1465-1469 Rise of the Woodville Family

Chronicle of Gregory. May 1465. Alle soo in this year in the mony the of May was Quene Elyzabet [aged 28] crownyd at Westemyster. And many knyghtys were made of the Bathe, of the whyche the were v [5] aldyrmen of the cytte of London i-made with hem. Thes v [5] aldyrmen were made knyghtys of the Bathe:

Syr Hewe Wyche, mercer,

Thomas Coke, draper,

Raffe Gosselyn, draper,

Syr John Plomer,

Syr Harry Whafyr.

And no moo of the cytte but thes v [5], and it is a grete worschyppe unto alle the cytte.

Chronicle of William of Worcester. [25th May 1465]. And on Saturday, the Queen [aged 28] rode in a litter through Cheapside and the high streets of London, with all the newly made knights before her, until they arrived at Westminster. And on the following Sunday [26th May 1465], she was crowned Queen of England by Archbishop Thomas Bourchier [aged 47] of Canterbury. And on Monday [27th May 1465], the day after, there were great jousts at Westminster, and Lord Stanley had the honour. He had a ring with a ruby, a special honour. And Thomas Wingfield, esquire, and Roger Chamberlain jousted with lances before the King [aged 23] at Westminster. Throughout the entire month of May, during the Queen's coronation, the Earl of Warwick [aged 36] and Lord Hastings [aged 34], along with other ambassadors of the King, were with Lord Charolais and other ambassadors of the Duke of Burgundy at Boulogne across the sea; and although they superficially celebrated greatly, they ultimately could not come to an agreement, because Lord Charolais at that time strongly favoured Queen Margaret's party.

Et in die Sabbati regina in uno horsleter equitabat per Chepe et altos vicos Londoniæ, et omnes novi milites ante, usque dum venerunt apud Westmonasterium. Et die Dominica sequente coronata fuit in reginam Angliæ a domino Thoma Boughcher, Cantu arise archiepiscopo. Et die Lunæ in crastino fuerunt magna hastiludia apud Westmonasterium; et dominus de Stanley habuit honorem. Habuit annulum cum rubio, honore extra. Et Thomas Wyngfeld, armiger, et Rogerus Chambirleyne hastiludebant cum lanceis coram rege apud Westmonasterium. Toto illo mense Maii tempore coronationis reginæ comes Warrwici ac dominus de Hastynges, et alii ambassiatores regis fuerunt cum domino Charleys ac aliis ambassiatoribus ducis Burgundiæ apud Boleyne supra mare; et quamvis superficialiter fecerint magna festa, finaliter non potuerunt concordare, quia dominus de Charoloys illo tempore multum favebat parti reginæ Margaretæ.

Warkworth's Chronicle [1461-1474]. 24th July 1465. Also the same yere, Kynge Herry [aged 43] was takene bysyde a howse of religione in Lancaschyre, by the mene of a blacke monke of Abyngtone¹, in a wode called Cletherwode, besyde Bungerly Hyppyngstones [Map]², by Thomas Talbott^3,4, sonne and heyre to Sere Edmunde Talbot of Basshalle, and Jhon Talbott his cosyne of Colebry⁶, withe other moo, whiche disseyvide⁷, beyngne at his dynere at Wadyngtone Halle [Map]⁸, and caryed to Londone on horse bake, and his lege bownde to the styrope⁹, and so brought thrugh Londone to the Toure, where he was kepte longe tyme by two squyres and ij. yomen of the crowne, and ther menne, and every manne was suffred to come and speke withe hym, by licence of the kepers,.

Note 1. A blacke monke of Abyngtone. In the curious fragment printed by Hearne, at the end of the Chronicle of Sprottus, we are informed that William Cantlow was the name of this rascal. Henry's capture, in the MS. No 5, in the College of Arms, is placed under the year 1465: "Hoc et anno, circiter festum Apostolorum Petri et Pauli, captus est Henricus Sextus, nuper Rex Anglie, du[c]tus et publice per Chepam Londonie, cum aliis secum captis; ductus usque ad Turrim Londonie, ibique honorifice commendatus custodie mansit. [During this year, around the feast of the Apostles Peter and Paul [29th June], Henry VI, the former King of England, was captured, led publicly through Cheapside in London, along with others captured with him; he was taken to the Tower of London, where he remained in custody with honorable commendation.]" Fol. 170, vo,

Note 2. Bungerly Hyppyngstones [Map]. This was a ford, obtained by stepping-stones, across the river Ribble. - J.G.N.

Note 3. Thomas Talbott, sonne and heyre to Sere Edmund Talbot of Basshalle. Sir Edmund Talbot, of Bashall, in the parish of Mitton, co. York, died in the 1st Edw. IV. His son, Sir Thomas, was then under age (pedigree in Whitaker's History of Craven, 2d edit. 1812, p. 25); but there can be little doubt that, before his traitorous achievement, he had married Alice, daughter of Sir John Tempest, of Bracewell, under whose protection the unfortunate King was then living. Beside the present reward mentioned in the ensuing note, Sir Thomas Talbot appears to have received a grant of a yearly pension of £40, which was confirmed by Richard III. (pedigree, as above). He survived to the 13th Hen. VII. His father-in-law, Sir John Tempest, was Sheriff of Yorkshire in 18 and 37 Henry VI. (see pedigree of Tempest in Whitaker's Craven, p. 80.) - J.G.N.

