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The Chronicle of Walter of Guisborough, a canon regular of the Augustinian Guisborough Priory, Yorkshire, formerly known as The Chronicle of Walter of Hemingburgh, describes the period from 1066 to 1346. Before 1274 the Chronicle is based on other works. Thereafter, the Chronicle is original, and a remarkable source for the events of the time. This book provides a translation of the Chronicle from that date. The Latin source for our translation is the 1849 work edited by Hans Claude Hamilton. Hamilton, in his preface, says: "In the present work we behold perhaps one of the finest samples of our early chronicles, both as regards the value of the events recorded, and the correctness with which they are detailed; Nor will the pleasing style of composition be lightly passed over by those capable of seeing reflected from it the tokens of a vigorous and cultivated mind, and a favourable specimen of the learning and taste of the age in which it was framed." Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback.
1459-1461 Wars of the Roses: Second War is in 15th Century Events.
On 9th October 1459 Thomas Tresham (age 39) was elected Speaker of the House of Commons at Coventry, Warwickshire [Map]. The primary purpose of the Parliament was to attaint the Yorkist leaders:
Richard Plantagenet 3rd Duke of York (age 48), his sons Edward Earl of March (age 17), Edmund Earl of Rutland (age 16) were attainted, as were Richard Neville Earl Salisbury (age 59) and his sons Richard "Kingmaker" Neville Earl Warwick, 6th Earl Salisbury (age 30) and John Neville 1431-1471 (age 28).
Chronicle of Gregory [1400-1467]. October 1459. Ande thes fore said lordys sende letters unto many placys of Inglonde howe they were a vysyde to reforme the hurtys and myschevys ande grevys that raynyd in this londe; and that causyd them moche the more to be lovyde of the comyns of Kente and of London; and by this mene the comyns of Kent sende them worde to ressayve them and to go with them in that a-tente that they wolde kepe trewe promys, and as for the more parte of this londe hadde pytte that they were attaynte and proclaymyd trayters by the Parlement at was holde at Covyntre.
A Brief Latin Chronicle. 9th October 1459. In the same year, around the feast of Saint Edmund, King and Martyr, a parliament was convened at Coventry, where the said Duke and three Earls, along with many other knights and magnates, were indicted there for grand treason and declared to be attainted traitors by the lords of that parliament; and the actions approved by the said duke and lords regarding their insurrection at the town of St Albans in the previous parliament were completely annulled in this one. And on the feast of Saint Agnes following, the said Duke and lords were publicly proclaimed as attainted traitors in the city of London, and thus remained until about the feast of Saint John the Baptist following.
Eodem anno, circiter festum Sancti Edmundi Regis et Martiris, convocato parliamento apud Coventre, indictati sunt ibidem dicti Dux et tres Comites cum aliis multis militibus et magnatibus super grandi prodicione et declarati pro ateyntid traytowrs per dominos illius parliamenti; et ea que per dictos ducem et dominos de insurreccione sua apud villam Sancti Abani in priori parliamento approbata sunt, in isto penitus sunt cassata. Et in festo Sancte Agnetis proximo sequente, dicti Dux et domini in civitate London. publice proclamati sunt pro ateyntid traytours, et sic manserunt usque circiter festum Sancti Johannis Baptiste proximo sequens.
An English Chronicle. 20th November 1459. Thanne was a parlement holden at Couentre, and they that were chosenne knyghtes of the shyres, and other that had interesse in the parlement, were nat dyfferent but chosen a denominacione of thaym that were enemyes to the forseyde lordes so beyng oute of the reame. In the whiche parlement, the sayde duk of York and the iij. erles and other, whos names shalle be rehersed afterward, withoute any answere, as traytours and rebelles to the kyng were atteynt of treson, and theyre goodes, lordshyppys and possessyons escheted in to the kynges hande, and they and theyre heyres dysheryted vn to the ixthe degre. And by the kynges commissione in euery cyte, burghe, and toune cryed opynly and proclamed as for rebelles and traytoures; and theyre tenauntes and there men spoyled of theyre goodes, maymed, bete, and slayne withoute eny pyte; the toune of Ludlow, [folio 198b] longyng thanne to the duk of York, was robbed to the bare walles, and the noble duches of York vnmanly and cruelly was entreted and spoyled.
On 15th January 1460 Yorkist forces commanded by John Dynham 1st Baron Dynham (age 27) and Richard "Kingmaker" Neville Earl Warwick, 6th Earl Salisbury (age 31) raided Sandwich, Kent [Map] capturing a number of Lancastrian ships. In addition, the Woodville family: Richard Woodville 1st Earl Rivers (age 55), his wife Jacquetta of Luxemburg Duchess Bedford (age 45) and their son Anthony Woodville 2nd Earl Rivers (age 20) were captured.
