Battle of Edgecote Moor

Battle of Edgecote Moor is in 1469-1479 Wars of the Roses: Warwick Rebels.

Warkworth's Chronicle 1469. 26 Jul 1469And Robyne of Riddesdale came uppone the Walschemenne in a playne byyonde Banbury toune1, and ther thei faughthe strongly togedere, and ther was the Erle of Penbroke takene, and his brother withe hym, and two Ml, Walschmenne slayne, and so the Walschmen loste the felde the xxvj, day of Juylle the same yere. The names of the gentylmen that were slayne2 of Walsche party in the same batelle, -Sere Rogere Vaghan, knyght, Herry Organ sonne and heyre3, Thomas Aprossehere Vaghan, squyere, William Harbarde of Breknoke, squyere, Watkyn Thomas, sonne to Rogere Vaghan, Yvan ap Jhon of Merwyke, Davy ap Jankyn of Lymmeryke, Harry Done ap Pikton, John Done of Kydwelle, Ryse ap Morgon ap Ulston, Jankyn Perot ap Scottesburght, John Eneand of Penbrokeschire, and Jhon Contour of Herforde, And of the north party ther was slayne Sere Herry Latymere (age 32)4, sonne and heyre to the Lorde Latymere, Sere Rogere Pygot, knyghte, James Conya[r]s (age 36)5, sonne and heyre to Sere Jhon Conya[r]s (age 58), knyght, Olivere Audley6, squyere, Thomas Wakes sonne and heyre, William Mallerye, squyere, and many othere comyners, &c.

Note 1. A playne byyonde Banbury toune. Danesmoor is in the parish of Edgecote, near three hills of unequal size, and in their relative position approaching a triangle;" the spot now called Danesmoor is a small plantation of a few acres, but the name at this period had doubtless a much more extended application." - Baker's Northamptonshire, I. 500. This battle is commemorated in "Marwnad Thomas ab Rhosser, arglwydd Herast" of Lewis Glyn Cothi. Three things ought to be remarked, viz. that Herbert, who was beheaded, only made a codicil to his will, and not a new one, as commonly stated; that the battle took place on the Monday:

"Dyw Llun y bu waed a lladd:"

and that Herbert and his fellow captives were executed on the Wednesday-

"Marchog a las ddyw Merclur,"

as Gutto Glyn remarks in his poetical language. Cf. MS. Cotton. Otho, B. XIV. fol. 221, vo, where an erroneous date is given to the battle, - in quo cœsi multa milia [in which many thousands were slain]. In MS. Tann. Bodl. 2, fol. 104, vo. we find the field called "prelium ad Hegecote, seu Danysmore, prope Banburiam, dictam Banbery-Feld, seu Hegecote-Fyld [The battle at Hedgecote, or Danesmoor, near Banbury, called Banbury Field, or Hedgecote Field]." Hearne's fragment informs us that the land on which the battle was fought belonged to a person named Clarell. In the valuable collection of manuscripts at the seat of W. Ormsby Gore, Esq. are some verses in the Welsh language on this battle; see Sir Thomas Phillipps's Catalogue of these Manuscripts, p. 1.

Note 2. The names of the gentylmen that were slayne. See another and more extensive list in Itinerarium Willelmi de Worcestre, p. 120.1, although the major part of this catalogue differs from his. Worcester says that at least 168 of the nobility and gentry of Wales fell in this battle, and 1500 men on the English side.

Note 3. Herry Organ. sonne and heyre, i.e. the son and heir of Henry Organ.

Note 4. Sere Herry Latymere. Rather Sir Henry Neville (age 32), paternally a cousin-german of the great Earl of Warwick, and whose mother was Lady Elizabeth Beauchamp (age 52), half-sister to the heiress Anne (age 43), whom the Earl of Warwick married. Leland, in describing the Beauchamp Chapel at Warwick, says: "There lyeth buried (as some saye) in the west end of our Lady Chapell one of the Nevilles L. Latemer, slayne at Edgcote field by Banbury (as some suppose), but there is neither tombe nor scripture seene. This was Sir Hen. Neville, sonne and heire of George Neville, Lord Latemer. But he was never Lord, for he dyed before his father. This Henry Neville was grandfather to the Lord Latemer now livinge." The fact of Sir Henry Neville, and of his brother-in-law John Dudley (age 42), also slain in the same battle, having been buried in the Beauchamp Chapel, is proved by the will of his mother Lady Latimer, who on the field of Edgcote lost her only son and the husband of her daughter. Before the close of the same year, (on the 30th Dec.) her husband died insane, Nichols's Beauchamp Monuments, 4to. p. 40. - J.G.N.

Note 5. Sir John Conyers of Hornby (age 36), com. Ebor. Kt.

Note 6. Olivere Audley, squyere. For Audley read Dudley. He was a son of John Lord Dudley, K.G. and brother of that John who was grandfather of John Duke of Northumberland. Beauchamp Monuments, p. 39.-J.G.N.

On 26 Jul 1469 the Yorkist army suffered a defeat against a Lancastrian army led by Robin of Redesdale at the Battle of Edgecote Moor. The Yorkist army was commanded by John Courtenay 15th Earl Devon (age 34) and William "Black William" Herbert 1st Earl Pembroke (age 46).

Thomas Vaughan (age 69), John Wogan, Henry Neville (age 32), John Conyers (age 36), and brothers John Dudley (age 42) and Oliver Dudley were killed.

Humphrey Stafford 1st Earl Devon (age 30), John Conyers (age 58) and William Parr (age 35) fought.

Richard Woodville 1st Earl Rivers (age 64) and John Woodville (age 24) were captured.

After 26 Jul 1469. St Mary's Church, Kington [Map]. Thomas Vaughan killed 26 Jul 1469 at the Battle of Edgecote Moor and wife Elena "Terrible" Gethen so called because she murdered her cousin who had murdered her brother. Alabaster. Early Plate Bascinet Period. Tassets. Believed to have been moved from the Chancel since it is decorated on all sides. Possible Harpur and Moorecock of Burton on Trent - see the folds at the base of her dress and the possible little dog between them. Chest with Angels with Rounded Wings holding Shields.

On 27 Jul 1469 William "Black William" Herbert 1st Earl Pembroke (age 46) was executed following his capture at the Battle of Edgecote Moor the day before. His son William Herbert 2nd Earl Pembroke 1st Earl Huntingdon (age 18) succeeded 2nd Earl Pembroke, 2nd Baron Herbert of Raglan, 2nd Baron Herbert of Powis. Mary Woodville Countess Pembroke and Huntingdon (age 13) by marriage Countess Pembroke.

His brother Richard Herbert (age 46) was also beheaded on the same day.

On 17 Aug 1469 Humphrey Stafford 1st Earl Devon (age 30), having escaped after the Battle of Edgecote Moor, was captured and executed by a mob at Bridgwater, Somerset [Map]. He was buried at Glastonbury Abbey [Map]. Earl Devon extinct.