Battle of Towton

On 29th March 1461 the Battle of Towton was a decisive victory for King Edward IV of England bringing to an end the first war of the Wars of the Roses. Said to be the bloodiest battle on English soil 28000 were killed mainly during the rout that followed the battle.

The Yorkist army was commanded by King Edward IV of England with John Mowbray 3rd Duke of Norfolk, William Neville 1st Earl Kent, William Hastings 1st Baron Hastings (knighted), Walter Blount 1st Baron Mountjoy, Henry Bourchier 2nd Count of Eu 1st Earl Essex, John Scrope 5th Baron Scrope of Bolton and John Wenlock 1st Baron Wenlock.

The Lancastrian army suffered significant casualties including Richard Percy, Ralph Bigod Lord Morley, John Bigod, Robert Cromwell, Ralph Eure, John Neville 1st Baron Neville of Raby, John Beaumont, Thomas Dethick, Everard Simon Digby, William Plumpton and William Welles who were killed.

Henry Percy 3rd Earl of Northumberland was killed. Earl of Northumberland, Baron Percy of Alnwick, Baron Percy of Topcliffe forfeit.

Ralph Dacre 1st Baron Dacre Gilsland was killed. He was buried at the nearby Saxton church where his chest tomb is extant. Baron Dacre Gilsland extinct.

Lionel Welles 6th Baron Welles was killed. His son Richard succeeded 7th Baron Welles.

The Lancastrian army was commanded by Henry Beaufort 2nd or 3rd Duke of Somerset, Henry Holland 3rd Duke Exeter, Henry Percy 3rd Earl of Northumberland and Andrew Trollope.

Henry Holland 3rd Duke Exeter was attainted after the battle; Duke Exeter, Earl Huntingdon forfeit.

Those who fought for the Lancaster included William Tailboys 7th Baron Kyme, William Plumpton, John Sutton 1st Baron Dudley, William Norreys, Thomas Grey 1st Baron Grey of Richemont, Robert Hungerford 3rd Baron Hungerford 1st Baron Moleyns, John Talbot 3rd Earl of Shrewsbury, Richard Welles 7th Baron Welles, Baron Willoughby, Richard Woodville 1st Earl Rivers, James Butler 1st Earl Wiltshire 5th Earl Ormonde, John Butler 6th Earl Ormonde, William Beaumont 2nd Viscount Beaumont, Henry Roos and Thomas Tresham. Cardinal John Morton were captured.

John Heron of Ford Castle Northumberland, Robert Dethick, Andrew Trollope and his son David Trollope were killed.

Chronicle of Jean de Waurin Books 3-5 [1400-1474]. Then each of them, hearing the amiable request made by the young Earl, whom they already regarded as King, all responded with one voice that they would assist him with their bodies and their wealth until death. Upon receiving this response, the Earl thanked them, then dismounted from his horse and told them, with sword or bare hands, that he wished to live and die with them on that day, to give them greater courage. He then positioned himself in front of his standard, facing his enemies, who were advancing powerfully with great noise, shouting loudly, "King Henry."

On the day of this encounter, there was a great slaughter between the two parties, and for a long time, it was unclear who would emerge victorious, so furious was the battle and so great and pitiful was the carnage, as fathers did not spare sons nor sons fathers. But in the end, through the great prowess primarily of the Earl of March, God granted him victory, and he won the day over his enemies, whom he completely defeated.

Alors chascun deulz, oians la requeste tant amyable que leur faisoit le jenne comte lequel desja tenoient pour roy, respondirent tous dune voix que jusques au morir ilz lui aideroient de corpz et davoir; de laquele responce le comte les remercya, si descendy de son coursier en leur disant, lespee ou poing, que ce jour voulloit vivre et morir avec eulz, adfin de leur donner plus grant courage, et lors se vint il mettre devant son estandart regardant ses annemis, qui marchoient puissamment, menant moult grant bruit, cryant a haulte voix: "King Henry," si eut au jour de cest aprochement moult grant occision entre les deux parties, et fut une longue espace que len ne scavoit a qui donner la victore, tant fut la bataille furieuse et la tuyson grande et pitoiable, car le pere ne deportoit le filz ne le filz le pere; mais en fin, par la grant proesse principalement du comte de La Marche, Dieu luy donna la victore, et guaigna la journee sur ses annemis, lesquelz il mist a plaine descomfiture.

