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diff --git a/44852-8.txt b/44852-8.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 39b03fd..0000000 --- a/44852-8.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,6323 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Yorkshire Battles, by Edward Lamplough - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - -Title: Yorkshire Battles - -Author: Edward Lamplough - -Release Date: February 9, 2014 [EBook #44852] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK YORKSHIRE BATTLES *** - - - - -Produced by sp1nd and the Online Distributed Proofreading -Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from -images generously made available by The Internet Archive) - - - - - - - - - - YORKSHIRE BATTLES. - - - - - YORKSHIRE BATTLES. - - BY - EDWARD LAMPLOUGH. - - AUTHOR OF - "THE SIEGE OF HULL," "MEDIĈVAL YORKSHIRE," - "HULL AND YORKSHIRE FRESCOES," ETC. - - HULL: - WILLIAM ANDREWS & CO. - - LONDON: - SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, HAMILTON, KENT & CO., - LIMITED, - 1891. - - - - - HULL: - WILLIAM ANDREWS AND CO. - PRINTERS, - DOCK STREET. - - - - - TO THE - REV. E. G. CHARLESWORTH, - - VICAR OF ACKLAM, - - A CONTRIBUTOR TO AND LOVER OF - YORKSHIRE LITERATURE, - - This Volume - - IS - MOST RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED. - - E. L. - - - - - Contents. - - - PAGE - I.--WINWIDFIELD, ETC. 1 - - II.--BATTLE OF STAMFORD BRIDGE 15 - - III.--AFTER STAMFORD BRIDGE 36 - - IV.--BATTLE OF THE STANDARD 53 - - V.--AFTER THE BATTLE OF THE STANDARD 75 - - VI.--BATTLE OF MYTON MEADOWS 83 - - VII.--BATTLE OF BOROUGHBRIDGE 101 - - VIII.--BATTLE OF BYLAND ABBEY 116 - - IX.--IN THE DAYS OF EDWARD III. AND RICHARD II. 131 - - X.--BATTLE OF BRAMHAM MOOR 139 - - XI.--BATTLE OF SANDAL 150 - - XII.--BATTLE OF TOWTON 165 - - XIII.--YORKSHIRE UNDER THE TUDORS 173 - - XIV.--BATTLE OF TADCASTER 177 - - XV.--BATTLE OF LEEDS 183 - - XVI.--BATTLE OF WAKEFIELD 187 - - XVII.--BATTLE OF ADWALTON MOOR 192 - - XVIII.--BATTLE OF HULL 196 - - XIX.--BATTLE OF SELBY 199 - - XX.--BATTLE OF MARSTON MOOR 203 - - XXI.--BATTLE OF BRUNANBURGH 216 - - XXII.--FIGHT OFF FLAMBOROUGH HEAD 221 - - INDEX 227 - - - - - Preface. - - -In the history of our national evolution Yorkshire occupies a most -important position, and the sanguinary record of Yorkshire Battles -possesses something more than material for the poet and the artist. -Valour, loyalty, patriotism, honour and self-sacrifice are virtues not -uncommon to the warrior, and the blood of true and brave men has -liberally bedewed our fields. - -It was on Yorkshire soil that the tides of foreign invasion were -rolled back in blood at Stamford Bridge and Northallerton; the -misfortunes attendant upon the reign of weak and incapable princes are -illustrated by the fields of Boroughbridge, Byland Abbey, and -Myton-upon-Swale, and, in the first days of our greatest national -struggle, the true men of Yorkshire freely shed their blood at -Tadcaster, Bradford, Leeds, Wakefield, Adwalton Moor and Hull, -keeping open the pathway by which Fairfax passed from Selby to -Marston Moor. - -Let pedants prate of wars of kites and crows; we take national life as -a unity, and dare to face its evolution through all the throes of -birth, owning ourselves debtors to the old times before us, without -being either so unwise or ungenerous as to contemn the bonds of -association, and affect a false and impossible isolation. - -To the educated and intelligent our Yorkshire Battles present -interesting and important studies of those subtle and natural -processes by which nations achieve liberty, prosperity, and greatness. - - E. L. - HULL LITERARY CLUB, - _January 6th, 1891_. - - - - - YORKSHIRE BATTLES. - - - - - I.--WINWIDFIELD, ETC. - - -From the earliest ages of our recorded national history the soil of -Yorkshire has been the "dark and bloody ground" of mighty chieftains -and their armed thousands. Where the sickle gleams to-day amid the -golden fields of autumn, our ancestors beheld the flashing steel of -mighty hosts, and triumphed by the might of their red right hand, or -endured the bitter humiliation of defeat. - -Vain was the barrier of Hadrian's Wall to restrain the fiery -Caledonians from their prey in the old times before us, when the Roman -Eagle was borne above the iron cohorts of the Empire through the -remote and rugged Northland. When Severus visited the island, to -maintain his rule and quell the raging storms of invasion, he found -the city of York surrounded by barbarians, and encountered and drove -them afar in bloody defeat When the Roman gallies bore off the last of -the legionaries, and the Britons were left to their own resources, the -tide of devastation spread wide and far, and the suffering people were -driven to the verge of despair. According to William of Malmsbury, the -Romans had drained the land of its best blood, and left it cursed with -a sottish and debauched population. Hordes of Picts and Scots -inundated the land, fired its villages, overthrew its cities, and slew -the inhabitants with the edge of the sword. Oft has the pathetic -earnestness of Gildas been quoted: - - "The barbarians drive us to the sea, the sea throws us back on - the barbarians; thus two modes of death await us, we are either - slain or drowned." - -Again the clang of arms and the loud tones of war rang through the -north, when the White-horse Standard of the Saxons was spread upon the -breeze, and the tall, muscular warriors, with their long, fair hair -and flowing beards, swept towards the borders, filling the Briton with -astonishment and admiration. Then blood flowed like water, and the -fiery Picts were turned to sullen flight; but, ere long, Yorkshire -plain and hill groaned under a fresh burden of blood as Briton and -Saxon strove together for the mastery. The tide of war ebbed and -flowed around the ancient city of York, and sanguinary and numerous -were the engagements that ensued before the Britons relinquished the -sovereignty of the island. - -The history of Edwin, King of Deira and Bernicia, is worthy of a -passing notice; he was left an orphan at the tender age of three -years, when King Ethelfrith seized his inheritance of Deira, and -pursued his steps with implacable persistency until Redwald King of -East Anglia took him under his protection. Ethelfrith at once marched -upon Redwald, and two sanguinary battles followed, the usurper -perishing in the last conflict. Redwald then placed Edwin upon the -throne of Deira and Bernicia. - -Edwin was a pagan, but on espousing the sister of Ethelbald, King of -Kent, he came under the influence of Bishop Paulinus, and his -conversion followed. On Easter Day, 626, Edwin gave audience to his -subjects in his "regal city" on the Derwent, a few miles from York. -Doubtless it was a favourable time for the presenting of petitions, -for during the night the Queen had given birth to a daughter. - -Towards the conclusion of the morning's business, a messenger was -ushered into the royal presence, and, when about to address the King, -drew forth a long double-edged knife, with which he attempted to stab -the monarch, throwing all the weight of his body into the blow. Lila, -the King's minister, perceiving his master's danger, interposed his -body, which was transpierced by the weapon, which inflicted a slight -wound upon the King. Upon the instant the assassin was slain by a -score of weapons, but not before he had also killed Forthhere, one of -Edwin's household. It transpired that the murderer was a servant of -Cuichelm, king of the West Saxons, and was named Eumer. The knife had -been poisoned, and though robbed of its virulence in passing through -the body of Lila, the King had to endure somewhat at the hands of his -physician, and was no doubt under some apprehension of death. In -conversation with Paulinus he vowed to accept the Christian religion -if he recovered from his wound, and succeeded in punishing the -murderous treachery of Cuichelm, and on Whit-Sunday the infant -princess received Christian baptism. - -The avenging army of Northumbria burst into the fair Westland with -sword and spear, and Edwin carried his banner through many a -sanguinary engagement, when the strong growing corn was trampled under -foot and cursed with red battle-rain, as the massy columns of -Northumbria drove over the field, banners flapping overhead, javelins -and stones beating in a terrible shower along the front, whilst a -forest of portended pikes rent and overwhelmed all who dared to brave -the dreadful onset. - -On the King's return he hesitated long before professing the Christian -religion, and called his chiefs to take council with him. To his -surprise the way was prepared for him. Coifi, chief of the pagan -priests, doubted the power of his gods. He gave them careful service, -omitted nothing, and deserved well of them, yet he was not first in -the King's favour, nor prosperous in his undertakings. - -One of Edwin's chieftains took a more just and elevated view of the -subject: - - "The present life of man, O King, seems to me, in comparison of - that time which is unknown to us, like the swift flight of a - sparrow through the room wherein you sit at supper in winter, - with your commanders and ministers, and a good fire in the - midst, whilst storms of rain and snow prevail abroad--the - sparrow, I say, flying in at one door and immediately out at - another, whilst he is within, is safe from the wintry storm; - but after a short space of fair weather, he immediately - vanishes out of your sight, into the dark winter from which he - had emerged. So this life of man appears for a short space, but - of what went before, or what is to follow, we are utterly - ignorant. If, therefore, this new doctrine contains something - more certain, it seems justly to deserve to be followed." - -The result was that Coifi undertook to desecrate his gods, assuming -sword and spear, and mounting a stallion, forbidden to priests. Great -was the astonishment and awe of the people as the royal party rode -towards the temple. As Coifi approached he brandished his spear, and -hurled it into the building. As it clashed upon the floor an awful cry -burst from the priests, but no dire catastrophe followed, and fire -being applied to the temple, building and gods were alike consumed. -The impotence of the pagan gods established, the conversion of the -people rapidly followed, and the wise and good King reigned over a -flourishing state for several years. - -Unhappily, the virtues of the King and the affection of his subjects -were no protection from misfortune, and the chequered life went down -in ruin and defeat. Penda, the pagan King of Mercia, a wretch inured -to crime, entered into a confederacy with Cadwalla, King of North -Wales, and, after vowing to compass the destruction of all the -Christians in the island, marched against King Edwin. - -The royal Northumbrian was neither slow to mass his troops nor meet -his arch-enemy; but the triumph that had so often attended his arms -was not vouchsafed in this inauspicious hour; and when the terrible -waves of battle rolled against each other at the village of Hatfield, -near Doncaster, in the October days of 633, his throne and crown went -down in the fierce storm, though brave men flung themselves before his -banners, and struggled with the savage foe as long as life lingered in -the hacked and bleeding frame. - -Falling with honour in the van of battle, Edwin breathed out his life -amidst the roar of the contending hosts, and so the day darkened ere -the night closed on Christian Northumbria. By the King's side fell his -son, the gallant young Osfrid, and the slaughter of the defeated army -being very great, a season of extreme depression ensued. Great as the -confusion was, the dead King received the last melancholy offices, his -head being buried in the porch of the church at York, and the Abbey at -Whitby receiving his body. - -In the year 655, when the winters of eighty years had bleached the -head of the warlike and ferocious Penda, he again participated in a -tremendous conflict which took place on the Field of Victory, or -Winwidfield, on the northern bank of the Aire, near Leeds. The -occasion of the war was as follows: Adelwald, King of Deira, was -threatened by Oswy, King of Bernicia, and perceiving that he could -only hope to retain his crown by compassing the ruin of that powerful -monarch, he formed a league with the Kings of Mercia and East Anglia, -and declared