Note 4. Thomas Talbott. In the Issue Rolls of the Exchequer of 5 Edw. IV. are the statements of monies paid to this gentleman and others for taking Henry, late de facto et non de jure King of England. It appears that Sir James Haryngton and Sir John Tempest were also concerned in the capture; but the fact of Sir Thomas Talbot being the chief actor is confirmed by the amount of their relative rewards, he receiving £100 and they each 100 marks. Their "costs and charges," amounting to 100 marks, were also paid. John Levesey also received a reward of £20, and William Rogers of Serne and David Colinley, valets of the King's chamber, together £6 13s 4d. On the 9th of July 1465, Edward, in consideration of "magnam et laboriosam diligentiam suam circa captionem et retinentiam magni proditoris, rebellis, et inimici nostri Henrici nuper vocati Regis Henrici Sexti, per ipsum Jacobum factum [his great and laborious diligence in the capture and retention of the great traitor, rebel, and our enemy, Henry, formerly called King Henry VI, was done by James himself]," gave to Sir James Haryngton a grant of Thurland Castle and other lands, formerly belonging to Richard Tunstell⁵, a partizan of Henry. - Fœdera, XI. 548.

My ancestor, Sir James Haryngton, did once take prisoner, with his party, this poor prince; for which the House of York did graunt him a parcel of lands in the northern counties, and which he was fool enough to lose again, after the battle of Bosworth, when King Henry the Seventh came to the crown." - Haryngton's Nuga Antiquæ, by T. Park, vol. II. pp. 385–86. Cf. Rot. Parl. V. 584, and Devon's Issue Rolls of the Exchequer, p. 489.

Sir James Harrington [aged 35] was of Brierly near Barnsley; a younger brother of Sir John Harrington, of Hornby, who had fallen on the Yorkists ' side at the battle of Wakefield in 1460; their father, Sir Thomas, dying also of his wounds the day after the same battle. Sir James had, in 6 Edw. IV. a grant of £340 from the issues of the county of York. Both he and his younger brother, Sir Robert Harrington, were attainted after the battle of Bosworth in 1 Hen. VII. See further respecting him in Hunter's Deanery of Doncaster, vol. ii. p. 403; to which it may be added that it is probably of him that Leland speaks: "There was a younger brother of the Haryngtons that had in gifte Horneby Castelle [Map]." (Itin. viii. f. 109 a.), that is, he had it for a time to the prejudice of his nieces, the heirs of his elder brother. - J.G.N.

Note 5. The great extent of these possessions may be seen in the Great Roll of the Pipe for 1 Edw. IV. com. Westmorland.

Note 6. Jhon Talbott his cosyne of Colebry. That is, of Salesbury, in the parish of Blackburn, co. Lancaster; see Whitaker's Whalley, 3d edit. 1818, p. 432. A yearly fee of twenty marks was granted by King Edward in consideration of the good and faithful service of Johannes Talbot de Salebury, Esq. "in captura magni adversarii sui Henrici [in the capture of his great adversary, Henry.]," until he received a grant of lands or tenements to the like value; and the same annuity was confirmed to his son Sir John Talbot, of Salebury, by King Richard the Third. See the grant of the confirmation, dated at York 6th June 1484, printed in Baines's History of Lancashire, vol. i. p. 421.—J.G.N.

Note 7. whiche disseyvide. i e. which King Henry, deceived.

Note 8. Wadyngtone Hall [Map]. Waddington is a chapelry within the parish of Mitton, little more than a mile from Bashall. It had belonged to the Tempests of Bracewell from the time of Edward I. Dr. Whitaker says (Hist. of Craven, p. 25), "Waddington Hall, though constructed of strong old masonry, has nearly lost all appearance of antiquity. But one room contains the name of King Henry's chamber." In the History of Whalley, p. 473, will be seen an etching of the ruins. At Bracewell also, (which is now likewise in ruins,) in the older stone portion of the house, "is an apartment called King Henry's Parlour; undoubtedly one of the retreats of Henry VI." (Ibid. p. 82.) At Bolton, in the same neighbourhood, after describing a very ancient hall, and its canopy over the high table, Dr. Whitaker adds, "In this very hall, and probably under the same canopy, that unhappy monarch ate the bread of affliction during a retreat, as it is reported by tradition, of several months. An adjoining well retains the name of King Harry, who is said to have directed it to be dug and walled, in its present shape, for a cold bath." It is at Bolton where there are still preserved three relics of King Henry, a boot, a glove, and a spoon; figures of which are engraved in the Gentleman's Magazine for June 1785, and again in the History of Craven, p. 106. The boot and glove are remarkably small, and show, in Dr. Whitaker's words, that "in an age when the habits of the great, in peace as well as war, required perpetual exertions of bodily strength, this unhappy prince must have been equally contemptible from corporeal and from mental imbecility." - J.G.N.

Note 9. His lege bownde to the styrope. One author, and as far as I have been able to find he is the only authority for it, says, that Henry was immediately cast into chains. - Matthæi Palmesii Pisani Continuatio Chronici Eusebiani, ed. Venetiis, 1483, fol. 155, vº. According to some writers, Henry's two religious friends, Drs. Manning and Bedle, were the only companions of his misfortunes. - Cf. Monstrelet, IV. 182.