Patent Rolls. 30th October 1459. Farnham Royal, Buckinghamshire [Map]. Commission of array to Richard Wydevyle of Ryvers (age 54), knight, and the sheriff of Kent in Kent, to resist Richard, duke of York (age 48), Edward Earl of March (age 17), Richard, Earl of Warwick (age 30), and Richard, Earl of Salisbury (age 59), and their accomplices, leagued in rebellion against the king and crown and allowed by certain persons having the keeping of the town and castle of Calais [Map] to enter the same contrary to the king's mandates, and now preparing to arouse congregations and insur rections in the said county; and appointment of the same to arrest all ships and other vessels late of the said Earl of Warwick and all the tackling thereof and to keep the same for the king's use. By K.
Patent Rolls. Membrane 27d. 8th November 1459. Commission to John de Clyfford (age 24) to arrest all lands, possessions and goods of any rebels in Westmoreland, except of those whom the king has taken into his protection. By K.
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The Chronicle of Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke. Baker was a secular clerk from Swinbroke, now Swinbrook, an Oxfordshire village two miles east of Burford. His Chronicle describes the events of the period 1303-1356: Gaveston, Bannockburn, Boroughbridge, the murder of King Edward II, the Scottish Wars, Sluys, Crécy, the Black Death, Winchelsea and Poitiers. To quote Herbert Bruce 'it possesses a vigorous and characteristic style, and its value for particular events between 1303 and 1356 has been recognised by its editor and by subsequent writers'. The book provides remarkable detail about the events it describes. Baker's text has been augmented with hundreds of notes, including extracts from other contemporary chronicles, such as the Annales Londonienses, Annales Paulini, Murimuth, Lanercost, Avesbury, Guisborough and Froissart to enrich the reader's understanding. The translation takes as its source the 'Chronicon Galfridi le Baker de Swynebroke' published in 1889, edited by Edward Maunde Thompson. Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback.
Patent Rolls. 10th December 1459. Coventry, Warwickshire [Map]. Commission to Richard Wydevyle of Ryvers (age 54), knight, Thomas Broun, knight, and the mayor of Sandwich to take near Sandwich, Kent [Map] the muster of the men at arms and archers ordered to go on the safe keeping of the sea in the company of Gervase Clyfton (age 54), knight, and to certify the king thereof in Chancery. By K.
Commission to Thomas Kyryell (age 63), knight, John Cheyne, knight, Thomas Broun, knight, John Seyncler, esquire, and Richard Dalafeld, esquire, to take near Sandwich, Kent [Map] the muster of the men at arms and archers ordered to go on the safe-keeping of the sea in the company of Richard Wydevyle of Ryvers, knight, as above. By K.
An English Chronicle. January 1460. And whanne the seyde erle of Warrewyk sawe a conuenient tyme, he sent some of his men to Sandwhyche by nyghte, the whyche took the sayde lorde Ryuers (age 55) and Antony [Woodvill] (age 20)1 his sone, in theyre beddes, and lad theym ouer to Caleys, and took with theym alle the grete shyppes, saue on called "Grace Dieu," the whyche myghte nat be had awey because she was broke in the botome.
Note 1. Insertion by the hand of Stowe.
Chronicle of Gregory [1400-1467]. 15th January 1460. But the Erle of Warwycke (age 31) come unto Sondewyche [Map], and there he toke the Lord Rivers (age 55) with his ladye (age 45), the lady and Duchyes of Bedfordeb and brought them to Calys, for he was commaundyd to have londyd at C[a]lys by the King, but he was brought there sonner then him lekyd.
Note b. Jaquetta, widow of the Regent Bedford. She was the daughter of Peter of Luxemburg, Count of St. Pol, and soon after her first husband's death married Sir Richard Woodville, who was created Baron Rivers by Henry VI. in 1448, and Earl Rivers by Edward IV. (who was his son-in law) in 1466.
Chronicle of William of Worcester [1415-1482]. [15th January 1460]. And shortly after the said feast, John Dynham (age 27), with others from Calais, secretly entered Sandwich [Map], and there captured Lord Rivers (age 55) and Anthony Woodville (age 20) his son, with many large ships, and brought them to Calais, where the Earls of March (age 17), Warwick (age 31), and Salisbury (age 60) were present.
Et cito post dictum festum Johannes Denham cum aliis de Calesiæ secrete intravit Sandwycum, ac ibidem cepit dominum de Reverys et Antonium Widwele filium ejus, cum multis magnis navibus, et adduxit Calisiæ, comitibus Marchiæ et Warrewici et Sarum, Calisiæ existentibus.
