Henry Neville 1437-1469

Warkworth's Chronicle [1461-1474]. 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 [aged 32]⁴, sonne and heyre to the Lorde Latymere, Sere Rogere Pygot, knyghte, James Conya[r]s [aged 36]⁵, sonne and heyre to Sere Jhon Conya[r]s [aged 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:" [On Monday, there was bloodshed and slaughter.]

and that Herbert and his fellow captives were executed on the Wednesday-

"Marchog a las ddyw Merclur," [A knight was slain on Wednesday.]

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 [aged 52], half-sister to the heiress Anne [aged 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 [aged 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 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 [aged 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 whosoever 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 [aged 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 behaved 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 every 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.

Works of Gutor Glyn. Poem about the death of William Herbert 1st Earl Pembroke [aged 46] who was executed on Thursday 27th July 1469 following his capture at the Battle of Edgecote Moor aka Danes Moor aka Banbury fought on Monday 24th July 1469.

LIII MARWNAD WILIAM HERBART IARLL PENFRO	53. Elegy for William Herbert, Earl of Pembroke
Dawns o Bowls, doe'n ysbeiliwyd,	The Dance of St Paul’s1, yesterday we were plundered,
Dwyn yr holl dynion i'r rhwyd.	All men were drawn into the net.
Dawns gwŷr dinas y Garrai,	The dance of the men of the City of the Thong2 [Doncaster],
Dawns yr ieirll (dawn nes i rai).	The dance of the earls, it draws nearer to some.
Duw Llun y bu waed a lladd,	On Monday there were bloodshed and slaughter,	5
Dydd amlwg, diwedd ymladd.	A conspicuous day, the end of battle.
Duw a ddug y dydd dduw Iau	On Thursday God took away
Iarll Dwywent a'r holl Deau.	The Earl of the two Gwents and of all the South.
Marchog a las dduw Merchyr,	A knight [deceased] was slain on Wednesday,
Mwy ei ladd no mil o wŷr;	His death outweighed that of a thousand men,	10
Syr Risiart, ni syr lesu	Sir Richard, Jesus will not be angry
Wrtho, er lladd North a'r llu.	With him for slaying the North and its host.
Duw-Mawrth, gwae ni am Domas,	On Tuesday, alas for us, Thomas [deceased]4 fell,
Duw Llun gyda'i frawd y llas.	On Monday he was slain beside his brother.
Dwyn yr iarll a'i bedwarllu,	The taking of the earl and his fourfold host	15
Dydd farn yr anrhydedd fu.	Was a Day of Judgement for honour.
Arglwydd difwynswydd Defnsir	The dishonourable Lord of Devon [aged 30]5
A ffoes, ni chafas oes hir.	Fled, and did not live long.
Bradwyr a droes brwydr a drwg	Traitors turned battle and calamity
Banbri i'r iarll o Benbrwg.	At Banbury against the Earl of Pembroke.	20
Cad drycin am y drin draw,	A storm of battle arose from that conflict,
Carliaid a wnaeth y curlaw.	Base men brought about the deluge.
Ymladd tost am laddiad hwn	The journey to Northampton
A wna'r hynt i Norhantwn.	Will bring fierce fighting in vengeance for this death.
Awn oll i ddial ein iaith	Let us all go to avenge our nation	25
Ar ddannedd y Nordd unwaith ;	Upon the teeth of the North at once.
A dyludwn hyd Lydaw	And let us pursue them as far as Brittany,
Dan draed y cyffredin draw,	Trampling those common men beneath our feet.
Ef â'r gwyr, a fu ar gam,	May he and the men who acted wrongfully
Oll i ddiawl, yn lladd Wiliam.	All go to the devil for killing William.	30
O rhoed, lle'i bu anrhydedd,	Where honour once rested, let armour or a sword
Ar fwnwgl iarll arf neu gledd,	Now be placed upon an earl’s neck.
(Och Fair!) gnodach fu arwain	Alas, Mary, more often he was accustomed to wear
Aerwy mawr o aur a main.	A great collar of gold and precious stones.
Doe'dd aeth dan y blaned ddu	Yesterday he went beneath the dark planet,	35
Drwy'r Fâl draw i ryfelu.	Through the Vale [Map], to wage war.
Och finnau, ucho f'anhun,	Alas for me, above my sleep,
Nad arhôi'n ei dir ei hun!	That he did not remain in his own land!
Ymddiried I'r dynged wan	He trusted in frail fate,
A'i twyllodd o Went allan.	Which deceived him out of Gwent.	40
Tair merched, tair tynged hon,	Three maidens, these three Fates7,
Y sy'n dwyn oes ein dynion.	Are carrying away the lives of our men.
Un a gynnail cogeilyn ;	One holds the distaff,
Arall a nydd dydd pob dyn.	Another spins each man’s days.
Trydedd yn torri edau	The third cuts the thread,	45
Er lladd iarll a'r llu dduw Iau.	To slay the earl and the host on Thursday.
Mynnwn fy mod ymannos	I wish that I had been nearby,
Yn torri pen Atropôs.	Cutting off Atropos’s head.
Nid rhan y tair a henwais	It is not the task of the three I have named
Nyddu oes hir yn nydd Sais.	To spin a long life in an Englishman’s day.	50
Os gwir i blant Alis gau,	If it is true that the false children of Alis8,
Draeturiaid, dorri tyrau,	Traitors, have broken the towers,
Ni ddói'r iangwyr, ni ddringynt	The young men would not come, nor would they climb
I dai'r gWr na'i dyrau gynt.	To the man’s halls or his towers as before.
Gwinllan fu Raglan ir iaith,	Raglan was a vineyard for our nation,	55
Gwae ni wjl ei gwin eilwaith !	Alas for us to see its wine once more!
Gwae a weles ar galan	Alas for him who saw, at the New Year,
Gynnal gwledd ar ganol glan !	A feast held beside the riverbank!
Gwae a geisio rodio rhawg	Alas for anyone who seeks to wander long
Gwent dlawd oedd gynt oludawg!	Through poor Gwent, which once was rich!	60
Ei farw oedd well i fardd iach	His death was better for a sound poet
Heb ei bwyll no byw bellach.	Who had lost his wits than living on.
Merddin Wyllt am ei urddas	Myrddin Wyllt9, for his lord’s honour,
Amhorfryn, aeth i'r glyn glas;	Son of Morfryn, went to the green valley,
Af yn wyllt o fewn elltydd	I shall go mad among the wooded slopes,	65
I eiste' rhwng clustiau'r hydd.	To sit between the stag’s ears.
Ef a'm llas i am nasiwn	He killed me for my nation
Yr awr y llas yr iarll hwn.	At the hour when this earl was slain.
Cymro oedd yn ffrwyno Ffrainc,	He was a Welshman who curbed France,
Camreol Cymry ieuainc.	A leader of young Welshmen.	70
Ofn i bawb tra fu'n y byd,	He was feared by all while he lived,
Yn iach ofn, oni chyfyd.	Farewell to fear, unless he rises again.
Ymgyrchu i Gymru a gân',	They will march against Wales and sing,
Ymsaethu 'Mhowys weithian.	They will shoot in Powys now.
Doed aliwns, nis didolir,	Let an alliance come, they will not be divided,	75
O dôn', pwy a'u lludd i dir?	From overseas, who will prevent their landing?
Llusgynt wŷr, llosgen' eu tai,	They will drag men away and burn their houses,
Lladdwyd y neb a'u lluddiai.	The man who hindered them has been slain.
Traws eto rhag trais atyn',	There is still a defence against violence against us,
Tra ater Syr Rosier ynn.	So long as Sir Roger [aged 59]10 remains with us.	80
Tri mab iarll, nid trwm y byd,	Three sons of an earl11, the world is not bleak,
Tri a ostwng ein tristyd.	Three who will lessen our sorrow.
Un o'i hil yn neheuwlad	One of his line in the southern land
A gyrraedd dwyn gradd ei dad.	Will attain and inherit his father’s rank.
Iarll oedd, Cymru oll iddo,	He was an earl, all Wales was his,	85
Iarll o'i fab arall a fo.	May another of his sons become an earl.