war against Oswy, who, dismayed by so powerful a -coalition, strove, by every possible means, to avert the bursting of -the storm. All his efforts proving futile, he humbled himself in -fervent supplications for victory on the solemn eve of the impending -battle, and recorded a religious vow that, in the event of his being -delivered from his enemies, his infant daughter, Elfleda, should be -devoted to the service of the Holy Church. While Oswy was buried in -supplication the shrewd brain of Adelwald was busily revolving the -position. Should Oswy be defeated, he would be at the mercy of his -allies of Mercia and East Anglia, and his own destruction and the -division of his kingdom might be anticipated. To obviate such a -disastrous result Adelwald resolved to reserve his own forces, and -leave his allies to deal with Oswy, when he might reasonably hope to -secure his kingdom against the decimated army, or armies of the -victor. On the morning of the 15th of November, the four Kings -marshalled their forces, spearmen, and other variously armed infantry -and cavalry; and Penda, animated and impetuous, his fiery spirit -undimmed by the four score years that had passed over his head, rushed -to the attack, and the clash of arms and tumult of war resounded over -the field as the troops of Oswy nobly sustained the fierce assault. At -this juncture, the crafty Adelwald, assured that the deadly game would -be continued to the bitter end, began to retire his troops, and the -Mercians, losing heart under the suspicion of his treachery, relaxed -their efforts, and commenced a hasty and confused retreat. Penda and -his numerous chieftains appealed to them, and strove to restore their -broken ranks, but in vain. Oswy pressed them hard; smote them with -fierce charges of cavalry, and with the rush of his serried spearmen -bore down all resistance. The Kings of Anglia and East Mercia were put -to the sword, and their armies decimated and scattered. Oswy, secured -in the possession of life and throne, exulted in the signal victory -which had blessed his arms. Amid the lifeless thousands that -encumbered the sanguinary field, twenty-eight vassal chieftains of the -highest rank had fallen with their Kings. - -Oswy satiated his regal ambition by taking possession of the realms of -his conquered adversaries, but he respected the crown of the crafty -Adelwald, who retained the glittering bauble until his death, a few -years later. - -Before the Saxon monarchy had time to develope, the Danes visited the -unhappy island with fire and sword. Coasting along the shores, -interrupting the commerce, blocking up the mouths of the rivers, or -penetrating far inland, their only mission to plunder and destroy, -they proved a terrible curse to the nation, and brought the islanders -to the verge of ruin and despair. - -With the name of Penda, is associated that of a very opposite Prince, -Alfred, King of the Northumbrians, as he is styled in the Anglo-Saxon -Chronicle. Alfred espoused Kyneburga, Penda's daughter, by whom he had -issue one son, Osred, who succeeded to the throne. - -This talented Prince ascended the throne after many vicissitudes, and -was slain at Ebberston on the 19th January, 705, and was buried in the -church of Little Driffield. It appears that the country was being -ravaged by a large body of Danes and Norwegians, and that Alfred -pursued and engaged them, holding them to a desperate trial of arms -for the whole of the short winter's afternoon. The gloomy night was -closing in on the dreadful scene, and the Northmen were breaking -before the charges of the royal troops, when an arrow smote the King, -and he fell in the front of battle. On the instant a Danish warrior -charged the prostrate monarch, and, before a hand could be raised in -his defence, wounded him in the thigh. In haste and confusion the -wounded man was carried away from the scene of strife, and concealed -in a cave until the invaders had retired, when he was borne to the -castle of Deira-field, and every attention given to recover him from -his wounds, but after a week of suffering he expired, to the regret of -his subjects. - -In the year 867, a great conflict for the sovereignty of Northumbria -was maintained between Osbert and Ella, the former having been -expelled from his throne and the latter elected thereto in his stead. -At this unhappy juncture, the Danish chieftains, Hinguar and Hubba, -brought a powerful fleet into the Humber, and therewith passed their -land forces over the river into Northumbria, directing the march of -their principal forces upon York, and marking their track in blood and -ashes. The common danger arrested the course of the internecine feud, -and Osbert and Ella proposed to combine their forces for the defence -of the capital. Before this junction could, however, be effected the -Northmen fell upon York, and Osbert, without waiting for his ally, -threw himself into the city, and attacked the advancing Danes. For a -time the battle raged hotly. The banners were brought to the front, -and the leaders fought gallantly beneath them, animating their -followers by their example and exhortations. So fierce was the defence -of the Northumbrians that the Danes were driven back, but only to -again struggle forward through dust and blood to the devoted city. -Osbert and his chieftains strove nobly to hold up against the heavy -masses that bore down upon them with such determined energy. Again -and again they cast themselves upon the steel-bound ranks of their -enemies, only to be borne down in the press, before the descending -swords, and lie beneath the feet that pressed forward and entered the -city in triumph. Scarcely had Hubba and Hinguar established -themselves, before Ella approached, and addressed himself to the -storming of the walls. So fierce and stubborn was the onslaught, that -his troops broke through the defences and penetrated the Danish lines. -The Northman was never more to be feared than when at bay, with the -sword above his head. The Danes sallied out, slew or drove out all the -Northumbrians who had entered the city, and, engaging them in the open -field, put Ella and the flower of his army to the sword. The day was -fittingly concluded by a fiendish massacre of the citizens of York. - -In Saxon and Danish times Northumbria was continually invaded, and in -the days of King Athelstan the famous battle of Brunanburgh was fought -north of the Humber, and, if we may attach any importance to the -speculations of some of our Yorkshire antiquaries, our favoured county -was the scene of that desperate conflict. As a matter of fact, the -exact locality of the battle has not yet been established on -sufficient evidence, and no doubt our historians will continue to -regard it as unascertained. - - - - - II.--BATTLE OF STAMFORD BRIDGE. - - A.D. 1066. - - -Two circumstances secured the triumph of William, Duke of Normandy, -when he invaded Saxon England in the year 1066. The first was the -temporary withdrawal of the Saxon fleet, for the purpose of securing -supplies; the second was the enmity of Tosti Godwinsson, who incited -Harold Hardrada to attempt the subjugation of the island. Had the -Saxon fleet kept the sea, had Harold encountered the invader with the -unbroken strength of his army of defence, the Norman might have -effected a landing, but it would have been with decimated forces, and -probably in the face of an army that would have offered a desperate -resistance to their disembarkation, and would have called them to an -even more bloody conflict than that of Senlac. - -The chain of events which led to the Battle of Stamford Bridge may be -traced back to that memorable scene when the aged and heroic -Northumbrian, Jarl Siward, lay dying in his house at York. Disdaining -to meet death in other than his customary guise of warrior and chief, -he caused his servitors to invest his gigantic frame in the iron -panoply of war, to arm him with the heavy sword and tempered -battle-axe which he had so long and ably employed in the national -service, and so breathed his last, leaving the wild hordes of -Northumbria to be disposed of by King Edward, for his son, the -afterwards far-famed Waltheof, was too young to rule over so extensive -and warlike a province. No doubt Harold employed his great influence -with King Edward to secure the aggrandisement of his own family, for -his brother Tosti was invested with command of the province. - -Tosti was the most froward of the sons of Godwin, and showed none of -the high qualities and sincere patriotism which distinguished Godwin -and his son Harold. - -Cruel and passionate, Tosti was ill-fitted to govern a proud and -inflammable people like the Northumbrians. The following passage from -Roger of Wendover illustrates the violent disposition of the Earl: - - "Tosti quitted the King's court in a rage, and coming to the - city of Hereford, where his brother Harold had prepared a - great feast for the King, he cut off the limbs of all the - servants, and put an arm, or some other member, in each of the - vessels of wine, mead, ale, or pickle; after which he sent a - message to the King, that on coming to his lodgings, he would - find the food seasoned to his mind, and that he should take - care to carry away the delicacies with him." - -Tosti's rule in Northumbria came to a sudden termination, A.D. 1065. -The "Anglo-Saxon Chronicle" thus records the event: - - "All the thanes in Yorkshire and Northumberland gathered - themselves together, and outlawed their Earl, Tosty, and slew - his household men, all that they might come at, as well English - as Danish: and they took all his weapons at York, and gold and - silver, and all his treasures which they might anywhere there - hear of, and sent after Morkar, the son of Elgar the Earl, and - chose him to be their Earl: and he went south with all the - shire, and with Nottinghamshire, and Derbyshire, and - Lincolnshire, until he came to Northampton: and his brother - Edwin came to meet him with the men who were in his earldom, - and also many Britons came with him. There came Harold, the - Earl, to meet them; and they laid an errand upon him to King - Edward, and also sent messengers with him, and begged that they - might have Morkar for their Earl. And the King granted it, and - sent Harold again to them at Northampton, on the eve of St. - Simon's and St. Jude's Mass; and he made known the same to - them, and delivered a pledge thereof to them: and he there - renewed Canute's law. But the northern men did much harm about - Northampton whilst he went on their errand, inasmuch as they - slew men and burned houses and corn; and took all the cattle - which they came at, that was many thousand: and many hundred - men they took and led north with them; so that shire, and the - other shires which there are nigh, were for many years the - worse. And Tosty the earl, and his wife, and all those who - would what he would, went south over sea with him to Baldwin, - the earl, and he received them all; and they were all the - winter there." - -The indignation of Tosti was extreme, and was not unnaturally directed -towards his brother, Harold, who had used his influence with the -Confessor to obtain the pardon of the turbulent Northumbrians, and the -confirmation of Morkar in the possession of the earldom. That Harold -was actuated by personal motives cannot be questioned, for he -procured the government of Mercia for Earl Edwin, and espoused the -sister of these potent nobles. It was obvious that a crisis must come -in his history, and in that of his country, and as a man and a patriot -he could not afford to be hampered by the crimes of his brother, and -by the disaffection and revolt of a province so remote and difficult -of access as Northumbria. Although Harold was at the head of an army -when he treated with the Northumbrians at Northampton, it is apparent -from the passage already quoted that they were assembled in such -numbers and array, that any attempt to reinstate Tosti in the earldom -would have resulted in a battle, and probably would have necessitated -an armed invasion of Northumbria. - -On the 5th of January, 1066, King Edward fulfilled the number of his -days, and on the morrow was buried in Westminster Abbey. From the day -of his death England entered upon a long course of stormy and -disastrous years; and it must be confessed that to his own folly in -promising the succession to his kinsman, William, Duke of Normandy, -the national troubles are to be largely attributed. It