Biography of Edmund Beaufort 1439-1471

On 22nd May 1455 the Wars of the Roses commenced with the First Battle of St Albans. Richard Plantagenet 3rd Duke of York (age 43) commanded with Richard "Kingmaker" Neville Earl Warwick, 6th Earl Salisbury (age 26), Richard Neville Earl Salisbury (age 55), Edward Brooke 6th Baron Cobham (age 40) and Walter Strickland (age 44).

The Lancastrians ...

[his father] Edmund Beaufort 1st or 2nd Duke of Somerset (age 49) was killed. His son [his brother] Henry (age 19) succeeded 2nd Duke Somerset, 2nd Marquess Dorset, 5th Earl Somerset, 2nd Earl Dorset. Note his father is frequently incorrectly referred to as the second Duke and Henry as the third Duke. His father's Dukedom, however, was a new creation.

Henry Percy 2nd Earl of Northumberland (age 62) was killed. His son Henry (age 33) succeeded 3rd Earl of Northumberland, 6th Baron Percy of Alnwick, 14th Baron Percy of Topcliffe. Eleanor Poynings Countess Northumberland (age 33) by marriage Countess of Northumberland.

Thomas Clifford 8th Baron Clifford (age 41) was killed. His son John (age 20) succeeded 9th Baron de Clifford, 9th Lord Skipton. Margaret Bromflete Baroness Clifford (age 21) by marriage Baroness de Clifford.

William Cotton (age 45) and Richard Fortescue (age 41) were killed.

Humphrey Stafford 1st Duke of Buckingham (age 52) was wounded and captured.

King Henry VI of England and II of France (age 33), John Sutton 1st Baron Dudley (age 54) and Edmund Sutton (age 30) were captured.

Henry Beaufort 2nd or 3rd Duke of Somerset was wounded. James Butler 1st Earl Wiltshire 5th Earl Ormonde (age 34) and John Wenlock 1st Baron Wenlock (age 55) fought.

Richard Cotton of Hampstall Ridware (age 51) and his son William Cotton of Connington in Huntingdonshire (age 27) were killed.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

William Carey (age 34) was killed.

Chronicle of Jean de Waurin [1400-1474]. It is to be remembered that when the King arrived before the said enclosure, he observed, before launching an attack, that to the right-hand side of this fort there was a very thick forest, within which he suspected his enemies had set up a large ambush. For this reason, he selected two hundred of the best lancers from his army, to whom he ordered to advance towards the ridge of this forest, keeping an eye on it, and if necessary, to engage there and do their duty well. And if they did not see any signs of an ambush, they were to return to the battle and strike against their enemies with the greatest advantage they could find. This provision came just in time, as perfectly as possible, for the two hundred aforementioned lancers, after having traversed a distance along the edge of the woods and seeing no signs of an ambush, were able to employ themselves elsewhere, and they struck against the Duke of Somerset (age 32) and his company so effectively that, by their attack, and the valour of King Edward, who was assaulting them with his battle from the other side as you have heard, the said Somerset and all the vanguard he led were compelled to flee, resulting in a great slaughter during their retreat.

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

Chronicle of Jean de Waurin [1400-1474]. The battle began, initiated by the King's archers, who launched a heavy assault against their enemies, who valiantly defended themselves against both artillery fire and arrows. At the front of their battlefield, there were deep ditches, embankments, and bushes, making it difficult for the King's forces to approach them directly. But Edmund (age 32), known as the Duke of Somerset, who on that day led the vanguard, along with his companions, feeling troubled in that place and dismayed by the dense barrage of arrows raining down on them, or driven by great courage and bravery that overshadowed their fear, ventured out of their enclosure, seeing that no one noticed their departure, they came through a small stream and organized themselves neatly opposite the King's battle line, where they initiated a truly remarkable assault. The King bravely met their attack, and through his valour, skill, and the true assurance of his companions, he entered their enclosure, gaining control of it by force of arms, so much so that his enemies were forced to retreat from the hill.

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