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English Historical Literature in the Fifteenth Century is in Books.
Books, English Historical Literature in the Fifteenth Century Appendix 13
13. Yorkist Notes. These brief notes come from f. 25 of Arundel MS. 28 at the British Museum. They were all apparently written at the same time, and thereforeafter the execution of the Bastard of Fauconberg on 22 Sept., 1471. Probably, however, the date was not much later ; and thus these Notes, though destitute of any literary character, are of value as a contemporary record. The statement that Richard of Gloucester went into Kent on the morrow of the death of Henry VI, and that Edward IV followed on 23rd May, is significant. The writer at all events believed that Henry VI died on 21st May, though he gives no hint of the manner of his death. The writer is Yorkist, and his statement is probably more nearly contemporary than that of any other authority except The Arrival. Since the Notes were obviously written without any ulterior motive, their evidence in support of the accepted date the night of 21-22 May is strong. The lists of those slain at Barnet and Tewkesbury, and of the Yorkist lords, are interesting.
The main content of Arundel 28 is a Latin Chronicle for 1301-68. The volume formerly belonged to Lord William Howard.
14th April 1471. In the year of our Lord 14611, a battle took place near Barnet on Easter Day (the 23rd of April1), in which Richard, Earl of Warwick, and his brother John, Marquess of Montagu, were killed, fighting on the side of Henry VI. King Edward IV won the victory. From his side (Edward's), those killed included Lord Cromwell and Lord Say, as well as Humphrey Bourchier, the eldest son and heir of Lord Berners, along with many others. From the other side, Henry, Duke of Exeter, and John, Earl of Oxford, fled, along with many others.
Anno domini MCCCCLX primo, Bellum iuxta Barnet in die pasche (mensis Aprilis die XXIIJ): vbi occisi fuerunt Ricardus, Comes Warwic, et Johannes, Marchio de Montagu, eius frater, pro parte Henrici sexti; et Rex Edwardus iiij obtinuit victoriam, atque ex suis fuerunt ibidem interfecti dominus de Crommewel et dominus de Say, item Humfridus Bourcher, primogenitus et heres domini de Bareners, cum mujtis aliis. Ex alia parte fugerunt Henricus, Dux Exon., et Johannes, Comes Oxon., cum pluribus aliis.
Note 1. The year is given as 1461; a mistake for 1471. The date given as the 23rd of April whereas the battle too place on the 14th of April.
In the same year, on the 4th day of May [4th May 1471], a battle took place near Tewkesbury, in which were killed Edward, called the Prince, son of Henry VI, John Courtenay, Earl of Devon, John, Lord Wenlock, John Beaufort, brother of the Duke of Somerset, John Langstrother, Prior of St. John's [of Jerusalem], along with many other nobles, knights, and esquires. Moreover, few from Henry's side escaped, and the victory went to the said King Edward IV, with none of his nobles lost.
And Margaret (age 41), formerly called queen, the wife of the aforementioned Henry, was captured.
Eodem anno mensis Maii die iiij Bellum iuxta Tewkysbury, vbi occisi fuerunt Edwardus, dictus princeps, filius Henrici sexti, Johannes Courtenay, Comes Deuon., Johannes, dominus de Wenlocke, Johannes Beaufort, frater ducis Somersetie, Johannes Langstrother, prior Sancti Johannis, cum pluribus aliis nobilibus, militibus et armigeris. Item quod pauci de parte Henrici euaserunt. Et cessit victoria dicto Regi Edwardo quarto, nemine ex suis nobilibus pereunte.
Et capta est Margareta, olim dicta regina, vxor prefati Henrici.
In the same year and month, the people of Kent, disbelieving the previous victory, rose up in rebellion in the name of the said Henry [VI], under their captain and leader, Thomas Fauconberg (age 42), the bastard. Intending to force their way into the City of London, they violently set fire to Newgate, the gate over the great bridge [drawbriodge] of the city, along with several houses and buildings between that gate and the drawbridge, attacking like enemies. They also attempted, with their forces from Essex, to enter at Aldgate, but were bravely repelled by the Londoners, especially after the arrival of Anthony, Earl Rivers (age 31), who, coming suddenly from the Tower of London, fell upon them from the rear and scattered them bravely, many of them being horribly killed, and the rest captured or put to flight. This event took place on the 14th day of the month of May [1471], as stated above.
