"The Battle of Barnet and the Return of Edward IV" Topic

"Early on the day of Maundy the honest citizens of the ward of Bishopsgate stopped what they were doing and watched as 500 grim faced soldiers marched warily into London. The Tenebrae having begun the day before and Holy Week at its height, this was a time of spiritual observance across the land. The solemn Maundy service had ended and the alters stripped down and covered over with twigs and branches.
Toldiers quietly intruding at this revered moment were Flemings, wearing the band of the house of York around their bodies. Foreigners soldiers entering a city was never a calming thing to see, and it was probably made worse by what type of soldiers they were. Their grim faces were hard and set, their skin was oily with a sooty film of powder smoke that made them instantly recognisable as that new and ugly type of soldier that fought with godless powder and ball. These specialists spread out along the narrow streets, securing choke points and generally keeping the route to Westminster free. Behind them rode a magnificent body of Household Knights and men at arms, visors up and watchful, plate armour shining in the sun. All seemed peaceful but no one was taking any chances, for up until less than an hour before, London had been enemy territory, .
Edward of York was next to pass under the portcullis and enter his Capitol. Behind him flew his standards, and those his brothers, the Dukes Clarence and Gloucester, the embroidered murray and blue catching the light as they passed out of the shade of the gatehouse, hooves echoing on the cobbled street, and back into the daylight. Perhaps some scaffolding was in place as the King rode underneath, the building was kept in repair by Hanse Merchants, who held warrants to ensure its upkeep, and that year it was recorded as having extensive work done on it. Edward had been gone for just under a year.

Intermittent, violent fighting that had punctuated life in England since 1455 and now the armies of England mustered again. The Earl of Warwick viewed King Edward IV's infatuation with the family of his wife Elizabeth Woodville as perversive, and acting in the best interest of the Kingdom decided to overthrow him in favour of his younger brother the Duke of Clarence. In a deft campaign Warwick outmanoeuvred the dithering Edward and ended up locking him up in Warwick Castle, for his own protection, of course. To a Yorkist leader this was an empty gesture for Edward's Father had done exactly the same thing to the Lancastrian King Henry VI. He did not stay a "guest" at Warwick long. Infighting and unrest led many Yorkist Lords to demand the King's release, Warwick's position then became untenable and Edward was given his liberty. A cold cordiality then grew between the former allies, the King and Kingmaker not unsurprisingly viewed each other from the corners of their eyes with deep suspicion. At the first schism Warwick rose again to try and put Clarence on the throne, but this time Edward was ready for him, and defeated his army in March at Losecoat Field, aswim amongst his enemies Warwick fled to France and made a deal with Louis XI to serve the Lancastrian Queen Margaret of Anjou and invaded England in October forcing Edward IV to similarly flee to Burgundy where his brother in law Charles the Bold gave him sanctuary. He did not stay long, in March 1471 he returned to England with an army, the Yorkist civil war was over and the Wars of Lancaster and York had resumed…"
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Amicalement
Armand

Great article and thanks for posting! Barnet has always been my favorite of the WOTR battles.

Happy you enjoyed it my friend!. (smile)

Amicalement
Armand