Around 5th June 1460 when the relief expedition led by Osbert Mountfort was ready to to leave Sandwich, Kent [Map] for Guînes, waiting only for a fair wind, the Yorkists John Dynham 1st Baron Dynham (age 27), John Wenlock 1st Baron Wenlock (age 60), William Neville Baron Fauconberg (age 55) crossed from Calais and attacked Sandwich, Kent [Map] killing many of Osbert's men. Osbert Mountfort was captured. William Neville Baron Fauconberg remained at Sandwich is preparation for the subsequent landing by Yorkist forces at the end of the month.
On 25th June 1460 Osbert Mountfort and two of his associates were beheaded on the sands at the foot of the Rysbank Tower [Map] by Yorkist sailors.
On 26th June 1460 Edward, Earl of March (age 18) and Richard "Kingmaker" Neville Earl Warwick, 6th Earl Salisbury (age 31) landed at Sandwich, Kent [Map].
Patent Rolls. Membrane 17d. 8th May 1460. Commission to Thomas Kiriell (age 64), knight, John Cheyne, knight, Thomas Westminster. Broun, knight, John Fogge, Robert Home and William Hexstall, to take near Sandwich, Kent [Map] the muster of all men at arms and archers ordered to go with Henry, duke of Exeter (age 29), on the safe-keeping of the sea to resist the king's rebels and enemies, and to certify the king thereof in Chancery.
Patent Rolls. Membrane 13d. 23rd May 1460. Commission to Osbert Mountford and John Baker, esquires, ordered, Coventry, by advice of the council, to bring 200 men at arms and archers to Henry, duke of Somerset (age 24), for the safe keeping and defence of the castle and town of Guysnes and to resist the king's rebels and enemies, appointing them to arrest ships and vessels necessary herein and masters and mariners therefor.
Commission to Thomas Thorp, Thomas Kiriell (age 64), knight, John Cheyne, knight, Thomas Broun, knight, Henry Lowes, esquire, John Scot and Robert Home, to take the muster of the said Osbert Mountfort and John Baker and the said men at arms, and to certify the king thereof in Chancery.
An English Chronicle. 1460 June Yorkist Landing at SandwichJune 1460. Thanne the noble erles of Marche, Warrewyk, and Salysbury, hauyng wynde and weder at thayre plesaunce, arryued graciously at Sandwyche; where met wythe thaym master Thomas Bourchier archebysshop of Caunterbury, and a grete multitude of peple wythe hym; and wythe hys crosse before hym, [he] went forthe wythe the sayde erles and theyre peple toward Londoun, and sente an herowde to the cyte to knowe howe they were dysposed, and whether they wolde stand with theyme in thayre iust quarelle, and graunte hem leve for to passe thoroughe the cite. They that were nat frendely [folio 204b] to the erles, counseyled the mayre and the comynalte for to ley gunneȝ at the brege for to kepe thaym owte, and so a lytelle diuision there was among the citeȝens, but yt was sone ceased.
All About History Books
The Chronicle of Walter of Guisborough, a canon regular of the Augustinian Guisborough Priory, Yorkshire, formerly known as The Chronicle of Walter of Hemingburgh, describes the period from 1066 to 1346. Before 1274 the Chronicle is based on other works. Thereafter, the Chronicle is original, and a remarkable source for the events of the time. This book provides a translation of the Chronicle from that date. The Latin source for our translation is the 1849 work edited by Hans Claude Hamilton. Hamilton, in his preface, says: "In the present work we behold perhaps one of the finest samples of our early chronicles, both as regards the value of the events recorded, and the correctness with which they are detailed; Nor will the pleasing style of composition be lightly passed over by those capable of seeing reflected from it the tokens of a vigorous and cultivated mind, and a favourable specimen of the learning and taste of the age in which it was framed." Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback.
Chronicle of Gregory [1400-1467]. 21st June 1460. Alle soo thes for said lordys come agayne unto Sondewyche [Map] the xxj [21] day of June nexte folowyng. And the comyns of Kente and there welle-wyllers brought them to Lundon, and so forthe to Northehampton.
A Brief Latin Chronicle. 25th June 1460. In the year of our Lord 1460, around the feast of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist, the aforementioned three earls returned to England with a moderate retinue, and many, hearing of their arrival, joined them. They peacefully entered the city of London within the octave of the Apostles Peter and Paul, and, after some were beheaded in Cheapside for their crimes, two earls took the road towards the king.
On 20th July 1460 Thomas Scales 7th Baron Scales (age 63) was murdered by boatmen whilst travelling from the Tower of London [Map] to Sanctuary, Westminster Abbey [Map]. His daughter Elizabeth succeeded 8th Baroness Scales. She was, or had been married to, Henry Bourchier (the year of his death may been 1458). She was in 1466 married to Anthony Woodville 2nd Earl Rivers (age 20), brother of King Edward IV's (age 18) wife Elizabeth Woodville Queen Consort England (age 23); an example of the Woodville family marrying rich heiresses.
