Warkworth's Chronicle 1461
Warkworth's Chronicle 1461 is in Warkworth's Chronicle.
As for alle thynges that folowe, referre them to my copey, in whyche is wretyn a remanente lyke to this forseyd werke: that is to wytt, that,
Note. The Warkworth Chronicle, in Bernard's Catalogue of the Peterhouse manuscripts, taken from James's Eclogæ, is numbered - 230. It may be as well to observe that John Bagford mentions a contemporary Chronicle in English MS. of the events of the commencement of Edward's reign, in MS. Tann. Bodl. 453.
27 Jun 1461.... at the coronacyone1 of the forseyde Edwarde, he create and made dukes his two brythir, the eldere George (age 11) Duke of Clarence, and his yongere brothir Richard (age 8) Duke of Gloucetre; and the Lord Montagu (age 30)2, the Erle of Warwyke (age 32)'s brothere, the Erle of Northumberlonde; and one William Stafford squiere, Lord Stafforde of Southwyke; and Sere Herbard (age 38), Lorde Herbard, and aftere Lorde Erle of Penbroke3; and so the seide Lorde Stafforde (age 22) was made Erle of Devynschire4; the Lorde Gray Ryffyne (age 44), Erle of Kent6; the Lorde Bourchyer (age 57), Erle of Essex; the Lorde Jhon of Bokyngham (age 33), the Erle of Wyltschyre5; Sere Thomas [Walter] Blount (age 45), knyghte, Lord Mont[joy]; Sere Jhon Hawarde, Lorde Hawarde (age 36)8; William Hastynges (age 30) he made Lorde Hastynges and grete Chamberlayne; and the Lorde Ryvers; Denham squyere, Lorde Dynham; and worthy as is afore schewed; and othere of gentylmen and yomenne he made knyghtes and squyres, as thei hade desserved. 
Note 1. At the coronacyone. King Edward was crowned in Westminster Abbey, on the 29th of June 1461. Warkworth's first passage is both imperfect and incorrect, and would form a very bad specimen of the value of the subsequent portions of his narrative; yet we find it transferred to the Chronicle of Stowe. It must, however, be regarded rather as a memorandum of the various creations to the peerage made during Edward's reign, than as a part of the chronicle. Not even the third peerage mentioned, the Earldom of Northumberland, was conferred at the Coronation, but by patent dated 27 May 1464: and the only two Earldoms bestowed in Edward's first year (and probably at the Coronation) were, the Earldom of Essex, conferred on Henry Viscount Bourchier, Earl of Eu in Normandy, who had married the King's aunt, the Princess Isabel of York; and the Earldom of Kent, conferred on William Neville, Lord Fauconberg, one of King Edward's generals at Towton. The former creation is mentioned by Warkworth lower down in his list; the latter is omitted altogether. - J.G.N.
Note 2. The Lord Montagu. And then Kyng Edward, concidering the greate feate doon by the said Lord Montagu, made hym Erle of Northumberlond; and in July next folowyng th'Erle of Warwyk, with th'ayde of the said Erle of Northumberland, gate agayn the castell of Bamborugh, wheryn was taken Sir Raaf Gray (age 29), which said Ser Raaf (age 29) was after behedid and quartred at York. Also, in this yere, the first day of May, the Kyng wedded Dame Elizabeth Gray (age 24), late wif unto the lord Gray of Groby, and doughter to the Lord Ryvers." - The London Chronicle, MS. Cotton. Vitell. A. xvi. fol. 126, ro. The MS. of the London Chronicle, from which Sir Harris Nicolas printed his edition, does not contain this passage. It is almost unnecessary to remark the chronological incorrectness of the above, but it serves to show how carelessly these slight Chronicles were compiled. Cf. MS. Add. Mus. Brit. 6113, fol. 192, rº. and MS. Cotton. Otho, B. XIV. fol. 221, ro.
Note 3. Lord Erle of Pembroke. William Lord Herbert of Chepstow (age 38), the first of the long line of Herbert Earls of Pembroke, was so created the 27th May 1468. His decapitation by the Duke of Clarence at Northampton in 1469, is noticed by Warkworth in p. 7.-J.G.N.
Note 4. Erle of Devynschire. Humphery Stafford (age 22), created Baron Stafford of Southwick by patent 24th April 1464, was advanced to the Earldom of Devon 7th May 1469; but beheaded by the commons at Bridgwater before the close of the same year, as related by Warkworth, ubi supra. - J.G.N.