Memoires Jacques du Clercq. On the 15th day of July 1465, the Count of Charolais and all his army, who had departed from the bridge of Saint-Cloud to march toward Étampes and to go meet the Dukes of Berry and of Brittany, who could not pass because of the army of the King of France that was blocking them, arrived at Montlhéry and its surroundings. And the Count of Saint-Pol, who led the vanguard, went as far as Montlhéry and lodged himself and his men in the town of Montlhéry, upon the said mount, without entering the castle; which castle was garrisoned with soldiers placed there by the king, and the count made no assault upon it, nor did those inside make any sign of war. The Count of Charolais, who led the main battle, lodged himself two leagues from the mount, and the Bastard of Burgundy, who led the rear guard, lodged himself two leagues from the count and four leagues from the mount. The Count of Saint-Pol, who was upon the mount, sent out his scouts all around him, some of whom went as far as Chastres, three leagues from the mount, toward Étampes; and when they returned, they reported to the count that the King of France and all his forces were at Chastres and nearby, as was indeed the case. It was about eleven o'clock at night when the Count of Saint-Pol received this news, upon which he left his lodging on the mount and came to lodge below it in the valley, in an open field on the side toward Paris, and sent word of the news to the Count of Charolais, informing him that he should hasten to come, and that the king would give him battle the next day at dawn. The count, being thus informed, hastened greatly to go where the Count of Saint-Pol was, and sent word to the Bastard of Burgundy that he should make haste, which he did; and on the following day, the 16th day of the month of July, about sunrise, the Count of Charolais came to where the Count of Saint-Pol was, and the rear guard, led by the Bastard of Burgundy, came together with them, and there they arranged their battles and drew themselves up in order.

LE XV jour de juillet xiv^c lxv, le comte de Chrollois et toute son armée qui s'estoit parti du pond St Cloud pour tirer vers Estampes et aller allecontre des ducs de Berry et de Bretaigne, lesquels ne pooient passer pour l'armée du roy de Franche qui les empeschoit, arriverent a Mont-le-Hery et environ; et alla le comte de St Pol, qui menoit l'avangarde jusques le Mont-le-Hery, et se logea lui et ses gens en la ville de Mont-le-Hery, sur ledit Mont sans entrer au chasteau; lequel chastel estoit garny de gens de guerre y commis de par le roy, auquel le comte ne feit quelque assaut, ne ceulx de dedans ne feirent quelque seigne de guerre. Le comte de Chrollois qui menoit la bataille, se logea a deux lieues près du Mont, et le bastard de Bourgogne qui mnoit l'arriere-garde, se logea a deux lieues près du comte, et a quatre lieues du Mont; le comte de St Pol qui estoit sur le Mont, envoya ses escoutes tout envron lui, desquels aulcuns allerent jusques a Chastres, a trois lieues du Mont, tirant vers Estampes; lequels retournés certiffierent au comte que le roy de Franche et toute sa puissance estoit a Chastres et environ, comme il estoit vray. Il estoit environ onze heures en la nuict quant le comte de St Pol oyt ses nouvelles, pour lesquelles il se deslogea du Mont et vint logier au dessous du Mont en la vallée, en une campaigne au lez devers Paris, et feit sçavoir les nouvelles au comte Charollois, lui mandant qu'il se hastat de venir et que le roy lui livreroit bataille le lendemain au poinct du jour. Le comte, de ce adverti, se hasta moult fort d'aller ou le comte de St Pol estoit, et manda au bastard de Bourgogne qu'il se hastat, comme il feit; et le lendemain, xvje jour du mois de juillet, environ soleil levant, le comte Chrollois vint ou le comte de St Pol estoit, et l'arriergarde, que menoit le bastard de Bourgogne, vint avecq eulx, et illecq ordonnerent leurs batailles et se meirent en ordonnances.