is said that -Edward's last hours were vexed by the vision of a warrior shooting a -bloody arrow, portending evil days for the Kingdom; and also that he -gave a reluctant consent to the succession of Harold, warning him that -the result would be very grevious. - -The citizens of London, the nobility, and clergy, were largely -favourable to the claims of Harold; the lineal heir to the crown being -the Confessor's nephew, Edgar Atheling--a youth of far too tender -years to wear the crown to which the Duke of Normandy and Harold -Godwinson aspired. No man wished to behold the Norman duke seated upon -the throne of the great Alfred; and when Harold caused himself to be -proclaimed king on the evening of the day of the Confessor's death, -his action was ratified by the Witenagemot, and the crown was placed -upon his head by Stigand, Archbishop of Canterbury. - -In the North alone was any disaffection manifested towards King -Harold, and he met it by paying the Northumbrians a visit, in which he -was accompanied by Wulstan, Bishop of Worcester. He was favourably -received, and won the esteem and support of the Northumbrians. - -In the true sense of the word, Harold was an elected king, chosen of -the nation; not a tyrant and usurper. - -Earl Tosti spared no pains to raise up enemies against his brother -during the period of his enforced banishment, and succeeded in -inducing the famous Norwegian monarch, Harold Hardrada, to make a -descent upon the island. Too impatient to await the appearance of his -ally, Earl Tosti was the first to raise sword in the land, coming from -beyond sea with a fleet of daring adventurers, Flemings, and others. -Landing in the Isle of Wight, he enforced contributions of food and -money, and proceeded to ravage the coast as far as Sandwich. Harold -had, however, provided so largely for the protection of his Kingdom by -the formation of a large fleet, and of formidable land forces, that -Tosti was compelled to beat a speedy retreat, and directed his course -to the North, taking "some of the boatmen with him, some willingly and -some unwillingly." Entering the Humber, he devastated the Lindsey -shore with fire and sword; but being beset by the troops of Morkar and -Edwin, he was deserted by the greater part of his fleet, and was -obliged to precipitately retire into Scotland with the twelve gallies -that remained to him. King Malcolm III. hospitably entertained the -fugitive prince at his court, but all the solicitations of Tosti -failed to induce him to invade the territories of King Harold. Tosti -succeeded in attaching a number of adventurers to his cause, or rather -a number of pirates followed his fortunes in the hope of obtaining -plunder, and with the certainty of being allowed to slaughter the -inhabitants of the coasts, and to ravage the land. - -Where the North Sea foams around the Orkneys, Tosti was to meet the -Norwegian monarch; and the Orkneyinga Saga thus narrates his arrival -and departure:-- - - "At this time, when the brothers, Paul and Erlendr, had taken - up the rule in Orkney, there arrived at the east side of the - island from Norway Harold Sigurdson with a large army. He came - first to Shetland. Went from thence to Orkney. There he left - Queen Ellisif, and their daughters, Maria and Ingigerdi. From - Orkney he had much help. Both the jarls joined the expedition - of the king. The king thence went south to England, and landed - where it is called Klifland, and came to Skardaborg." - -Tosti and his gallies joined the Norwegians, and in the expressive -phraseology of the time:--"Tosti submitted to him and became his man." -Northumbria was the seat of war, the Saxon fleet and Harold's army of -defence being located in the South, for the arrival of the armament of -the Duke of Normandy was daily expected, and Tosti and his ally had -therefore every prospect of obtaining a strong hold of the North, the -population of which was largely of Danish origin. - -From the first the proceedings of the invaders were not calculated to -win over the Northumbrians to their cause. As the great fleet of 500 -sail bore for the Humber, numerous troops were landed to ravage the -coast; and a fierce swoop was made upon Scarborough, which was burnt -to the ground. Sailing up the Humber, the invaders continued their -evil work, and the sky was lurid with flame and dark with smoke, and -slaughtered peasants were strewn on the soil which they had ploughed -and sown in the earlier days of the year, when they looked forward to -the harvest of the scythe and sickle, nor dreamt that Autumn would -bring upon them the sharp chastisement of the sword. - -York was the prize for which the invaders offered, and, sailing up the -Ouse, they moored their fleet at the village of Riccall, ten miles -from the city, upon which they at once directed their march. Jarls -Edwin and Morkar made strenuous efforts to arrest the invaders, but -the northern forces were insufficient to meet so numerous and powerful -an army as that of Hardrada. Nevertheless, the brothers assembled such -troops as they could collect, and took up a position at Fulford to -cover the city. Hardrada occupied a defensive position, with the river -on his right flank, and a morass on his left. Edwin and Morkar showed -no lack of spirit in the combat which ensued, and promptly charged the -Norwegian lines, which they penetrated, making a very great slaughter; -but being too weak in numbers to reap the full advantage of their -valour, they were unable to rout the ranks which they had thrown into -disorder; and the Norwegians clung to their ground, and maintained a -hand-to-hand conflict until the arrival of large reinforcements from -the fleet enabled them to push back the Northumbrian ranks, and to -charge them in turn. This was decisive of the battle: the -Northumbrians had exhausted their strength in the first conflict, and -could not stem the tide of fresh warriors that bore down upon them, -with their ringing war-song, and with flashing spears and axes. The -disordered ranks of the Northumbrians were speedily broken, and the -army dissolved in a wild rout of savage fugitives, oft turning -stubbornly at bay, and exacting a heavy price for their lives. Many of -the Northumbrians were forced into the river, or took to the water in -their endeavours to escape the vengeance of the unsparing Norwegians, -so that more men of the Saxon army perished in the Ouse than fell by -the sword on the field of Fulford. "And this fight was on the vigil of -St. Matthew the apostle, and it was Wednesday." - -Morkar and Edwin retired into York with the remnant of fugitives that -rallied around them; but their numbers were insufficient for the -defence of the city, and they retreated thence, when Harold and Tosti -entered in triumph at the head of a division of their army, and -received the submission of the citizens, who furnished them with -provisions, and placed hostages in their hands; "and they agreed upon -a full peace, so that they should all go with him south, and this land -subdue." - -The Norwegians had retired from the city, and taken up a position at -Stamford Bridge, part of the army remaining at Riccall for the -protection of the fleet, while the commanders appear to have been -engaged in projects for organising an army to march south; but the -enemy was approaching by forced marches; and on the 26th of September, -1066, the decisive battle of Stamford Bridge was fought - -No sooner was Harold apprised of the invasion of Northumbria, than he -placed himself at the head of his army, advanced his ensigns; and -pressed forward with such celerity that, on the 23rd of September, his -army occupied Tadcaster. On the following day he entered York; the -Norwegians, who had been left in occupation, retiring before him. The -battle commenced at sunrise on the 25th; and the forces of Harold and -Tosti appear to have been taken by surprise, for a large number of -Norwegians were with the fleet at Riccall. Under any circumstances, -however, Hardrada was certain to provide for the safety of his fleet; -and the fact that he afterwards drew large reinforcements from it does -not of itself imply that he was taken by surprise, unless, indeed he -had under-estimated the forces of Harold, and had prepared for battle -accordingly. - -The armies were sufficiently powerful for so important an occasion, -each consisting of some 60,000 men; those of Hardrada being -adventurers and soldiers by profession; whilst the warlike element -was sufficiently developed in Harold's army, many of the troops being -veterans, and all accustomed to wield arms, for there had not been -time to collect hasty levies, such as some of those that fought at -Hastings three weeks later. - -Before the battle commenced, Harold Godwinson dispatched a troop of -twenty horse to negotiate with the enemy, no doubt in the hope of -winning over his brother Tosti, against whom his mind revolted from -engaging in war. Tosti manifested a marked disposition to accede to -his brother's wishes on being informed that he should be reinstated in -his territories and honours; but, on his demanding what price would be -paid to secure his ally, Harold Sigurdson, he was met by the -significant reply:--"Six feet of earth; or, as he is a giant, he shall -have seven." - -Then Tosti swore a great oath that no man should ever say that Tosti, -son of Godwin, broke faith with Harold, son of Sigurd; whereon the -trumpets sounded, and the Saxon advance began. - -The Norwegians occupied a purely defensive position on rising ground -in the rear of the Derwent; the narrow wooden bridge, which spanned -the river, being held by a strong detachment posted on the Saxon side -of the water. There is a strange legendary story told of a gigantic -Norwegian holding the bridge, single-handed, against the Saxon army -for three hours; meeting every rush of the assailants with tremendous -blows of a huge battle-axe, and only falling by a treacherous blow -from the spear of a Saxon soldier, who, in a boat, passed underneath -the bridge, and directing a stroke of his spear between the planks, -smote the warrior underneath his mail, and so slew him. Considering -that Harold's army contained both archers and slingers, it is -difficult to believe that three hours should be lost, and forty Saxons -slain by this terrible warrior, before he fell to the cowardly stroke -of a concealed enemy. - -It is certain, however, that the bridge was stormed by the Saxons, and -that Harold Hardrada maintained a defensive position while they -crossed, although he might have attacked them at great disadvantage -while forming in the open ground. Being deficient in cavalry, he had -formed his troops somewhat in the old Scottish fashion of the -Schiltron: massing them in one huge circular column, with the front -rank kneeling, and all presenting their pikes, so that the bristling -column might scarcely be broken by the most desperate and repeated -charges, and the soldiers, who loved fighting with the wild Norse -love, which has not yet died out of the earth, might safely count upon -a feast of blows that day. - -Hardrada occupied the centre of his army, with his jarls and captains -around him, and his famous war-standard, the "Land-Ravager," floating -above his head. He was mounted upon a powerful black war-horse, his -hauberk and helmet were of burnished steel, and a long blue cloak -rendered him conspicuous amidst his warlike thousands, over whom he -towered in the physical superiority of his gigantic stature; as the -battle commenced he lifted his powerful voice, and sang his war-song, -kindling the enthusiasm of his warriors, and preparing them for the -storm that was about to burst upon them. - -Before the main-battle commenced, the force that guarded the bridge -had to be driven back, and if there be any truth in the story of its -sturdy defence, Hardrada's reinforcements should have reached him -before the Saxons passed the bridge. - -The initiative was forced upon Harold Godwinson, and no slackness was -shown by the Saxons in closing in upon their formidable adversaries. -The charges were repeated again and again, and the famous Saxon twibil -did good service that day; nor were the spearmen wanting in their -efforts, while the Saxon cavalry charged again and again. The day wore -on; the cries of battle and the clash of weapons sounded far; the -Norwegian host was belted by a wide hem of the dead. The Saxon light -troops did good service on this memorable day, and brought down many -of the sea-rovers by