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Published March 2025. The Deeds of King Henry V, or in Latin Henrici Quinti, Angliæ Regis, Gesta, is a first-hand account of the Agincourt Campaign, and subsequent events to his death in 1422. The author of the first part was a Chaplain in King Henry's retinue who was present from King Henry's departure at Southampton in 1415, at the siege of Harfleur, the battle of Agincourt, and the celebrations on King Henry's return to London. The second part, by another writer, relates the events that took place including the negotiations at Troye, Henry's marriage and his death in 1422.
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Archaeologia Volume 21 Section III is in Archaeologia Volume 21.
14th March 1471 King Edward lands at Ravenspur
14th April 1471 Margaret Anjou lands at Weymouth
14th April 1471 Battle of Barnet
Account of King Edward the Fourth's Second Invasion of England, in 1471, drawn up by one of his Followers; with the King's Letter to the Inhabitants of Bruges upon his success: translated from a French Manuscript in the Public Library at Ghent. Communicated by Edward Jerningham (age 45), Esq. F.S.A. in a Letter to Nicholas Carlisle, Esq. F.R.S. Secretary. Read 13th April, 1820.
Edward Jerningham: On 14 Jul 1774 he was born to William Jerningham of Cossey Park 6th Baronet and Frances Dillon. He a great x 3 grandson of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland. On 29 May 1822 Edward Jerningham died.
Bolton-Row, March 10, 1820.
Dear Sir
I beg leave to communicate, through your hands, to the Society of Antiquaries, a facsimile Copy of a curious Manuscript, preserved in the Public Library at Ghent.
he Manuscript appears to be an illuminated transcript of a Report, drawn up by one of the followers of King Edward the Fourth in his final expedition from Zeland, anno 1471, and forwarded to the Court of Charles the Bold Duke of Burgundy, through whose advice and aid the same had been principally planned and effected.
The Report is accompanied by a letter from Edward himself, dated the 29th of May, and addressed to the inhabitants of Bruges, informing them of the complete success with which his expedition to England had been crowned, and thanking them for their hospitable and generous entertainment of himself and friends whilst residing in exile in their city.
The Report is divided into four heads, or chapters.
Chapter I. relates the departure of Edward and his followers from Zeland; the tempestuous weather they experienced at sea; their landing in the river Humber; their march to York; the retreat of the Earl of Warwick into Coventry; the siege of that town by King Edward; and the junction he effected with his brother Clarence at Warwick; the raising the siege of Coventry, and Edward’s march to London, where he got possession of the Tower, and of the persons of Henry VI. and the Archbishop of York; the advance of the Earl of Warwick from Coventry, in the hope of surprising Edward during the Easter holydays in London; and finally the battle of Barnet, in which the Earl of Warwick was slain.
Chapter II. relates the news received by Edward, of the arrival in England of Queen Margaret with her son Prince Edward; the king’s immediate departure from London; the approach of the two hostile armies in the neighbourhood of Bath and Bristol; and, finally, the battle of Tewksbury, in which Prince Edward is stated to have fallen.
Chapter III. relates the beheading, at Tewksbury, of the Duke of Somerset, the Prior of St. John of Jerusalem, and of the other prisoners taken after the battle; the intelligence brought to the king of the insurrection of the Bastard of Fauconbergh in Kent; and the immediate march of the former towards London for the defence of that capital.
Chapter IV. relates the unsuccessful attack made by the Bastard of Fauconbergh upon London, previous to the king’s arrival; his subsequent retreat, and seizure of the town of Sandwich with the shipping; and finally, the submission of the Bastard of Fauconbergh, with all his followers, on the 26th of May. Three days after this event, this Report appears to have been drawn up and forwarded to the Low Countries, accompanied by the king’s letter dated the 29th before-mentioned; the Report closing with the most confident hope, that the submission of the Bastard of Fauconbergh, would be very shortly followed by a general pacification throughout the kingdom.
The Manuscript is on vellum, of a quarto size, and at the head of each of the four chapters is an highly finished illuminated Miniature.
Miniature 1, represents the battle of Barnet. The two armies, clad in armour, appear engaged in close combat, the Lancastrians bearing a large ed banner, with a border and rose embroidered in gold. Edward on a white charger, caparisoned with red cloth lined with blue, and sem£ with fleurs de lis; his vizor raised, and a gold crown on the top of his helmet; appears to have just pierced with a long red lance the breastplate of his antagonist, intended no doubt for the Earl of Warwick.