Eisdem anno et mense Kentenses increduli prioris victorie insurrexerunt nomine dicti Henrici, ipsorum capitaneo et duce Thoma facomberge bastardo. Qui volentes intrare ciuitatem London, per vim, nouam portam super pontem magnum ciuitatis, cum nonnullis domibus et tenementis inter ipsam portam et pontem leuabilem, ibidem hostiliter cremauerunt. Temptarunt insuper vna cum presidio eorum de Essexia apud portam de Algate invenire introitum, qui tamen viriliter per Londonienses post aduentum Antonii, comitis de Ryuers, qui in eos ad dorsum subito irruit, adueniens ex turri London., viriliter fuerunt dispersi, multis ex eis horribiliter interfectis, ceteris captis et fugatis ; quod factum fuit xiiij die mensis Maii supradicto.
On the 21st day of the same month of May [1471], King Edward (age 29) returned to the City of London in noble triumph, having Margaret (age 41), formerly queen, led before his army in a chariot. He rode through the middle of the city, with banners and standards unfurled, as though on a campaign or expedition undertaken against the aforementioned Kentish rebels. In his company at that time were: His brothers, the Dukes of Clarence (age 21) and Gloucester (age 18); the Dukes of Norfolk (age 46), Suffolk (age 28), and Buckingham (age 16); the Earls of Northumberland (age 22), Shrewsbury (age 22), Rivers (age 31), Essex (age 67), Wiltshire (age 43), and Pembroke (age 20). Among the barons and lords: Audley (age 45), Stanley (age 36), Grey of Ruthin (age 17), the son and heir of the Earl of Kent (age 54), Grey of Codnor (age 36), Berners (age 55), Cromwell1, Dacre2, Hastings (age 59), Howard (age 28)3, Dynham (age 38), Cobham (age 23), Mautravers (age 21), the son and heir of Arundel (age 53), Bourchier, Dudley (age 70), Scrope (age 33), and Ferrers (age 16), along with many other nobles, knights, and esquires, and a greater number of mounted men than had ever been seen before.
Eodem mensis Maii die xxj rediit Rex Edwardus ad ciuitatem London, cum nobili triumpho, faciens secum adduci dictam Margaretam, olim reginam, in curru precedente exercitui. Et equitauit per medium ciuitatis, vexillis et standardis displicatis, tanquam in itinere et expedicione capta aduersus prefatos Kentenses, In cuius comitiva tune fuerunt duces de Clarence et Gloucester ipsius fratres; item duces de Northfolke et Southfolk, et de Bukyngham; item comites de Northumberland, de Shrovesbury, de Ryuers, de Essex, de Wyltshyre, de Pembroke; Barones, domini de Audeley, de Stanley, de Grey Ruthyn, films et heres de Comitis Cancie, de Grey Cotenor, de Barreners, de Cromwell, de Dacres, de Hastynges, de Howard, de Dynham, de Cobham, de Mautravers, filius et heres de Arundell, de Bourgcher, de Dudley, de Scrope, de Ferrers, cum aliis nobilibus, militibus et armigeris, ac multitudine equitum maiore quam ante sit visa.
Note 1. Unclear as to who this refers to since Ralph Cromwell 3rd Baron Cromwell died in 1456.
Note 2. Unclear as to who this refers to since Thomas Dacre 6th Baron Dacre Gilsland died in 1458, Ralph Dacre 1st Baron Dacre Gilsland died in 1461 and Humphrey Dacre 1st Baron Dacre Gilsland (age 47) was created Baron Dacre in either 1473 or 1482.
Note 3. We take this to refer to Thomas Howard 2nd Duke of Norfolk, son of John Howard 1st Duke of Norfolk, referring to his subsiduary title.
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[21st May 14711] In the same year, Henry VI, formerly called King of England, died in the Tower of London, and was buried in the monastery of Chertsey [Map], near the Thames, in the diocese of Winchester. And thus, no one remains among the living who may claim the crown from his line.
Eodem anno decessit Henricus sextus, olim dictus rex Anglie, apud turrim London., et sepultus est in monasterio de Chertesey iuxta Tamisiam, Winton. diocesis. Et sic nemo relinquitur in humanis qui ex illo stipite coronam petat.
Note 1. The date inferred from the following paragraph.
On the following day [22nd May 1471], the Duke of Gloucester (age 18) entered Kent with the vanguard of the king's army; the lord king followed on Ascension Day, that is, on the 23rd day of the said month of May, with the rest of the army.