the discharge of their missiles. Although both -armies suffered severely, the battle endured steadily; the invaders -maintained their formation with stubborn valour, and the Saxons -continued their attacks with equal determination. In the heat of the -battle an arrow smote King Hardrada in the throat, and he died in the -midst of his army, at the foot of his standard, to the sound of -ringing steel and fierce war-cries. - -Although the noble form of Hardrada was missed from the press, and his -war-cry no longer presaged victory to the Norwegian host, his valiant -troops maintained the field with unabated ardour; and Prince Olave -bringing up reinforcements from the fleet, the strife waxed fiercer, -and the most sanguine might question with whom the victory would rest. -Harold was an expert warrior, and failing to penetrate the Norwegian -ranks by dint of hard fighting, he feigned a retreat, and induced them -to abandon their close formation, in the excitement of attack and -pursuit, when he turned upon their disordered lines, and the field -instantly became the scene of a fierce hand-to-hand encounter, with -its dreadful attendant carnage. Tosti, and many of the Norwegians, -fell in the last stubborn effort to maintain the field, for although -the generous Saxon offered them quarter, it was disdainfully refused -by the maddened Northmen. - -The following quaint and pithy account of the battle is taken from the -"Anglo-Saxon Chronicle," and is well worthy of quotation:-- - - "Then, during this, came Harold, King of the Angles, with all - his forces, on the Sunday, to Tadcaster, and there drew up his - force, and went thence on Monday throughout York; and Harold, - King of Norway, and Tosty, the Earl, and their forces, were - gone from their ships beyond York to Stamford-bridge, because - it had been promised them for a certainty, that there, from all - the shire, hostages should be brought to meet them. Then came - Harold, King of the English, against them, unawares, beyond - the bridge, and they there joined battle, and very strenuously, - for a long time of the day, continued fighting: and there was - Harold King of Norway and Tosty the Earl slain, and numberless - of the people with them, as well of the Northmen as of the - English: and the Northmen fled from the English. Then was there - one of the Norwegians who withstood the English people, so that - they might not pass over the bridge, nor obtain the victory. - Then an Englishman aimed at him with a javelin, but it availed - nothing; and then came another under the Bridge, and pierced - him terribly inwards under the coat of mail. Then came Harold, - King of the English, over the bridge, and his forces onward - with him, and there made great slaughter, as well of Norwegians - as of Flemings. And the King's son Edmund, Harold let go home - to Norway, with all the ships." - -Dreadful were the events of that September day, and most dismally -tragic the retreat from Stamford Bridge to Riccall; the pursuers -wielding sword and spear with merciless energy on the rear of the -fugitive army, while ever and anon the Northman turned upon his foe -and died fighting. - -The fleet was reached by the war-worn Norwegians, but afforded them no -refuge, for the Saxons pressed on to the attack, and captured ship -after ship, and in some instances appear to have fired the vessels, -failing to carry them by the sword, for the "Anglo-Saxon Chronicle" -says:-- - - "And the English from behind hotly smote them, until they came, - some to their ships, some were drowned, and some also burned; - and thus in divers ways they perished, so that there were few - left. The King then gave his protection to Olave, son of the - King of the Norwegians, and to their bishop and to the Earl of - Orkney, and to all those who were left in the ships: and they - then went up to our King, and swore oaths that they ever would - observe peace and friendship toward this land, and the King let - them go home with twenty-four ships." - -On the low plain of Riccall the dead lay thickly, and to this day the -villagers point out to the curious visitor the huge earthen mounds -that cover the bones of the Norwegians. - -The Harold Hardrada Saga gives us a last glimpse of the remnant of the -forlorn fleet, as it sailed from the ancient port of -Ravenser:-- - - "Olafr, son of Harold Sigurdson, led the fleet from England, - setting sail at Hrafnseyri, and in the autumn came to Orkney. - Of whom Stein Herdisson makes mention: - - 'The King the swift ships with the flood - Set out, with the autumn approaching, - And sailed from the port, called - Hrafnseyri (the raven tongue of land). - The boats passed over the broad track - Of the long ships; the sea raging, - The roaring tide was furious around the ships' sides.'" - -The memory of the Norwegian giant who held the bridge was perpetuated -by the people of Stamford, for Drake tells us that they - - "have a custom, at an annual feast, to make pies in the form of - a swill, or swine tub, which tradition says was made use of by - the man who struck the Norwegian on the bridge, instead of a - boat." - -Harold is accused of having disgusted his army by refusing them a -share of the spoil; but this is difficult to reconcile with the known -generous character of the man; and no prince could have been more -nobly seconded by his troops than was Harold on the field of Senlac. - -Brief indeed was the victor's respite from the dangers of the field; -for, as he was presiding at a great feast of his chieftains and -officers at York, a messenger entered the hall in haste, and -delivered his ominous message that William of Normandy had disembarked -his army at Pevensey, unopposed, on the 29th of September. - -The march south was at once commenced; and on the 14th of October a -murderous battle was fought at Senlac, raging with unwavering fury -from sunrise to sunset. King Harold, his brothers Leofwin and Gurth, -fell in the front of battle, with the flower of the army; and from -that day the Norman rule commenced in England. - - - - - III.--AFTER STAMFORD BRIDGE. - - -William, Duke of Normandy, landed at Pevensey on the eve of St. -Michael, 1066, and cast up fortifications for the protection of his -army. Not venturing to penetrate into the country, he awaited the -approach of the Saxon army. He had not long to wait. The route from -York to Hastings was covered by forced marches, and, with a decimated -and wearied army, Harold Godwinson took up his position before the -Norman host. His rear was protected by rising ground; his front and -flanks by trenches and huge wooden piles. He had especially to fear -the Norman cavalry and archers, and took every precaution to defend -his troops against them. - -On the eve of the battle the Saxons regaled themselves with strong -ale, and chanted legendary songs by their bivouac fires; but the -Normans occupied themselves in religious services, as befitted hired -cut-throats and the "scum of Europe." - -Harold's banner, embroidered in gold with the figure of a warrior, in -battle attitude, was fixed near the "hoar apple tree." The men of -Wessex brought with them their great banner, emblazoned with a golden -dragon. - -On the 14th October, Harold's birthday, the battle was fought. The -Norman army advanced in three lines: the light infantry and archers -under Roger de Montgomerie; the men-at-arms under Martel; and the -knights, esquires, and picked men-at-arms under the command of the -Duke. - -As the Normans advanced they raised the song of Roland, and the -minstrel Taillefer claimed first blood, as a sturdy Saxon fell to his -sword. - -The Norman archers shot their arrows fast and well, point-blank -against the Saxons, but the palisades proved a most efficient -protection, and from their bows, and slings, and military machines, -the Saxons replied, but they were not famous in missile warfare. Then -the Norman lines closed on front and flanks, with thrust of lance, and -fierce axe-play against the stout wooden piles, and all the while the -heavy Saxon twibils rose and fell, crashing through Norman helm and -shield, as horse and rider bit the dust, and from the Saxon rear the -heavy javelins came whirling through the air. The dead and wounded lay -thick on both sides of the palisades, and blood trickled and curdled -in the dust. With unflinching courage the conflict was maintained, -amid a tumult of discordant sounds: the clash and clatter of steel -against steel, the groans of the wounded, and the sudden death-yells -of those whose spirits fled as the axes came crashing through helm and -brain-pan, or lance was driven sheer through corset and breast: above -the heat and roar of the _melee_ pealed the Saxon war-cry: "Christ's -Rood! the Holy Rood!" answered by the sonorous Norman death-cry: "Our -lady of help! God be our help!" - -The day sped to the heat and languor of the mid October noon, and the -Normans toiled before the Saxon front, and belted it with flashing -steel. - -With painful anxiety Duke William saw his repeated charges spent -against the Saxon army, saw his ranks shaken and thinned, without one -foot of ground being won. He now bade his archers shoot high in the -air, so that their arrows might descend upon the heads of the Saxons. -By this the slaughter was dreadfully increased within the Saxon lines, -but the warriors were unshaken in their resolution to maintain their -ground. - -Along the front the Saxons nobly avenged their slaughtered brethren, -and William poured his whole army against them in a murderous charge. -Quicker rose and fell the Saxon axes, and, recoiling from the shock, -the surging mass of mail-clad warriors rolled down the ravine, between -two hills, and many men were trampled to death by the struggling -horses. Surely a charge of heavy cavalry would, at this crisis, have -secured the throne and crown of Harold. Thrice the stalwart form of -Norman William sank amid the surges, as three horses were slain -beneath him. A cry arose that the Duke was slain, and panic and defeat -appeared inevitable, when William rode, bare-headed, among his -warriors, and reformed their ranks. - -During the dreadful carnage, Harold maintained the van, fighting with -heroic courage, although suffering severely from an arrow-wound which -had destroyed one of his eyes. William's strenuous efforts were nobly -seconded by his officers, and especially by his half-brother, Odo, the -warlike bishop of Bayeux. Foiled in every attempt to penetrate the -Saxon lines, and hopeless of beating them out of their defences, -William drew the Saxons by a feigned retreat of his cavalry, and on -passing the broken ground, turned upon them, and cut them to pieces. -Twice was the ruse repeated, and although the Saxons maintained their -position with undaunted front, their ranks were terribly thinned and -shaken. - -The charges were repeated, again and again, and the Normans rolled -back in blood. The day waned, but the desperate attacks were foiled. -At length a number of palisades were displaced, and the Norman horse -bit into the Saxon masses, hewing a bloody pathway, and paying heavily -for every foot they won. Twenty knights vowed to take Harold's banner, -and William of Normandy, rendered desperate by his peril, was -anxiously seeking the Saxon hero. The conflict inside the palisades -was tremendous. Harold's brothers, Gurth and Leofwin, perished in the -van: the King was slain; there was a bloody rally round the royal -banner; ten of the Norman knights were hewn down, but the banner was -captured, and the Norman flag elevated in its place. Still the Saxons -would not fly; the "Golden Dragon" was taken, and they were reduced to -a mere mob of struggling warriors. The grey of evening merged into -the dusk of night before the retreat commenced. In retreat they were -almost as dangerous as in battle, and repeatedly turned and drew -Norman blood. The Normans were driven back, William advanced to their -succour, and while their leader, Eustace of Boulogne, was whispering -in the Duke's ear, he was struck on the back by a heavy Saxon axe, and -fell, insensible, from his horse, the blood gushing from his mouth and -nostrils. - -The Normans, relaxing the pursuit, rode their horses over the slain -Saxons, in savage elation, before returning solemn thanks to God for -the victory. - -Gurtha, the mother of Harold, came to beg the hero's body, to give it -burial; but William is reported to have refused, ordering the corse to -be buried on the strand, remarking, with unknightly anger--"He