Visits to Fields of Battle, in England, of the Fifteenth Century: to which are added, some miscellaneous tracts and papers upon archæological subjectsBrooke, Richard
History
Visits to Fields of Battle, in England, of the Fifteenth Century: to which are added, some miscellaneous tracts and papers upon archæological subjects
Brooke, Richard
Battlefields -- England; Great Britain -- History -- Wars of the Roses, 1455-1485
As the city of York, from whence Queen Margaret advanced with the
Lancastrians, lies on the north-eastward of the village and castle of
Sandal, it might have been inferred, that the road by which she advanced,
was that through Pontefract, on the eastward side of the river Calder.
Wakefield and its bridge over the Calder, are on the north-westward side
of Sandal; and if the Earl of Rutland, at the time when he was captured,
were trying to effect his escape, by Wakefield Bridge, it might be
supposed, that during the fight, that side of the field of battle was in
the rear of the Yorkists, and consequently was open and unoccupied by the
Lancastrians. {61a} But that is not reconcileable with the fact, that
previously to the battle, the Duke of York’s army was posted at Sandal,
and that the battle was fought between Wakefield and Sandal, and upon
Wakefield Green; because in that case, Wakefield and its bridge, must of
necessity have been in the possession of the Lancastrians; and if so,
they naturally must have advanced from York to Wakefield on the west side
of the Calder. It seems probable, that when the Earl of Rutland was
captured in his flight, his capture took place at some spot other than
Wakefield Bridge, and that he was brought a prisoner to Lord Clifford,
who murdered him on or near the bridge.
On the 31st of July, 1852, {61b} I first visited the field of battle, the
castle, and also the village and church of Sandal. The church has not
any old monuments to boast of; and I could not discover that any monument
whatever, which had any relation to persons slain at the battle, had ever
existed there. The Rev. Thomas Westmorland, recently the vicar of
Sandal, now of Leominster, has, however, very kindly sent me a copy of an
inscription in old characters apparently of about that age; but I am far
from saying, that it had any reference, to any individual named Percy,
connected with that battle, viz.:—“Orate pro bono statu Joselynni Pyrcy
Armigery.” I am also indebted to him, and to William Shaw, Esq., of
Porto Bello House, for some valuable information upon some other points.
Looking from Sandal Castle Hill, a flat plain appears, of considerable
extent, cultivated as meadow fields, extending from the castle to the
river Calder. Those meadows are at present called “the Pugnays.” They
are designated “the Pukenills,” on the Manor Court Rolls, which are still
in existence, and of a date prior to the fourteenth century. Adjoining
the tract of meadow-land, and in the extreme north-westward, bounded by
the river Calder, is “Porto Bello,” a mansion erected by Samuel
Holdsworth, Esq., and now occupied by William Shaw, Esq. The battle was
fought upon that spot, upon part of the meadow-land before mentioned, and
upon the tract of ground formerly part of Wakefield Green, extending from
thence across the turnpike road in a north-eastwardly direction. The
green must have been at that time a large open tract of ground, but it
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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