Chronicle of Jean de Waurin Books 3-5 [1400-1474]. Indeed, if one were to recount and describe all the individual feats of arms that occurred on that day, both on one side and the other, it would be too much to cover. Therefore, I will be as brief as possible, but I can assure you that the greatest clash of the battle occurred near the quarters of the Earl of Warwick, who was severely wounded there. However, in the end, those on the side of the King, the Queen, and the Duke of Somerset were completely defeated, and the Earl of March remained victorious. As I was informed by credible sources who were at the battle, all the greatest lords with the King and the Queen were either killed or captured: first, the Earl of Northumberland, the Earl of Clifford, the Lord of Mauley, the Lord of Willoughby, the Lord of Muelles, the son of the Duke of Buckingham [Henry Stafford], the Lord Scales, the Lord Gray, Andrew Trollope, the Lord Roos, the Lord of Percy, Sir Grauan and his son, and several other knights and esquires, which was a pity, as well as thirty-six thousand men who died that day, not counting the prisoners and the wounded, who were numerous, including the Lord of Rivers and his son. The King Henry and Queen Margaret, his spouse, the Duke of Somerset, and the Duke of Exeter fled to York.

A la verite qui volroit declarer et dire toutes les proescheuses apartises darmes qui ce jour se firent tant dun coste comme dautre, len y porroit trop mettre, et pourtant men passeray le plus brief que faire porray, mais je vous ose bien affermer que la plus grant froisse de la bataille saborda vers le quartier du comte de Warewic lequel y fut durement navre; mais en fin ceulz de la partie du roy, de la royne et du duc de Sombresset furent menez a plaine descomfiture et demoura victorien le comte de La Marche, et comme je fus imforme par gens de credence qui a la bataille furent, tous les plus grans princes davec le roy et la royne y demourerent mors ou prins: premierement le comte de Northumbelland, le comte de Clifford, le seigneur de Muelle, le seigneur de Willebic, le seigneur de Muelles, le filz du duc de Bouquinghuem, le seigneur de Scalles, le seigneur de Gray, et Andrieu Trolot, le seigneur de Ros, le seigneur de Persy, messire Grauan et son filz, et plusieurs autres chevalliers et escuyers, dont ce fut pitie, telement quil y morut ce jour bien trente six mille hommes sans les prisonniers et navrez qui y furent en moult grant nombre, entre lesquelz estoient le seigneur de Riviere et son filz; si sen fuyrent a Yorc le roy Henry et la royne Marguerite son espeuse, le duc de Sombresset et le duc dExcestre.

Chronicle of St Albans by Abbot John Whethamstede [-1465]. [29th March 1461] For here you could see another Achilles, the Duke of Norfolk, with his soldiers advancing, and there, the young Hector, the Earl of Warwick, engaging with his recruits. And just like that, a second Achilles, Lord de Fauconberg, with his citizens, rushing upon the enemies and striking them down. Although, as the poet writes, they didn't depict the fall of Troy so swiftly, they did portray, and continued to paint, the entire royal road from the battlefield almost to the walls of the city of York, a distance of about six miles, with crimson blood. Even though the Lord sent down blood from the heavens, saturating it with an excessive and almost miraculous new colour. For they themselves were valiant military leaders, and not unjustly to be compared to the aforementioned leaders. For at the beginning of the war, when these roaring Northerners were bending and releasing their bows to shoot straight in the dark, the leaders themselves forced them first, because they did not want to keep the covenant of the Lord, nor walk in His law, which dictates that the elder son should always be preferred to the younger son in hereditary right, as the other sons of Ephraim, turning their back on their inheritance on the day of battle. Later, because it was a generation further corrupt and exasperating, a generation, namely, such that it did not direct its heart with the Lord, nor was its spirit believed with Him, they rushed upon them with such force and effort that they forced them, and pressed them so tightly, that they could not flee from their presence, except as young lambs usually flee from the jaws of wolves, or fly from the talons of hawks, their wings trembling, like doves. Their leaders and captains, as many as they had in the field, either fell to the ground with their standards and banners, or fled to hiding places where they could conceal themselves from the edge of the sword.