Memoires Jacques du Clercq. The King of France and his army being drawn up in battle on Montlhéry [on 16th July 1465], and seeing below the hill in the valley, toward Paris, the Count of Charolais and his army arranged in good order, awaiting them on foot, they remained for the space of four hours or more in battle array without attacking, although they were within bowshot of one another. During this time, the Count of Charolais had his artillery fired upon the king’s men and killed many of them; but since neither the king nor his men descended nor made any move to attack, and instead also had their own guns fired at the count’s forces, though they had fewer than he, since not all had yet arrived, and even when all had come whom he was summoning, he still had far fewer than the count. Meanwhile, many of the king’s men began to move around the army of the count, as if to encircle him or to give him the sun in his eyes. Seeing this, the count and his men held council together. Although the count had not come to fight the king, fearing that those of Paris might be informed that the king was there and come in great force to his aid, and that they might be attacked on one side by the king and on the other by those of Paris, they resolved to advance, leave their strong position, and attack the king and his forces. Then the Count of Charolais ordered the advance, and they divided into two wings, one toward the wood and the other toward the village, with the main battle in front near the baggage, having the woods behind them. Although it is not clearly known which of the three divisions attacked first, at the beginning of the battle fire was set to the village to prevent the French from descending through the village of Montlhéry. Then began the battle, in which, at the first shock, many on both sides took to flight. On the side of the Count of Charolais, a third of his men or more fled, among them the lord of Eunyeries, his chief chamberlain, who had a hundred lances, the lord of Haplincourt who bore the pennon of the archers of the Count of Saint-Pol, the lord of Rabodenghues, and countless others, all of whom fled toward the bridge of Saint-Cloud, except the lord of Rabodenghues, who went no more than two leagues before turning back with four thousand men, but only after a herald came to tell him that the count was still fighting and had gained the battle. On the king’s side, there was likewise a shameful flight: the Count of Maine, brother of the King of Sicily and uncle of the king, the lord of Montauban, Admiral of France, the captain of the king’s archers, and countless others, to the number of eight hundred lances or more, all turned toward Étampes, none returning from either side. The roads were covered with baggage, such as trunks, bundles, vessels, jewels, harness, and horses abandoned by the fugitives, none of whom had time to recover them because of their fear, for on both sides it seemed as though the enemy was at their heels, though in truth they were not pursued. Although there were many fugitives on both sides, nevertheless the two armies came together, and the battle became cruel and terrible among those who remained, and many engagements were fought on either side. The Count of Charolais, among others, bore himself valiantly, encouraging his men, saying: “Forward, my friends, defend your prince and do not leave him in danger; I will not abandon you until death; see me here, ready to live and die with you.” By his bravery, not sparing his own person, he fought everywhere so that he was wounded by a sword blow and nearly had his throat cut; yet, though wounded, he did not cease to fight and to encourage his men. By his valor and words, he gave such courage to the few men who remained with him that each fought boldly like a lion, so that they drove back the king’s forces, and the vanguard was overthrown. There died a wise, valiant, and noble knight, Sir Pierre de Brézé, seneschal of Normandy, along with two other brave knights, one named Floquet and the other Geoffroy La Hire, and many other knights and noble men-at-arms, to the number of three hundred lances or more, who pressed so far into the battle that they could not return. At the beginning of the battle also were slain on the count’s side a noble and valiant knight, Sir Philippe de Lalaing, who by his courage that day was partly the cause of the king’s men being driven back, and performed many feats of arms; likewise there died the lords of Haines, Sir Philippe d’Ongnies, the son of the lord of Saucourt, the son of Sir Regnault de Raisse, and others whose names I do not know, along with a great number of valiant and bold archers. The dead were estimated on both sides at three to four thousand left on the field, and it could never be known on which side more had died, for as soon as they fell or were killed, they were stripped naked, so that one could not tell to which side they belonged. In this battle were captured the lord of Crèvecœur, who bore himself as a valiant knight and was wounded many times before being taken; likewise the lord of Brouay, the lord of Bois, the lord of Montcavrel, and others, all of whom were with the Count of Charolais. On the king’s side were taken the Count of Ventadour, the lord of Barbazan, who lay a day and a night among the dead without consciousness, and others. When the King of France perceived that his men had been driven back, and heard that some were saying throughout his army that he was dead, it is said that he thrust himself among his men, removed his helmet, and cried: “My friends, here is your king, defend yourselves bravely, I am not dead,” and he behaved very valiantly until he was told that his men had fled. Then he withdrew to the top of Montlhéry, where he remained for some time while the rest of his men continued fighting, and eventually they gathered and withdrew to the hill where the king was. The count and his men remained on the field, very joyful at their victory, and regrouped and drew up again in battle order, expecting that the king and his men would return to attack them again. The battle lasted until seven in the evening. The king remained on the hill from about seven o’clock until sunset, when he departed and arrived around ten at night in the town of Corbeil, six leagues from Montlhéry, with very few men, for many had fled and no one knew where they had gone. The count, who had remained in battle formation until dawn the next day, awaiting the king and believing he was still on the hill, was informed of the king’s departure; but he would not allow pursuit, fearing ambushes and not yet knowing of the disorderly flight of the king’s men, some of whom fled as far as Amboise, saying everywhere they went that the king was dead and defeated. The next day the count went up the hill, where he found many dead knights; and although some said the French had thrown them there so that no one would know how many of their men had died, in truth it could not be known whether they belonged to the king’s side or the count’s, for on the day of the battle there had been great slaughter within the town on the hill.