A Brief Latin Chronicle. Meanwhile, with Lord Scales (age 62) and many others guarding the Tower of London, after cannon shots were fired at the besiegers outside the Tower and sailors on the Thames, many were killed. Eventually, after the Tower was surrendered to Sir John Wenlock (age 59), who was besieging it, Lord Scales, on the night of Saint Margaret1, attempting to escape by boat from those lying in wait for him, was captured and killed. And shortly thereafter, Sir Thomas Browne (age 57) along with five others, who were condemned for extortion, robbery, and treason, were beheaded at Tyburn.
Note 1. The Feast of Saint Margaret the Virgin i.e. 20th July.
Interim, domino Scales cum multis aliis Turrim London. servante, factis jacturis gunnorum in extra existentes obsessores Turris et nautas in Tamesi, multi interfecti sunt. Tandem, reddita Turre predicta Johanni Wenloc militi obsidenti eam, dominus Scales in nocte Sancte Margarete volens in cimba evadere ab insidiantibus sibi, captus et interfectus est. Et infra breve Thomas Browne miles cum aliis quinque qui super extorcione rapinis et prodicione damnati sunt apud Tyburne decapitati sunt.
Chronicle of Gregory [1400-1467]. 20th July 1460. As for the sege of the Towre, it is com1 and opyn i-knowe, I passe ovyr. But son aftyr the ende of the sege the Lord Schalys (age 63), that notabylle warryoure, was slayne at Synt Mary Overeyes [Map] with water men, and laye there dyspoyly nakyd as a worme. But the lordys were full sory of his dethe.
Note 1. Apparently the writer intended to say "commonly."
An English Chronicle. 20th July 1460. The lord Scales, for as meche as men of Londoun loued hym nat, he thoughte that he myghte haue stande in the more sewrte in the saintwary of Westmynstre thanne in the toure. Late in the euyn, [he] entred a boote with iij [3] persones rowyng toward Westmynstre, and a wommanne the whiche that knewe hym ascryed hym, and anone the boote men gadered theym togedre and folowed hym, and fylle vpponne hym, and kylde hym and caste hym on the lond, besyde seynt Mary Ouerey. And grete pyte it was, that so noble and so worshypfulle a knyghte, and so welle approued in the warrys of Normandy and Fraunce, shuld dy so myscheuously.
On 3rd August 1460 King James II of Scotland (age 29) was killed accidentally whilst besieging Roxburgh Castle when a cannon exploded and he was hit by debris. He was buried at Holyrood Abbey, Holyrood. His son James (age 9) succeeded III King Scotland.
William Douglas 3rd Lord Drumlanrig (age 20) was present.
A Brief Latin Chronicle. 1460. About this time, James, King of Scotland (age 29), nobly governed his people, restraining thieves and oppressors, expanding agriculture, and maintaining holy justice. In the year of our Lord 1460, with his army, he besieged Roxburgh Castle and was killed by his own cannon, which burst while he stood by it. However, his army demolished the same castle and then withdrew.
Circiter istud tempus Jacobus rex Scocie populum suum nobiliter rexit, fures et oppressores cohibens, agriculturam amplians, sanctam(?) justiciam servans. Hic anno Domini 1460, cum suo exercitu obsedit castrum Rokisburgh et per propriam gunnam suam diruptam, cui astitit, interfectus est. Exercitus tamen ejus idem castrum prostravit et recessit.
An English Chronicle. 10th August 1460. Thys same yeere, in the monethe of August, the kyng of Scottes beseged the castelle of Rokesburghe in Northumbreland, and on seynt Laurence day in the mornyng, er he had herde masse, he wolde haue fyred a grete gonne for to have shot to the castelle, and the chambre of the gonne brake and slowe hym.
On 10th October 1460 Richard Plantagenet 3rd Duke of York (age 49) claimed the Kingdom of England in Westminster Hall [Map] witnessed by Cardinal Thomas Bourchier (age 42).
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The Chronicle of Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke. Baker was a secular clerk from Swinbroke, now Swinbrook, an Oxfordshire village two miles east of Burford. His Chronicle describes the events of the period 1303-1356: Gaveston, Bannockburn, Boroughbridge, the murder of King Edward II, the Scottish Wars, Sluys, Crécy, the Black Death, Winchelsea and Poitiers. To quote Herbert Bruce 'it possesses a vigorous and characteristic style, and its value for particular events between 1303 and 1356 has been recognised by its editor and by subsequent writers'. The book provides remarkable detail about the events it describes. Baker's text has been augmented with hundreds of notes, including extracts from other contemporary chronicles, such as the Annales Londonienses, Annales Paulini, Murimuth, Lanercost, Avesbury, Guisborough and Froissart to enrich the reader's understanding. The translation takes as its source the 'Chronicon Galfridi le Baker de Swynebroke' published in 1889, edited by Edward Maunde Thompson. Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback.
