Biography of Edmund Beaufort 1439-1471

On 30th December 1460 the Lancastrian army took their revenge for the defeats of the First Battle of St Albans and the Battle of Northampton at the Battle of Wakefield near Sandal Castle [Map]. The Lancastrian army was commanded by Henry Holland 3rd Duke Exeter (age 30), [his brother] Henry Beaufort 2nd or 3rd Duke of Somerset (age 24) and Henry Percy 3rd Earl of Northumberland (age 39), and included John Courtenay 7th or 15th Earl Devon (age 25) and William Gascoigne XIII (age 30), both knighted, and [his brother-in-law] James Butler 1st Earl Wiltshire 5th Earl Ormonde (age 40), John "Butcher" Clifford 9th Baron Clifford (age 25), John Neville 1st Baron Neville of Raby (age 50), [his half-brother] Thomas Ros 9th Baron Ros Helmsley (age 33), Henry Roos and Thomas St Leger (age 20).

The Yorkist army was heavily defeated.

Richard Plantagenet 3rd Duke of York (age 49) was killed. His son Edward (age 18) succeeded 4th Duke York, 7th Earl March, 9th Earl of Ulster, 3rd Earl Cambridge, 9th Baron Mortimer of Wigmore.

Thomas Neville (age 30), and Edward Bourchier were killed.

Father and son Thomas Harrington (age 60) and John Harrington (age 36) were killed, the former dying of his wounds the day after.

William Bonville 6th Baron Harington (age 18) was killed. His daughter Cecily succeeded 7th Baroness Harington.

Thomas Parr (age 53) fought in the Yorkist army.

Following the battle Richard Neville Earl Salisbury (age 60) was beheaded by Thomas "Bastard of Exeter" Holland. William Bonville (age 40) was executed.

Edmund York 1st Earl of Rutland (age 17) was killed on Wakefield Bridge [Map] by John "Butcher" Clifford. Earl of Rutland extinct.

On 25th April 1464 a Yorkist army commanded by John Neville 1st Marquess Montagu (age 33) defeated a Lancastrian army commanded by [his brother] Henry Beaufort 2nd or 3rd Duke of Somerset (age 28) at Hedgeley Moor, Northumberland [Map] during the Battle of Hedley Moor.

Of the Lancastrians...

[his half-brother] Thomas Ros 9th Baron Ros Helmsley (age 36) was killed. His son [his nephew] Edmund (age 9) succeeded 10th Baron Ros Helmsley. Thomas' lands however, including Belvoir Castle [Map] were given by King Edward IV of England (age 21) to William Hastings 1st Baron Hastings (age 33).

Ralph Percy (age 39) was killed.

Edmund Ros 10th Baron Ros Helmsley: Around 1455 he was born to Thomas Ros 9th Baron Ros Helmsley and Philippa Tiptoft Baroness Ros of Helmsley. On 23rd October 1508 Edmund Ros 10th Baron Ros Helmsley died. Baron Ros Helmsley abeyant between his daughters annd their descendants.

On 15th May 1464 a Yorkist army commanded by John Neville 1st Marquess Montagu (age 33) defeated a Lancastrian army commanded by [his brother] Henry Beaufort 2nd or 3rd Duke of Somerset (age 28) at Hexham, Northumberland [Map] during the Battle of Hexham.

Those fighting for York included John Stafford 1st Earl Wiltshire (age 36), John Scrope 5th Baron Scrope of Bolton (age 26) and Richard Welles 7th Baron Welles, Baron Willoughby (age 36).

Henry Beaufort 2nd or 3rd Duke of Somerset was beheaded following the battle. The general pardon which he has previously received was annulled. Duke Somerset, Marquess Dorset, Earl Somerset and Earl Dorset forfeit for the second time. His son Edmund Beaufort (age 25) was styled by supporters of the House of Lancaster as Duke of Somerset but had not right to do so.

Philip Wentworth (age 40) was executed at Middleham [Map].

