In 1471 Anne Beauchamp Countess of Warwick felt the need to take refuge in Beaulieu Abbey in the New Forest. Her plans to meet her daughter and the Lancastrian royal family had been thrown into disarray by news of her husband’s death in the Battle of Barnet. Anne was to spend years in this form of exile as the aftermath of her husbands treason, and claims to his estate, were debated and argued over.

1470-71

In spring 1471 the parties who had entered into the Angers Agreement were set to join forces and ensure that the Readepetion of King Henry VI was secured. Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick and George, Duke of Clarence had returned to England in September 1470. It had resulted in King Edward IV fleeing and seeking refuge in the Low Countries, where his sister was consort to the Duke of Burgundy.

Plans to meet at Weymouth

With this in mind, Anne Beauchamp Countess of Warwick made plans to meet her daughter, Anne Neville, when she landed on the south coast with her new husband, Edward of Westminster, Prince of Wales, and Queen Margaret. The royal party was due to land in the south west sometime in April or May.

Landing at Portsmouth and Southampton

With this in mind, the Countess made plans to sail to greet her daughter and the rest of the royal party. She had a ship for her use and landed at Portsmouth, then made the shourt voyage to Southampton. From here she intended to sail further west, to Weymouth, where the Queen had planned land and meet with her most senior supporters.

The Countysse of Warwyke had a shippe of avaunctage, and, therefore, landyd afore the othar, at Portsmowthe, and, from thens, she went to Sowthampton entendynge to have gon towards the Qwene, whiche was landyd at Wemowthe

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Return of Edward IV

In the meantime, King Edward IV had returned to England. After landing on the Yorkshire coast, his party had made their way across Yorkshire to York, and then south to London. They had been shadowed by the Marquess of Montagu but, perhaps critically to their cause, had reintegrated George Duke of Clarence into the Yorkist fold. And so as the Countess of Warwick sailed to the Solent on her way to meet her daughter, her husband was making final preparations for a clash with the king.

Death of the Earl of Warwick in the Battle of Barnet

At Southampton, the Countess of Warwick discovered that her husband had been slain in the Battle of Barnet and that Edward IV’s force had been victorious in the battle.

But, beinge there, she had certayne knowledge that the Kynge had wonne the fielde upon her howsband, at Barnet, and there slayne hym

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Countess of Warwick seeks refuge at Beaulieu Abbey

As a result, the Countess of Warwick altered her plans. Uncertain of other events and not knowing whether it was safe to travel to Weymouth, she decided to take refuge in the Abbey at Beaulieu. Beaulieu Abbey was a substantial monastery well equipped to cater for notable guests. Located within the New Forest, it was close enough to Southampton for the Countess to feel secure in making her way there but remote enough for her to feel safe should there be any violence in and around major towns and ports such as Southampton.

wherefore she would no farthar goo towards the Qwene, but, secretly, gat ovar Hampton-watar into the new forreste, where she tooke hir to the fraunches of an abbey called Beawlew, whiche, as it is sayde, is ample, and as large as the franchesse of Westmynstar, or of Seint Martins at London.

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Aftermath

The Countess of Warwick was to remain in Beaulieu Abbey for some time. The Queen, Prince of Wales, and her daughter, Anne Neville did land safely at Weymouth. However their force was engaged and defeated by the Yorkists at Tewkesbury as it made its way to meet up with men arrayed by Jasper Tudor. As a consequence, the Countess was left virtually stranded at Beaulieu. As the wife of a traitor she had an uncertain future. And it transpired to be an awkward and drawn out affari settling matters relating to her deceased husbands estates.

Source of Information

The Countysse of Warwyke had a shippe of avaunctage, and, therefore, landyd afore the othar, at Portsmowthe, and, from thens, she went to Sowthampton, entendynge to have gon towards the Qwene, whiche was landyd at Wemowthe. But, beinge there, she had certayne knowledge that the Kynge had wonne the fielde upon her howsband, at Barnet, and there slayne hym, wherefore she would no farthar goo towards the Qwene, but, secretly, gat ovar Hampton-watar into the new forreste, where she tooke hir to the fraunches of an abbey called Beawlew, whiche, as it is sayde, is ample, and as large as the franchesse of Westmynstar, or of Seint Martins at London.

Bruce, John [ed] Historie of the arrivall of Edward IV. in England and the finall recouerye of his kingdomes from Henry VI. A.D. M.CCCC.LXXI. London, Camden Society, 1838.