In front two esquires are engaged hand to hand with swords; the Lancastrian is attempting to thrust the point of his weapon through the bars of his opponent’s helmet, whilst another of Edward’s squires is pushing him off with his lance; in the back ground, the open country appears between two high ridges of rock; on the summit of the right bank is a large castellated building. (See Plate I.)
Miniature 2 represents the battle of Tewksbury. Edward appears conspicuous on a brown horse, in complete armour, bearing on his shield the royal arms of France and England, with a crown on his helmet, and charging at the head of his horse j in front of the Lancastrians, a young knight with light-coloured hair, appears just beaten to the ground, his head uncovered, and the uplifted sword of a knight, mounted on a white charger richly caparisoned, just ready to strike it off. This probably was intended to represent the death of Prince Edward, by the hands of the Duke of Gloucester or Clarence: in front, the archers appear mutually engaged; the Yorkists, seemingly, with a plentiful supply of arrows at their feet. In the back ground, a town is seen with several steeples and spires, situated between two mounds, or barrows, covered with tufts of trees. (Plate II.)
Miniature 3, represents King Edward standing in armour, his shield emblazoned, without his helmet, and a gold crown on his head, witnessing the execution of the prisoners taken at Tewksbury. The executioner (a remarkable large man) appears upon a platform of wood raised with two steps; his axe uplifted, ready to strike off the head of the Duke of Somerset, who is bending over a block, clad in armour, with long gilt spurs, without his helmet, and a white bandage over his eyes; the other prisoners stand close to the platform, with mournful countenances, their hands tied before. John Lonstrother, the Prior of Saint John of Jerusalem, stands foremost, dressed in a long black gown, with the white cross of his order (now Maltese) on his left breast. In the back ground is represented a distant view of the country, between two high banks; on the summit of that to the left, is a building with several steeples, surrounded by an embattled wall. (Plate III.)
Miniature 4, represents the attack made by Thomas Nevill, son to the Lord Thomas Fauconbergh, and commonly called the Bastard of Fauconbergh, upon London. The Bastard is represented himself on a white horse, his lance just broken to pieces by a knight, sallying out of one of the city gates, at the head of a troop of horse, and his men appear in consequence to be turning their horses round, and retreating. Scaling-ladders are placed against the walls, and men mounting with flaming torches in their hands; whilst a trumpeter posted over the city gate is blowing a blast. (Plate IV.)
The Manuscript and Miniatures have been copied from the original by Lady Bedingfield, who obtained a particular permission for the purpose, from the trustees of the Public Library at Ghent, and it is in her name I beg to offer this communication to the Society.
I have the honour to be, dear Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
Edward Jerningham
To Nicholas Carlisle, Esq. F. R. S. Secretary.
Account of King Edward the Fourth's Second invasion of England, in 1471, drawn up by one of his Followers; with the King's Letter to the Inhabitants of Bruges upon his success: translated from a French Manuscript in the Public Library at Ghent. Communicated by Edward Jerningham, Esq. F.S.A. in a Letter to Nicholas Carlisle, Esq. F.R.S. Secretary.
Books, Prehistory, Archaeologia Volume 21 Section III Chapter I
How King Edward departed from Zealand, and arrived in his Kingdom of England; of the great Battle he fought with the Earl of Warwick and his Adherents, and how the Earl of Warwick was slain, and his whole army dispersed.
[14 Mar 1471] From the time our Sovereign Lord Edward (age 28), by the Grace of God, King of England and Lord of Ireland, departed from the Province of Zealand, and embarked, the 10th day of March, on the seas, he experienced exceeding bad weather and heavy tempests, so that he reached his kingdom of England, with his followers, in great peril and danger, on the 14th day of the said month; and landing on the northern coasta, they took from thence the road leading to the city of York, where they arrived on the 18th, and then proceeded by such forced marches, that they got to the river Trent, which is about the centre of the kingdom, on the 21st. Here they received intelligence that the Earl of Oxford (age 28) was posted at a ford, and was assembling men, in order to guard the passage; but our sovereign lord advanced within so short a distance of the earl, that the latter presently took to flight; whereupon the king marched straight forward towards his grand rebel and traitor the Earl of Warwick (age 42), who by this time had taken the field with a powerful force, but he also being informed of the approach of our sovereign lord, retired with his men on the 27th day of the same month, within a strong closed city called Coventry; before which city, our sovereign lord, on the 29th of the said month, drew up his whole army in battle array.
