24th July 1469 Battle of Edgecote Moor aka Danes Moor aka Banbury

Warkworth's Chronicle. 24th July 1469. And Robyne of Riddesdale came uppone the Walschemenne in a playne byyonde Banbury toune¹, and ther they faughthe strongly togedere, and ther was the Earl of Penbroke takene, and his brother withe hym, and two M^l, 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, 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, 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.

Chronicle of Jean de Waurin [1400-1474]. 24th July 1469. So they stayed there all night, and the next day each side advanced to reach the river crossing, but the Welsh never got there before finding those from the North. Sir William Herbert had not brought many men, and they were still on horseback, while those on foot had been left to come at their leisure behind because he did not expect the Northerners to be there so soon. This forced him to defend and guard the crossing, where there was a fierce skirmish and many people were killed, but the Welsh held the passage. After the Earl of Pembroke had won the passage, those from the North withdrew because they had suffered heavy losses, waiting until after dinner for the arrival of the Earl of Warwick, and likewise the Welsh did the same to await the remainder of their forces.

But when it came after dinner, two knights approached the Northerners controversially, one was Sir William Parr¹⁴³ and the other Sir Geoffrey Gates, who, upon being informed of their repulse, immediately rallied and brought them back to the passage, where the skirmish recommenced vigorously. This prompted the Welsh to come in force, but the Northerners outnumbered the Welsh significantly. Also, when the Earl Stafford¹⁴⁴ learned that the Duke of Clarence was coming to aid the Northerners, he abandoned the Welsh and took with him seven to eight thousand men. As a result, the Welsh lost the day, with many killed and captured, among whom were the two brothers of Herbert as mentioned above.

Ainsi doncques furent illec toute la nuit, et lendemain chascun de son coste sadvancha pour prevenir au passage de la riviere, mais oncques sitost ny parvindrent les Gallois quilz ny trouverent ceulz du North; si ny avoit amene messire Guillamme de Herbert gueres de gens, ancores estoient ilz de cheval, et avoit ceulz de pie laissies venir a leur aise derriere, car il ne cuidoit pas ceulz du North si prestz comme il fist, par lesquelz il fut constraint deffendre et garder le passage, ou il eut grosse escarmuche et moult de gens tuez; mais les Gallois tindrent le passage. Aprez que le comte de Pennebrocq eut le pas concquis, ceulz du North se retrayrent, car ilz avoient beaucop perdu, jusques a laprez disner que ilz atendoient le comte de Warewic, et aussi firent pareillement les Gallois pour atendre le residu de leurs gens.

Mais quant ce vint aprez disner vindrent devers ceulz du North litigieusement deux chevalliers, lun estoit messire Guillamme Apparre et lautre messire Geffroy Guat, lesquelz advertis de leur rebouttement tantost les recoeillerent et ramenerent au passage, ou lescarmuche recommenca moult grosse; pourquoy les Gallois y vindrent a puissance, mais ceulz du North estoient beaucop plus grant nombre que les Galles; et aussi quant le comte de Stamfort fut adcertene que le duc de Clarence venoit en layde de ceulz du North il habandonna les Gallois et emmena avec luy de sept a huit mille hommes, pourquoy ceulz de Galles perdirent la journee, si -en eut plusieurs mors et prins, entre lesquelz y furent prisonniers comme dit a este cydessus les deux freres de Herbert.

Note 143. William Parr, 1434-1484. Yorkist. Fought at the battles of Edgecote and Barnet. Garter Knight. Attended the funeral of King Edward IV in 1483. Refused to attend coronation of King Richard III.

Note 144. The original French text has "Stamfort". However, the Earldom of Stamford wasn't created until 1628. The person referred to is Humphrey Stafford, 1st Earl Devon, 1439-1469, who is known to have commanded at the battle.