guarded -the coast while he was alive, let him thus continue to guard it after -death." The dead King was, however, interred in Waltham Abbey, which -he had founded and endowed; or, if Tovi, Canute's standard-bearer, was -the original founder of the abbey, yet Harold was largely its -benefactor. - -On the field of Senlac King William built the famous Battle Abbey, -that priests might perpetually pray for the souls of the slain, but, -as Palgrave remarks:-- - - "All this pomp and solemnity has passed away like a dream. The - 'perpetual prayer' has ceased for ever--the roll of Battle is - rent--the shields of the Norman lieges are trodden in the - dust--the Abbey is levelled to the ground--and a dark and reedy - pool fills the spot where the foundations of the quire have - been uncovered, merely for the gaze of the idle visitor, or the - instruction of the moping antiquary." - -Yorkshire endured terrible evils at the hands of the Conqueror, as he -penetrated its wilds with his famous bowmen and men-at-arms. - -The year 1068 witnessed a Northumbrian revolt, which was easily -quelled; but a more determined effort to cast off the Norman yoke was -made in the following year. The events are thus recorded in the -"Anglo-Saxon Chronicle," and were graphically realized by the acutely -sympathetic mind of the Rev. Charles Kingsley in his stirring story of -"Hereward, the last of the English." The accuracy of the latter part -of the title of his novel is, however, generally disputed: - - "A.D. 1068--This year King William gave the earldom of - Northumberland to earl Robert, and the men of that country - came against him, and slew him and 900 others with him. And - then Edgar etheling marched with all the Northumbrians to York, - and the townsmen treated with him; on which King William came - from the south with all his troops, and sacked the town, and - slew many hundred persons. He also profaned St. Peter's - minster, and all other places, and the etheling went back to - Scotland. - - "After this came Harold's sons from Ireland, about Midsummer, - with sixty-four ships, and entered the mouth of the Taff, where - they incautiously landed. Earl Beorn came upon them unawares - with a large army, and slew all their bravest men; the others - escaped to their ships, and Harold's sons went back again to - Ireland. - - "A.D. 1069--This year died Aldred, Archbishop of York, and he - lies buried in his cathedral church. He died on the festival of - Protus and Hyacinthus, having held the see with much honour ten - years, all but fifteen weeks. - - "Soon after this, three of the sons of Sweyne came from Denmark - with 240 ships, together with earl Osbern and earl Thorkill, - into the Humber, where they were met by child Edgar and earl - Waltheof, and Merle-Sweyne, and earl Cospatric with the men of - Northumberland and all the landsmen riding and marching - joyfully with an immense army; and so they went to York, - demolished the castle, and found there large treasures. They - also slew many hundred Frenchmen, and carried off many - prisoners to their ships; but, before the shipmen came thither, - the Frenchmen had burned the city, and plundered and burnt St. - Peter's minister. When the King heard of this, he went - northward with all the troops he could collect, and laid waste - all the shire; whilst the fleet lay all the winter in the - Humber, where the King could not get at them. The King was at - York on Midwinter's day, remaining on land all the winter, and - at Easter he came to Winchester." - -It was on the 19th of September that the Danes and Northumbrians -entered York, and, amid the flame and smoke of burning houses, stormed -the Norman stronghold, and put the garrison to the sword. Egbert, the -seventh Archbishop of York, had founded a valuable library in the -city, but it was utterly consumed in the flames. - -The triumph of King William was not so easily achieved as might be -supposed from the account given in the "Anglo-Saxon Chronicle;" and -had he not succeeded in buying off the Danish fleet, it is quite -possible that all the fruit of his great victory at Senlac might have -been swallowed up at York. Although the Northumbrians were not strong -enough to brave the Normans in open field, they defended York against -all the attacks of the King's troops for a period of six months, and -the garrison only surrendered when they were in danger of perishing -from starvation. - -During the siege Waltheof Siwardsson especially distinguished himself, -and on one occasion defended, single-handed, a breach in the -city-wall, dashing out the brains of the Normans as they came within -the sweep of his axe. - -In the first burst of rage on receiving news of the slaughter of the -Norman garrison, William vowed to lay the whole of Northumbria in -ashes, and he carried out with ruthless severity this rash and cruel -resolution. The troops who fought beneath his banner were mercenary -cut-throats, the fit agents of his vengeance, and they addressed -themselves to the work of destruction with a keen appreciation. The -peasantry fell by the edge of the sword, neither age nor sex being -respected: the shrieking children were mingled in the common ruin. -Cottages were fired, orchards hewn down, the instruments of husbandry -destroyed, and every energy was bent to the destruction of human life, -and to ensure by starvation the death of those whom the sword failed -to reach. For nine years after the storm had passed over the devoted -province, the ground remained untilled, and the villages unrestored. -The wretched fugitives who hid their heads in forests and caves were -driven to feed upon the flesh of unclean cats and dogs, and finally -they endeavoured to prolong their miserable lives by the last resort -to cannibalism. It is computed that one hundred thousand persons -perished in a district of sixty miles in length. The sea-ports were -subjected to the same severities, that, in case of further Danish -invasions, the ships might be unable to obtain supplies. - -York itself was not spared by the ruthless Norman. The prisoners, who -had been delivered into William's hands by the extreme pangs of -famine, were put to the sword, and the city was given to the flames. - -During his expedition to Northumbria, William narrowly escaped -receiving the reward of his demerits, an example of poetic justice -that would have been particularly striking to the historian, and -useful to the moralist. - -While on the march from Hexham to York, he became involved in a wild -and unknown country; his horses perished, his soldiers were reduced to -the extremes of suffering and privation; and William missed his way, -in the obscurity of a night-march, and was reduced to a state of great -anxiety, not to say fear, being uncertain of the ground over which he -wandered, and equally uncertain of the direction in which his troops -were marching. - -The North continued to suffer from war and invasion. Malcolm wasted -Northumberland, A.D. 1079, and his wild Scots invaded the country as -far as the Tyne, and re-entered Scotland with much spoil, and many -prisoners. - -The bishopric of Durham had been bestowed upon Walcher of Lorraine, -and as he equally governed by crozier and sword, taxing the people -heavily, and allowing his Norman mercenaries to plunder, insult, and -slay his flock at their pleasure, he was bitterly hated; and, when his -servant Gilbert murdered Liulf, a noble Englishman, who had married -Jarl Siward's widow, the mother of the heroic Waltheof, their rage -knew no bounds. Walcher consented to confer with the Northumbrians at -Gateshead, and was attended by a large escort. Every Englishman -carried a weapon with him, concealed beneath his garment, and the -bishop, becoming alarmed for his life, took refuge in the church, -which was speedily fired, when the murderer and his accomplice were -driven out, and received a summary requital for their crime. Compelled -to sally out by flame and smoke, the bishop appeared among the raging -multitude, his face wrapped in the skirt of his robe. There was -silence, then a voice gave the death-words: "Good rede, short rede! -slay ye the bishop!" and the protector of murderers was slain. His -escort of a hundred men, Normans and Flemings, died beneath -Northumbrian steel in that awful hour, only two of his servants, -menials of English birth, being saved. - -Vengeance was delegated to Odo of Bayeux, and there was no Hereward, -no Waltheof to welcome him with blood-wet steel. He entered Durham -unopposed, a Norman army at his back, and slew or maimed all the men -that he could find. - -Seven years later, and William lay dying in the monastery of St. -Gervas, passing to his last account at sunrise on the 9th of -September, as the bells of St. Mary tolled the hour of prime. His last -words were: "I recommend my soul to my Lady Mary, the holy mother of -God." - -Rufus succeeded, and in his reign the King's army besieged Durham -Castle, and received its surrender. This arose from the revolt of Odo -of Bayeux, who was captured at Rochester Castle, and sent out of the -country, to the sound of Saxon curses and the triumphant strains of -Saxon trumpets, for the proud prelate who had cursed England with his -presence since the day of Senlac was conquered by Saxon steel at last. - -The North was again ravaged by the Scots, A.D. 1091, when Rufus -marched to protect it, and "Edgar Atheling mediated a peace between -the kings." The following year saw the King again in the North, with a -large following, when, - - "he repaired the city (Carlisle), and built the castle. And he - drove out Dolfin, who had before governed that country, and - having placed a garrison in that castle he returned into the - South, and sent a great number of rustic Englishmen thither, - with their wives and cattle, that they might settle there and - cultivate the land." - -A.D. 1093.-- - - "King Malcolm returned home to Scotland, and as soon as he came - thither, he assembled his troops and invaded England, ravaging - the country with more fury than behoved him: and Robert, Earl - of Northumberland, with his men, lay in wait for him, and slew - him unawares. He was killed by Morĉl of Bamborough, the earl's - steward, and King Malcolm's own godfather: his son Edward, who, - had he lived, would have been King after his father, was killed - with him. When the good Queen Margaret heard that her most - beloved lord, and her son, were thus cut off, she was grieved - in spirit unto death, and she went with her priest into the - church, and having gone through all befitting rites, she prayed - of God that she might give up the ghost." - -The Northern province had little rest from marching armies, sieges, -and battles. In the Easter of 1095, Robert, Earl of Northumberland, -treated with contempt the King's summons to attend the court at -Winchester; whereon the King took an early opportunity of attacking -him, seized his principal servants and officers, took Tynemouth -Castle, and after vainly besieging Bamborough, built a castle, -_Malveisin_, or "evil neighbour," over against it, and leaving -therein a strong garrison departed. After the King's departure, the -earl sallied out one night, riding towards Tynemouth, when a part of -the garrison of _Malveisin_ pursued after him, carried him off, -wounded, and slew or captured his attendants. On this Rufus ordered -his captains to carry Northumberland to Bamborough Castle, and summon -it to surrender, threatening to put out the earl's eyes if the castle -continued to hold out. The scheme was successful, the countess--a -young and beautiful woman, recently married to Northumberland--at once -surrendered, when the unhappy earl was condemned to a life-long -imprisonment. - -The mysterious death of William Rufus, who was found in the New -Forest, slain by an arrow, on the 2nd of August, A.D. 1100, was -followed by the accession of Henry I., when the Northern provinces of -the island enjoyed a period of unwonted repose, which was terminated -by the usurpation of Stephen of Blois, when the Scottish invasions -re-commenced, and the battle of the Standard was fought. - -During these years York was steadily rising from its ashes, after the -Conqueror's fiery chastisement, when, on the 4th June, 1137, a fire -accidently broke out, and the city was again consumed. - -Of the patriots who combatted so valiantly against the Conqueror -during the invasion of Northumbria, Earl Edwin was slain in 1071, -being betrayed to the Normans by three of his servants; Morkar, after -joining Hereward in the famous Camp of Refuge, fell into the hands of -the King, and was cast into prison, pursuant to a sentence of -imprisonment for life, but, when the Conqueror lay on his death-bed, -he ordered his release, and William Rufus immediately re-committed him -to prison; Earl Cospatrick was banished for the slaughter of the -Normans at Durham and York, and received honours and lands from the -King of Scotland. Hereward was murdered by the Normans, but exacted an -heroic price for his life. - - - - - IV.