Note 5. Erle of Wyltschyre. John Stafford (age 33), created Earl of Wiltshire, 5th Jan. 1470; he died in 1473.—J.G.N.
Note 6. "The Lorde Gray Ryffyne, Erle of Kent". The Earl of Kent, of the family of Neville, died without male issue, a few months after his elevation to that dignity; and it was conferred on the 30th May 1465, on Edmund Lord Grey de Ruthyn (age 44), on occasion of the Queen's coronation. He was cousin-german to Sir John Grey, of Groby, the Queen's first husband. On the same occasion the Queen's son Sir Thomas Grey (age 6) was created Marquess of Dorset; her father Richard Wydevile (age 56) lord Ryvers was advanced to the dignity of Earl Ryvers; and her brother Anthony (age 21) married to the heiress of Scales, in whose right he was summoned to Parliament as a Baron. - J.G.N.
Note 7. Sere Thomas Blount (age 45). This should be Walter, created Lord Montjoy 20th June 1465; he died in 1474.-J.G.N.
Note 8. Sere Jhon Hawarde, Lord Hawarde. John Howard 1st Duke of Norfolk (age 36). This peerage dates its origin, by writ of summons to Parliament, during the short restoration of Henry VI. in 1470, a circumstance more remarkable as "evidence exists that he did not attach himself to the interest of that Prince, being constitued by Edward, in the same year, commander of his fleet." See Sir Harris Nicolas's memoir of this distinguished person (afterwards the first Duke of Norfolk) in Cartwright's History of the Rape of Bramber, p. 189.-J.G.N.
Nov 1461. And also the fyrst yere of his regne he ordeyned a parleament1, at whiche were atteynted Kynge Herry2 and all othere that fledde with hym into Scotlonde oute of Englonde; and for so moche as he fande in tyme of nede grete comforth in his comyners, he ratyfied and confermyd alle the ffraunsches yeve to citeis and townes, &c. and graunted to many cyteis and tounes new fraunschesses4 more than was graunted before, ryghte largly and made chartours therof to the entent to have the more good wille and love in his londe.
Note 1. He ordeyned a parleament. This was in November.
Note 2. At whiche were atteynted Kynge Henry. The act for the attainder of Henry is not printed in the authentic edition of the Statutes of the Realm, published by the Commissioners for the Public Records, but occurs on the Rolls of Parliament, vol. v. pp. 476–82. Cf. MS. Ashm. 21, and 862, xxxv; Cotton's Abridgment, pp. 670-1; Fœdera, xi. 709. "Ubi indutati et atteyntati sunt Henricus, vocatus nuper Rex Anglie, cum Margareta2 consore sua, duces et Somerset et Excetre (age 31), cum aliis militibus et nobilibus ad numerum quasi centum personarum. [Attired and attainted, Henry, lately called King of England, together with Margaret his consort, Dukes Somerset and Exeter, along with other knights and nobles to the number of almost a hundred persons.]" MS. Arundel, Coll. Arm. 5, fol. 169, rº. Cf. W. Wyrcestre Annales, pp. 490–2.
Note 2. I find, however, in the Pipe Roll of 1 Edw. IV. an entry of £21.138. for property at Bristol to "Margareta nuper dicta Regina Angliæ [Margaret, lately called Queen of England]," granted to her by Edward; this property, it appears, formerly belonged to Queen Johanna, and "per dominum Regem nunc concess' in partem recompensacionis. [by our lord the King, now granted as part of compensation.]"
Note 4. New Fraunschesses. Cf. MS. Bib. Cantuar. 51.
1462. Also Quene Margrett1, Herry Duke of Excetre (age 31), the Duke of Somersett, and other lordes2 that fleede Englonde, hade kepte certeyne castelles3 in Northumberlond, as Awnwyk [Map], Bambrught [Map], Dunstonebrught [Map], and also Werworthe [Map], whiche they hade vytaled and stuffed bothe with Englischemenne, Frenschemenne, and Scottesmenne, by the whiche castelle, thei hade the moste party of alle Northumberlond.