Holinshed's Chronicle [1525-1582]. [24th July 1469] The king likewise assembled people to aid the erle of Penbroke, but before either part receiued succour from his freend or partaker, both the armies met by chance in a faire plaine, néere to a towne called Hedgecote, foure miles distant fiom Banberie, where there are thre'e hilles, not in equall quantitie, but liengin maner (although not fullie) triangle. The Welshmen got first the west hill, hoping to haue recouered the east hill also, which if they might haue obteined, the victorie had beene theirs, as their foolish prophesiers told them before. These northerne men incamped on the south hill; the earle of Penbroke and the lord Stafford of Southwike were lodged in Banberie, the daie before the field, which was saint lames daie, and there the earle of Penbroke put the lord Stafford out of an Inne, wherein he delighted much to be, for the loue of a damosell that dwelled in the house: and yet it was agreed betwixt lodging, should not be displaced.

The lord Stafford in great despite departed with his whole band of archers, leaving the earle of Penbroke almost desolate in the towne, who with all diligence returned to his host, lieng in the field unpurveied of archers. Sir Henrie Neuill, sonne to the lord Latimer, tooke with him certeine light horssemen, and skirmished with the Welshmen in the euening, just before their campe, where dooing right valiantlie, but a little too hardilie aduenturing himselfe, was taken and yeelded, and yet cruellie slaine. Which unmercifull act the Welshmen sore rued the next day yer night: for the northerne men sore displeased for the death of this nobleman, in the next morning valiantlie set on the Welshmen, and by force of archers caused them quicklie to descend the hill, into the vallie, where both the hoasts fought.

The earle of Penbroke did right valiantlie, and so likewise did his brother sir Richard Herbert, in so much that with his polax in his hand, he twise by fine force passed thorough the battell of his adversaries, and without anie hurt or mortall wound returned. But see the hap, even as the Welshmen were at point to haue obteined the victorie, lohn Clappam esquier, seruant to the earle of Warwike, mounted up the side of the east hill, accompanied onelie with five hundred men, gathered of the rascals of the towne of Northampton, and other villages about, having borne before them the standard of the earle of Warwike, with the white beare, crieng; A Warwike, a Warwike.

The Welshmen, thinking that the earle of Warwike had come on them with all his puissance, suddenlie as men amazed, fled: the northerne men them pursued, and slue without merci, so that there died of the Welshmen that daie, above five thousand, besides them that fled and were taken. The earle of Penbroke, and his brother sir Richard Herbert, with diverse gentlemen, were taken and brought to Banberie, where the earle with his brother, and other gentlemen, to the number of ten, that were likewise taken, lost their heads. But great mone was made for that noble and hardie gentleman, sir Richard Herbert, being able for his goodlie personage and high valiancie to have serued the greatest prince in christendome. [But what policie or puissance can either preuent or impugne the force of fate, whose law as it standeth upon an inevitable necessitie; so was it not to be dispensed withall; and therfore destinie having preordained the maner of his deth, it was patientlie to be suffered, sith puissantlie it could not be auoided, nor politikelie preuented, nor violentlie resisted: for sua quenq; dies ad funera raptat i.e. Fate seizes each man on his appointed day for the grave.]

Chronicle of Edward Hall [1496-1548]. 26th July 1469. The Northern men incamped themself on the Southe hill. The erle of Penbroke and the lorde Stafford of Southwike (age 30), wer lodged at Banbery the daie before the feld whiche was sainct James daie, and there the erle of Pembroke, putte the Lorde Stattorde out of an Inne wherein he delighted muche to be, for the loue of a damosell that dwelled in the house: contrary to their mutuall agrement by them taken, whiche was, that whosoeuer obteined first a lodgyng, should not be deceiued nor remoued. After many great woordes and crakes, had betwene these twoo capitaines, the lorde Stafford of Southwyke, in greate dispite departed with his whole compaignie and band of Archers, leauyng the erle of Pembroke almoste desolate in the toune, whiche, with all diligence returned to his host, liyng in the feld vnpurueied of Archers, abidyng suche fortune as God would sende and prouide. Sir Henry Neuell (deceased) sonne to the Lorde Latimer (age 62), tooke with hym certain light horssemen, and skirmished with the Welshemen in the evenyng, even before their Campe, where he did diverse valiaunt feates of armes, but a litle to hardy, he went so farre forward that he was taken and yelded, and yet cruelly slain: whiche vnmercifull acte, the Welshemen sore ruled the next daie or night. For the Northren men beyng inflamed, & not a litle discontented, with the death of this noble man, in the mornyng valiauntly set on the Welshemenne, and by force of archers, caused theim quickely to descende the hill into the valey, where bothe the hostes fought. Therle of Penbroke behaued hymself like a hardy knight, and expert capitain, but his brother sir Richarde Herbert so valiauntly acquited hymself, that with his Polleaxe in his hand (as his enemies did afterward reporte) he twise by fine force passed through the battaill of his aduersaries, and without any mortall wounde returned. If euery one of his felowes and compaignions in armes, hud doen but halfe thactes, whiche he that daie by his noble prowes achiued, the Northremen had obteined neither sauetie nor victory.

