Chronicle of Gregory 1461
Chronicle of Gregory 1461 is in Chronicle of Gregory 1461-1469.
1461 Battle of Mortimer's Cross
1461 Second Battle of St Albans
02 Feb 1461. Alle so Edwarde Erle of Marche (age 18), the Duke of Yorke is son and heyre, hadde a gre jornaye at Mortymer is Crosse in Walys the secunde day of Februar nexte soo folowynge, and there he put to flyght the Erle of Penbroke (age 29), the Erle of Wylteschyre (age 40). And there he toke and slowe of knyghtys and squyers, and of the,a to the nomber of iij M1 [3000] ., &c.
Ande in that jornay was Owyn Tetyr (age 61) take and brought unto Herforde este, an he was be heddyde at the market place [Map], and his hedde sette a-pone the hygheyste gryce of the market crosse, and a madde woman kembyd his here and wysche a way the blode of his face, and she gate candellys and sette a-boute him brennynge, moo then a C [Note. One hundred]. Thys Owyne Tytyr (age 61) was fadyr unto the Erle of Penbroke (age 29), and hadde weddyd Quene Kateryn, Kyng Harry the VI (age 39). is modyr, wenyng and trustyng all eway that he shulde not be hedyd tylle he sawe the axe and the blocke, and whenn that he was in his dobelet he trustyd on pardon and grace tylle the coler of his redde vellvet dobbelet was ryppyd of. Then he said, "That hede shalle ly on the stocke that was wonte to ly on Quene Kateryns lappe," and put his herte and mynde holy unto God, and full mekely toke his dethe.
Alle soo the same day that the Erle of Marche (age 18) shulde take his jornaye towarde Mortymer is Crosse fro Herforde este [Map]b, he mousterd his many without the towne wallys in a mersche that is callyd Wyg mersche. And ovyr him men sayc iij [3] sonnys schynyng.[And over him men say three suns shining. This a reference to the Parhelion which occurred on the morning of the Battle of Mortimer's Cross.]
Note a. So in MS.
Note b. Haverfordwest. [Note. While the note suggests Haverfordwest we believe this is a reference to Hereford?]
Note c. saw.
Ande the xvij day nexte folowynge Kyng Harry (age 39) roode to Synt Albonys [Map], and the Duke of Northefolke (age 45) with hym, the Erle of Warwycke (age 32), the Erle of Arundelle (age 43), the Lord Bouser (age 30), the Lord Bonvyle (age 68), with many grete lordys, knyghtys, and squyers, and commyns of an C [Hundred] Ml men. And there they hadde a grete batayle whythe the Quene (age 30), for she come ever on fro the jornaye of Wackefylde tylle sche come to Synt Albonys, with alle the lordys a fore said; and her mayny and every lord is men bare her lordys leverey, that every man mighte knowe his owne feleschippe by his lyverey. And be-syde alle that, every man and lord bare the Pryncys (age 7) levery, that was a bende of crymesyn and blacke with esteryge is fetherys. The substance that gate that fylde were howseholde men and feyd men. I wene there were not v Mlmen that fought in the Quenys party, for [t]emoste parte of Northeryn men fledde a-way, and some were take and spoylyd out of her harnysse by the way as they fledde. And some of them robbyd evyr as they yede, a petyffulle thynge hit is to hyre hit. But the day before that batayle there was a jornay at Dunstapyl [Map]; but the kyngys mayny lackyd good gydyng, for some were but newe men of warre, for the chevyste captayne was a boucher of the same towne; and there were the kyngys mayny ovyr throughe only by the Northeryn men. And son aftyr the bocher, for schame of his sympylle gydynge and loste of the men, the nombyr of viij C, for very sorowe as it is said, hynge him selfe; and some men said that it was for loste of his goode, but dede he ys-God knowythe the trought.