Nam hic videre poteras Aacidem alterum, Ducem, videlicet, Northfolchiæ, cum suis militibus tendere, illic novellum Hectorem, Comitem, scilicet, Warwyci, cum suis tironibus se ingerere, isthic vero Achillem secundum, Dominum, videlicet, de Facunbrigge, cum suis Quiritibus, irruere in hostes, ac eos prosternere; quod, licet, ut scribit Poeta, nequaquam fluido depingerent Pergama tota mero, pingebant tamen, et depingebant, non aliter, totam viam regiam a campo præliationis, usque pene ad mœnia urbis Eboracensis, per spatium quasi sex milliarium, cruore rubro, quametsi Dominus sanguinem de cœlo demitteret, intingeretque novo colore nimio, ac plusquam prodigiose rubricaret. Erant enim ipsi duces milites strenuissimi, nec immerito ducibus jam dictis comparandi. Nam in principio belli, dum isti bobinantes Boreales intendebant et immittebant suos arcus, ut sagittarent in obscuro rectos corde, coegerunt eos ipsi duces primo, quia noluerunt custodire testamentum Domini, nec ambulare in lege ejus, quæ dictat filium seniorem filio juniori in jure semper hæreditario anteferri, velut alteros filios Ephraim, suum convertere dorsum in die belli Posterius vero, quia erat ulterius generatio prava et exasperans, generatio, videlicet, talis, que nec direxit cor suum cum Domino, nec creditus erat cum ipso spiritus ejus, ideo cum tanto impetu et conatu irruerunt in eos, ut cogerent ipsos, et coangustarent, non aliter a facie eorum fugere, quam discurrere solent a lupi faucibus pavitantes oviculæ, aut evolare ab accipitris unguibus, alis trepidantibus, columbellæ. Duces eorum, et capitaneos, quotquot in campo habebant sibi obvios, vel in terram, una cum suis signis et vexillis, prostraverant, vel ad latibula fugere, quibus possent ab ore gladii se occulere, compellebant.

Chronicle of Gregory. 29th March 1461. Ande the xxix [29] day of the same monythe of Marche, that was þe Palme Sunday, the kyng mette with the lordys of the Northe at Schyrborne. And there was on Harrys party that was King-

Prynce Edwarde, Kyng Harrys son.

The Duke of Exceter.

The Duke of Somersett.

The Erle of Northehumberlond.

The Erle of Devynschyre.

The lord Roos.

The lord Bemound.

The lord Clyfforde.

The lord Nevyle.

The lord Wellys.

The lord Wylby.

The lord Harry of Bokyngham.

The lord Rivers.

The lord Schalys.

The lord Maule.

The lord Ferys of Groby.

The lord Foschewe. [Possibly John Fortescue]

The lord Lovelle.

Syr Thomas Hammys, captayne of alle the fote men.

Syr Androwe Thorlloppe.

Syr Thomas Tressam.

Syr Robert Whytyngham.

Syr John Dawne.

And the yonge Lord of Schrouysbury, 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 party.

The Erle of Northehumberlond,

The lord Clyfforde,

The lord Nevyle,

The lord Wellys,

The lord Maules,

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 and Quene Margarete, and son the Prynce 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.