Chronicle of Gregory [1400-1467]. 9th September 1460. Ande this same year the Duke of Yorke (age 48) come out of Yrlonde, and londyd at the Redde Clyffe in Loncaschyre, and his lyvery was whyte and brewe in her clothyng, and i-brawderyd a-bove with fetyrlockys. And this he come forthe towarde London; ande then his lady the duchyes (age 45) met with him in a chare i-coveryd with blewe felewette, and iiij pore coursserys theryn. And so he come to Habyngdon, and there he sende for trompeters and claryners to bryng him to London, and there he gave them baners with the hole armys of Inglonde without any dyversyte, and commaundyd his swerde to ben borne uppe ryghte be-fore hym; and soo he rode forthe unto Lundon tylle he come to Westemyster to Kyng Harrys palys ande there he claymyde the crowne of Inglonde.
An English Chronicle. 8th October 1460. And thys same yere the Tewesday the viij. day of Octobre, a parlement was begonne at Westmynstre; and thyder came Richard duk of York, that a lytelle before was come oute of Yrlond, and was loged in the paleys, the kyng beyng there, and brak vp the dores [folio 207b] of the kynges chambre. And the kyng heryng the grete noyse and rumore of the peple, yaafe hym place and took another chambre.
A Chronicle of London. 10th October 1460 ... the kyng taken and brought to London, and callid a parliament; and the duke of Yorke came out of Irland, and to Westm' the xth day of Octobre, and there made clayme to the crowne; aggrement was made bitwene the kyng and him, and he was made protectour, his title allowid to be kyng after the kyngs deceas;
On 25th October 1460 Parliament enacted the Act of Accord 39 Hen VI by which Richard Plantagenet 3rd Duke of York (age 49) was declared heir to King Henry VI of England and II of France (age 38) disinheriting Edward of Westminster (age 7). At the same Parliament on 31st October 1460 Richard Plantagenet 3rd Duke of York was created Prince of Wales, 1st Duke of Cornwall. He was also appointed Lord Protector.
Chronicle of Gregory [1400-1467]. October 1460. Ande he kept King Harry there by fors and strengythe, tylle at the laste the King for fere of dethe grauntyd him the crowne, for a man that hathe by ly tylle wytte wylle son be a feryd of dethe, and yet I truste and bee-leve there was no man that wolde doo him bodely harme. But the lordys entretyd that Kyng Harry shuld rejoyse the crowne durynge his lyffe, and aftyr his lyffe that the crowne sholde returne unto the dukys is a hayrys as it requyrythe by that tytylle, and here uppon they were swore to ben faythefulle and trewe unto Kyng Harry. And alle so that it shulde [be] b graunte treson to them that spake any evyr c by the Duke of Yorke or his wife, or any of his chyldryn. And alle the lordys grauntyd there to, and soo it was proclaymyd in London and in many placys of Inglond. And that the for-said duke shulde have out of the crow[n]e yearly to his expence, for him and his hayrys durynge Kyng Harrys lyffe, xM [Note. 10000] marke in mony. Thys acordement was made the laste day of October.
An English Chronicle. [10th October 1460]. Then the seyde duk Richard, remembryng the grete and manyfolde wrongys, exylys, and vylonyes, that he had suffred and be put vnto by thys seyde kyng Harry, and by hys; and also how wrongfully and vniustly he had be, and was, dyspleased and dyseased of hys ryghte enheritaunce of the reaume and croune of Englond, by violent intrusyonne of kyng Harry the iiijthe, whyche vnryghtefully, wrongfully, and tyrannously vsurped the crowne after the dethe of kyng Rychard his cosyn, verray and ryghtfulle heyre therof, and so wrongfully holdyn from hymm, and occupyed and holde, by the sayde kyng Harry the iiijthe, the vthe, and kyng Harry the vjthe that now ys in to thys tyme; he as ryghte heyre by lynealle descens from the sayde kyng Richard, chalaunged and claymed the sayd reame and croune of Englond, purposyng withoute any more delay to haue be crouned onne Alle Halow day, thanne next folowyng: and heropon sent to the lordes and comones of the parlement in wrytyng, hys sayde clayme, tytle and pedegre, and nat wold come in to the parlement tylle he had aunswere therof. The whyche tytle, clayme and pedegre, after diligent inspeccione and wyse delyberacione of thaym had, dyscussed and approued, by alle the seyde parlement; peese, vnyte and concorde betwene the kyng and the sayde duk Richard, the Fryday in the vygylle of Alhalow was maad, stabylysshed and concluded, as yt appereth plenely, and ys conteyned in tharticles here next folowyng:— [folio 208a]
"Blyssed be Jhesu, in Whos handes and bounte restethe and ys the pease and vnyte betwyxt princes, and the weele of euery reaume yknow, by Whos direccione aggreed hit ys, appoynted, and accorded as folowethe, betwyxt the moste Hyghe and most Myghty Prynce, Kyng Harry the vjth, kyng of Englond and of Fraunce and lorde of Yrelond, on that on party, and the ryghte Hyghe and Myghty Prynce Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York, on that other party, uppon certayne matyers of variaunce meued betwyxt thayme; and in especyalle, uppon the clayme and tytle vn to the corones of Englond and of Fraunce, and royalle power, estate, and dygnyte apperteynyng to the same, and lordshyppe of Yrelond, opened, shewed, and declared by the sayde duk afore alle the lordes spyrytuelle and temporalle beyng in thys present parliament: The sayde aggrement, appoyntement and accord, to be auctorysed by the same parlement.
