that had been hidden in woods. It notes the deaths of the Duke of York and Earls of Rutland and Salisbury. Further, it adds that their heads were then displayed on the walls at York, with the Duke’s head wearing a false crown. Brief Notes says that each side had 9000 men involved at the Battle of Wakefield.

Early Tudor Chronicles on the Battle of Wakefield

Three Books of Polydor Virgil

After these thinges the duke of Yorke, knowing for certaine that the queene would not be content with the decree of this parliament, made speede into Yorkshire to pursue her, and pitched his campe at a towne distant from Yorke upon the west about fifteen The batteli miles, of somc strength, by reason of a castle adjoyning, which towne is called Wakefielde ; and there he consulted with his frendes as touching thassayling of his enemyes. Some there were who thought it not meete to joyne battaile before his sonne Edward should comc with ncwc forccs ; but the duke, trusting to his owne knowledge in warfare, and the valiancie of his souldiers yssued out of his campc against his enemyes in good array. Likewise the queene, who was resolved in minde to demaunde her husbande by dint of swoorde, and for that cause had alreadie assembled a puissant armie, when she understoode that thenemie approached, forthwith she made head against them and gave them the charge. At the beginning the fight was mightily mainteyned mutually, while that a great part of them who were in the front of the battaile being killed, the duke of Yorkes small number was environed of the multitude. Then the queene encouraging her men, vanquished the residue of her enemyes in the moment of an houre. There fell in that conflict Richard duke of Yorke, the head of that faction, with Edmund his sonne, earle of Rutlande, Thomas Nevill, David Hall, John Parre, Walter Limbrike, John Gedding, Eustace Wentworth, Guy Harrinton, of thorder of knightes, and of courageous captaines James Fitzjames, Raphe Hastinges, JohnBaunne, and Roland Digbie. Richard earle of Salsbury, another head of that faction, was amongst others taken, who were beheaded soone takene and after, and their heades, put upon stakes, were carried to Yorke for a spectacle to the people, and a terror to the rest of thadversaryes.

Three Books of Polydor Virgil’s English Histories, comprising the reigns of Henry VI, Edward IV and Richard III. Pages 108-109.

Comment

Polydor Virgil wrote in the reign of King Henry VII. His account notes that the Duke of York had been advised not to take to the field against the Queen’s army but that he had trusted his military expertise and made the decision not to wait fo his son, Edward Earl of March the future King Edward IV, to arrive with more men. His account suggests, incorrectly, that Queen Margaret was at the battle. Her army charged the Duke of York. Virgil suggests that the battle was, at first, evenly matched. Those nobles at the front of the battle were killed fighting. These are all Yorkist lords, named as the Duke of York, the Earl of Rutland and others, listed above in the extract. This account notes that the Earl of Salisbury was captured and beheaded soon afterwards. The heads of the Yorkist leaders were taken to York ‘a spectacle to the people, and a terror to the rest of thadversaryes‘.