On 4th May 1471 King Edward IV of England (age 29) was victorious at the 4th May 1471 Battle of Tewkesbury. His brother Richard (age 18), Richard Beauchamp 2nd Baron Beauchamp Powick (age 36), John Howard 1st Duke of Norfolk (age 46), George Neville 4th and 2nd Baron Abergavenny (age 31), John Savage (age 49), John Savage (age 27), Thomas St Leger (age 31), John Tuchet 6th Baron Audley, 3rd Baron Tuchet (age 45), [his brother-in-law] Thomas Burgh 1st Baron Burgh of Gainsborough (age 40) fought. William Brandon (age 46), George Browne (age 31), Ralph Hastings, Richard Hastings Baron Willoughby (age 38), James Tyrrell (age 16), Roger Kynaston of Myddle and Hordley (age 38) were knighted. William Hastings 1st Baron Hastings (age 40) commanded.

Margaret of Anjou (age 41) was captured. Her son Edward of Westminster Prince of Wales (age 17) was killed. He was the last of the Lancastrian line excluding the illegitmate [his nephew] Charles Somerset 1st Earl of Worcester (age 11) whose line continues to the present.

John Courtenay 7th or 15th Earl Devon (age 36) was killed and attainted. Earl Devon forfeit. Some sources refer to these titles as being abeyant?

John Wenlock 1st Baron Wenlock (age 71) was killed. Baron Wenlock extinct.

John Delves (age 49), [his brother] John Beaufort (age 30), William Vaux of Harrowden (age 35) and Robert Whittingham (age 42) were killed.

Edmund Beaufort (age 32), Humphrey Tuchet (age 37) and Hugh Courtenay (age 44) were captured.

Henry Roos fought and escaped to Tewkesbury Abbey [Map] where he sought sanctuary. He was subsequently pardoned.

William Carey (age 34) was killed.

On 5th May 1471 those captured at the 4th May 1471 Battle of Tewkesbury were tried in the Market Square Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire [Map] by John Howard 1st Duke of Norfolk (age 46) and the Duke of Gloucester (age 18): Edmund Beaufort (age 32), Hugh Courtenay (age 44), Gervase Clifton (age 66), Thomas Tresham (age 51) and Humphrey Tuchet (age 37).

On 6th May 1471 those captured at the 4th May 1471 Battle of Tewkesbury: Edmund Beaufort (age 32), Hugh Courtenay (age 44), Gervase Clifton (age 66) and Humphrey Tuchet (age 37) were executed.

Thomas Tresham (age 51) was executed. His estates including manor of Westhall, in Rushton St Peter, were forfeit.

Chronicle of Jean de Waurin Books 3-5 [1400-1474]. Therefore, the King, without lingering in that village, took his direct path toward his enemies as quickly as he could. But when he was three leagues [nine miles] away from them, night surprised him, and he had to stay there until the day dawned bright and clear, which was on a Saturday, the fourth day of May [1471]. On that day, the good king prepared his forces in good order, unfurled his banners, sounded his trumpets, and entrusted his cause to Almighty God, his glorious mother, and Sir Saint James, Saint George, and all the blessed saints of paradise. He advanced his army toward his enemies and approached their field, which was well fortified and situated in an incredibly strong position, very difficult to assail. Nevertheless, the King commanded that they be attacked.

The battle began, initiated by the King's archers, who launched a heavy assault against their enemies, who valiantly defended themselves against both artillery fire and arrows. At the front of their battlefield, there were deep ditches, embankments, and bushes, making it difficult for the King's forces to approach them directly. But Edmund (age 32), known as the Duke of Somerset, who on that day led the vanguard, along with his companions, feeling troubled in that place and dismayed by the dense barrage of arrows raining down on them, or driven by great courage and bravery that overshadowed their fear, ventured out of their enclosure, seeing that no one noticed their departure, they came through a small stream and organized themselves neatly opposite the King's battle line, where they initiated a truly remarkable assault. The King bravely met their attack, and through his valour, skill, and the true assurance of his companions, he entered their enclosure, gaining control of it by force of arms, so much so that his enemies were forced to retreat from the hill.