Poems of Guto'r Glyn. 24. Elegy for William Herbert of Raglan, first earl of Pembroke

Written after the execution of William Herbert (deceased) on 27th July 1469 following his capture at the Battle of Edgecote Moor

Dawns o Bowls! Doe’n ysbeiliwyd,	A dance of Death! Yesterday, the raid struck,
Dwyn yr holl dynion i’r rhwyd.	All the men were dragged into the snare.
Dawns gwŷr Dinas y Garrai,	The dance of the men of Doncaster moves,
Dawns yr ieirll: daw’n nes i rai!	The earls’ dance — it draws near to some!
Duw Llun y bu waed a lladd,	O God, Monday was blood and killing,
Dydd amliw, diwedd ymladd.	A many-hued day — the end of the fighting.
Duw a ddug y dydd dduw Iau	God took away on Thursday
Iarll Dwywent a’r holl Deau.	The Earl of Gwent and all the South.
Marchog a las dduw Merchyr,	A knight was slain on Wednesday,
Mwy ei ladd no mil o wŷr:	His death more costly than a thousand men.
Syr Rhisiart, ni syr Iesu	Sir Richard — not the Lord Jesus —
Wrthaw er lladd North a’r llu.	By him were the North and his host brought down.
Duwmawrth gwae ni am Domas:	O God Tuesday — woe to us for Thomas:
Duw Llun gyda’i frawd y’i llas.	On God’s Monday he was slain with his brother.
Dwyn yr iarll a’i bedwarllu,	The earl was seized with all his fourfold host,
Dydd Farn ar anrhydedd fu.	A Judgment Day upon the honour that was.
Arglwydd difwynswydd Defnsir	A lord without honour from Devonshire
A ffoes – ni chafas oes hir!	Fled — and did not live long!
Bradwyr a droes brwydr a drwg	Traitors turned the battle to evil,
Banbri i’r iarll o Benbrwg.	Banbury was ruin to the Earl of Pembroke.
Cad drycin am y drin draw,	A storm of battle raged in that far fight,
Carliaid a wnaeth y curlaw.	Carls unleashed the blood-rain’s blight.
Ymladd tost am laddiad hwn	Fierce was the fight that led to his doom,
A wna’r hynt yn Norhantwn.	And his path ends at Northampton's gloom.
Awn oll i ddial ein iaith	Let us all rise to avenge our tongue,
Ar ddannedd y Nordd unwaith	On the teeth of the North, ere long!
A dyludwn hyd Lydaw	Let us march as far as fair Brittany,
Dan draed y cyffredin draw.	To crush the common foe beneath our feet.
Ef â’r gwŷr a fu ar gam	He and the men who dealt in wrong
Oll i ddiawl, yn lladd Wiliam.	All to the devil — for slaying William.
O rhoed, lle bu anrhydedd,	Alas that, where once honor stood,
Ar fwnwgl iarll arf neu gledd,	A blade or weapon struck the earl’s proud throat.
Och Fair, cnodach fu arwain	O Mary! Harsh was the leading forth
Aerwy mawr o aur a main.	Of a great collar of gold and stone to death.
Doe ’dd aeth dan y blaned ddu	Yesterday he passed beneath the darkened star,
Drwy’r fâl draw i ryfelu.	Through the mist beyond, to make his war.
Och finnau – uwch yw f’anun –	Alas for me — higher is my soul’s own pain —
Nad arhôi ’n ei dir ei hun.	That he found no rest in his native plain.
Ymddiried i’r dynged wan	He trusted in frail, false fate —
A’i twyllodd o Went allan.	And it betrayed him out of Gwent.
Tair merched, tair tynged ton	Three women — three tidal fates —