Edward Hall

The Protector li∣yng in Londō, hauyng perfite knowledge of all these doynges: assigned the Duke of Norffolke and the Erle of Warwicke, his trustie frendes, to be about the Kyng, and he with therles of Salisbury, and Rutlande: with a conuenient company, departed out of London, the second daie of Decembre Northward, and sent to the Erle of Marche his eldest sonne to folowe hym with all his power. The Duke by small iorneis, came to his Castle of Sandall, beside Wakefelde, on Christmas eue, and there began to assemble his tenauntes and frendes. The quene beyng thereof asserteined, determined to couple with hym while his power was small and his ayde not come: And so hauyng in her company, the Prince her sonne, the Dukes of Excester and Somerset, the Erle of Deuonshire, the Lorde Clifford, the Lorde Rosse, and in effecte all the Lordes of the Northe parte, with eightene thousande men, or as some write, twentie and twoo thousande, marched from Yorke to Wakefelde, and bad base to the Duke, euen before his Castle he hauyng with hym not fully fiue thousande persones, determined intontinent to issue out, and to fight with his enemies, and all though sir Dauy Halle, his old sernaunt and chief counsailer, auised hym to kepe his Castle, and to defende thesame with his smal numbre, till his sonne the Erle of Marche wer come with his power of Marchemen and Welshe souldiours, yet he would not be counsailed, but in a great fury saied, a Dauy, Dauy, hast thou loued me so long, and now wouldest haue me dishonored? Thou neuer sawest me kepe fortres when I was Regent in Normandy, when the Dolphyn hymself, with his puissaunce came to besiege me, but like a man, and not like a birde included in a cage, I issued and fought with myne enemies, to their losse euer (I thanke God) and to my honor: If I haue not kepte my self within walles, for feare of a great and strong prince, nor hid my face from any man liuyng, wouldest thou that I for dread of a scoldyng woman, whose weapon is onely her toungue, and her nayles, should in∣carcerate my self, and shut my gates? then al men might of me woundre and all creatures maie of me report dishonor, that a woman hath made me a dastarst, whō no man euer to this daie could yet proue a coward: And surely my mind is, rather to die with honor, then to liue with shame for of honor commeth fame, and of dishonor riseth infamy. Their great numbre shall not appall my spirites, but incorage theim, for surely I thinke that I haue there, as many frendes as enemies, whiche at ioy∣nyng, wil either flie or take my part: therfore auaunce my banner, in the name of God and sainct George, for surely I wil fight with thē, though I should fight a lone. Therle of Salisbury and other his frendes, seing his corage, resolued thēselfes to his opinion, & ordered their men, and set them furth in Warlike fashion, for their moste aduauntage. The Duke of Somerset and other of the quenes part, knowyng perfitly, that if the Duke gat the victory, their daies wer minished, and their liuynges left bare, like men quickened and exasperate, for the safegard of their lifes, and defence of their goodes, determined to abide the chaunce, and to espie their moste aduauntage, and so appointed the lorde Clifford, to lye in the one stale, and the Erle of Wilshire in the other, and thei theimsel∣fes kept the mayne battaill. The duke of Yorke with his people, discen∣ded doune the hill in good ordre and array, & was suffered to passe fore∣ward, toward the mayne battaill: but when he was in the plain ground betwene his Castle and the toune of Wakefelde,he was enuironed on euery side, like a fishe in a net, or a deere in a buckestall: so that he man∣fully fightyng, was within halfe an houre slain and ded, and his whole army discomfited, & with hym died of his trusty frēdes, his two bastard vncles, sir Ihon, & sir Hugh Mortimers, sir Dauy Halle his chief coū∣sailor, sir Hugh Hastynges, sir Thomas Neuel, William and Thomas Aparre, bothe brethren, and twoo thousande and eight hundred other, wherof many wer young gentlemen, and heires of greate parentage in the Southe parte, whose linages reuenged their deathes, within foure Monethes, next and immediatly insuyng. In this conflicte was woun∣ded and taken prisoner, Richarde Erle of Salisbury, sir Richard Lym∣brike, Raufe Stanley, Ihō Harow, Capitain Hauson, and diuerse other While this battaill was in fightyng, a prieste called sir Robert Aspall, chappelain and schole master to the yong erle of Rutland ii. sonne to the aboue named duke of Yorke, scace of y age of .xii. yeres, a faire gētlemā, and a maydenlike person, perceiuyng y^• flight was more sauegard, then ariyng, bothe for him and his master, secretly conueyed therle out of y^• felde, by the lord Cliffordes bande, toward the towne, but or he coulde enter into a house, he was by the sayd lord Clifford espied, folowed, and taken, and by reson of his apparell, demaunded what he was. The yōg gentelman dismaied, had not a word to speake, but kneled on his knees imploryng mercy, and desiryng grace, both with holding vp his hādes and making dolorous countinance, for his speache was gone for feare. Saue him sayde his Chappelein, for he is a princes sonne, and perad∣uenture may do you good hereafter. With that word, the lord Clifford marked him and sayde: by Gods blode, thy father slew myne, and so wil I do the and all thy kyn, and with that woord, stacke the erle to y^e hart with his dagger, and bad his Chappeleyn bere the erles mother & bro∣ther worde what he had done, and sayde. In this acte the lord Clyfford was accompted a tyraunt, and no gentelman, for the propertie of the Lyon, which is a furious and an vnreasonable beaste, is to be cruell to them that withstande hym, and gentle to such as prostrate or humiliate them selfes before him. Yet this cruell Clifforde, & deadly bloudsupper not content with this homicyde, or chyldkillyng, came to y^• place wher the dead corps of the duke of Yorke lay, and caused his head to be stry∣ken of, and set on it a croune of paper, & so fixed it on a pole, & presented it to the Quene, not lyeng farre farre from the felde, in great despite, and much derision, saiyng: Madame, your warre is done, here is your kin∣ges raunsome, at which present, was much ioy, and great reioysing, but many laughed then, that sore lamented after, as the Quene her self, and her sonne: And many were glad then of other mēs deaths, not knowing that their awne were nere at hande, as the lord Clifford, and other. But surely, mans nature is so frayle, that thinges passed be sone for∣gotten, and mischiefes to come, be not forsene. After this victory by y^e Quene and her parte obteyned, she caused the erle of Salisbury, with all the other prisoners, to bee sente to Pomfret, and there to bee behedded, and sent all their heddes, and the dukes head of Yorke, to be set vpon poles, ouer the gate of the citie of Yorke, in despite of them, and their lignage: whose chyldren shortly reuenged their fathers querell, both to the Quenes extreme perdicion, and the vtter vndoynge of her husband and sonne. This ende had the valeant lord, Rychard Plantagenet, duke of Yorke, & this fyne ensued of his to much hardines

