Great Britain -- History -- Henry VI, 1422-1461; Margaret, of Anjou, Queen, consort of Henry VI, King of England, 1430-1482
The queen watched the progress of the battle with intense anxiety, and
soon, to her consternation and dismay, she saw that it was going
against her. She kept her eyes upon Audley's banner, and when, at
length, she saw it fall, she knew that all was lost. She hurried down
from the tower, and, with a few friends to accompany her, she fled for
her life to a strong-hold belonging to her friends that was not at a
great distance.
[Sidenote: Feeble condition of the king.]
The king, too, had to be removed, in order to prevent his being taken
prisoner. He was, however, too feeble to know much or to think much of
what was going on. When they came to take him on his pallet to carry
him away, he looked up and asked, feebly, "who had got the day," but
beyond this he gave no indication of taking any interest in the
momentous events that were transpiring.
[Sidenote: Spirit and temper of the queen.]
[Sidenote: 1460.]
[Sidenote: Success of her efforts.]
This defeat, instead of producing a discouraging and disheartening
effect upon Margaret's mind, only served to arouse her to new vigor
and determination. She had been somewhat timid and fearful in the
earlier part of her troubles, when she had only a husband to think of
and to care for. But now she had a son; and the maternal instinct
seemed to operate in her case, as it has done in so many others, to
make her fearless, desperate, and, in the end, almost ferocious, in
protecting her offspring from harm, and in maintaining his rights. She
immediately engaged with the utmost zeal and ardor in raising a new
army. She did not trust the command of it to any general, but directed
all the operations of it herself. There is not space to describe in
detail the campaigns that ensued, but the result was a complete
victory. Her enemies were, in their turn, entirely defeated, and the
two great leaders, the Duke of York and the Earl of Warwick, were
actually driven out of the kingdom. The Duke of York retreated to
Ireland, and the Earl of Warwick went across the Straits of Dover to
Calais, which was still in English possession, and a great naval and
military station.
[Sidenote: The Earl of Warwick.]
[Sidenote: His successful advance.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account