The Earl of Warwick, knowing nothing of this, soon redeemed his promise
to the Dowager Queen Margaret, by invading England and landing at
Plymouth, where he instantly proclaimed King Henry, and summoned all
Englishmen between the ages of sixteen and sixty, to join his banner.
Then, with his army increasing as he marched along, he went northward,
and came so near King Edward, who was in that part of the country, that
Edward had to ride hard for it to the coast of Norfolk, and thence to
get away in such ships as he could find, to Holland. Thereupon, the
triumphant King-Maker and his false son-in-law, the Duke of Clarence,
went to London, took the old King out of the Tower, and walked him in a
great procession to Saint Paul’s Cathedral with the crown upon his
head. This did not improve the temper of the Duke of Clarence, who saw
himself farther off from being King than ever; but he kept his secret,
and said nothing. The Nevil family were restored to all their honours
and glories, and the Woodvilles and the rest were disgraced. The
King-Maker, less sanguinary than the King, shed no blood except that of
the Earl of Worcester, who had been so cruel to the people as to have
gained the title of the Butcher. Him they caught hidden in a tree, and
him they tried and executed. No other death stained the King-Maker’s
triumph.
To dispute this triumph, back came King Edward again, next year,
landing at Ravenspur, coming on to York, causing all his men to cry
‘Long live King Henry!’ and swearing on the altar, without a blush,
that he came to lay no claim to the crown. Now was the time for the
Duke of Clarence, who ordered his men to assume the White Rose, and
declare for his brother. The Marquis of Montague, though the Earl of
Warwick’s brother, also declining to fight against King Edward, he went
on successfully to London, where the Archbishop of York let him into
the City, and where the people made great demonstrations in his favour.
For this they had four reasons. Firstly, there were great numbers of
the King’s adherents hiding in the City and ready to break out;
secondly, the King owed them a great deal of money, which they could
never hope to get if he were unsuccessful; thirdly, there was a young
prince to inherit the crown; and fourthly, the King was gay and
handsome, and more popular than a better man might have been with the
City ladies. After a stay of only two days with these worthy
supporters, the King marched out to Barnet Common, to give the Earl of
Warwick battle. And now it was to be seen, for the last time, whether
the King or the King-Maker was to carry the day.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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