“The King to the mayor and sheriffs of the City of York, greeting. Whereas, of our special grace, we have granted to our cousin Elizabeth, who was the wife of Henry de Percy, chevalier, the head and quarters of the same Henry to be buried, we command you that the head aforesaid you deliver to the same Elizabeth to be buried according to our grant aforesaid. Witness the King at Cirencester the third day of November.” The bereaved lady collected the remains from Shrewsbury, London, Chester, Newcastle, and York and had them interred in York Minster. Lord Scrope being detected with others in a plot against Henry V, was arrested and condemned. His head was placed on Micklegate Bar. Richard, third Duke of York, was, through his mother, the representative of Lionel, Duke of Clarence, third son of Edward III, whilst King Henry V was descended from the fourth son. In the next reign Richard, Duke of York, claimed the throne. At the beginning of the Wars of the Roses, the citizens of York favoured the House of Lancaster. The Duke of York was slain at the battle of Wakefield in 1460. His head, which his enemies had in mockery covered with a paper crown, was brought to York and stuck on a pole over Micklegate Bar, his face looking towards the city. In the play of _Henry VI_, Queen Margaret exclaims:-- “Off with his head and set it on York gates; So York may overlook the town of York”. The Earl of Salisbury and other notable prisoners were put to death and their heads fixed on poles near that of their leader. Edward succeeded his father as fourth Duke of York, and the year following, after the second battle of St. Albans, was, through the instrumentality of the King-maker, proclaimed King. On Palm Sunday as he was coming to York, he met at Towton the forces of Henry VI and Margaret of Anjou, and defeated them. Next day, Edward IV set out for York and, nearing the city, he was confronted with the ghastly sight of his father’s head on Micklegate Bar. “And, after many scorns, many foul taunts, They took his head, and on the gates of York They set the same; and where it doth remain, The saddest spectacle that e’er I view’d.” In his indignation, the King ordered the Earls of Devon and Wiltshire and three other prisoners to immediate execution, in order that their heads might replace his father’s. “From off the gates of York fetch down the head, Your father’s head, which Clifford placed there; Instead thereof, let this supply the room; Measure for measure must be answered.”