Le roy de Franche et son ost estant en bataille sur le Mont-le-Hery, et voyant au dessoubs du Mont en la vallée, en tirant vers Paris, le comte de Charollois et son ost mis en ordonnance, qui les attendoit de pied, qu'on fust par l'espace de quatre heures ou plus en bataille sans l'assaillir, combien qu'ils fuissent a ung traict d'arcque près l'ung de l'aultre, durant lequel temps le comte de Charollois faisoit jetter ses engins sur les gens du roy, et en tuerent plusieurs; mais pour ce que le roy ne les siens ne descendirent, ne feirent maniere d'assaillir, ains faisoit aussy jetter ses engins a pouldre pareillement es gens du comte, desquels il n'avoit pas tant que le comte, car touts n'estoient pas encoires venus; et quant touts euissent esté venus qu'il faisoit venir, sy n'en avoit il guerres au regard de ceulx du comte. Durant ce temps plusieurs des gens du roy commencherent a touppier autour de l'ost du comte, comme pour l'advironner, ou pour lui donner le soleil en l'oeuil: ce appercevant le comte et ses gens, sy prindrent les capitaines conseil ensemble; et combien que le comte n'estoit point venu pour combattre le roy, doubtant que ceulx de Paris ne fuissent advertis que le roy estoit illecq, et ne venissent a grosse puissance en son ayde, et ne fuissent assaillys d'ung lez du roy, et de l'aultre de ceulx de Paris, conclurent de marcher avant, et issir de leur fort, et assaillir le roy et sa puissance. Lors commanda le comte de Charollois de marcher avant, et se partirent en deux aisles, l'une vers le bois, l'aultre du costé du villaige, et la bataille au front emprès le carroy, ayant les bois au dos; et combien que on ne sçait bonnement qui premier assaillit des trois batailles, au commenchier la bataille fust bouttée au villaige pour empescher que les Franchois ne descendissent par le villaige du Mont-le-Hery. Lors se commencha la bataille en laquelle, de la premiere empaincte, plusieurs d'ung costé et d'aultre sé meirent en fuite. Du costé du comte de Charollois s'enffuirent le tiers de ses gens ou plus, entre lesquels s'enffuirent le Sr d'Eunyeries son premier chambellan, lequel avoit cent lanches d'ordonnance, le Sr de Haplincourt qui portoit le penon des archiers du comte de St Pol, le Sr de Rabodenghues et aultres sans nombre, touts lesquels s'enffuirent au pont St Cloud, reservé le Sr de Rabodenghues, qui n'alla point plus de deux lieues loing, qu'il ne retourna et avecq lui quatre mille combattants, mais se fust après que ung herault lui vint dire que le comte: de Charollois se combattoit encoires, et qu'il avoit gagné la bataille. Du costé du roy print la villaine fuite le comte du Maisne, frere du roy de Cecile, oncle du roy, le St de Montauban, admiral de Franche, le capitaine des archiers du roy et aultres sans nombre, et jusques au nombre de viij^clanches ou plus qui touts tournerent vers Estampes, sans nuls d'eulx retourner d'ung costé et d'aultre; touts les chemins estoient couverts de bagues, comme malles, bonges, vaisselles, joyaulx, harnats, chevaulx qui laisserent cheoir les fuyants, et nuls d'eulx n'avoient loisir de recoueillir de poeur qu'ils avoient, car d'ung costé et d'aultre, il sembloit que les ennemys fuissent a leurs tallons, et sy ne les suivoit on pas; et combien que d'ung costé ou d'aultre y olt moult de fuyants, toutesfois s'assemblerent lesdits deux osts ensemble, et se commencha la bataille cruelle et horrible de ceulx qui estoient demourez, et la olt mainte bataille faite d'ung costé et d'aultre. Le comte de Charollois entre les aultres sy porta valliamment, et donnoit couraige a ses gens, en disant: "Or, avant, mes amis, deffendez votre prince, et ne le laissiés en dangier, je ne vous laisserai jusques a la mort; voyez moy chy pour vivre et mourir avecq vous". Par sa valliance non doubtant son corps, se frappoit partout tellement qu'il fust bleschié d'ung coup d'espée, et lui cuida t'on copper la gorge; mais pour ce ne le laissa tout bleschié de se frapper en la ba taille, et a donner couraige a a ses gens. Par sa valliance et parolles, donna tel couraige a tant peu de gens qui lui estoient demourés, que chacun se boutta hardy comme un lyon, sy qu'ils reboutterent les gens du roy, et fust l'avant-garde ruée jus; et la mourut ung sage, valliant et noble chevallier, nommé messire Pierre de Bresil, seneschal de Normandie, deux aultres valliants et hardys chevalliers, l'un nommé Flocquet, et l'aultre Chiefroy Lahire, avecq plusieurs aultres chevalliers et nobles hommes d'armes, jusques au nombre de trois cens lanches ou plus, lesquels se ferirent sy avant en la bataille qu'ils ne peulrent retourner. A ce commenchement aussy feurent occis du costé du comte, ung noble et valliant chevallier, nommé messire Philippe de Lallaing, lequel par sa valliance icelluy jour fust en partie cause que les gens du roy feurent rebouttés, et y fit moult de valliance; aussy y moururent les Sts de Haines, hardy chevavallier, messire Philippe d'Ongnyes, chevallier, le fils du Sr de Saucourt, le fils de messire Regnault de Raisse, et aultres chevalliers et gentilhommes dont je ne sçay les noms, avecq grand nombre de valliants et hardys archiers, et feurent les morts estimés tant d'ung costé que d'aultre, de trois a quatre mille demourés morts en la place, et ne peult on oncques sçavoir duquel costé il en mourut le plus, car sitost qu'ils estoient abbattus ou morts, ils estoient despouilliés tout nuds, et par ce ne pooit on cognoistre de quel costé ils estoient. En ceste bataille feurent prins le S de Crevecoeur qui sy porta comme valliant et proeux chevallier, et on blessa plusieurs ains qu'il peult estre prins. Sy fust prins le Sr de Brouay, le St du Bois, le Sr de Montcavrel et aulcuns aultres, touts lesquels estoient avecq le comte de Charollois; et des gens du costé du roy feurent prins le comte de Vantadour, le S de Barbazan, qui fust ung jour et une nuict avecq les morts sans avoir cognoissance, et aultres. Quant le roy de Franche perçut que ses gens estoient rebouttés, et oy que aulcuns de ses gens lui dirent que on disoit, parmy son ost, que il estoit mort, on dit qu'il se frappa dedans ses gens, et osta sa salade de dessus sa teste, et disoit a ses gens: "Mes amis, voicy votre roy, deffendez vous de bons coeurs, je ne suis point mort;" et s'y porta très valliamment jusques ad ce que on lui vint dire que ses gens s'en estoient fuis; lors se retrait sur le Mont-le-Hery tout dessus, et illecq fust une espasse de temps, durant lequel temps le remenant de ses gens combattoient; ils se recoeullerent tellement qu'ils se retrayerent sur le Mont ou le roy estoit. Le comte et ses gens demoura en la place moult joyeulx de sa victoire, et se rallierent ensemble, et se remirent en bataille, attendants et cuidants que le roy et ses gens derechief leur deuissent venir courre sups. La bataille dura jusques a sept heures du vespres; le roy se tint sur le Mont depuis environ sept heures jusques soleil couchant, qu'il se partist du Mont et arriva, environ dix heures en la nuict, en la ville de Corbeil, a six lieues du Mont-le-Hery a tout bien peu de gens, car plusieurs de ses gens s'en estoient fuis, que on ne sçavoit ou. Le comte qui jusques au lendemain au poinct du jour, s'estoit tenu en bataille attendant le roy, cuidant qu'il fust encoires sur le Mont, fust adverti de la departie du roy, mais il ne volt souffrir que on allat après eulx, craindant les embuches, non sçachant encoires la villaine fuite des gens du roy, desquels aulcuns fuirent sy long qu'ils ne cesserent fuire jusques a Amboise, disant partout ou ils passoient que le roy estoit mort et desconfit. Le comte alla le lendemain sur le Mont, ou il trouva plusieurs chevalliers, pleins de morts; et combien que aulcuns disoient que les Franchois les y avoient jettés, adfin que l'on ne sceut combien de gens de leur costé y estoient demourés, toutesfois a la vérité on ne sçavoit si c'estoit des gens du roy ou du comte, car le jour de la bataille y olt dedans la ville sur le Mont grande occision.