Y sy’n dwyn oes ein dynion:	Who bear the lives of all our men:
Un a gynnail cogeilyn,	One who gathers mocking kin,
Arall a nydd dydd pob dyn,	Another spins each mortal’s day,
Trydedd yn torri edau	The third cuts the thread — and so they slew
Er lladd iarll a’r llu dduw Iau.	The earl and all his host on Thursday too.
Mynnwn fy mod ymannos	Would that I stood, sword in hand,
Yn torri pen Atropos.	To strike off Atropos’s head!
Nid rhan i’r tair a henwais	No right have those three whom I named
Nyddu oes hir yn nydd Sais.	To spin long life on an English day.
Os gwir i blant Alis gau,	If it's true that Alice's lying sons —
Draeturiaid, dorri tyrau,	Traitor-born — have broken towers down,
Ni ddôi’r iangwyr, ni ddringynt	Then let no young men come nor climb
I dai’r gŵr na’i dyrau gynt.	The house or halls of that good man’s line.
Gwinllan fu Raglan i’r iaith,	Raglan was a vineyard for our tongue,
Gwae ni wŷl ei gwin eilwaith!	Woe — we shall not taste its wine again!
Gwae a weles ar Galan	Woe was the sight I saw at Calan,
Gynnal gwledd ar ganol glan!	A feast held high on a bloodied plain.
Gwae a geisio rhodio rhawg	Woe to him who walks too proud,
Gwent dlawd oedd gynt oludawg!	Gwent — once rich — lies poor and bowed.
Ei farw oedd well i fardd iach	Better dead to a sound-minded bard,
Heb ei bwyll, no byw bellach.	Than living now, so lost and marred.
Merddin Wyllt am ei urddas,	Merddin the Wild, for honor’s sake,
Amhorfryn, aeth i’r glyn glas.	To shadowed glen his leave did take.
Af yn wyllt o fewn elltydd	So I go mad among the trees,
I eiste rhwng clustiau’r hydd.	To sit between the wild stag’s ears.
Ef a’m llas, mi a’m nasiwn,	He killed me — and my nation too —
Yr awr y llas yr iarll hwn,	The hour this earl was struck and slew.
Cymro oedd yn ffrwyno Ffrainc,	A Welshman once who reined in France,
Camreol Cymry ieuainc.	Now misrules the youth of Cymru’s chance.
Ofn i bawb tra fu ’n y byd,	He was feared by all while in the world,
Yn iach ofn oni chyfyd!	A wholesome fear — unless it stirs!
Ymgyrchu i Gymru a gân’,	Let songs now march into Cymru’s heart,
Ymsaethu ’m Mhowys weithian.	Let Powys rise and fire its darts!
Doed aliwns, nis didolir,	Let the alliance come — it won’t be turned,
O dôn’, pwy a’u lludd i dir?	From the wave, who can drive them to ground?
Llusgent wŷr, llosgent eu tai,	They dragged our men, burned down their homes,
Lladdwyd y gŵr a’u lluddiai.	And slew the man who held them down.
Traws eto rhag trais atyn’	May a path still turn from force toward us,
Tra ater Syr Rhosier ynn.	While Sir Roger stands to answer fate.
Trimaib iarll, os trwm y byd,	Three sons of the earl — though the world be grim —
Tri a ostwng ein tristyd.	Three who may lower our sorrow’s weight.
Un o’i hil yn Neheuwlad	One of his line in the southern land
A gyrredd dwyn gradd ei dad.	Strives to reclaim his father’s stand.
Iarll oedd, Cymru oll eiddo,	He was an earl — all Wales his due —
Iarll o’i fab arall a fo!	An earl his son shall be anew!