Chronicle of John Benet. [29th March 1461] And the King went to the town of Ferrybridge, and there, on the 6th day before the Kalends of April—that is, on Palm Sunday—the Duke of Somerset, the Earl of Devon, the Duke of Exeter, Lord Grey of Codnor, Lord Willoughby, Lord Roos, and many others numbering 40,000 warriors came to meet the king in battle. All these, with God's favor, he manfully slew or put to flight, though many knights from the king's own side fled. The King fought on foot. Later that same day, other lords fought against the king near Sherburn in Elmet, and he likewise defeated them. And a third time, the King fought that day with the Earl of Northumberland, Lord Neville, and others near the town of Tadcaster, and he cast them down and put them to flight. And so, on the following day, the King entered the city of York. On that day, there were slain on the King's side Lord FitzWalter, Lord Scrope, and five thousand men. On the other side, the Earl of Northumberland, Lord Neville, and others—numbering thirty thousand—were killed. Then Henry, who had been king, hearing that the northerners had been defeated, fled to Scotland with his wife and son, and with them went the Duke of Somerset, the Duke of Exeter, Lord Roos, and others, whom King Edward pursued.

Et inuit Rex usque villam de Ferebrygh' et ibi vj Kal. videlicet in die Palmarum obviavit Regi dux Somersetie, Comes Devonie, dux Exonie, dominus de la Gray de Cottonere, dominus la Wylby, dominus la Ros et multi numero xl milia bellatorum adversus Regem Edwardum, quos omnes viriliter Domino favente interfecit et fugavit cum multi equites ex parte regis fugierunt et sic pugnavit rex in pede. Et exinde alii domini pugnaverunt adversus regem eodem die juxta Shirborn in Elmet et illos similiter devicit, et tercio pugnavit Rex eodem die cum Comite de Northumbrie et domino la Nevyle et aliis juxta villam de Tadcastre et illos deicit et fugavit. Et sic intravit in crastino Rex civitatem Eboraci. Et sic illo die interfecti sunt ex parte Regis dominus la Fewalter et dominus la Scroop et quinque milia hominum. Et ex altera parte interfectus est Comes Northumbrie, dominus la Nevyll' et alii numero triginta milia. Tunc audiens Henricus qui fuit rex quod boriales victi fuerunt fugit usque Scociam cum uxore et filio et cum eis dux Somersetie, dux Exonie, dominus la Ros et alii, quos insequebatur Rex Edwardus.