--BATTLE OF THE STANDARD. - - A.D. 1138. - - -The crown which the Conqueror won at Hastings was fated to pass from -the direct male line of succession in the third generation. - -Robert, the eldest of King William's sons, was passed over by his -father, who transmitted the crown to Rufus. When that violent, but not -wholly ungenerous, prince was slain in the New Forest Prince Henry, -the Conqueror's youngest son, usurped the crown, and ultimately -overcame his brother Robert, seized his Duchy of Normandy, and -condemned him to a life-long imprisonment. - -Each of the brothers had a son bearing the name of his grandsire, and -it appeared certain that the feud of the fathers would be perpetuated -by the children. - -William, son of Robert, had many stout friends, and enjoyed, in a -special degree, the protection of the King of France; hence wars and -revolts arose in the King's usurped Duchy of Normandy, and it seemed -probable that when King Henry died the duchy would be re-conquered by -Robert's son. All the energies of King Henry were therefore turned to -securing the duchy for his son. In the year 1120 he carried the prince -to Normandy, and, by his valour and address in the field, seconded by -his crafty policy, he succeeded in restoring peace and order in the -duchy, and also in detaching his nephew's chief supporters from his -cause. - -When about to sail from Barfleur, he was accosted by an ancient -mariner, who claimed that his father had piloted the Conqueror to -England in 1066, and besought the honour of now carrying King Henry -across the Channel. The King had already made his arrangements, but he -entrusted Prince William and his suite to the care of Fitz-Stephen. It -was a serene, moonlight night when the _Blanche Nef_ sailed, but the -prince had provided too generously for the good cheer of the mariners, -and a drunken and careless crew carried him to his fate. The _Blanche -Nef_ struck on the rocks of the Ras de Catte, and rapidly filled. -Prince William was hastily thrust into the ship's boat, but he -insisted upon attempting the rescue of his half-sister, and vainly, -but generously, sacrificed his life in the endeavour. - -The position of Duke Robert's son was apparently more hopeful now that -he was the only lineal male heir to the throne. King Henry was not, -however, the less earnest in his endeavours to transmit all his -dignities to his own children. Thus reads the "Anglo-Saxon Chronicle," -for 1127:-- - - "This year at Christmas, King Henry held his court at Windsor, - and David, King of Scotland, was there, and all the headmen of - England, both clergy and laity. And the King caused the - archbishops, bishops, abbots, earls, and all the thanes who - were present, to swear to place England and Normandy, after his - death, in the hands of his daughter the princess, who had been - the wife of the Emperor of Saxony. And then he sent her to - Normandy, accompanied by her brother Robert, Earl of - Gloucester, and by Brian, the son of the Earl Alan Fergan; and - he caused her to be wedded to the son of the Earl of Anjou, - named Geoffrey Martel." - -In the following year the brief, but brilliant, career of Prince -William came to an end. After a most honourable campaign, whilst - - "he was besieging Eu against King Henry, and expected on the - morrow to receive its surrender, for the enemy was almost - worn-out, the young man died of a slight wound in the hand, - leaving behind him an endless name." - -Robert of Normandy fulfilled the number of his days in the year 1134. -No doubt the statement of Matthew Paris was quite correct:-- - - "When the King heard of his death, he did not grieve much, but - commanded the body to be reverently interred in the conventual - church of Gloucester." - -King Henry had reigned many years, and committed many crimes to secure -his crown, but, such is the irony of fate, he was not permitted to -enjoy his triumph long, for, on the 1st of December, he died through -over-indulgence in supping on lampreys, and, to use the expressive -ambiguity of Carlyle, "went to his own place, wherever that might be." - -Prominent among the nobles of England was Stephen, Count of Blois, the -son of the Conqueror's daughter Adela, and the first peer of the -realm--a position which he put to the proof when the oath of -allegiance was taken to the ex-Empress Matilda, Robert, Duke of -Gloucester, having vainly claimed precedence, although he could only -claim as the natural son of the King. - -Stephen was a brave, generous, and popular noble, and both the peers -and commons of England would have preferred his rule to that of the -King's daughter; when, therefore, he made claim to the throne no -opposition was raised. - - "For when the nobles of the kingdom were assembled at London, - he promised that the laws should be reformed to the - satisfaction of every one of them, and William, Archbishop of - Canterbury, who was the first of all the nobles to take the - oath of fidelity to the Empress as Queen of England, now - consecrated Stephen to be King. In fine, all the bishops, - earls, and barons who had sworn fealty to the King's daughter - and her heirs gave their adhesion to King Stephen, saying that - it would be a shame for so many nobles to submit themselves to - a woman." - -Having obtained the crown, Stephen assisted in burying the corpse of -his uncle, being one of those who sustained the coffin on their -shoulders. How suggestive such a scene must have appeared to many who -were present. The dead King had broken the closest ties of -relationship and blood in obtaining the crown; the retribution that -took the shape of his son's untimely death was to some extent -compensated by the death of his nephew; but no sooner is the old King -dead than his nephew usurps the crown, maugre his vows of allegiance -to Matilda, and piously assists in conveying him to the grave. - -For the moment no man seemed disposed to maintain the claims of the -ex-Empress: the first to move on her behalf being her uncle David, -King of Scotland, a humane and religious prince, who occupied the same -relationship to Stephen's wife that he did to the ex-Empress. - -In his first invasion David succeeded in occupying Carlisle and -Newcastle, but being confronted by Stephen at the head of a powerful -army, a treaty was entered into at Durham, whereby King David engaged -to abandon hostilities on certain territorial concessions being made -to him. Thrice in one year Northumbria was inundated by the wild -Scots, and Stephen, harassed by his treacherous barons, could only -avenge his unhappy subjects by laying waste the frontiers of Scotland. - -The wildest storm of war swept over Northumbria in the year 1138, the -unfortunate inhabitants of that province being mercilessly -slaughtered in requital for the sins of their princes and -nobles--sins in which they had neither art nor part. David was deeply -afflicted by the enormous cruelties which his troops perpetrated, but -he was utterly unable to control their passions, and endeavoured to -quieten his conscience by condemning the acts of his armies, and by -his royal munificence to the church--James the First expressed his -appreciation of the liberality of his predecessor by remarking that, -"He kythed a sair saint to the crown." - -The tumultuary army which followed him "consisted of Normans, -Germans, and English, of Cumbrian Britons, of Northumbrians, of men -of Teviotdale and Lothian, of Picts commonly called men of Galloway, -and of Scots." - -Barely threescore years and ten had elapsed since William the Norman -had carried fire and sword through Northumbria. The charred and -blackened ruins of grange and village were not yet entirely hidden by -the dense growth of bramble and thorn; and the human bones, that had -been gnawed by the wolves in their midnight banquets in the evil days -that succeeded the Confessor's death, had not yet mouldered into their -kindred earth. - -It was in the wild and stormy season of the opening spring of 1138 -that King David commenced his operations. - -Shaken to its centre, Northumbria lay at the mercy of the invader: -again the sword reaped its bloody harvest, again the torch performed -its evil office, and the midnight skies were illumined by the glare of -burning homesteads and villages. The highways and byeways were strewn -with the dead: with the gashed clay of strong men, of women, and of -little children. Age and womanhood lay together in dishonoured death; -the white hairs and the flowing tresses trodden in the same bloody -mire, and, most cruel spectacle! the little babes, pierced and -shattered by spears, lay where they had been cast in fiendish sport by -the pitiless barbarians. The blood of the priests reeked upon the -altars of the most High God, and the sacred fanes were heaped with the -sweltering corruption of slain worshippers. Miserable fugitives turned -their faces towards the Humber, striving to escape the hot-footed -Scot, who pressed so keen and fast upon their track. - -The remnant of the maddened people, desperate in their despair, only -required a leader to organise and direct their strength. - -Thurstan, the aged Archbishop of York, although bowed down to the -verge of the grave by the weight of many years and infirmities, came -forward to organise the strength of his afflicted people. Stephen -being unable to disengage himself from the toils of his revolted -barons, the civil war having already broken out in the south, -despatched Bernard de Baliol to the north, at the head of a body of -men-at-arms. The real strength of the movement was, however, the -combination of those eminent northern barons, William, Earl of -Albemarle, Robert de Ferrars, William Percy, Roger de Mowbray, Ilbert -de Lacy, and the veteran Walter l'Espec, who, responding with prompt -energy to the supplications of Archbishop Thurstan, gathered their -vassals together, and prepared to take the field, as soon as all -arrangements were completed, and the widely scattered strength of the -North was concentrated. - -To draw the people to one standard, and to animate them with an -unconquerable fortitude, was the peculiar work of the Archbishop; but, -being too infirm to take a public part in the exciting scenes which -were being enacted, he deputed Ralph Nowel, the titular Bishop of -Orkney, to carry out his plans. This prelate caught the spirit of his -superior, and a signal success rewarded his efforts. Processions of -the clergy were organised, and the exhibition of crosses, relics, and -religious banners, tended to increase the devoted courage of the -superstitious peasantry. The whole of the male population was called -to arms, and a certain victory was promised, with a quick transition -into paradise for those who perished on the field. Thirsk was the -rendezvous, and, as the news was carried through the province, -men-at-arms and knights came trooping in, attended by the desperate -peasantry, whose rude arms, and lack of defensive armour, but ill -befitted them for what promised to be so dubious and sanguinary an -enterprise. - -Three days were occupied in fasting and devotion: the troops then took -a common vow of adherence to each other, victory being most -emphatically promised them. Nerved by every art of the church, by -their own desperate position, and by their thirst for vengeance, they -encamped around the grand standard which Thurstan had raised at -Elfer-tun, to command their piety and patriotism. It consisted of a -lofty spar, or mast, mounted on a huge four-wheeled car, and -terminating in a large crucifix, with a silver box attached, -containing the sacramental elements of the Romish Church. Around the -mast waved the holy banners of the sainted Peter of York, Wilfrid of -Ripon, and John of Beverley. Hugo de Sotevagina, Archdeacon of York, -inscribed this remarkable rhyme on the foot of the mast:-- - - "Dicitur a stando standardum quod stitit illic - Militĉ probitas vincere sive mori. - - Standard, from stand, this fight we aptly call: - Our men here stood to conquer or to fall." - -From the turn of the lines we should infer that the inscription was -affixed subsequent to the battle. - -Norman baron and Saxon peasant had not long to wait the trial of -strength. The summer was now far advanced, for David had been detained -before the strong fortress of Norham; but that stronghold once in his -hands, he marched onward, unopposed, until he approached the -neighbourhood of York. His standard was simply a wreath of blooming -heather, attached to a long lance. Eustace Fitz-John commanded the -guard of completely accoutred knights and men-at-arms which attended -Prince Henry, the commander of the first division, comprising -Lowlanders, defended by cuirasses, and armed with long pikes; the -archers of Teviotdale and Liddesdale; the troopers of Cumberland and -Westmoreland, riding small but useful horses; and the fierce -Galwegians, destitute of defensive armour, and bearing long and -slender pikes. The Highlanders and Islemen followed the first -division, and carried target, claymore, and the ancient Danish -war-axe. King David followed with a gallant body of Anglo-Norman and -English knights, and a mixed corps of warriors, gathered from various -parts of the land, brought up the rear. - -With King David marched his warlike nephew, William MacDonoquhy, -flushed with the memory of his victory at Clitheroe, where, on the 4th -of June, he had defeated a strong force of the English, and gained -much spoil. - -The position of the Anglo-Norman barons was extremely peculiar; not -only did King David claim Northumberland, where they held lands, -but they acknowledged him for their liege lord, holding from him -estates which were situate on the Scottish side of the border. Under -these circumstances they prudently despatched Robert Bruce, Earl of -Annandale, and Bernard de Baliol, to the Scottish camp, to offer terms -to the King. If his Scottish Majesty would withdraw his army, and -conclude a permanent peace, they engaged "to procure from Stephen a -full grant of the earldom of Northumberland in favour of Prince Henry." - -The King was, however, firm in his resolution to maintain the cause of -the ex-Empress; and William MacDonoquhy declared that Bruce was a -false traitor. The two noblemen had no alternative but to renounce -their allegiance to the Scottish crown, and to beat a hasty retreat to -the English army. - -The disposition of the Scottish army was then discussed, and David -proposed to place his Saxon archers and Norman knights in the van, -to commence the attack. Deep was the indignation of Malise, Earl of -Strathearn, and bitter his protest against the King's confidence in -Norman mail. Said he, "I wear no armour; but there is not one among -them who will advance beyond me this day." - -The Norman, Allan de Piercy, angrily protested that the "rude earl" -boasted of that which he had not the courage to perform; whereon David -checked the growing quarrel, and pacified Malise by ordering the -Galwegians to take the van. - -It was the 22nd day of August, the wide moor, gay with blooming -heather, was involved in a land-mist, and, as a further cover to their -approach, the wild Scots fired some villages. The English were, -however, already formed around the standard, expectant of the -inevitable conflict, and no doubt experienced neither alarm nor -disappointment when Bruce and Baliol came in on the spur, and declared -that the enemy was on the march. - -Old Walter l'Espec spake a few soldierly words of hopeful exhortation -to his warriors, then placed his ungloved hand in that of the Earl of -Albemarle, with the dauntless exclamation, "I pledge thee my troth to -conquer or to die." Kindled to enthusiasm by the spirit of the valiant -old man, the soldiers gripped each other's hands, and the vow became -general. Archbishop Thurstan's representative was not slow to seize so -favourable a moment for increasing the enthusiastic ardour of the -troops, and he uttered a brief, but thrilling, harangue, in which, -according to the old chroniclers, he at once flattered and provoked -the emulous courage of the Anglo-Norman chivalry, by referring to the -achievements of their ancestors; kindled their resentment by pointing -them to the desecrated altars of their churches; assured them of a -swift and retributive vengeance; opened paradise to all who should -fall sword in hand that day, and encouraged them by reminding them of -their superiority over their enemies in respect of their arms and -armour. The form of absolution was then read, and answered by the -solemn "Amen" of the host. All was ready for the ordeal. - -The knights and men-at-arms in both armies were similarly armed. - - "From the Conquest to the close of the twelfth century but - little change had taken place in the armour and weapons of the - English; but five distinct varieties of body-armour were worn - by them about the time of the Standard--a scaly suit of steel, - with a _chapelle de fer_, or iron cap; a hauberk of iron rings; - a suit of mascled or quilted armour; another of rings set - edgewise; and a fifth of tegulated mail, composed of small - square plates of steel lapping over each other like tiles, with - a long flowing tunic of cloth below. Gonfarons fluttered from - the spear-heads; and knights wore nasal helmets and kite-shaped - shields of iron, but their spears were simply pointed goads." - -According to some accounts, the English men-at-arms were drawn up in a -dense column, surrounding their holy standard; and the archers, -consisting of peasants and yeomen from the woods and wolds of -Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Nottingham, were posted in the van. It is -certain that the Norman barons and the men-at-arms dismounted, and -sent their horses to the rear, and the probability is that the mailed -troops occupied the front of battle, and protected the archers, who -were destitute of defensive armour. All the accounts of the battle -favour this inference, although it is distinctly stated that the -archers were broken, but afterwards rallied--a statement that seems -incredible, for the English army being outflanked, the broken archers -would have been cut to pieces, it being impossible for the dense -column that surrounded the standard to open its ranks to receive the -fugitives, while the charging Scots were pressing hot and hard upon -their rear, and the action of the spearmen was retarded by the -presence of the archers upon their front, as these unfortunates were -being massacred by the enemy. - -The Galwegians made the first charge, with Ulgrick and Dovenald -leading. Their dreadful cries of _Albanigh, Albanigh!_ ("We are the -men of Albyn!") rolled like thunder over the field, as they rushed -furiously upon the Norman men-at-arms, threatening to bear down all -that withstood them with the forest of their long, thin pikes. The -centre of the English army was pierced, but the formation was too -dense to be shattered by a charge of pikemen, however furiously made, -and the long pikes were broken upon shield and hauberk, or shivered by -blow of sword and axe. The Galwegians bit deep, but fell in scores -along the front, and as they recoiled from the meeting, the archers -let fly a shower of shafts upon them. It was impossible to rally and -re-form in the face of that storm of deadly shafts, beating as hard -and fast as winter hail upon their naked bodies, and while numbers -fell, weltering in their gore, the disordered masses began to retire, -probably to the right and left, while the English taunted them with -derisive cries of "_Eyrych, Eyrych!_" ("You are but Irish!") which, -Scott remarks, "must have been true of that part of the Galwegians -called the wild Scots of Galloway, who are undoubtedly Scotch-Irish." - -As the men of Galloway staggered back from the storm of arrows, -leaving Ulgrick and Dovenald dead upon the field, Prince Henry charged -down upon the English with his knights and men-at-arms upon the spur. -With spear, and sword, and axe, he won a bloody pathway sheer through -the English centre, and put to flight the servants who were posted in -the rear of the army in charge of their masters' horses. The -oft-quoted expression of Alred, that "they broke through the English -ranks as if they had been spiders' webs," must be regarded as largely -figurative, for two reasons. In the first place, the Galwegians were -re-forming with the utmost alacrity, and the other lines were bearing -down fast and stern, yet the English ranks closed in before they could -take advantage of the confusion caused by the cavalry, and presented -an impenetrable front to the advancing Scots. In the second place, the -prince achieved nothing by his charge, beyond chasing a few grooms -from the field. On his return, he found the battle over, and passing -undiscovered through the pursuing forces, succeeded, after many -perils, in reaching Carlisle on the 28th of August. - -There is a curious, but not over-reliable story, that in the perilous -moment when the English were re-forming their ranks, and the remains -of Prince Henry's men-at-arms were dashing after the fugitives in the -rear, an English soldier, with singular presence of mind, averted the -impending storm by hewing off a Scotchman's head, and bearing it, at -point of spear, to the front, loudly exclaiming, "Behold the head of -the King of the Scots." Before this ominous spectacle the Galwegians -fell back in a sudden panic, arresting the advance of the second line, -and causing the third line to beat a hasty retreat without lifting -weapon on the field. Bare-headed, King David rode amid the breaking -ranks in a gallant effort to rally his soldiers; but all his efforts -proving fruitless, he assumed the command of his cavalry, and -protected, as far as possible, the retreat of his disorganised army. - -There can, however, maugre this oft-told story, be no question that a -tremendous battle raged for upwards of two hours. The devoted savages -of Galloway rallied, and, supported by the second and third lines of -their army, closed in upon the English, "after giving three shouts in -the manner of their nation." Thus the holy standard, and its heroic -defenders, was belted with a wide and deep hem of raging enemies, who -sought, with sword and axe, to hew a passage through the phalanx of -spears that held them back. They combated fiercely together in a mist -of dust and heat; blood flowed like water, and the trampled earth was -dreadful with the bodies of the slain; but no despoiling hand reached -the standard; a hedge of glittering steel defended it, the Normans -fenced it with flashing swords, the serried spears sustained the -fierce attack, though indented here and there by the pressure of horse -and men. The continuous shower of shafts from the archers sorely -distressed and harassed the Scots, and abandoning all hope of breaking -or hewing down the valiant enemy, around which they had drawn their -triple line of warriors, they broke and fled. First the decimated -remnant of the savage heroes of Galloway recoiled, and spread -confusion through the second line, and then the outward hem of mixed -troops, who had never struck blow, wavered and broke; and the battle -of the Standard was lost and won. - -David valiantly protected the retreat of his disordered army, leaving -some 12,000 upon the field. He halted at Carlisle, in grave distress -as to the fate of his son, who rejoined him three days later, as -before mentioned. Quarrels took place in his army, and weapons were -freely resorted to, and some blood shed. - -The 200 mailed knights of King David lost nearly the whole of their -horses, and only nineteen carried their harness from the field. The -Norman barons were not particularly fortunate in making prisoners, but -fifty knights fell to their spear and sword. Of these, William Cumin, -the Scotch Chancellor, was detained in prison for a short time by the -Bishop of Durham, and, on being liberated, "gave thanks to God," -desiring heartily that he never at any time should again meet with the -like experience. His companions in affliction were ransomed about the -time of the feast of All-Saints following. - -The Scottish army having rallied at Carlisle, continued the war, -besieged and reduced, by famine, Wark Castle; and carried away as -prisoners a number of English women, who were ultimately restored to -their friends through the good offices of Alberic, Bishop of Ostia, -who, being seconded by King Stephen's wife, succeeded in bringing -about a peace, which was concluded on the 9th day of April, 1139. - -Before the English army disbanded, Eustace Fitz-John, who had -garrisoned Malton with Scotch troops, received their attention. In the -conflict which ensued the town was stormed and given to the flames. - -On this eventful day the English archers won their first laurels with -the long bow and arrows, two cubits in length; and this sanguinary -conflict derives an additional interest from the fact. As brave and -experienced warriors, the captains would probably perceive and -acknowledge the service performed by the Northumbrian infantry, but -not one of them considered the possibility of a day dawning that would -see the laurels of war bestowed upon the English archers, while the -Anglo-Norman chivalry had to be contented with less honourable -trophies of bravery and skill. - - - - - V.