It is to be remembered that when the King arrived before the said enclosure, he observed, before launching an attack, that to the right-hand side of this fort there was a very thick forest, within which he suspected his enemies had set up a large ambush. For this reason, he selected two hundred of the best lancers from his army, to whom he ordered to advance towards the ridge of this forest, keeping an eye on it, and if necessary, to engage there and do their duty well. And if they did not see any signs of an ambush, they were to return to the battle and strike against their enemies with the greatest advantage they could find. This provision came just in time, as perfectly as possible, for the two hundred aforementioned lancers, after having traversed a distance along the edge of the woods and seeing no signs of an ambush, were able to employ themselves elsewhere, and they struck against the Duke of Somerset and his company so effectively that, by their attack, and the valour of King Edward, who was assaulting them with his battle from the other side as you have heard, the said Somerset and all the vanguard he led were compelled to flee, resulting in a great slaughter during their retreat.

And when the King had defeated the vanguard of his enemies, he courageously advanced against the main battle, led by Edward (age 17), known as the Prince of Wales, where many noble feats of arms were performed on both sides. But ultimately, the complete victory remained with King Edward, and the defeat befell his enemies. In this battle, Edward, self-proclaimed Prince of Wales, Thomas (age 16), also known as the Earl of Dorset, John of Somerset, called Marquess of Dorset, the Lord Wenlock (age 71), and many other knights and squires were killed in great numbers.

Et la commencerent la bataille les archiers du roy, qui a leurs annemis donnerent ung moult pesant assault, lesquelz vaillamment se deffendirent, tant de trait dengins comme de sajettes; et si avoit au front de leur parcq parfons fossez, bayes et buissons, parquoy ilz estoient maul vais a eulz aprochier main a main. Mais Emond, appele duc de Sombresset, qui pour ce jour estoit conducteur de ladvantgarde, lui et ses compaignons ennuyez en celle place ou espoventez du trait qui moult dru cheoit sur eulz, ou par grant hardiesse et corage quy les sourmontoit, issirent hors de leur parcq, et lors, voiant que nul ne se aperchevoit de leur issue, sen vindrent parmy une ruyelle mettre en belle ordonnance droit a loposite de la bataille du roy, ou ilz commencerent ung tres merveilleux estour; ou le roy moult courageusement le recheut et tant fist par sa vaillance et proesse et la vraye asseurance de ceulz de sa compaignie quil entra dedens lenclos, guaignant par force darmes lenclos et fosse, tant que constrainte fut a ses annemis eulz retraire de la montaigne.

Pourquoy le roy, sans sejourner audit village, prinst le plutost quil peult son droit chemin vers ses annemis; mais quant il vint a trois lieues deulz la nuit le sourprinst, si le convint illec demourer jusques au jour aparant bel et cler, quy fut par ung samedy, quatriesme jour de May, que le bon roy sapareilla en bonne ordonnance, desploia ses banieres, fist sonner ses trompettes et commist sa querelle en Dieu tout puissant, sa mere glorieuse et monseigneur Saint Jacques, Saint George et tous les benois sains et saintes de paradis, advanchant son ost vers ses annemis et en aprochant leur champ, lequel estoit bien bastillie et seant en une merveilleusement forte place, moult difficile a assaillir; non obstant laquele chose, le roy commanda quilz feussent assaillis.