Chronicle of Edward Hall [1496-1548]. 29th March 1461. When this conflict was ended at Ferrybridge, the lord Fauconberg, having the forward, because the duke of Norfolk was fallen sick, valiantly upon Palm Sunday in the twilight, set forth his army, and came to Saxton, where he might apparently perceive the host of his adversaries, which were accompted 40,000 men, and thereof advertised king Edward, whose whole army, they that knew it, and paid the wages, affirm to 48,640 persons, which incontinent [ie. quickly] with the earl of Warwick set forward leaving the rereward under the governance of sir John Wenlock, and sir John Dinham and other. And first of all he made proclamation, that no prisoner should be taken, nor one enemy saved. So the same day about nine of the clock, which was the 29th day of March, being Palm Sunday, both the hosts approached in a plain field, between Towton and Saxton. When each part perceived other, they made a great shout, and at the same instant time, their fell a small snyt or snow, which by violence of the wind was driven into the faces of them, which were of king Henry's parte, so that their sight was somewhat blemished and diminished. The lord Fauconberg, which led the forward of king Edward's battle (as before is rehearsed) being a man of great policy, and of much experience in martial feats, caused every archer under his standard, to shot one flight (which before he caused them to provide) and then made them to stand still. The northern men, feeling the shoot, but by reason of the snow, not well viewing the distance between them and their enemies, like hardy men shot their sheaf arrows as fast as they might, but all their shot was lost, and their labour vain for they came not near the Southerners, by forty tailor's yards. When their shot was almost spent, the lord Fauconberg marched forward with his archers, which not only shot their own whole sheaves, but also gathered the arrows of their enemies, and let a great part of them fly against their own masters, and another part they let stand on the ground which sore annoyed the legs of the owners, when the battle joined. The earl of Northumberland, and Andrew Trollope, which were chieftains of king Henries vanguard, seeing their shot not to prevail, hastened forward to join with their enemies: you may be sure the other part northing retarded, but valiantly fought with their enemies. This battle was sore fought, for hope of life was set on side on every part and taking of prisoners was proclaimed as a great offence, by reason whereof every man determined, either to conquer or to die in the field. This deadly battle and bloody conflict, continued, ten hours in doubtful victory. The one parte. some time flowing, and sometime ebbing, but inconclusive, king Edward so courageously comforted his men, refreshing the weary, and helping the wounded, that the other part was discomfited and overcome, and like men amassed, fled toward Tadcaster bridge to save themselves: but in the mean way there is a little brook called Cock, not very broad, but of a great deepness, in the which, what for haste of escaping, and what for fear of followers, a great number were drenched and drowned, in so much that the common people there affirm, that men alive passed the river upon dead carcasses, and that the great river of Wharfe, which is the great sewer of the brook, and of all the water coming from Towton, was coloured with blood. The chase continued all night, and the most part of the next day, and every Northern men, when they saw or perceived any advantage, returned again and fought with their enemies, to the great loss of both partes. For in this three days were slain (as they knew it wrote) on both partes 36,740 persons, all Englishmen and of one nation whereof the chief were the earls of Northumberland, and Westmorland and the lord Dacres the lord Welles, sir John Neville, Andrew Trollope, Robert Home, and many other Knights and Esquires, and the earl of Devonshire taken prisoner, but the dukes of Somerset and Exeter fled from the field and saved themselves. This conflict was in manner unnatural, for in it the son fought against the father, the brother against the brother, the nephew against the uncle, and the tenant against his lord, which slaughter did not only sore debilitate and much weaken the puissance of this realm, considering that these dead men, when they were living had force enough to resist the greatest princes power of all Europe: But also gave a courage to outward enemies and foreign potentates, to invade and make war in this realm, which thing was not unlikely to have ensued, if either Louis the French king had been at this time quiet in his realm, or James king of Scots had been of age and master of him self, yet thanked he God, for although the gate of a conquest were opened, yet it was shut again, or it was espied.

A Brief Latin Chronicle. Meanwhile, with wise provision having been made for the raising of a great sum of money, the said Edward, with the Duke of Norfolk, the Earl of Warwick, and Lord Fauconberg, with a great host, set out for the northern regions. And when they had crossed the River Trent and had come near Ferrybridge, because the army of King Henry was not far from that town, they at once prepared for battle. Therefore, on the most holy day of Palm Sunday [29th March 1461], in the afternoon, between Ferrybridge and Tadcaster, as the battle lines of each army advanced to engage one another, many of the horsemen, heavily armed, from the side of King Edward turned their backs and, having taken away Edward's baggage and provisions in hostile manner, fled. But King Edward, with manly courage, encouraged his men to the fight; and the Duke of Norfolk, the Earl of Warwick, and Lord Fauconberg, with their companies, boldly rushed upon the enemy, cut down many, and inflicted dreadful slaughter upon them, though many of their own men also fell. And when, after long fighting, the northern warriors, seeing themselves weaker, entrusted themselves to the safeguard of flight, Edward's fiercer men pursued them and inflicted great slaughter upon them. And many of those northerners, seeking to escape by the waters, were drowned. The true number of the slain there is known only to God with His saints; yet, according to the estimate of many, their number exceeded 28,000. Many lords and very many knights, together with common soldiers, fell there alike.