Memoires Jacques du Clercq. The King of France, who was in the land of Bourbonnais or thereabouts, where he was waging war against the Duke of Bourbon and preventing the Dukes of Berry and Brittany from joining together and passing through to go to Saint-Denis to the Count of Charolais, as they had promised, having gathered the greatest army he could assemble, both on foot and on horseback, not counting the garrisons he had left throughout his kingdom, as along the river Somme, on the borders of Burgundy, along the rivers Somme and Oise, and elsewhere in Normandy, Guyenne, and throughout his realm, was informed that the Count of Charolais and all his army had crossed the rivers Somme, Oise, and Seine. Fearing that the Dukes of Berry and Brittany and the other princes might unite, and knowing that if they were assembled together they would be stronger than he, would be able to do him greater harm, and would be more dangerous to defeat than each separately, he gathered all his captains to take counsel as to whether he should fight the Dukes of Berry and Brittany before fighting the Count of Charolais. And although there were diverse opinions, most advised him that he should first fight the Count of Charolais, for if he could overthrow and defeat him, he would easily have at his will the Dukes of Berry and Brittany and all the princes of France, and that this was best, before the said count should be joined by the Burgundians, who had not yet arrived because the king's garrisons were hindering them, and before the princes of France had assembled with him. And although most were of this opinion, nevertheless a bold and valiant knight named Sir Pierre de Brézé, lord of La Varenne and seneschal of Normandy, told the king that it was not his advice to do so; for he knew the Count of Charolais, and that he was not a man to retreat, and that the Picards and those who were with him from his lands loved him with such devotion, and were for the most part men accustomed to war, who would not abandon him until death. But it was his opinion to fight first the Dukes of Berry and Brittany, among whom were many soldiers who had served in the ordinances of King Charles, his father, who, when they saw his presence, would not dare fight against him but would turn to his side, by which he would easily overcome the rest. To this seneschal it was said that he was afraid; to which he replied that he was not, and that if there were a day of battle or encounter, he would show that what he said was not out of fear, but solely to give loyal counsel to the king. In the end the king resolved first to fight the Count of Charolais, and he hastily gave command, on pain of the rope, that each man should prepare himself, and he rode on the 14th day of July, both by day and by night, he and his host covering twenty-four leagues, and he lodged at Étampes, and the next day at Chastres, three leagues from Montlhéry, and passed quite near, within six or eight leagues, of the army of the Dukes of Berry and Brittany. Not knowing that the messengers they had sent to Paris had been captured, nor that the Count of Charolais was so near him, on the 16th day of July, before dawn, he left Chastres, and shortly before sunrise he and his army found themselves at Montlhéry, below which mount they saw the Count of Charolais and all his army. Seeing this, and knowing that it was the Count of Charolais, the king had his men drawn up in order of battle. He arranged three divisions: in the first, which is called the vanguard, was the aforesaid Sir Pierre de Brézé, knight, lord of La Varenne and seneschal of Normandy, the son of the Count of Noyers, the lord of Barbazan, Malortie, Floquet, Salzart, and other captains and men-at-arms; in the second, which is called the main battle, was the king himself with many great lords and captains; in the third, which is called the rear guard, were the Count of Maine and about seven to eight hundred men-at-arms. And it was said that in these three divisions there were two thousand two hundred men-at-arms bearing lances, the best equipped and best mounted that men-at-arms had ever been, and there was the flower of the men of war, the whole strength of the King of France; with them were archers and other soldiers in great number, although many had remained behind, poorly mounted or on foot, because of the long march the king had made in haste.