And in the myddys of the batayle King Harry (age 39) wente unto his Quene (age 30) and for-soke alle his lordys, ande truste better to her party thenne unto his owne lordys. And then thoroughe grete labur the Duke of Northefolke (age 45) and the Erle of Warwycke (age 32) a schapyd a-waye; the Byschoppe of Exceter (age 29), that tyme Chaunceler of Ingelond, and brother unto the Erle of Warwycke, the Lord Bouser (age 30), whythe many othyr knyghtys, squyers, and comyns fledde, and many men slayne in bothe partys. And the Lord Bonevyle (age 68) was be-heddyd, the common sayynge that his longage causyd him to dye. The Prynce (age 7) was jugge is owne sylfe. Ande ther was slayne that manly knyght Syr Thomas Keryel (age 65). The nomber of ded men was xxxv C an moo [t]at were slayne. The lordys in Kyng Harrys (age 39) party pycchyd a fylde and fortefyd it full stronge, and lyke unwyse men brake her raye and fyld and toke a-nothyr, and or that they were alle sette a buskyd to batayle, the Quenys parte was at hond whythe them in towne of Synt Albonys [Map], and then alle [t]yng was to seke and out of ordyr, for her pryckyers come not home to bryng no tydyng howe ny that the Quene (age 30) was, save one come and sayd that she was ix myle of. And ar the goners and borgeners couthe levylle her gonnys they were besely fyghtyng, and many a gynne of wer was ordaynyd that stode in lytylle a-vayle or nought; for the burgeners hadde suche instrumentys that wolde schute bothe pellettys of ledde and arowys of an elle of lenghthe with vj fetherys, iij in myddys and iij at the othyr ende, with a grete mighty hedde of yryn at the othyr ende, and wylde fyre with alle. Alle thes iij thyngys they might schute welle and esely at onys, but in tyme of nede they couthe not schut not one of thes, but the fyre turnyd backe a-pon them that wold schute this iij thyngys. Also they hadde nettys made of grete cordys of iiij fethem of lengthe and of iiij fote brode, lyke unto an haye, and at every ij knott there was an nayl stondyng uppe ryght, that there couthe no man passe ovyr it by lyckely hode but he shulde be hurte. Alle so they hadde pavysse bore as a dore i-made with a staffe foldynge uppe and downe to sette the pavys where the lykyd, and loupys with schyttyng wyndowys to schute out at, they stondyng by hynde [t]e pavys, and the pavys as full of iijdnayle aftyr ordyr as they might stonde. And whenn her schotte was spende and done they caste the pavysse by-fore hem, then there might noo man come unto them ovyr the pavysse for the naylys that stode up-ryghte, but yf he wolde myschyffe him sylfe. Alle so they hadde a thynge made lyke unto a latysse full of naylys as the net was, but hit wolde be mevyd as a man wolde; a man might bryse it to-gedyr that the lengythe wolde be more then ij yerdys long, and yf he wolde he might hale it a brode, then hit wolde be iiij square. And that servyd to lye at gappys there at horsemen wolde entyr yn, and many a caltrappe. And as the substaunce of men of worschyppe that wylle not glose nor cory favyl for no parcyallyte, they cowthe not undyrstond that alle this ordenaunce dyd any goode or harme but yf it were a mong us in owre parte with Kyng Harry (age 39). There fore it is moche lefte, and men take them to mallys of ledde, bowys, swyrdys, gleyvys, and axys. As for speremen they ben good to ryde be-fore the foote men and ete and drynke uppe her vetayle, and many moo suche prety thyngys they doo, holde me excusyd thoughe I say the beste, for in the fote men is alle the tryste.
17 Feb 1461. Ande at the nyght aftyr the batayle the King (age 39) blessyd his son the Prynce (age 7), and Doctor Morton (age 41) brought forthe a boke that was full of orysons, and there the boke was oppenyd, and blessyd that yong chylde cum pinguedine terre et cum rore celi1, and made him knyght. And the yong knyght weryd a payre of bregant yerys i-coveryd with purpylle velvyt i-bete with golde-smythe is worke. And the Prynce (age 7) made many knyghtys. The fryste that he made was Androwe Trolloppe, for he was hurte and might not goo for a calletrappe in his fote; and he said, "My lorde, I have not deservyd hit for I slowe but xv men, for I stode stylle in oo place and they come unto me, but they bode stylle with me." And then come Whytyngam (age 32), Tresham (age 41), and many moo othyr, and were made knyghtys that same tyme.
Note 1. "with the richness of the earth and with the dew of heaven".
Ande the King and the Quene toke her jornay unto Yorke wardys, for they demyde that the Northeryn men wolde have ben to creuelle in robbyng yf they hadde come to London. But by the a-vyse of Docter Morton they sende certayne knyghtys and men unto London and to Westemyster, but they might not be sufferde to entery in to the towne. Ande some of her mayny were slayne for her cursyd longege. Ande the mayre ordaynyd bothe brede and vytayle to be sende unto the quene, and a certayne some of money with alle. But whenn men of London and comyns wyste that the cartysse shulde goo to the Quene, they toke the cartys and departyde þe brede and vytayle a-monge the comyns. And on John Byschoppe was a grete doer of this mater, for he was chyffe coke to the knyght Syr John Wenlocke. But as for the mony, I wot not howe hit was departyd; I trowe the pursse stale the mony.
Then come tydyngys of the comynge of þea Erle of Marche (age 18) unto London; then alle the cytte were fayne, and thonkyd God, and said that
He that had Londyn for sake
Wolde no more to them take,
and said, "Lette us walke in a newe wyne yerde, and lette us make us a gay gardon in the monythe of Marche with this fayre whyte ros and herbe, the Erle of Marche (age 18)." And the Erle of Warwycke (age 32) mette with the Erle of Marche by-syde Oxforde, x myle out of hit, at a towne of his owne i-namyd Burford a-pon the Wolde [Map]; for the Erle of Marche come fro Walys, and was full sore a-ferde of the loste of the ij fyldys that were loste by-fore, Wakefylde that one, and Synt Albonys that othyr, and he sorowde sore for his fadyr the Duke of Yorke (age 49), and for his good brother the Erle of Rutlond (age 17), and for alle othyr lordys and comyns, &c.