In crastino Dux Gloucester cum primo exercitu Regis intravit Canciam ; quem sequitur dominus Rex in die Ascensionis cum residuo exercitu, viz. xxiij die dicti mensis Mail.
[22nd September 1471] In the same year, in the month of September, the said Thomas Fauconberg (age 42), because of a new offense, was beheaded, and his head was placed on the drawbridge of the great bridge of the said city.
Eodem anno mense Septembri, dictus Thomas faucomberge propter nouam offensam decapitatus est, et capud suum super pontem magnum leuabilem dicte ciuitatis positum est.
Books, English Historical Literature in the Fifteenth Century Appendix 14
Appendix 14. From A Chronicle Of Tewkesbury Abbey.
This little piece furnished Stow with the original of a passage in his Annales, p. 424; though he seems to have added some things from another source. Stow puts 'Lib, Tews.' in the margin. In another place (Annales p. 385) he gives 'Lib. Theauxbury' as his authority for a statement as to Henry Beauchamp, Duke of Warwick; see also his Summary for 1575, pp. 365, 367, 368; probably he took these references from the same volume, which apparently belonged to his friend Robert Glover, Somerset Herald; it now seems to be lost. The narrative is of interest for the names 'Gastum' and 'Campus Grandis' given to the site of the battle, in the hilly fields now called the Gastons, which include some old earthworks (probably Roman) sometimes called 'Margaret's Camp', though Sir J. H. Ramsay was 'assured on the spot that the proper name was Camp Ground1'. The list of the slain is noteworthy for its fullness and its description of the places of burial. The reference to Prince Edward supports Warkworth's statement that he was killed in the field, and is against the story that he was murdered after the battle; the concluding words are suggestive of Lancastrian sympathy* The writer shows himself ill at home in his Latin. Stow's transcript is in Harley MS. 545, f. 132 see p. 370 above.
Note 1. Lancaster and York, ii, 379.
Out of ye Chronicle of Tewkesbery of mastar Somarset
Memorandum that in the year of our Lord 1471, on Dominical Letter F, a battle took place at Barnet, between the town of St. Albans and the city of London, on the morning of Easter Day. On one side was King Edward IV with his brothers and many other lords. In that battle, Lord de Bowser (age 40) and many others were killed. On the opposing side were Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick (age 42), and his brother John Neville (age 40), both of whom were killed there, along with many other lords and prominent persons. King Edward gained the victory.
Memorandum quod anno domini 1471, littera dominicalis F. bellum fuit apud Barnad inter villam sancti Albani et ciuitatem London, die pasche in mane, vbi ex una parte fuit rex Edwardus iiij cum fratribus eius, multis aliis dominis, in quo ocdsus est dominus de Bowser et alii quamplures, et ex altera parte cum Ricardo Neuel comiti Warwiche et fratre eius Johanne Nevil, qui ambo ibi interfecti sunt cum multis aliis dominis et ūlendis1 personis, Rege Edwardo victoriam optinente.
Note 1. Probably 'ualendis' in error for ualentibus.
Also, in the same year, on the third day before the Nones of May (4th May 1471), namely on the Feast of the Invention of the Holy Cross, Edward, son of King Henry VI and Prince, came to Tewkesbury with a great army. On the following day, he entered the large field called Gaston, where King Edward IV arrived with his army and killed the said Prince Edward in the aforementioned field. There too were John Somerset, brother of the Duke of Somerset, the Earl of Devonshire, and Lord Wenlock, who were all killed along with many others. The army of the said King Edward IV, in a frenzy, entered the monastery [Map] and town of Tewkesbury, plundered many, and stole goods from the monastery. Some violently entered the church and killed and slaughtered the wretched soldiers of the said Prince, both in the cemetery and even inside the church. Because of this act, the church was desecrated, and so no Mass nor any other divine office was celebrated there for nearly a month. The church and cemetery were reconciled by a suffragan of the Bishop of Worcester on the third day before the Kalends of June (i.e. May 30), about five days before Pentecost, at the expense of the monastery. Those who were beheaded at the High Cross of the town of Tewkesbury included: The Duke of Somerset, The Lord and Prior of St. John's in London, Sir Thomas Tresham, John Delves, son of John Delves the elder (who had been killed in the field), James Audley, brother of Lord Audley, After King Edward had won the victory in the field called Gaston, and entered the monastery and town, he remained there for four days, during which many wrongs were committed.