Icy est a remembrer que quant le roy fut venu devant ledit parcq, il considera, avant quil les assaillist, que a la droite main de ce fort avoit ung bois moult espes, dedens lequel il pensoit ses annemis avoir mis une grosse embusche; pour laquele cause il choisy deux cens lances des meilleurs de son ost, ausquelz il commanda eulz traire sur la costiere de ce bois, aians illec tousjours leuil, et que se necessite estoit ilz se y emploiassent et feissent bien leur debvoir; et en cas quilz ne veissent quelque aparence dembusche, quilz retournassent vers la bataille et que en le plus grant advantage quilz porroient frappassent sur leurs annemis. Laquele provision vint aussi bien a point que possible estoit, car les deux cens lances devant dites, depuis quilz eussent une espace costoie le bois, et que nulle aparence dembusche ny veoient, parchevans ou bien emploier se porroient autre part, frapperent sur le duc de Sombresset et sa compaignie telement que, par leur emprinse, et la vaillance du roy Edouard, qui atout sa bataille les assailloit de lautre coste comme oy avez, ledit de Sombresset et toute ladvangarde quil menoit furent constrains de fuyr, en laquele fuite fut faite grant occision.

Et quant le roy eut descomfy ladvantgarde de ses annemis, il marcha avant courageusement contre la bataille, que menoit Edouard appele prince de Galles, ou maintes belles apartises darmes furent faites, tant dun coste comme dautre; mais finablement la parfaitte victore en demoura au roy Edouard et la descomfiture tourna sur ses annemis. En ceste bataille furent occis Edouard soy disant prince de Galles, Thomas appele comte de Dommessiere, Jehan de Sombresset nomme marquis de Dorset, le seigneur de Vennelok et plusieurs autres chevalliers et escuyers en moult grant nombre.

A Brief Latin Chronicle. 4th May 1471. In the year of our Lord 1471, around the feast of Saint George, [the King], having heard that Queen Margaret (age 41) along with her son Edward (age 17) and many other lords and nobles had landed in the western parts of England, and that many were flocking to her, hastened with his army against them, and near Tewkesbury, fiercely attacked them, slaughtering many and beheading some of the nobles captured there. The names of those chiefly slain there are these: Edward, the son of Queen Margaret, the Earl of Devon (age 36), Lord John of Somerset, Lord John Wenlock (age 71), Henry the recorder of Bristol, along with many others. The names of those beheaded there are these: the Duke of Somerset (age 32), the prior of the house of Saint John in Smithfield, London, Lord Humphrey Audley, along with many others.

Anno Domini 1471°, circiter festum Sancti Georgii, [Rex], audito quod Regina Margareta cum Edwardo filio suo et aliis dominis et proceribus multis in partibus occiduis Anglorum applicuisset, et quod multi ad eam confluerent, cum suo exercitu etiam adversus eos festinavit, et juxta Tewkisberi acriter in eos insiliens multos trucidavit et quosdam nobiles ibi captos decollavit. Nomina precipurorum ibi interfectorum sunt hec:—Edwardus filius Regine Margarete, comes Devonie, dominus Johannes de Somersete, dominus Johnannes Wenloc, Henricus recorder de Bristow, cum multis aliis. Nomina decollatorum ibidem sunt hec: dux de Somersete, prior domus Sancti Johannis in Smythfeld, London., dominus Hunfredus Awdelaye, cum multis aliis.

The Manuscripts of His Grace the Duke of Rutland Volume 1. 6th May 1471. The Duke of Clarence (age 21) to Henry Vernon (age 26).

[1471,] May 6. Tewkesbury. — Right trusti and welbeloved we grete you wele, gating you wite that my lord hath had goode spede nowe in his late journey to the subduyng of his enemyes, traitours and rebelles, of the which Edward late called Prince (deceased), the late Erl of Devon (deceased) with other estates, knightes, squiers, and gentilmen, were slayn in playn bataill, Edmund late Due of Somerset (age 32) taken and put to execucion and other diverses estates, knightes, squiers, and gentilmen taken. And for soo muche as my said lord and we bee fully pourposed with the grace of our Lord to comme in all goodly haste into the north partyes for thestablishement of pease, tranquilhte and restfull rule and governance of the same, we desire and for your wele advyse you, and also in my said lordes name charge you, to dispose you to comme and attende upon us with so many men defensibly arrayed as ye can make, and that at ferthest ye bee with us at Coventre the xij day of this present moneth.

Yeven under our signet at Tewkesbury the vj day of May. (Signed : ) G. Clarence.