Le roy de Franche, lequel estoit au pays de Boubonnois, ou environ, ou il guerroyoit le duc de Bourbon et empeschoit que le duc de Berry et de Bretaigne ne se joignissent et passassent pour aller a St Denys vers le comte de Charollois, comme ils avoient promis, ayant la plus grande armée qu'il avoit peu assembler, a pied et a cheval, sans prendre les garnisons que il avoit laissié par tout son royaume, comme sur la riviere de Somme, sur les marches de Bourgogne, comme sur les rivieres de Somme et d'Oyse, et ailleurs, en Normandie, Guyenne, et par tout son royaume, fust adverti que le comte de Chrollois et toute son armée avoient passé les rivieres de Somme, d'Oyse et de Saine, doubtant que les sieurs de Berry et de Bretaigne, et aultres princes ne se assemblassent, sçachant que eulx assemblés sroient plus forts que lui, polroient plus nuire et seroient plus dangereux a vaincre que chacun a part lui, assembla touts ses capitaines pour avoir conseil, s'il combattroit les ducs de Berry et de Bretaigne ains qu'il combattist le comte de Charollois; et cobien qu'il y olt de diverses opinions, la pluspart lui conseilla qu'il combattist premier le comte de Chrollois; car s'il le pooit ruer jus et vaincre, de legier il auroit a sa vollonté les ducs de Berry et de Brtaigne, et touts les princes de Franche; et que c'estoit le meilleur, ains que ledit comte euist avecq lui les Bourgoignons qui encoires n'estoient arrivés devers lui pour les garnisons du pays du roy qui les empechoient, ne que les princes de Franche fuissent assemblés avecq lui; et jasoit que la pluspart fust de pareille opinion, toutesfois ung hardy et valliant chvallier, nommé messire Pierre de Bresil, Sr de la Varende et seneschal de Normandie, dit au roy que ce n'estoit point son conseil de ainsy le faire; car il cognoissoit le comte de Charollois, et qu'il n'estoit pas homme de desmarchier, et que les Picards et ceulx qui estoient avecq lui de ses pays l'aimoient de sy grand couraige, et sy estoient la pluspart gens acoustumés de guerre, lesquels ne le lairoient jusques a la mort; mais estoit son opinion de premier cobattre les ducs de Berry et de Bretaigne, avecq lequels avoit plusieurs gens de guerre qui avoient esté des ordonnances du roy Charles, son pere; lesquels, quant ils verroient sa presence, ils n'oseroient cobattre contre lui, ains se tourneroient de son party, par quoy de legier il mecteroit le remenant a mechy; auquel seneschal fust dit, qu'il avoit poeur; lquel feit response que non avoit, et s'il y avoit journée de bataille ne rencontre, il monstreroit que ce qu'il disoit, il ne le faisoit de poeur, mais seulment pour loyaument conseiller le roy. En la fin le roy se conclud de premier combattre le comte de Charollois, et hastivement feit commandement sur la hart, que chacun se siennist, et chevaulcha le xiiije jour de juillet, que de jour, que de nuict, lui et son olt xxiiij lieues, et alla au giste a Estampes, et le lendemain a Chastres, a trois lieues du Monle-Hery, et passa assés près, comme a six ou huict lieues près de l'ost des ducs de Berry et de Bretaigne; et non sçachant que les messagiers qu'ils avoient evoyés a Paris, fuissent prins ne que le comte de Chrollois fust sy près de lui, le xvje jour de juillet, devant le jour se deslogea de Chastres, et ung peu devant soleil levant, lui et son armée se trouverent sur le Mont-le-Hery, dessous lequel Mont ils verent le comte de Charollois et toute son armée. Ce voyant le roy et sçachant que c'estoit le comte de Charollois, sy feit mectre ses gens en ordonnance et bataille. Il ordonna trois batailles; en la premiere bataille, que on appelle l'avant-garde, estoit le desusdit monsieur Pierre de Bresil, chevallier, sieur de la Varende et seneschal de Normandie, le fils du comte de Noyrenton, le sieur de Barbason, Malortie, Flocquet, Salzart, et aultres capitaines et gendarmes; en la seconde, que on appelle la bataille, estoit le roy avecq plusieurs grands sieurs et captaines; en la tierche, que on appelle l'arriere-garde, estoient le comte du Maisne, et bien sept a huict cens hommes d'armes: et disoit on que esdites trois btailles y avoit xxij^c hommes d'armes portant lanches, les mieux en poinct et les mieux montés que gendarmes feurent oncques, et la estoit la fleur des gens de guerre, toute la puissance du roy de Franche; avecq eulx estoient les archiers et aultres gens de guerre, qui estoient en grand nombre, combien que plusieurs fuissent demourés derriere, qui estoient mal montés et a pied, pour le grand chemin que le roy feit en haste.:

Calendar of State Papers of Milan 1468. 2nd July 1468. 162. Giovanni Pietro Panicharolla, Milanese Ambassador at the French Court, to Galeazzo Maria Sforza, Duke of Milan. At Bruges the Lord of Burgundy caused the greatest preparations to be made, and the tribunals were already set up for his marriage with the sister of King Edward, which he meant to perform and consummate immediately, devoting all his care and diligence to this. And because he is informed of what more and more people know, to wit that his future consort in the past has been somewhat devoted to love affairs¹, indeed in the opinion of many she even has a son, he has issued a public edict and ordinance, that no one in his country, in the presence of his lordship or elsewhere in private or public shall be so bold as to make mention or speak of such a thing, under pain of being thrown into the river forthwith, when he is found in such error: "And because he was informed of what more and more people knew, namely that his future wife had in the past been somewhat given to love, indeed, according to the opinion of many, had had a child, he made a public edict and ordinance that in his country no person should dare, either in the presence of His Lordship or in any other place, private or public, to mention or speak of such a thing, under penalty of being thrown into the river immediately upon being found in such an offence." [et perche he informato de quello che piu et piu gente sanno, cioe che essa soa futura consorte per el passato he stata alquanto data a l'amore, ymo secondo l'opinione di molti ha auto uno fiolo, ha facto publico [Page 125] edicto et ordinatione, che in el paese suo persona, non ardisca al conspecto de soa Signoria ne in altra parte privata o publica far mentione ne parlare di tal cosa, sotto pena di essere gittato in la rivera statim como in tal errore sara trovato].

My Lord of Pembroke, brother of the deposed King Henry of England, with some armed ships has entered the country of Wales, which has always been well affected towards him, and in large part up to the present, always submissive. There is news that when he entered he had some 4,000 English put to death, and he is devoting himself to gathering as many of his partisans there as he can, in order to set himself forward. To this effect it is argued that the deposed queen, consort of the said King Henry and sister of Duke John, who is at present in Lorraine, should soon come here to demand succour of this king for that design. It is said that the king here has quite 200 armed ships at sea at present, but they are so so, as if they were all big, it would be a very great fleet.

Meaux, the 2nd July, 1468. [Italian.]