Note 1. Also Quene Margrett. This was in the year 1462. Towards the end of the year Edward appears to have made a tour to the West of England, perhaps for the purpose of seeing how the country was disposed towards him:- "Deinde Rex Edwardus, Cantuariam peregre profectus, partes meridionales pertransiit, ubi Willielmum Episcopum Wintonie de manibus querentium animam ejus eripuit, insectatores suos graviter redarguit, et eorum capitaneos carcerali custodi emancipavit. Bristollie apperians, a civibus ejus cum maximo gaudio honoratissimè receptus est. [Then King Edward, having journeyed to Canterbury, passed through the southern regions, where he rescued William, Bishop of Winchester, from the hands of those seeking his life, severely rebuked his pursuers, and freed their leaders from prison custody. Upon arriving in Bristol, he was received with the utmost joy and honor by its citizens.]" - MS. Arundel, Coll. Arm. 5, fol. 169, ro. This Chronicle in the College of Arms was first used, as far as I know, for an historical purpose, in a MS. note in a copy of Carte's History of England in the Bodleian Library, where it is referred to on the important testimony of the death of Henry VI. Mr. Black quotes it in the Excerpta Historica, but its value does not appear to be fully appreciated by that author; it is the diary of a contemporary writer on the side of the House of York, and extends to the execution of the Bastard of Fauconberg, and Edward's celebration of the feast of Pentecost which took place immediately afterwards.
The following very curious account of the pageant which received Edward at Bristol is from a MS. in Lambeth Palace, No. 306, fol. 132, ro. I am indebted for it to the Rev. S. R. Maitland, F.R.S., Librarian to the Archbishop of Canterbury, who had the extreme kindness, at my request, to send me a transcript.
"The receyvyng of Kyng Edward the iiijth, at Brystowe.
"First, at the comyng inne atte temple gate, there stode Wylliam Conquerour, with iij. lordis, and these were his wordis:
'Wellcome Edwarde! oure son of high degre;
Many yeeris hast thou lakkyd owte of this londe-
I am thy forefader, Wylliam of Normandye,
To see thy welefare here through Goddys sond. '
"Over the same gate stondyng a greet Gyant delyveryng the keyes.
"The Receyvyng atte Temple Crosse next following;
" There was Seynt George on horsbakke, uppon a tent, fyghtyng with a dragon; and the Kyng and the Quene on hygh in a castell, and his doughter benethe with a lambe; and atte the sleying of the dragon ther was a greet melody of aungellys."
09 Sep 1461. Sir Bawdan (or Baldwin) Fulford was brought before the King, and beheaded at this place on the ninth of September; his head was placed upon Castle Gate. - Rot. C. 8. Mus. Brit.
Note 2. And other lordes. Among them was Thomas Lord Roos (age 34). Paston Correspondence, vol. I. p. 219.
Note 3. Certeyne castelles in Northumberlond. See two contemporary accounts of the sieges of these castles, edited by Mr. Black, in the Excerpta Historica, p. 365.
Dec 1461. Kynge Edwarde and his counselle, thynkynge and un[der] stondynge wat hurte myghte appene thereof, made commyssiones to the sowthe and west cowntre, and hade of them gret money, wyth the whiche menne made redy, and beseged the same castelle, in the moneth of Decembre in the yere aforseide.
And Sere Peris le Brasylle1, knyght, of Fraunce, and the best warrer of alle that tyme, was in Scotlonde to helpe Quene Margaret, when he knew that the castelles were besegede, he hade xx Ml, of Scottesmenne, and came toward Alnwyke and alle the other castels.
Note 1. Sere Peris le Brasylle. See a curious document printed by Sir Henry Ellis, from Cart. Antiq. Cotton. XVII. 10. in the second series of his collection of Original Letters, vol. I. p. 131.
And whenne Kynge Edwardes hooste had knowlege that Sere Perys le Brasille with the Scottesmenne were comynge, thei remewed from the sege and were affrayed, and the Scottesche hoost supposed it hade be doone for some gayne, and thei were affrayed, also thei durst not come neghe the castelle, for and thei hade comyne one boldly, thei myghte have takyne and distressit alle the lordes and comeners, for thei hade lye ther so longe in the felde, and were greved with colde and rayne, that thei hade no coreage to feght, &c, Never the lattere whenne thei that were in the castelle beseged saw that the sege was withedraw for fere, and the Scottes host afferde, also thei came oute of the castelle and lefte them opene, &c,; and so afterwarde Kynge Edwardes hoost enterde into alle the hole castelle, and kept it, &c.