Note 1. The Dance of St Paul’s. The Dance of Death was a popular performance, in which Death led twenty-four representatives of every age and social class to the grave. This dance was depicted in many forms, media and places. 'There was a Dance of Death painted round the cloister of old St Paul’s in London, in the reign of Henry VI'. Guto had seen the image, and to him the slaughter at Banbury was an imitation of the Dance of St Paul’s, with Death 'drawing all the men into the net'. Line 2. On that day Death took a great prey from among both the English and the Welsh, but Guto was thinking chiefly of the earls.

Note 2. the City of the Thong: Hengist asked for as much land on which to build a castle as a thong could enclose. Vortigern promised him this. Hengist then took an ox-hide, cut it into a single thong and enclosed a considerable piece of land. There he built a fortress, 'which was formerly called Caer y Garrai by the Britons, but is now called Doncaster by the English, that is, Thong-Chester'.

Note 3. It was Richard Herbert who was executed on Wednesday 26th July 1469 although Ifor Evans suggests Henry Neville [deceased].

Note 4. Thomas Vaughan of Bredwardine, executed Tuesday 25th July 1469.

Note 5. Humphrey Stafford 1st Earl Devon.

Note 6. Dore Abbey, Herefordshire [Map], in the Golden Valley.

Note 7. The Fates, namely Clotho, who spins the thread of life, Lachesis, who determines the length of the thread, and Atropos, who cuts it.

Note 8. That is, the English, the children of Alis Rhonwen.

Note 9. Myrddin ap Morfryn: that is, Myrddin Wyllt, who went mad and fled to the Caledonian Forest after losing his patron, Gwenddolau, at the Battle of Arfderydd.

Note 10. Probably Roger Vaughan, brother of Thomas who is referred to in line 13.

Note 11. 81. Three sons of an earl: Richard [aged 27], William [aged 18] and Walter [aged 17], sons of the Earl of Pembroke.