Facta interim sagaci provisione pro magna pecuniarum levanda copia, dictus Edwardus cum duce Northfolk, comite Warwic, domino Fawconbrigge, in copioso exercitu septentrionales oras petierunt. Cum autem pertransita Trenta prope Ferebrigge, advenissent, quoniam exercitus regis Henrici non longe a dicta villa aderat, ad pugnam se protinus preparabant. Die igitur sacratissime Dominice Palmarum, post meridiem, inter Ferebrigge et Tadcaster, accedentibus aciebus utriusque exercitus ut mutuos ictus confligendo ingererent, plurimi equestres armaciores ex parte regis Edwardi terga vertentes et dicti Edwardi cariagium et annonam hostiliter auferentes effugerunt. Sed rex Edwardus virili animo suos animavit ad certamen; dux quoque Northfolke, Comes Warwic, dominus Fauconbrigge, cum suis turmis audacter in adversarios irruentes, plurimos prostraverunt, et horrendam stragem eis intulerunt, multis ex parte sua occisis. Cumque post diutinam pugnam belligeri Boreales, cernentes se imbecilliores, fuge presidio se commisissent, insecuti sunt eos viri acriores ex parte regis Edwardi et magnam cedem eis intulerunt; plurimi quoque ipsorum Borealium per aquas evadere querentes submersi sunt. Numerum interfectorum ibi solus veraciter cum suis civibus novit Deus; secundum tamen estimacionem plurium numerus eorum excedebat [xxviij ml]. Domini multi et milites multo plures cum plebanis ibi pariter corruerunt.

Holinshed's Chronicle [1525-1582]. 29th March 1461. When ech part perceiued other, they made a great shout; and at the same instant there fell a small sléete or snow, which by violence of the wind that blew against, them, was driven into the faces of king Henries armies, so that their sight was some what dimmed. The lord Fauconbridge, leading K. Edwards fore-ward, caused everie archer vnder his standard to shoot one flight (which before he caused them to prouide) and then made them to stand still. The northerne men feeling the shot, but by reason of the sléet, not well viewing the distance betwéene them and their enimies, like forward men shot their sheafe arrowes as fast as they might: but all to losse, for they came short of the southerne men by thréescore yards.

So their shot almost spent, the lord Fauconbridge marched forward with his archers, which not onelie shot their whole sheafes, but also gathered the arrowes of their enimies, and let a great part flie against their first owners, and suffered a great sort of them to stand, which sore troubled the legs of the northerne men, when the battell joined. The earle of Northumberland and Andrew Trollop, chiefe capteins of king Henries vawward, seeing their shot not to preuaile, hasted to ioine with their enimies, and the other part slacked not their pase. This battell was sore foughten, for hope of life was set aside on either part, & taking of prisoners proclamed a great offense, so everie man determined to vanquish or die in the field.

This deadlie conflict continued ten houres in doubtfull state of victorie, vncerteinlie heauing and setting on both sides; but in the end, king Edward so couragiouslie comforted his men, that the other part was discomfited and ouercome, who like men amazed, fled toward Tadcaster bridge to saue themselues, where in the mid waie is a little brooke called Cocke, not verie broad, but of a great deepenesse, in which, what for hast to escape, and what for feare of their followers, a great number was drowned there. It was reported, that men aliue passed the riuer upon dead carcasses, and that the great riuer of Wharfe whereinto that brooke dooth run, and of all the water comming from Towton, was coloured with bloud.

Croyland Chronicle 1461. [29th March 1461] The wretched northmen, upon hearing of jthis, turned their backs before the face of the pursuer, and, hastening their flight, in their alarm were compelled, much against their will, to leave behind them the booty which they had collected in various places, and had been bent upon carrying with them on their retium. Upon this, he pursued them as far as a level spot of ground, situate near the castle of Pomfret and the bridge at Ferrybridge, and washed by a stream of considerable size; where he found an army drawn up in order of battle, composed of the remnants of the northern troops of king Henry. They, accordingly, engaged in a most severe conflict,¹ and fighting hand to hand with sword and spear, there was no small slaughter on either side. However, by the mercy of the Divine clemency, king Edward soon experienced the favour of heaven, and, gaining the wished-for victory over his enemies, compelled them either to submit to be slain or to take to flight. For, their ranks being now broken and scattered in flight, the king's army eagerly pursued them, and cutting down the fugitives with their swords, just like so many sheep for the slaughter, made immense havoc among them for a distance of ten miles, as far as the city of York. Prince Edward, however, with a part of his men, as conqueror, remained upon the field of battle, and awaited the rest of his army, which had gone in various directions in pursuit of the enemy.

