The Wars of the Roses; or, Stories of the Struggle of York and LancasterEdgar, John G. (John George)
History
The Wars of the Roses; or, Stories of the Struggle of York and Lancaster
Edgar, John G. (John George)
Great Britain -- History -- Wars of the Roses, 1455-1485
Edward had now a golden opportunity, by sparing the vanquished, of
setting a great example to his adversaries. But the use which Margaret
had made of her victory at Wakefield could not be forgotten; and it
seemed to be understood that henceforth no quarter was to be given in
the Wars of the Roses. Accordingly, Owen and his friends were conveyed
to Hereford, and executed in the market-place. The old Agincourt
soldier was buried in the chapel of the Grey Friars' Church; but no
monument was erected by his regal descendants in memory of the Celtic
hero whose lucky stumble over a royal widow's robes resulted in his
sept exchanging the obscurity of Beaumaris for the splendor of Windsor.
CHAPTER XV.
BEFORE TOWTON.
On the 3d of March, 1461, while Margaret of Anjou was leading her
army toward the Humber, and the citizens of London were awakening
from fearful dreams of northern men plundering their warehouses with
lawless violence, and treating their women with indelicate freedom,
Edward of York entered the capital at the head of his victorious army.
Accompanied by the Earl of Warwick, by whom he had been joined at
Chipping Norton, the conqueror of the Tudors rode through the city,
and was welcomed with the utmost enthusiasm. It was long since London
had been the scene of such loyal excitement. From Kent and Essex came
crowds to gaze on the handsome son of Richard, Duke of York; and many
were the predictions that, as a native of Rouen, Edward would reconquer
Normandy, and retrieve those losses which, under the government of
Margaret of Anjou, the English had sustained on the Continent.
Whatever he might pretend, Edward had none of the moderation that
characterized his father, and he was determined without delay to ascend
the throne, which he had been taught to consider his by hereditary
right. Anxious, however, to have the popular assent to the step he
was about to take, the heir of the Plantagenets resolved to test the
loyalty of the Londoners. With this object a grand review, in St.
John's Fields, was proclaimed by William Neville, Lord Falconbridge;
and the wealthy citizens, as well as the multitude, assembled to
witness the military pageant. Suddenly availing himself of a favorable
moment, Warwick's brother, the Bishop of Exeter, addressed the crowd on
the great dynastic dispute, and asked them plainly whether they would
any longer have Henry to reign over them. "Nay, nay," answered the
crowd. Warwick's uncle, Lord Falconbridge, having then spoken in praise
of Edward's valor and wisdom, asked if they would have him for king.
"Yea, yea--King Edward, King Edward," shouted the populace, with one
accord, cheering and clapping their hands.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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