The fatal error which Richard committed, was previously to the battle, in intrusting the levying of forces to Lord Stanley, when he could not confidently trust him: Richard imagined that, by retaining in his custody George Lord Strange, the son of Lord Stanley, by way of hostage, he had sufficient security for his fidelity; but the result showed how frail and deceptive such a security really was. Richard, on the 16th of August, led his army from Nottingham to Leicester, which town he entered with great pomp. On the 17th, he marched from it, expecting to meet his rival at Hinckley. That night he passed at Emsthorpe, where his officers slept in the church. On the 18th, he removed to Stapleton, where he pitched his camp on the ground called Bradshaws, and remained until Sunday, the 21st, when both armies came in sight of each other. In the evening, Richard removed with his forces to Amyon Hill. {162b} On the 22nd, the battle took place. Mr. Hutton states, that “the King continued _in battalia_ near the top of the hill, unwilling to lose his advantageous ground; while Henry unfurled his banners, sounded the march of death, and advanced from the meadows below;” {163a} also, that Richmond “slowly marched up the ascent, where the wood now stands; the morass formed by King Richard’s Well, being on his right, and the sun, not on his back, or his right hand, but between both: the King’s troops looking on with their bows bent.” {163b} That account respecting the position of the sun when the battle commenced, differs in a slight degree from the accounts of the old historians, who state, that when Henry left the marsh on his right, he had the sun at his back, and that it was in the face of his enemies. {163c} Those accounts seem to be all that we have to guide us, as to the precise position of Richard’s army, when the battle commenced; for the old historians have not devoted their attention to describing it. The position upon the hill, was certainly, as Mr. Hutton correctly states, an excellent one, and Henry must have begun the attack at some disadvantage, for the hill was against him. {163d} The old historical writers state, that when Henry marched from his camp to the attack, he left the morass on his right; {163e} which is important, and tends to confirm the explanation before attempted, respecting the position of Richard’s army. Mr. Hutton mentions, that Henry advanced from the south end of the field, {163f} and that Richard’s forces were posted _in battalia_ upon Amyon Hill. {163g} If so, it seems tolerably clear, that Henry’s army faced (as has been already mentioned) to the north-eastward, and that of Richard to the south-westward; and it appears naturally to follow, that Richard had the town of Market Bosworth, or the village of Sutton Cheney, or both of them in his rear, or rather in the rear of his left wing.