When the solemnities of the Lord's day, which is known as Palm Sunday, were now close at hand, after distributing rewards among such as brought the bodies of the slain and gave them burial, the king hastened to enter the before-named city. Those who helped to inter the bodies, piled up in pits and in trenches prepared for the purpose, bear witness that eight-and-thirty thousand warriors fell on that day, besides those who were drowned in the river before alluded to, whose numbers we bare no means of ascertaming. The blood, too, of the slain, mingling with the snow which at this time covered the whole surface of the earth, afterwards ran down in the furrows and ditches along with the melted snow, in a most shocking manner, for a distance of two or three miles.

Note 1. He alludes to the battle of Towton.

Paston Letters Volume 3 450. 4th April 1461. 3.450. William Paston and John Playters to John Paston.

To my maister, John Paston, in hast,

Please you to knowe and wete of suche tydyngs as my Lady of York hath by a lettre of credens, under the signe manuel of oure Soverayn Lord King Edward, whiche lettre cam un to oure sayd Lady this same day, Esterne Evyn, at xj. clok, and was sene and red by me, William Paston.

Fyrst, oure Soverayn Lord hath wonne the feld, and uppon the Munday next after Palmesunday, he was resseved in to York with gret solempnyte and processyons. And the Mair the Yorkist cause and Comons of the said cite mad ther menys to have grace be Lord Montagu and Lord Barenars, whiche be for the Kyngs coming in to the said cite desyred hym of grace for the said cite, whiche graunted hem grace. On the Kyngs parte is slayn Lord Fitz Water, and Lord Scrop sore hurt; John Stafford, Horne of Kent ben ded; and Umfrey Stafford, William Hastyngs mad knyghts with other; Blont is knygth, &c.

Un the contrary part is ded Lord Clyfford, Lord Nevyle, Lord Welles, Lord Wyllouby, Antony Lord Scales, Lord Harry, and be supposyng the Erle of Northumberland, Andrew Trollop, with many other gentyll and comons to the nomber of xx.ml. (20000).

Item, Kyng Harry, the Qwen, the Prince, Duke of Somerset, Duke of Exeter, Lord Roos, be fledde in to Scotteland, and they be chased and folwed, &c. We send no er un to you be cause we had non certynges tyl now; for un to this day London was as sory cite as myght. And because Spordauns had no certeyn tydyngs, we thought ye schuld take them a worthe tyl more certayn.

Item, Thorp Waterfeld is yeldyn, as Spordauns can telle you. And Jesu spede you. We pray you that this tydyngs my moder may knowe.

Be your Broder,

W. Paston.

T. Playters.

Note 1. 'On a piece of paper pinned to the above letter,' says Fenn, 'is a list of the 268 names of the noblemen and knights, and the number of soldiers slain at the above battle of Towton, as follow:—'

Comes Northumbriæ.

Comes Devon.

Dominus de Beamunde.

Dominus de Clifford.

Dominus de Nevyll.

Dominus de Dacre.

Dominus Henricus de Bokyngham.

Dominus de Well[es].

Dominus de Scales Antony Revers.

Dominus de Wellugby.

Dominus de Malley Radulfus Bigot Miles.

Millites.

Sir Rauff Gray.

Sir Ric. Jeney.

Sir Harry Bekingham.

Sir Andrew Trollop.

With xxviij.ml. (28000) nomberd by Harralds.

Calendar of State Papers of Milan 1461.80. Enclosed in the preceding despatch. [7th April 1461] The northern lords who fell in the battle near York.

Earls Northumberland.

Devon.

Barons Lord de Clifford.