Comment

Edward Hall’s account was written in the 16th century. It is by far the most detailed account of the battle. His sources of information are not fully known. He lists many who fought on each side in the battle, largely confirming names given in previous accounts but also adding several. His account states that the Duke of York perished in the fighting on plain ground between his castle, Sandal, and Wakefield. He died ‘manfully fighting’ after leading his men onto the plain. Hall’s account states that 2800 died on the Yorkist side, plus a number of named nobles and knights. The Earl of Salisbury was captured along with other men and later beheaded at Pontefract. The heads of the deceased Yorkist leaders were set upon poles over the gates of the City of York.

Edward Hall, writing in Henry VII’s reign, had his work published posthumously in 1548. He had access to many people who may have heard accounts, from both sides. This may have included accounts relating to his ancestor, Sir David Hall, who fought and died in the Battle of Wakefield. However, Hall would not conceivably have had access to anybody who had fought in or witnessed the battle. His account may have been influenced by rapproachment between the various factions.

The Earl of Rutland’s demise?

Hall was the first commentor to suggest that the Earl of Rutland was slain without mercy by Lord Clifford. The account suggests that the Earl of Rutland was a 12 year old boy. He was not, he was 17. Further, it says that he was pleading for mercy, on his knees, with his chapelain also pleading on his behalf. After portraying the Earl as being a defenceless boy, Hall goes on to state that Lord Clifford stated ‘by Gods blode, thy father slew myne, and so wil I do the and all thy kyn‘. After this, he is said to have ‘stacke the erle to y^e hart with his dagger’, ie stabbed him in the heart. The ‘cruel’ Lord Clifford was then described as a childkiller before Hall states that it was Lord Clifford who was responsible for striking the head off the corpse of the Duke of York, placing a paper crown upon it, and presenting it Queen Margaret.

No earlier account suggested that the Earl of Rutland had been killed in this manner. Nor do previous accounts suggest that Edmund, Earl of Rutland was a child. At 17 he was of an age at which military service was perfectly acceptable. However, this version of events has to a degree been popularised despite Hall having made several factual errors: ie the Earl’s age and the Queen’s presence at Wakefield.

 

Links about the Battle of Wakefield

Dockray, Keith. The Battle of Wakefield and the Wars of the Roses. 21 page article on the evidence. Via the Richard III Society.

Peterson, Noah Gene. THE RHETORIC OF YORKIST POLITICAL WRITING DURING THE WARS OF THE ROSES. PhD Thesis.

Featured Image

Plate 2.11 of Vetusta Monumenta depicts Sandal Castle as it appeared in the sixteenth century. Engraving by George Vertue after a drawing originally produced for a survey of the properties of the Duchy of Lancaster conducted by the Chancellor of the Duchy, Ambrose Cave, in 1561. Via Scalar.