Note a. At Ravenspurgh [Map], on the Holderness side of the Humber.
In order, however, to preserve from destruction his own subjects, the inhabitants of this city, our sovereign lord sent a challenge to the Earl of Warwick, to come out and determine their quarrel by battle in the open field; but the earl declining the challenge for six days successively, the king drew off his army towards the town of Warwick, with a view to entice and encourage the earl to sally forth. In the mean time, the king took possession of the town of Warwick, in order to receive therein his brother the Duke of Clarence, who had arrived with a noble company of men tendering their submission and service, and before whom the king immediately appointed his banners to be displayed.
After this, news was received that the Duke of Exeter, and the Lord Beaumont were marching to the relief of the said arch rebel the Earl of Warwick; to encounter these, the king sent forward, as far as the town of Leicester, a company of men, who with all expedition repulsed and put them to flight on the 3d day of April.
At length, however, when the king found there were no means of provoking his said arch rebel to come forth out of the city of Coventry, and that he could not lay siege to, and assault the same, without destroying his own subjects, the inhabitants thereof, in number 20,000, and for whom he felt the greatest commisseration; and knowing also, that his adversary, Henry, was then within the city of London, with divers other rebels and traitors, there using and usurping his royal authority; he left Coventry, and bending his course towards London, reached the latter on the 11th day of April. Here, he presently made himself master of the Tower of this city, and seized the person of the said Henry, as well as that of the Archbishop of York: both whom he retained in custody, with divers other rebels and traitors.
In the mean while, the Earl of Warwick, supposing that the said Tower and City of London would be stoutly defended against the king’s attack, or, in all events, that the king would be engaged in solemnizing the feast of Easter in that city, and expecting therefore to come upon him unawares, he ventured forth out of the city of Coventry, and advanced forward hastily, with a numerous host.
14 Apr 1471. The king, well advised of the earl’s treacherous intent, and in order presently to encounter him, notwithstanding the solemnity of the season, set out with all his forces on the eve of Easter Sunday, the 13th of April, and marched that day as far as ten of our English miles. The whole of that night he remained under arms in the open fields, his army drawn up in the finest order of battle, until five o’clock in the morning, when he engaged with the rebels, who were commanded by the Duke of Exeter (age 40), the Marquis of Montague (age 40), the Earl of Warwick (age 42), the Earl of Oxford (age 28), and the Lord Beaumont (age 33), to the number of 30,000 combatants, according to their own reckoning. In this battle were slain the Earl of Warwick, and the marquis his brother, with a great number of knights, squires, and others, who fighting stoutly, resisted the attacks of the king and his army during three hours, but King Edward at length remained in possession of the field, through the aid of Almighty God, and of the glorious martyr Saint George.
Books, Prehistory, Archaeologia Volume 21 Section III Chapter II
[14 Apr 1471] How the Queen Margaret, and the Prince of Wales her son, arrived in England; how after their arrival they assembled a vast army; of the great battle King Edward fought with them, and how the Prince of Wales was therein slain, and great numbers with him routed.
After these events had taken place, the king received intelligence on the 16th of this month, that Margaret the pretended queen, in virtue of her usurped claim, accompanied by her son Edward the pretended Prince of Wales, with their adherents, were arrived in the kingdom, having landed on the western coast, and were advancing to encounter him with all the force they could muster, and that, bending their march still more to the west, they were making for the city of Exeter, where, with the assistance of numerous partizans in Cornwall, Somersetshire, and Dorsetshire, and other counties adjacent, the Duke (of Somerset), aided by the Earl of Warwick, had been enabled to espouse openly the quarrel of King Henry.
The said Edward and Queen Margaret were in a short time joined by great numbers of the people; in consequence of which, on the 22d day of the same month, our sovereign lord resumed the field without delay, and moved forward with such rapidity, Edward and the queen advancing equally on their side, that he soon came to within eighteen miles of the place where they were posted, viz. in the city of Bath, and where, according to the information he received, they purposed to give him battle. Immediately on the receipt of this intelligence, the king drew up his army in the finest array, and remained under arms the whole of the night, in the hopes of fighting the said Edward and Margaret towards break of day; but Margaret and her son, when they had learned the king’s resolution, and in what fine array his army was drawn up, changed their plan, and taking another route, marched with their whole force towards a strong city called Bristol, into which they were admitted through the aid and assistance of certain rebels, and were recruited by a supply of men, provisions, and money. Hereupon they resumed sufficient courage to sally forth out of the said city, and to offer the king battle as before; and on the 2d day of May, they chose and appointed a field for the combat, about nine miles from the town; as soon as this was made known to the king, he immediately advanced within two miles of Edward and Margaret; but they, as soon as the king’s approach was proclaimed, broke up their camp, and marching during that night and the following day, being thirty-six miles, reached, with their whole army, the town of Tewksbury.