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On 16th December 1460 a Lancastrian force ambushed the forces of the Richard Plantagenet 3rd Duke of York (age 49) near Worksop, Nottinghamshire. Andrew Trollope fought for the Lancastrians. The only source for the battle is William of Worcester's book Annales rerum Anglicarum. See our translation from the Latin text to English on Amazon.
Chronicle of William of Worcester [1415-1482]. 16th December 1460. And in December [....], the parliament was adjourned. The Duke of York, with the Earl of Salisbury and many armed men, headed from London towards York, where their supporters, numbering [....], were ambushed and killed by the forces of the Duke of Somerset at Worksop.
Et mensis Decembris [....] parliamentnm adjornatur. Et dux Eboraci cum comite Sarum, et aliis multis millibus armatis, de Londone versus Eboracum tetenderunt, ubi præeuntes sui ad numerum [....] per gentes ducis Somercetiæ interimuntur apud Worsop.
On 8th February 1461 King Edward IV of England (age 18) created four Garter Knights two of whom, Bonville and Kyriell, would be executed nine days later after their capture at the Second Battle of St Albans:
181st Richard "Kingmaker" Neville Earl Warwick, 6th Earl Salisbury (age 32).
182nd William Bonville 1st Baron Bonville (age 68).
183rd Thomas Kyriell (age 65).
184th John Wenlock 1st Baron Wenlock (age 61).
On 4th March 1461 King Edward IV of England (age 18) declared himself King of England. William Hastings 1st Baron Hastings (age 30) was present.
Chronicle of Gregory [1400-1467]. Alle soo the xxvj [26] day of Februer nexte folowyng Edwarde Erle of Marche (age 18) com to London owt of Walys and the Erle of Warwycke (age 32) with hym, and xl M1 [40,000] men with them bothe, and they enteryd unto the cytte of London, and there he toke uppon him the crowne of Inglond by the avysse of the lordys spyrytual and temporalle, and by the elexyon of the comyns. And so he began his rayne the iiij day of Marche, in the year of our lord God M1CCCC lxj [1461], the Sondy letter D as for that year.
Chronicle of Robert Fabyan [-1512]. [4th March 1461]. Than the foresayde erlys of Marche & of Warwyke sped theym towarde London, in such wyse yt they came thyder upon the Thursdaye in the fyrst weke of Lent, to whom resortyd all the gentylmen for ye more party of the South and Eest partye of Englonde. And in this whyle that they thus restyd at London, a great couceyli was callyd of all lordys spyrytuell and temporell that then were there about; by the whiche fynally, after many arguments made, for so moche as kynge Henry, contrary his honour and promesse at ye last parlyament made and assured, and also for that that he was reputyd vnable and insuffycyent to rule ye realme, was then by theyr assentys deposyd and dyschargyd of all kyngelye honour and regally. And incontynentlye by auctoryte of the sayde counceyll, and agrement of the commons there present, Edwarde the eldyst sone unto the duke of Yorke, than was there electyd, & the chosen for kyng of Englonde. After which eleccion and admyssyon, the sayde erle of Marche, geuynge lawde and preyse unto God, upon the. iiii. [4] day of Marche, accompanyed with all the foresayd lordys & great multytude of commons, was conveyed unto Westmynster, and there toke possessyon of the realme of Englonde. And syttynge in his astate royall, in the great halle of the same, with his ceptre in hande, a question was axyd of the people then present, if they wolde admytte hym for theyr kyng & soueraygne lord; ye which wt one voyce cryed "ye, ye." And the after the accustumyd vse to kynges to swere, & after $ othe takyn, he went into yeabbay, where he was of the abbot & munkys mette with processyon, and coueyed vino seynt Edwardys shryne, and there offeryd as kyng; & that done, receuyd homage and feaute of all such lordes as there than were present.