Note a. the repeated in MS.
Before 25 Feb 1461. There the Erle of Warwycke (age 32) informyd him of the gydynge and dysposyscyon of Kyng Harry (age 39), and of the Quene (age 30), and of the love and favyr that the comyns hadde unto hym, and by ryght to occupy the crowne of Inglonde, and soo his hert was some what made gladde and comfortyd. But he was sory that he was soo pore, for he hadde no mony, but the substance of his mayny come at her owne coste.
Alle soo the xxvj [26] day of Februer nexte folowyng Edwarde Erle of Marche (age 18) com to London owt of Walys and the Erle of Warwycke (age 32) with hym, and xl M1 [40,000] men with them bothe, and they enteryd unto the cytte of London, and there he toke uppon him the crowne of Inglond by the avysse of the lordys spyrytual and temporalle, and by the elexyon of the comyns. And so he began his rayne the iiij day of Marche, in the year of our lord God M1CCCC lxj [1461], the Sondy letter D as for that year.
Thys is the first of his rayne of King Edward the iiijthe.
Nowe gon messyngers by twyne contraye and contraye, and harowdys were full schante, for they ne wyste what was beste to done, but sufferens and fayr speche dyd them moche ese. And bothe þe newe King and the olde were full besyd to make her party stronge, &c.
The xiij day of Marche the King, owre newe King Edwarde (age 18), toke his jornaye unto the Northe, and the Duke of Northefolke (age 45) with hym. The Erle of Warwycke (age 32) and the Lord Fauconbrygge (age 32), with many knyghtes, squyers, and comyns, to the nombyr of iic Mlmen.
And the xxviij day of Marche, that was Palme Sunday evyn, the Lord Fewater (age 35) was slayne at Ferybryge, and many with him was slayne and drownyd. And the Erle of Warwycke (age 32) was hurte yn his legge with an arowe at the same jornaye.
Ande the xxix [29] day of the same monythe of Marche, that was þe Palme Sunday, the kyng (age 18) mette with the lordys of the Northe at Schyrborne. And there was on Harrys party that was King-
Prynce Edwarde (age 7), Kyng Harrys son.
The Duke of Exceter (age 30).
The Duke of Somersett (age 25).
The Erle of Northehumberlond (age 39).
The Erle of Devynschyre (age 29).
The lord Bemound (age 33).
The lord Clyfforde (deceased).
The lord Nevyle.
The lord Wellys (age 51).
The lord Wylby (age 40).
The lord Harry of Bokyngham.
The lord Rivers (age 56).
The lord Schalys.
The lord Maule (age 50).
The lord Ferys of Groby (age 23).
The lord Foschewe. [Possibly John Fortescue (age 67)]
The lord Lovelle (age 28).
Syr Thomas Hammys, captayne of alle the fote men.
Syr Thomas Tressam (age 41).
Syr Robert Whytyngham (age 32).
Syr John Dawne.
And the yonge Lord of Schrouysbury (age 12), and many moo othyr, bothe lordys, knyghtys, and squyers.
Here ben the namys of the lordys that were slayne in the felde in King Harrys (age 39) party.
The Erle of Northehumberlond (age 39),
The lord Clyfforde (deceased),
The lord Nevyle (age 51),
The lord Wellys (age 51),
The lord Maules (age 50),
And many moo then I can reherse; but whythe [t]es and othyr that were slayne in the fylde is a grete nombyr, by syde xlij [42] knyghtys that were slayne aftyr; the hoole nombyr is xxxv M1 [35000] of comeners. Jhesu be þou marcyfulle unto her soulys. Amen.
And the lordys before wretyn fledde, the substance in to Schotlond with the King Harry (age 39) and Quene Margarete (age 31), and son the Prynce (age 7) with hym, full 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 her beste be lovyd in that batayle.
03 Apr 1461. The Erle of Devynschyre (age 29) was seke, and might not voyde a waye, and was take and be heddyd. And the Erle of Wylte schyre (age 40) was take and brought unto Newe Castell [Map] to the King. And there his hedde was smete of, and send unto London to be sette uppon London Brygge [Map]. And Docter Morton (age 41), the Prynces chaunceler, was take with him and put in the Towre, but he schapyd a way long tyme aftyr, and is by yonde the see with the Quene, &c.
28 Jun 1461. Ande the King (age 19) taryd in the Northe a grette whyle, a made grete inquerens of the rebellyens a-gayne his fadyr. And toke downe his fadyrs hedde fro the walle of Yorke [Map]. And made alle the contray to ben sworne unt him and to his lawys. And then he returnyd unto Lundon agayne. And there he made xviij [18] knyghtys and many lordys. And then he rode to Westemyster. And there he was crounyd the xxviij day of June, and the year of our lord M1CCCC lxj [1461], blessyd be God of his grete grace, etc.
1461. Mayor of London: Hugh Wyche. Sheriffs: Gorge Irlond, John Loke.