04 May 1471. Intelligence of this being brought to the king, he instantly pursued them with his whole force, and made so rapid an advance, that on the 3d of May he came within three miles of Tewksbury, and there lay encamped in the open fields: the following morning, the king moved forward in the finest order, and came before the town, where he found the rebels drawn up and marshalled in a wonderful strong position. The king hereupon recommending his cause and quarrel to our blessed Creator, attacked on the 4th day of May, and, through the aid of our blessed Creator, obtained a victory over his said rebels. In the battle, Edward, the brother-in-law of the aforesaid Duke of Somerset, called Marquis of Dorset, Earl Bourchier, and the Lord Wenlock (age 71), with many other noble knights and squires, were slain; and there were made prisoners, Edmund (age 32), stiled Duke of Somerset, the Prior of Saint Johna, with divers other knights and squires.
Note a. John Lonstrother
Books, Prehistory, Archaeologia Volume 21 Section III Chapter III
[04 May 1471] How the Duke of Somerset and, the Prior of Saint John, with several other Knights and Squires, made prisoners at the Battle [4th May 1471 Battle of Tewkesbury], were beheaded in the Town of Tewksbury.
The battle being thus over, the king entered the town of Tewksbury, and therein caused to be beheaded, on the 6th day of the aforesaid month of May, the Duke of Somerset, the Prior of Saint John, together with several other knights and squires, and divers other gentlemen, who for a length of time had been the instigators of the rebellion.
These things being done, the king departed from thence the 7th day of the said month, and at the same time news was brought to him, that certain rebels in the north were beginning to foment insurrection and commotions among the people against him, in favour of King Henry; whereupon he advanced towards them, and coming into his city of Coventry on the 11th day of the month, he there refreshed himself and his army; as soon, however, as his northern rebels had learned his approach, they retreated, and dispersed their bands and companies; some of them, viz. the Lord De Camis and others were taken, and some sent to, and used means to obtain the king’s pardon: all the cities and towns, together with divers districts of country, submitted, and were secured under due obedience to the king: in fine, by the 13th of May, it was ascertained, that this rebellion, which had broken out in the north, was in no manner alarming, and that the whole of that district would very shortly be pacified. At this moment also, the king was informed, that the Bastard of Faucquenbergheb, with divers soldiers and mariners belonging to Calais, having traitorously conspired against his royal majesty, had engaged a great body of the people in Kent to espouse the quarrel of King Henry, and on the 12th day of May, had come before the city of London, saying, they would have the said King Henry from out of the Tower, and would march forward and war with King Edward wheresoever they could find him, they being in number 18,000 men.
Note b. Thomas Nevill, son to the Lord Thomas [Note. A mistake for William?] Fauconbergh.
This intelligence having reached the king, he immediately sent a great portion of his army to reinforce and succour his city of London. They marched from Coventry on the 14th day of May, and he followed himself in person on the 16th of the same month.
The rebels, when they were informed that the king was making dispositions to come and attack them at the head of a great number of men, abandoned their design of crossing the river Thames, and of advancing to meet him.
Books, Prehistory, Archaeologia Volume 21 Section III Chapter IV
How the Bastard of Fauconberghe, and his adherents, assaulted the City of London, to which they set fire in divers places. How those within the City sallied out upon a part, and put the remainder to flight.
Then the Bastard of Fauconberghe and his adherents, on the 13th and 14th days of the said month of June, assaulted most furiously the Citv of London, with cannon and arrows, and set fire to several houses on London Bridge, and to two other posts. The Earl of Exeter, and other servants of the king, seeing this, and aided by the citizens, sallied forth upon the rebels on the said 14-th day, and forced them to abandon their enterprize by putting them to flight, and beating down more than 2000, of which the greater number were slaughtered or made prisoners. Hereupon the remainder of the rebels, on the 16th, 17th, and 18th of the said month, retreated to a hill four miles distant from the city, and there continued in great force during three or four days; but when they were informed of the king’s approach, they broke up and retreated further towards the sea.