And after that, the castelle of Bamburght was yoldene to the Kynge, by treyatte and apoyntment by Herry the Duke of Somersett that kept it, and came in to Kynge Edwardes grace, whiche graunted to hym a Ml, marke by yere, whereof he was not payede, the[r]for he departed oute of Englonde after halff yere into Scotlonde, &c, And so Kynge Edward was possessed of alle Englonde, excepte a castelle in Northe Wales called Harlake [Map]1, whiche Sere Richard Tunstall kepte, the qwhiche was gotene afterwarde by the Lorde Harberde7, 
Note 1. Excepte a castelle in Northe Wales called Harlake. I cannot resist the temptation of taking the following lines from the poems of Lewis Glyn Cothi, relative to the future siege of Harlech
"Doves â'i wyr, divasw wedd,
Dareni daiar Wynedd;
Jarll, ond ev a'r llu, nid â
Ar wddv Eryri Wyddva.
Dau er ei chael dri a chwech,-
Un dân harddlun yw Harddlech.
Tynu â gwyr tònau gwin
Peiriannus, val mab brenin.
Uchel ewri a chlariwns,
A tharvu gwyr â thwrv gwns;
Saethu 'mhob parth saith mil pen,
A'u bwa o bob ywen:
Clod wellwell, cludaw allan
Goed mawr a fagodau mân;
O wartha 'r rhai'n, hyd yr hwyr,
Arvogion a'u rhyvagwyr.
Trwy'r tair gwart Herbart hirborth
Ty'nu'r pen capten i'r porth.
Ennillodd, eu ewyllys,
Y brenin lech Bronwen Lys.
Hywel Davydd ab Jevan ab Rhys.
As no translation is added in the published works of Glyn Cothi, may be as well to give one here;
"He tamed, in no trifling manner,
The lofty heights of Gwyneth2; No earl, save him and his followers, could ever mount
Upon the neck of Snowdon, the Alpine of Eryri.3
There would climb up, to gain the ascent,
Now three, -now six men, all at once;
One beautifully formed fiery blaze is Harddlech4
Men drawing from men waves of wine5, -
Loud the shouting - loud the blasts of clarions;
Scattering of men, thundering of guns;
Arrows flying in every quarter from seven thousand men,
Using bows made of the yew.
Bravo! bravo! they bring out large trees and faggots;
They pile them up, and, behind the pile,
Armed men are placed to continue there ' til night.
Then Herbert, through the three wards,
Brings forth the head captain in the porch.
Thus King Edward, as it were, with one volition,
Gained possession of Bronwen's Court."
This place was possessedd in 1468 by Dafydd ap Jeuan ap Einion, - a strong friend of the house of Lancaster, distinguished for his valour and great stature. He was besieged here by William Herbert, Earl of Pembroke, after a march through the heart of our Alps, attended with incredible difficulties; for in some parts, the soldiers were obliged to climb; in others, to precipitate themselves down the rocks; and, at length, invested a place till that time deemed impregnable.
The Earl committed the care of the siege to Sir Richard, a hero equal in size to the British commandant. Sir Richard sent a summons of surrender, but Dafydd stoutly answered that he had kept a castle in France so long, that he made all the old women in Wales talk of him; and that he would keep this so long, that all the old women in France should also talk of him. He at last surrendered, and Herbert had a hard struggle with Edward's barbarous policy to save the noble defender's life. - Pennant's Tour in Wales, vol. II. p. 121-2. Margaret of Anjou found refuge in this Castle after the unfortunate battle of Northampton; and it has been conjectured that the song of "Farwel iti Peggy Ban" was composed on the occasion of her quitting it. On the peculiar advantages of the position of this castle, see The Cambrian Traveller's Guide, p. 574.
Note 2. North Wales.
Note 3. The mountains surrounding Snowdon.
Note 4. This couplet is metaphorical of the rapidity of Herbert's motions.
Note 5. i.e. streams of blood.
Note 6. The castle was anciently called Twr Bronwen, after Bronwen, daughter of Llyr (King Lear), and aunt to the great Caractacus. See The Cambro - Briton, ii. 71. She is the subject of an old Welsh Romance.
Note 7. By the Lorde Harberde. "Et castrum forte in Wallia per dominum Harbarde captum est, et Dominus Ricardus Tunstalle, cum ceteris ibi inventis, captus est, et in Turri Londonie clausus, qui tum in breve gratiam a Rege consecutus est. Duo nobiles ex illic capti decollati sunt [And a strong castle in Wales was captured by Lord Harbarde, and Lord Richard Tunstalle, along with others found there, was captured and imprisoned in the Tower of London, who then shortly obtained favor from the King. Two nobles captured there were beheaded]." - MS. Arundel, Coll. Arm. 5, fol. 171, rº. There is a grant to Lord Herbert for his services in Rot. Pat. 3 Edw. IV.