Item eodem anno iij non. may sequente, uidelicet in festo inuencionis sancte crucis, uenit Tewkesburie Edwardus Henrici sexti regis filius et princeps cum grande exercitu, et in crastino intrauit grandem campum ubi uocatur Gastum, Vbi Rex Edwardus iiij cum suo exercitu aduenienspredictumprincipem Edwardumoccidit in campo predicto, vbi eciara Johannes Somerset frater ducis de Somerset, Comes de devonshire et dominus de Wenloke cum multis aliis interfecti fuerunt. Exercitus vbi predicti regis Edwardi iiij furiosi in monasterium et in villam de Tewks. intrantes spoliauerunt quamplurimos et abstulerunt bona monasterii, et quidam ecclesiam intrantes violente manu et miseros de exercitu predicti principis necarunt et occiderunt quam in cimiterio quam eciam in ecclesia, ex quo facto polluta est ecclesia : sic stante quia nee misse nee aliud diuinum officium ibi fire [fere?] per vnum mensem agerentur. Et reconciliata est ecclesia item cum cimiterio per dompnum suffragane episcopi Wigornia iij Kalleds Jun. vij fere v. ante pentecost ex sumptu monasterii. Isti vero capite truncati sunt ad altam crucem ville Tewks. Postquam vero victoriam optinuit predictus rex Edwardus in campo illo uocatur Gastum, et monasterium ac uillam cum suis intrant, mansit iiij dies fer.1 : vbi multa dampna perpetrata sunt. Vbi eciam capti sunt dux de Somerset, dominus et prior sancti Johannis apud London., Thomas Trissam, miles, Johannes delues filius lobannis delvis senioris, qui in campo occisus fuit, James Audeley frater domini de Audeley,
Note 1. Perhaps for 'ferias'.
These are the names of the noblemen that were slayne at Tewkesbury felde.
Lord Edwarde, prince of Kynge Henry, in the felde of Gastum besyde Tewkesbery, slayne and buryed in ye mydste of ye covent quiere in ye monastery ther: for whom god worketh.
Lord Edmunde Duke late of Somarset taken and behedyd and buryed before an ymage of S. James at an autar in ye sayd monastery churche on ye northe parte.
Lord John Somarset, brother of ye sayd duke of Somarset, slayne in the fylde ther, and buryed with his sayd brother before ye sayd ymage toward mary mawdlyns auter.
Lord Thomas1 Courtney Erle of Devonshire slayne in the filde and buried about ye mydst of ye sayd auter of saynt James.
Syr Vmfray Haudeley ther take and behedyd and buryed with ye sayd Thomas Courtney, Erle of Devenshire, in one sepulcre before ye sayd altar.
Lord Wenloke slayne in the filde & his body take fro hens to be buryed.
Sir Edmund Barnarde knight slayne in ye filde and syr William Whytingham knyght, slayn also in ye filde and bothe bodyes buryed in ye body of ye sayd monastarye churche callyd ye parishe churche besyde saint Jorges chapell.
Syr John Delves, elder, slayne in ye filde: mastar John Delves, his sonne, take and beheadyd; and both buryed by syds seynt Johns chapell in ye sayde parishe churche and theyr bodies afterward take fro hens to theyr contrey.
Syr John Locnor [Lewknor] slayne and buryed in ye sayd parishe churche besyds ye bodies of ser Edmond and ser William before sayde.
Syr William Vauce, knyght, slayn in ye fild, and buryed in ye parishe churche before an image of our lady pety in ye northe syd.
Syr Geruase of Clifton, knyght, take and behedyd.
Syr William Car, knyght,
ser Henry Rose, knyght, taken and behedyd and buryed in ye churche yarde there.
Syr William Lyrmouthe, knyght, Ser John Vring, knyght, ser Thomas Seiner, knyght, ser William Rowes, knyght, all slayne in ye filde and buryed in ye churche yarde.
Syr Thomas Tryssam, knyght, take and behedyd, whos body was buryed in ye sayd monastary churche byfore a pilar betwyxt ye awtar of s. james and seint nicholas.
Syr Willyam Newborow, knyght, take and behedyd, buryed in ye parishe churche, besyds ye fante of baptisme yer in ye southe syde.
Mastar Henry Wrattesley, squier, slayne in ye filde and buryed in s. John baptist chaple in ye monastary churche on ye southe syde.