Note 1. Basin says: "Edward had a sister, elegant in appearance, and adorned and distinguished by good conduct and chastity. Historia Ludovici XI, book II, chapter 20, cited in the Calendar of State Papers Milan entry for 1468. On the other hand Jules Quicherat publishes additions to the Chronique Scandaleuse, which he attributes to Jean Le Clerc, containing the statement that Gilbert de Chabannes told Louis IX "that he had heard the Duke say that, to avenge himself on the King, he had been forced to marry a whore".

Memoirs of Olivier de la Marche. The next day, which was the third day of July [1468], my said lord the Duke of Burgundy and Brabant set out with a private company between four and five o’clock in the morning, and made his way to the place of Damme, where he found my said lady Margaret and her company prepared and ready to receive him, as had been arranged. There my said lord married her, as was fitting, by the hand of the aforesaid Bishop of Salisbury [Richard Beauchamp]; and, after sung Mass, my said lord returned to his lodging at Bruges. And I believe that, while the other ceremonies were being performed, he made provision to sleep, as though he had to keep some watch or guard in the coming night.

Soon afterwards there arrived at the place of Damme my lord Adolf of Cleves, lord of Ravenstein; my lord d’Argueil; my lord of Château-Guyon; my lord Jacques de Saint-Pol; my lord of Roussy; my lord of Fiennes; Sir Jean de Luxembourg; the Count of Nassau; Sir Baudouin, bastard of Burgundy; and other knights and noblemen, whom it would take too long to recount. After they had made reverence to my said lady, the new duchess, she entered a litter richly adorned with horses and with a covering of rich cloth of gold.

And as for her noble person, she was clothed in white cloth of gold in bridal attire, as was fitting in such a case, and upon her hair she wore a rich crown. As for her collar and brooch, she was richly and splendidly adorned with them. And behind her she had thirteen white palfreys, harnessed in crimson cloth of gold. Of these, the two nearest her litter were led by hand, and on the others were mounted the English ladies whom she had brought with her in her company. After these palfreys came five wagons, richly covered with cloth of gold. In the first wagon was the Duchess of Norfolk [aged 25], who was a very beautiful English lady and who had come to accompany my said lady and bring her over here. And with her were Lady Scales, the Countess of Charny, the Vidame of Amiens’s wife, and no more. In the other wagons were many ladies and damsels, both English and others. And since this is the proper place, I shall name some of the said English ladies who came to bring my said lady. First, my said lady the Duchess of Norfolk; secondly, Lady Scales; Lady Willoughby, a very beautiful widow; Lady Cliton; Lady Strop; Mademoiselle Eleanor de Roos; and several other ladies and damsels, to the number of forty or fifty women. And in this state my said lady travelled from Damme as far as the gate of Bruges called Saint Croix Gate.

Le lendemain, qui fust troiziesme jour de juillet, mondit seigneur le duc de Bourgoingne et de Brabant se partit, à privée compaignie, entre quatre et cinq heures du matin, et se tira au lieu du Dan, où il trouva madicte dame Marguerite et sa compaignie, preparée et advisée de le recepvoir, comme il estoit ordonné ; et là mondit seigneur l’espousa, comme il appertenoit, par la main de l’evesque de Salsbery dessusdit, et, après la messe chantée, mondit seigneur s’en retourna en son hostel à Bruges ; et croys que, tandis que les aultres serimonies se firent, il feit provision de dormir, comme s’il eust à faire aucung guet ou escoute pour la nuyt advenir.

Tantost après se rendirent au lieu du Dan monseigneur Adolf de Cleves, seigneur de Ravestain, monseigneur d’Argueil, monseigneur de Chasteau Guyon, monseigneur Jaques de Sainct Pol, monseigneur de Roussy, monseigneur de Fiennes, messire Jehan de Lucembourg, le conte de Nasso, messire Baudouin, bastard de Bourgoingne, et d’aultres chevaliers et nobles hommes, qui trop longue chose seroit de les racompter; et après eulx avoir fait la reverence à madicte dame la nouvelle duchesse, madicte dame entra en une littiere richement parée de chevaulx et de couverture de riche drap d’or.

Et au regard de sa noble personne, elle estoit vestue d’ung drap d’or blanc en habit nupcial, comme il appertient en tel cas, et sur ses cheveulx avoit une riche couronne ; et au regard du collier et du fermail, elle en estoit richement et pompeusement parée ; et après elle avoit treze hacquenées blanches enharnachées de drap d’or cramoisy, dont les deux estoient en main, au plus près de sa littiere, et sur les aultres estoient montées les dames d'Angleterre qu’elle avoit amenées en sa compaignie. Après icelles hacquenées venoient cinq chariotz richement couvers de drap d’or, dont au premier chariot estoit la duchesse de Norfolck, qui estoit une moult belle dame d'Angleterre, laquelle estoit venue pour accompaigner et admener madicte dame pardeçà ; et avecques elle estoient madame d’Escalles, madame la contesse de Charny, madame la vidamesse d’Amiens, et non plus. Aux autres chariotz estoient plusieurs dames et damoiselles, tant angloises que aultres, et puisqu’il me vient à point, je nommeraypartie desdictes dames angloises qui vindrent pour admener madicte dame. Et premierement madicte dame la duchesse de Norfolck, secondement madame d’Escalles, madame de Willeby, une très belle vefve, madame de Cliton, madame de Strop, madamoiselle Leonor de Roz et plusieurs aultres dames et damoiselles, jusques au nombre de quarante ou cinquante femmes. Et en tel estat marcha madicte dame despuis le Dan jusques à la porte de Bruges , que l’on dit la porte Sainete Croix.