Croyland Chronicle 1461. [4th March 1461] Accordingly, in the year of our Lord, 1461, at the beginning of March, the before-named earl of March arrived in England, having enjoyed a prosperous voyage, the west wind favouring his passage. Here he was immediately received with unbounded joy by the clergy and all the people, and especially by the citizens of London; and, after a short time, Parliament being assembled, amid the acclamations of all he was made king of England. However, he would not at present allow himself to be crowned, but immediately, like unto Gideon or another of the judges,99 acting faithfolly in the Lord, girded himself wiih tiie sword of battle ; and prosperously hastened his steps, being met by bands of warriors innumerable, to avenge the injuries of the Church and the realm. For, as we have already stated, he was then of vigorous age, and well fitted to endure the conflict of battle, while, at the same time, he was fully equal to the management of the affairs of the state.
Note 99. Of Israel.
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The Chronicle of Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke. Baker was a secular clerk from Swinbroke, now Swinbrook, an Oxfordshire village two miles east of Burford. His Chronicle describes the events of the period 1303-1356: Gaveston, Bannockburn, Boroughbridge, the murder of King Edward II, the Scottish Wars, Sluys, Crécy, the Black Death, Winchelsea and Poitiers. To quote Herbert Bruce 'it possesses a vigorous and characteristic style, and its value for particular events between 1303 and 1356 has been recognised by its editor and by subsequent writers'. The book provides remarkable detail about the events it describes. Baker's text has been augmented with hundreds of notes, including extracts from other contemporary chronicles, such as the Annales Londonienses, Annales Paulini, Murimuth, Lanercost, Avesbury, Guisborough and Froissart to enrich the reader's understanding. The translation takes as its source the 'Chronicon Galfridi le Baker de Swynebroke' published in 1889, edited by Edward Maunde Thompson. Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback.
Hearne's Fragment. [4th March 1461] Chapter 2. The two ‘foresaid Earls of Marche and Warwick, from Cotswold kept their way straight to London,5 where they arrived, the Thursday in the first week of Lent; to whom resorted all gentlemen, for the more part of the South parts, and East of England, both spiritual and temporal; and thereupon a council was called, whereat King Harry, for his imbecility and insufficiency was by the whole House deposed, and Edward, eldest son of Richard, late Duke of York, by the sole assent and consent of all present, there elected and solemnly chosen for King of England, then being of the age (of) almost 20; and thereupon he with all the Lords went in general procession, accompanied with all the Nobles there present, and the Commons of the city, and (was) immediately conveyed with great honour to Westminster; taking there possession, with sceptre royal in his hand, sitting at the high dais6 in the Great Hall. The which done, he went into the Abbey, where he was received with procession of the Abbot and Convent there and after that he had offered in kingly estate at the shrine of Saint Edward, he took homage J and fealty of such noblemen as there were present, the which done he returned to the Bishop’s palace at London that night the 4th day of March.
Note 5. Edward entered London amidst the acclamation of the citizens. "I was present," says William Wyrcester, "heard them, and returned with them into the City." The King was in his 20th year, remarkable for the beauty of his person, his activity, bravery and affability. But with these qualities he combined hardness of heart and severity of character. He was revengefiil to such an extreme, that he is said to have ordered the execution of a poor tradesman, who dwelt at the sign of the Crown, for saying "he would leave his son heir to the Crown," — imagining this harmless pleasantry pointed at his assumed title. The unpopularity of Margaret, in treating the country as a conquered province after her recent successes, hastened the downfall of Henry, and "the nobles of the Kingdom and all the people of the midland part of England, and of the East, West and South deserted Henry. They directed solemn ambassadors to Edward in Wales, to declare to him the wishes of the people, and to urge him to hasten into England, to help them, as delay was producing danger." — (Cont. Croy. p. 532.)
Note 6. This signification of the word dais is the same in which it is used by Matthew Paris: "The newly elected Abbot, solus in refectorio prandebit supremus, habens vastellum, Priore prandente ad magnaim mentam, qnam Dais vulgariter appellamus" i.e. "He shall dine alone in the refectory last, having a small vessel (or bowl), while the Prior dines at the great table, which we commonly call the Dais." — Rich akdson.
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On 28th March 1461 a skirmish occurred near Ferrybridge. Richard "Kingmaker" Neville Earl Warwick, 6th Earl Salisbury (age 32) fought. John Radclyffe Baron Fitzwalter (age 35) was killed.
John "Butcher" Clifford 9th Baron Clifford (age 25) was killed at Dintingdale. His son Henry (age 7) succeeded 10th Baron de Clifford, 10th Lord Skipton.
William Neville 1st Earl Kent (age 56) fought for York.
Chronicle of Gregory [1400-1467]. 28th March 1461. And the xxviij day of Marche, that was Palme Sunday evyn, the Lord Fewater (age 35) was slayne at Ferybryge, and many with him was slayne and drownyd. And the Erle of Warwycke (age 32) was hurte yn his legge with an arowe at the same jornaye.