Mastar Henry Baron, squire, slayn and buryed in ye parishe churche before an Image of seint clement pope and martyr, and his body aftarwarde was fet from hens to his contrey.
Mastar Fildynge, squire, Mastar Hervy, recordar of Bristow, bothe slayne in ye filde and theyr bodyes buryed in ye churche with many othar.
John Gower, swerde berer of ye prince, John Flore2, bannarberer of ye duke of Somarset, Henry Tressam, Watar Courtney, Robait Acson3, Lewis Milis, Birchfeld of Westminstar, Mastar Gogh, squire, ser Thomas Tressam his clerke, Turnebull, all take and behedyd, and theyr bodyes buryed in ye churche in dyvars placis.
Also prior and lord of saynt Jones besyds London, taken in ye fild and with othar behedyd, whos body closyd in leade was take from hens to his owne place.
Note 1. Should be John.
Note 2. Stow has 'Flory'.
Note 3. Stow has 'Jackson'.
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Thes wer ther taken and presentyd to ye kynge, and pardonyd: ladye Margaret, qwene, ladye Anne, princes, ser John Foskew, chefe Judge of yngland, doctor Makerell, John Throomorton, Mastar Beynton, Mastar Wroghton; all pardonyd. Ser Henry Courtney take and aftarward behedyd1.
Note 1. With the above may be compared the shorter lists in Paston Letters, No. 777, and Warkworth, pp. 18, 19.
Books, English Historical Literature in the Fifteenth Century Appendix 15
Appendix 15. The Record Of Bluemantle Pursuivant 1471-1472.
This narrative is preserved in two sixteenth-century copies in Cotton MS. Julius C. vi, ff. 255-9, and Additional MS. 6113, if. 101-7; the latter lacks the accounts of the Feast of St. George and the mission to Charles the Bold (pp. 380-2 below), from which we learn that the original writer was Bluemantle Pursuivant. It is not known who held that position in 1472 (see Anstis ap. Add. MS. 9013, p. 946). The two narratives of the Coming of the Lord Gruthuyse, and of his Creation as Earl of Winchester (pp. 382-8 below) were printed by Sir F. Madden in Archaeologia, xxvi. 265-86, from Add. MS. 6113. In both manuscripts they appear in the order here given; they are clearly two separate accounts, but the second should strictly come first as containing the earliest matter in point of time. Though a considerable part of the Record has thus been printed before, it seems worth giving in full as the personal narrative of a contemporary.
The two manuscripts show some small textual variations. I have followed the Cotton MS. (J.), but have taken a few corrections from the Additional MS. (A*) together with such variant readings as seem of sufficient interest. Stow copied a brief extract (p. 380 below) in Harley MS. 543, f. I39 VO see p. 369 above.
Ao domini M. iiij C. Ixxj [1471].
On Christmas [25th December 1471] day the King our soueraigne lorde, Edward the iiij after the conqueste, was crowned at Westmester, and ye quene also. Hee kepte his estate in the Whyt hall the same day. The Bishop of Rochester, which oh song hyh masse the same day of coronacion, sat at the Kings borde on the right hand, and the Duke of Bokyngham on the left hand.
On Neweres day. The King and the quene went in procession, and were not crowned ; the King kept non astate in the hall.
On twelf day [6th January 1472]. The King and quene went a procession: the king crowned, and the quene not crowned because she was grete with childe. He kept his estate in the whyt hall, the bishop of Rochester on his right hand, and the erles of Shrewesbury and of Essex on the left hand.
Ao supradicto. The ij day of the month of Apryll [2nd April 1471] came to Bruge worshipfull ambassat of our soveraigne lord the Kinge, the which were honorably received with out the toune of Bruge of the lord of Gruthuse.
The names of the Kinges ambasadours : Sir John Scot, knight, the inarshall of Calles, Mr William Hatclyff, secretary to the Kinge, Mr John Russell, doctor and archdeacon of Barkes, Mr Richard Marten, archdeacon of London, Sr John Yong, knight and merchant of London.
And on the iiij day of the said month [4th April 1472] the said Embassiat was honorably accompanied with the foresaid lorde, all on horssebake sauyng there seruauntes, from ther logyng to the dukes court. And on the same day came out of Fraunce a gret embassat to the foresaid duke of Burgoine, and were rd. into Bruge at afternone.