The chronicles of Enguerrand de Monstrelet, Vol. 10 [of 13] : $b containing an account of the cruel civil wars between the houses of Orleans and Burgundy, of the possession of Paris and Normandy by the English, their expulsion thence, and of other memorable events that happened in the kingdom of France, as well as in other countriesMonstrelet, Enguerrand de
History
The chronicles of Enguerrand de Monstrelet, Vol. 10 [of 13] : $b containing an account of the cruel civil wars between the houses of Orleans and Burgundy, of the possession of Paris and Normandy by the English, their expulsion thence, and of other memorable events that happened in the kingdom of France, as well as in other countries
Monstrelet, Enguerrand de
Europe -- History -- 476-1492 -- Sources; France -- History -- House of Valois, 1328-1589; Hundred Years' War, 1339-1453
On Palm Sunday, the 28th of March, in this same year, Edward earl
of Marche, eldest son to the duke of York, who had so lately been
beheaded, accompanied by the earl of Warwick and other english barons,
marched in arms to London, where he was received as king, and was
offered the crown, but refused to accept of it, until, as he said, he
should drive his enemies out of the kingdom. He thence led his army to
York, where the queen, the duke of Somerset, and those of her party,
were waiting in great numbers to give him battle.
When the two armies approached, an engagement was agreed on between
the parties, to take effect near to a place called Ferrybridge, eight
leagues from York[15]; and when the day of battle arrived, the earls
of Marche and of Warwick ordered their van to advance, under the
command of earl Warwick's uncle, which was severely handled by the
Lancastrians, and put to the rout. The duke of Somerset, thinking the
battle won, allowed his troops to plunder and strip the dead. News of
this was carried instantly to the earl of Marche, whose army, though
very large and unbroken, was much alarmed at the intelligence. When the
earl saw them thus panicstruck, he had it proclaimed through the ranks,
that whoever was frightened might return home, but that all who were
willing to share his fortune should, if successful, receive a sum of
money; and that whoever fled, after having agreed to remain, the person
who put him to death should be handsomely paid for so doing.
The earl of Warwick, hearing that his uncle was slain, and his men
defeated, cried out, with tears, 'I pray to God that he would receive
the souls of all who die in this battle:' then added, 'Dear Lord God, I
have none other succour but thine now in the world, who art my Creator
and Redeemer, to apply to: I beg therefore, vengeance at thy hands!'
then drawing his sword, he kissed the cross at the handle, and said to
his men, 'Whoever chooses to return home, may, for I shall live or die
this day with such as may like to remain with me.' On saying this, he
dismounted, and killed his horse with his sword.
On the morrow, the main body of each army was so near that a general
battle took place, which was most bloody and severe; insomuch that
it lasted three days,--and for some time no one could tell which
side would be victorious: at length, the queen's party were defeated
and almost all killed or made prisoners. Among the principal persons
of note who fell that day were the earl of Northumberland, the lord
Clifford, the lord Muelle[16], brother to the earl,--the lord
Willoughby, the lord Wells, son to the duke of Buckingham, the lord
Grey, sir Andrew Trollop, a terrible man at arms, who had done
marvellous deeds of valour at this and other battles, and numbers of
other valiant gentlemen, and others, to the amount of thirty thousand.
Some that were made prisoners were afterward beheaded at York.[17]
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