Chronicle of Edward Hall [1496-1548]. 28th March 1461. The lusty king Edward, perceiving the courage of his trusty friend the earl of Warwick, made proclamation that all men, which were already to fight, should incontinent [ie quickly] depart, and to all me that tarried the battle, he promised great rewards with this addition, that if any soldier, which voluntarily would abide, and in, or before the conflict fly, or turn his back, that then he that could kill him should have a great remuneration and double wages. After this proclamation ended the lord Fauconberg, sir Water Blount, Robert Home with the forward, passed the river at Castleford three miles from Ferrybridge, intending to have environed and enclosed the lord Clifford and his company, but they being thereof advertised, departed in great haste toward king Henry's army, but they meet with some that they looked not for, and were trapped or they were ware [?]. For the lord Clifford, either bridge for heat or pain, putting of his gorget, suddenly with an arrow (as some say) without an head, was struck into the throat, and incontinent rendered his spirit, and the earl of Westmorland's brother and all his company almost were there slain, at a place called Dintingdale, not far from Towton. This end had he, which slew the young earl of Rutland, kneeling on his knees: whose young son Thomas Clifford was brought up with a shepherd, in poor habit, and dissimuled behaviour ever in fear, to publish his lineage or degree, till king Henry the vii obtained the crown, and got the diadem: by whom he was restored to his name and possessions.
Chronicle of Jean de Waurin [1400-1474]. 28th March 1461. Once they had carefully observed the arrangement of the enemies, the Earl of March, as a brave and confident knight, said that it was necessary to win the passage and that otherwise they could not effectively engage. It was therefore decided to assault the bridge that the adversaries had fortified, and thus began the skirmish, which lasted from noon until six o'clock in the evening, during which more than three thousand men died on both sides. Those on the side of Earl Edward of March won the bridge and passed their entire army across it that same night. It was bitterly cold with snow and sleet, and what made it worse was that they were poorly supplied. Nonetheless, they camped there all night until the next morning when they received news that King Henry had left the city of York and had his standard raised for battle, leading the vanguard of the King were the Duke of Somerset, with the Duke of Exeter, Lord Rivers, and his son Anthony; the Earl of Northumberland led the battle, and they were all numbered at sixty thousand men.
Quant ilz eurent tout bien advise le convenant des annemis, le comte de La Marche, comme preu et hardy chevallier bien asseure, dist quil estoit expedient de guaignier le passage et que autrement ilz ne povoient prouflitablement besongnier; si fut ordonne dassaillir le pont que les adversaires avoient fortiffe, et par ainsi fut eslevee lescarmuche quy dura depuis douze heures a midy jusques a six heures du vespre, et y morurent, tant dun coste comme daultre, mieulz de trois mille hommes. Lequel pont guaignerent ceulz de la partie du comte Edouard de La Marche et passerent toute larmee oultre celle mesmes nuit: si faisoit moult froit de nesges et gresilz tant que pitie estoit a veoir gens darmes et chevaulz, et, qui le pis leur faisoit, estoient mal avitaillies; mais toutes fois se logerent illec toute celle nuit jusques a lendemain au matin quilz eurent nouvelles que le roy Henry estoit issu hors de la cite d Yorc et avoit son estandart boutte auz gens, et venoit en grant ordonnance pour combatre, si menoit lavantgarde du roy le duc de Sombresset avec le duc dExcestre, le seigneur de Riviere, Anthonie son filz; le comte de Northumbelland menoit In bataille; si estoient tons nombrez a soixante mille hommes.
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Chronicle of William of Worcester [1415-1482]. 28th March 1461 ... and around Palm Sunday, first at Ferrybridge, Lord Fitzwalter (age 35) was slain.
et circa dominicam Palmarum in primis apud Ferybrygge occisus est dominus Fewater,
Hearne's Fragment. [28th March 1461] Then the Friday ensuing the King Edward issued out of the city in goodly order at Bishopsgate, then being the 12th day of March, and held on his journey following those others, and when the fore prickers came to Ferrybridge, there was a great skirmish whereat John Ratcliff, then Lord Fitzwalter, was slain, and thereupon they ever advanced themselves till they came to Touton, 8 miles out of York,
Around June 1461, the record is very vague, King Edward IV (age 19) and Eleanor Talbot (age 25) were possibly secretly married by Bishop Robert Stillington (age 41). The marriage came to light after Edward's death. Bishop Robert Stillington provided the information to the future King Richard III of England (age 8) in 1483; Richard used the information to justify his succeeding to be King since Edward IV's children with Elizabeth Woodville Queen Consort England (age 24) were, therefore, illegitimate as a result of their marriage being bigamous and George Duke of Clarence's (age 11) children were barred from the throne as a consequence of their father's attainder.