Lord John Bemond.

Lord John Wellys.

Lord John Nevyle.

Lord John Dacres.

Anthony¹, son of Lord le Ryver, who was recently made Lord le Scales, Ralph Bygot, commonly called Lord le Malley.

Henry², son of the Duke of Buckingham.

Knights Sir Henry Bellingham.

Sir Ralph Grey.

Sir Andrew Trollop.

Those who fell on the field, exclusive of the drowned and wounded, 28,000; but on the side of our Edward no lord fell except Lord John Phywater.

[Latin.]

Note 1. An error; Anthony was not killed at the battle.

Note 2. An error; Henry Stafford was killed at the Battle of Barnet.

Calendar of State Papers of Milan 1461.79. [7th April 1461] Thereupon, with more and more flocking to him every day in countless multitudes, on the 13th day of the same month, our most glorious King Edward set out from London towards the northern parts of the realm to confound his enemies there. Among those who accompanied the king, or who went before him, were the Duke of Norfolk, the Earl of Warwick, Lord Falconbridge, Lord John Stanley and Lord Fitz-Walter (Phyuater), the only one as we hear, of the nobility who fell on that side. Before the battle the king's army was increased to nearly 200,000 men. The spontaneous flocking together of the people of all the cities and places of the kingdom, and even more the rejoicing at this event, are marvellous (mira et vero populi omnium civitatum ac locorum Regni tum spontanea concursio tum hujus eventus precipua jubilatio).¹⁴ It is even more wonderful, and to many will seem almost incredible, that there has been no difficulty in buying food even in the barren soil of our parts. We therefore hope that God, who has hitherto permitted a sinful race to be scourged with dire strokes under an unhappy prince, being now appeased by our tears and prayers, has at length sent us this saviour, in whose sight I have found such a grace and favour that he has chosen me to be the chief of the three to whose judgment all the most secret matters of the Council are referred. From the king his predecessor, under whom I grew up almost from the cradle, I could not presume on such favour. Your paternity need have no fear that wherever I am able I shall be a safe and most trusty agent there, so that a sound conclusion of so great an affair may be expected. In the meantime we will give you the news of current events. The foremost of these things is, that on Palm Sunday last King Edward began a very hard fought battle near York, in which the result remained doubtful the whole day, until at length victory declared itself on his side, at a moment when those present declared that almost all on our side despaired of it, so great was the strength and dash of our adversaries, had not the prince single-handed cast himself into the fray as he did so notably with the greatest of human courage (si non is solus princeps partes suas ut humanissimo choragio fecit tam notabiliter interposuisset).

The heralds counted 28,000 slain, a number unheard of in our realm for almost a thousand years, without counting those wounded and drowned (cecidit quo numerus hominum pene mille annis ante in nostro regno inauditus xxviiim. numeratus per haraldos preter lesos et summersos).¹⁵ Of these, ten were notable lords of great power, whose names are given in the enclosed schedule. Of the rest only a few escaped with a few followers, and, ere this, we hope they have either been taken or are so surrounded that they will not be able to escape. The leaders of these are the Dukes of Exeter and Somerset, Lord le Roos with their and our former King Henry, the prince and queen. So much for the present, when we know more you shall hear more, but this will suffice for the moment. The whole kingdom is now under one sovereign, and the power of the others has utterly vanished away. Farewell now, and rejoice with us.

London, the 7th Ides of April, 1461.

Postscript.—With respect to our summons to the Curia, as our service is acceptable to the king and he considers us necessary to his honour, so that we cannot conveniently go to his Holiness, we beg you to write back, excusing us from that charge for the present. We expect shortly to cross the sea and may even go to the Curia for more honourable causes, and when it may be done with greater advantage to ourselves.

[Signed.] R. Beauchamp. Episcopus Sarum.

[Latin.]

Note 14. Mr. Brown's transcriber appears to have left out the words Spontanea concursio.

Note 15. The transcriber was apparently unable to read the first part of this sentence.