Biography of John Dudley 1427-1469

On 23rd September 1459 a Lancastrian army of James Tuchet 5th Baron Audley, 2nd Baron Tuchet (age 61) and [his father] John Sutton 1st Baron Dudley (age 58) fought with a Yorkist army commanded by Richard Neville Earl Salisbury (age 59) at Blore Heath, Staffordshire [Map] whilst he, Salisbury, was travelling to Ludlow [Map] to join up with the main Yorkist army. Forewarned by scouts Salisbury arranged his troops into battle order the night before, arranging his wagons defensively, and digging trenches.

The Yorkist army included John Conyers (age 48), Thomas Harrington (age 59), James Harrington (age 29), John Neville 1st Marquess Montagu (age 28), William Stanley (age 24), Roger Kynaston of Myddle and Hordley (age 26), John Savile, Walter Strickland (age 48) and John Wenlock 1st Baron Wenlock (age 59).

The Lancastrian army included brothers John Dutton, Thomas Dutton (age 38) and Peter Dutton who were killed.

James Tuchet 5th Baron Audley, 2nd Baron Tuchet was killed, probably by Roger Kynaston of Myddle and Hordley. His son John (age 33) succeeded 6th Baron Audley of Heighley in Staffordshire, 3rd Baron Tuchet. Anne Echingham Baroness Audley Heighley (age 39) by marriage Baroness Audley of Heighley in Staffordshire, Baroness Audley of Heighley in Staffordshire.

John Sutton 1st Baron Dudley and [his brother] Edmund Sutton (age 34) were captured. Lionel Welles 6th Baron Welles (age 53) fought.

William Troutbeck (age 23), Richard Molyneux of Sefton and John Egerton (age 55) were killed.

After the battle Margaret of Anjou Queen Consort England (age 29) took refuge at Eccleshall Castle, Staffordshire [Map]. Thomas Harrington, John Neville 1st Marquess Montagu and Thomas Neville (age 29) were captured at Acton Bridge, Tarporley [Map] and imprisoned at Chester Castle [Map] having been detached from the main Yorkist force.

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 [his brother-in-law] 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, [his brother] 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 [his mother-in-law] 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.