The king, continuing his march, arrived in his City of London on the 21st of May, accompanied by many great nobles, and the prime gentry of the kingdom, with other warlike personages, to the number of 30,000 horsemen. It is to be observed here, that during the period which elapsed between the battle fought at Tewksbury, and the king’s arrival in London, Margaret, the pretended queen, with divers captains of the party of her son Edward, were made prisoners and placed in safe custody, in which they remained.
24 Jun 1471 All these events having come to the knowledge of Henry, lately stiled king, but then a prisoner in the Tower of London, he took them so much to heart, that through displeasure and melancholy, he departed this life on the 24th of the said month of June.
The king having quitted London, marched with all his forces in pursuit of the rebels, who had broken up, and dispersed themselves in various parts, as well in Kent as in other counties; all excepting the Bastard of Fauconberghe, who keeping together a large body of mariners, had entered Sandwich, and had possessed himself of the command of the town, and of forty-seven ships; but no sooner were they informed of the king’s approach, than they went forth to meet him, hoping to be received into favour, and admitted into his service; which request being granted, the town and vessels were forthwith yielded up to the king on the 26th of the said month. Thus then may be now seen, how, with the aid of God and our Lady, Saint George, and all the Saints, the final expedition and proper recovery of the just title and right of our Sovereign Lord the King, Edward the Fourth, to his kingdom of England, is at length completed and terminated, within the space of eleven weeks; during which period, through the grace of God, he has by his great good sense and excellent policy, undergone and escaped many eminent perils, dangers, and difficulties; and by his noble and valorous conduct, has won two great battles, and dispersed divers great assemblages of rebels in various parts of his kingdom; great numbers of whom, although as powerful and as wickedly disposed as possibly could be, were withal so terrified and overpowered by his chivalrous courage, that they were put into utter confusion. It clearly appears then, and is as firmly believed, that with the assistance of the Almighty (which has never been wanting to him from the very commencement to the present hour), our sovereign lord will, in a very short space of time, pacify the whole of his kingdom, so that peace and prosperity will increase from day to day, to the great honour and praise of God, to his own singular and famous renown, to the signal joy and consolation of his people, his friends, and valiant allies, and to the confusion of his enemies, and all evil-minded men.
Here follow the Names of those who were killed at the last Battle which took place at Tewksbury, the 4th of May 1471.
First;
Edward, called Prince of Wales,
Sir John of Somerset,
The Lord of Weneloch,
Sir Edmund Hampden,
Sir John Wellenor,
Sir William Roos,
Sir John Delues,
Sir William de Vauby,
Sir William Fildind,
Sir Robert Wininguem,
Sir Nycolas Herby, and several others, making a thousand.
Here follow the Names of those who were beheaded. First
The Duke of Somerset,
Sir William Votary,
The Prior of St. John, called Sir John Longhenstod,
Sir Gervase Clifton,
John Delues,
Walter Courtnay,
Loys Mills,
John Flory,
Robert Jackson,
John Sowen,
Sir Thomas Tresham,
Sir William Webingh,
Sir Hunerefry,
William Grynnsby, judged to death, and pardoned.
Here follows the Copy of the Letter sent by King Edward to the Nobles and Burgo Masters, Sheriff's, and Council of Bruges.
Edward, by the grace of God, King of England, and of France, and Lord of Ireland, to our very dear and special friends, the Nobles, Men, Escouttelles, Burgo Master, Sheriffs, and Council, of the Town of Bruges, and to each of them, health and happiness.
Very dear and special friends. We thank you as much and as cordially as we can, for the good cheer and great curtesy, which from your benevolent affection it did please you to bestow on us, and demonstrate so graciously and profusely for the good and consolation of us and our people, during the time that we were in the said town; that we consider ourselves greatly beholden to you, and that you shall know in effect how dearly we prize it, as we never can do sufficient for you and for the said town; signifying to you, that it has pleased our blessed Creator, by his grace, to give us, since we left the said town and arrived in this our kingdom, such good and prosperous fortune, that we have obtained the victory over all our enemies and rebels, so that thereby we have peaceably retaken possession of our said kingdom, crown, and regalia, and are very duly obeyed, as by the bearer of these presents you can be more fully informed. For which we return and give very particular thanks and acknowledgment to our Creator, who, very dear and special friends, we pray may always have you in his holy keeping.
Given under our seal, in our City of Canterbury, the 29th day of May.
(Signed) Edward.