A Glimpse of The Wars of the Roses by Lewis Matthew

Author:Lewis, Matthew [Lewis, Matthew]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2013-07-19T23:00:00+00:00

The Third Period

Insurgence

The third period of conflict was brief and demonstrated both the dominance of the Yorkist King Edward and the desperation of his Lancastrian opponents. In April 1464, three years into his rule, Edward sent Warwick's brother John Neville to negotiate peace with Scottish envoys on the border. On the way, Neville was ambushed by a force of around 5,000 Lancastrians led by Somerset. At the Battle of Hedgeley Moor on 25th April 1464, the forces were of equal size but both Lancastrian wings, commanded by Lords Hungerford and Roos, fled during the battle and the remaining force was quickly defeated. Somerset escaped and led what was left of his army south to Hexham.

At Hexham, Somerset was rejoined by Hungerford and Roos and his force again numbered around 5,000 men. After the completion of his diplomatic mission, John marched on Hexham to deal with the Lancastrians. On 15th May, taking the high ground, Neville's forces charged head long down the hill and swept away the Lancastrian force. Somerset, Hungerford and Roos were all captured and executed. Thus at the Battle of Hexham armed resistance to Edward was eradicated and, although still at large, Henry and Margaret were isolated and without support.

The kingdom settled into relative peace. Edward was young, athletic and tall. At 6'4" he is the tallest King of England known to date, an inch taller than his grandson, Henry VIII. With harmony came prosperity. Trade improved and Edward worked hard to reconcile former Lancastrians to his rule. The next phase of trouble was to tear the kingdom apart afresh, exposing enemies Edward could not have expected.

Perhaps the primary cause of the troubles to come was King Edward's new queen. On 14th September 1464 Edward announced to a meeting of his Council that he had, a few months previously, married in secret. Furthermore, he had married a commoner, a widow four years his elder who had two sons from her first marriage. That first marriage also happened to have been to a prominent Lancastrian knight who had been killed at the Second Battle of St Albans. The Council could scarcely have imagined a worse match. French chronicler Jean de Waurin wrote that the Council told Edward 'he must know she was no wife for a prince such as himself'.

One man took particular offence at the match. The Earl of Warwick was close to concluding negotiations with France for Edward to marry the king's daughter, bringing peace between the countries. Edward's announcement caused him embarrassment at home and abroad that he would not bear lightly. The Earl would earn his title Kingmaker soon, primarily because of the king's marriage to Elizabeth Woodville.

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