--AFTER THE BATTLE OF THE STANDARD. - - -The reign of Stephen was cursed by the worst evils of civil war. The -King was captured at Lincoln, A.D. 1140, being deserted by many of his -troops; but was afterwards exchanged for Robert, Earl of Gloucester, -who had been taken prisoner by Stephen's partisans. Ultimately -Matilda's son, Prince Henry, entered England, when it was arranged -that he should succeed to the throne on the King's death. - -Under Henry's rule happier days dawned upon the Kingdom. A.D. 1160, a -great Council was held at York, said to be the first of such -assemblages to which the title of Parliament was applied. The King of -Scots attended, with his nobles and clergy, and rendered feudal homage -for his province of Lothian. Scott asserts that - - "homage was done by the Scottish kings for Lothian, simply - because it had been a part, or moiety, of Northumberland, ceded - by Eadulf-Cudel, a Saxon Earl of Northumberland, to Malcolm - II., on condition of amity and support in war, for which, as - feudal institutions gained ground, feudal homage was the - natural substitute and emblem." - -Malcolm, being greatly attached to the King of England, yielded to him -all his possessions in Cumberland and Northumberland, possessions -which Henry would probably have conquered had they not been ceded. - -Malcolm was succeeded by his brother William, the declared enemy of -England. Invading Northumberland, he was surprised near Alnwick Castle -by Bernard de Baliol. Sixty cavaliers escorted him, and he made a -desperate charge upon the English, exclaiming, "Now we shall see who -are good knights." He was unhorsed, and carried off to Newcastle on -the spur. As the price of his liberty he performed feudal homage at -York for the whole of Scotland, placing hostages and certain -strongholds in King Henry's hands. - -Henry died, broken-hearted and conquered by the repeated revolts of -his sons. On his accession Richard I. annuled the acts of his father, -as regarded the independence of Scotland, but homage for Lothian was -of course continued. - -Early in 1190, a dreadful fire broke out in York, and rapidly spread, -being fanned by a strong wind. During the confusion a number of -thieves entered the house of a Jewish widow, slew her and her -children, and plundered the house. Benedict, the husband of the -murdered woman, had fallen in the massacre of Jews during King -Richard's coronation. Jocenus had attended Benedict to London, and had -effected his escape with much difficulty. Being very wealthy he feared -the fury of the mob, and took refuge in the castle, carrying with him -his treasures. His example was largely followed by the Jews. The -governor of the castle sallied out, leaving it in the hands of the -refugees. On his return he was largely accompanied, and the Jews, in -their fear, refused to admit him. He at once raised the country, and -besieged the castle. Their offer of ransom being rejected, in their -despair the Jews resolved to kill themselves, after destroying their -property and setting fire to the fortress. Jocenus cut the throats of -his wife and five children, and this dreadful example was largely -followed. The less courageous of the Jews then appealed to the -besiegers, told the story of the tragedy, and, as proof, threw at -their feet several mangled corpses. Protection was promised to the -survivors, when the gates were thrown open. The besiegers entered, and -completed the extermination of the Jews. The cathedral was then -visited, and the bonds and securities of the Jews, deposited there for -safe keeping, were destroyed. - -William Longchamp, Bishop of Ely, was deputed to punish the offenders. -He appointed Osbert de Longchamp governor of the county; and the -sheriff and governor of the castle were deprived of their offices, and -cast into prison. Fines were inflicted on many citizens, and a hundred -hostages taken. - -On Richard's release from his German captivity, he sold many offices -to raise his ransom. For 3,000 marks Geoffrey Plantagenet, Archbishop -of York, purchased the office of Sheriff. This rendered him all but an -absolute prince of the province. - -Early in his reign King John visited York, and held a convention, -which was attended by the King of Scotland, and many of his nobles. -The citizens abstained from any expression of welcome, and the -disgusted King consoled himself by exacting a fine of £100. In the -last year of the tyrant's life, York was besieged by the northern -barons, who were bought off with 1,000 marks. - -Henry III. held a convocation at York in 1220, when his sister Joanna -was engaged to King Alexander of Scotland. In the following year his -majesty attended the espousals, celebrated in the cathedral church. On -this occasion Alexander's sister, Margaret, bestowed her hand upon -Hubert de Burgh, the justiciary. - -Henry celebrated his Christmas festivities in York, A.D. 1230 and -1252. On the last occasion he bestowed the hand of his daughter -Margaret upon Alexander, King of Scotland. Matthew Paris gives a -particular and most interesting account of the ceremonies:-- - - "The Earl-Marshal earnestly demanded that the palfrey of the - King of Scotland, which he claimed as his right, should be - given to him, with its caparisons--not for its value, or out of - any avarice, but according to an ancient custom in such - cases--that it might not die away in his time through any - neglect of his." - -Alexander - - "would not submit to such an exaction, because, if he chose, - he might obtain these equipments from any Catholic prince, or - from some of his own nobles." - -The Archbishop of York nobly performed his part. - - "In making presents of gold, silver, and silken dresses, he - sowed on a barren shore four thousand marks which he never - afterwards reaped. But it was necessary for him to do these - things for a time, that his good fame might be preserved in its - integrity, and that the mouths of evil-speakers might be - closed." - -Necessarily Edward I. was many times in Yorkshire during his Scottish -wars. In 1291 he treated the citizens to the spectacle of one of his -state-butcheries, when Rees-ap-Meredith, a descendant of the ancient -royalty of South Wales, was dragged on a hurdle to the gallows, and -hanged and quartered. In the year 1298, he obtained sole possession of -the port and lands of Wyke, afterwards known as Kingston-upon-Hull. -Under his royal patronage, the port speedily rose to a position of -great maritime importance. In the same year he twice summoned -Parliament to assemble at York, commanding the attendance of the -Scotch nobility, and declared the pains and penalties of high treason -against all absentees. - -Six years later Edward concluded that the conquest of Scotland was -achieved, and disbanded his army. In 1307, he died upon the red -war-path, commenced in subtlety and falsehood. He drew his last breath -at Burgh-on-Sands, in Cumberland, on the 7th of July. - -In Yorkshire the Barons ran Piers Gaveston to earth in the days of -Edward II. In 1311 they curtailed the royal power, and sentenced -Gaveston to perpetual banishment, attaching the death-penalty should -he re-enter the Kingdom. Edward commanded Gaveston to return, and -restored his honours and possessions. The Barons flew to arms, and -marched to York. The King fled to Newcastle, proceeded to Scarborough -Castle, where he left Gaveston in command, and vainly endeavoured to -raise an army. - -Attacked by the Barons, Gaveston surrendered. Pembroke and Lord Henry -Percy engaged that he should be imprisoned in Wallingford Castle, and -that he should suffer no violence. Nevertheless he was carried to -Dedington Castle, near Banbury, when Pembroke departed, and Warwick -appeared upon the scene. Threatened with attack, the garrison declined -to defend their prisoner, and surrendered him into the hands of -Warwick. Gaveston was mounted upon a mule, surrounded by his enemies, -and carried to Warwick Castle with extravagant parade, being welcomed -with a loud flourish of trumpets. He read his fate in the fierce -elation of the Barons, but made a vain appeal for mercy. It was -rejected, and he was condemned to death. - - - - - VI.--BATTLE OF MYTON MEADOWS. - - A.D. 1319. - - -After the battle of Bannockburn the whole of Scotland regained its -ancient freedom, saving only the border town and fortress of Berwick, -the security of which was zealously guarded by the unfortunate son of -the terrible "Hammer of Scotland." - -The severe and even harsh discipline to which the burghers were -subjected by the commandant of the fortress caused much -dissatisfaction, and one of the inhabitants, a burgess named Spalding, -proposed, in the bitterness of his heart, to betray the place into the -hands of the Scottish monarch. King Robert eagerly entered into -negotiations which were placed before him by the Earl of March, and -deputed the conducting of the somewhat hazardous enterprise to his -favourite captains, Douglas and Randolph. The project was duly carried -to a successful termination, a body of troops scaling the walls under -cover of a dark night, being materially assisted by Spalding, who went -the rounds that night. Some confusion occurred, the governor of the -castle made a desperate sally into the town, and bloody fighting -followed before Douglas, Randolph, and Sir William Keith of Galston -succeeded in forcing the stubborn Southrons back to the shelter of -their works. Soon after the King appeared upon the scene, and, further -resistance obviously being futile, the castle was surrendered. For -Spalding it may be said that his action was probably more patriotic -than treacherous, as he was married to a Scottish woman, and was, -doubtless, himself of the same nationality. - -This loss was severely felt by the English, and was bitterly resented -by King Edward. It was followed by a dreadful invasion of the northern -provinces of England, when Northallerton, Boroughbridge, and -Skipton-in-Craven were committed to the flames, and Ripon only secured -immunity from a similar visitation by the payment of a ransom of one -thousand marks. The unhappy people were utterly without protection, -and the Scots leisurely returned to their own country, driving their -miserable captives before them "like flocks of sheep." - -Involved with his barons in those wretched complications which -embittered his reign, Edward the II. was so mortified by the loss of -Berwick, that he hastily came to an arrangement with the malcontents, -and raising his banner prepared to invade Scotland, and attempt the -recovery of the town and fortress which had so suddenly passed out of -his possession. - -The royal army assembled at Newcastle in the month of July, and, being -very strong, Edward was hopeful of bringing the expedition to a -successful termination. No measure was omitted for the securing of the -object in view, and a powerful fleet from the Cinque ports followed -the army with supplies of stores and warlike material. The walls of -the fortress being so low that the warriors at the base could exchange -stroke of lance with the defenders of the ramparts, Edward prepared to -carry the place by assault, no doubt remembering the feat of his great -sire in 1296, when he rode his good steed Bayard over ditch and wall, -and commenced the work of pitiless slaughter with his own strong right -hand. - -Bruce, equally determined to retain the place, had appointed his -gallant son-in-law, Walter, the high-steward of Scotland, to the -command of the town and castle. The garrison was reinforced by 500 -volunteers, all gentlemen, friends and relations of the steward. -Provisions to serve for a year having been laid up, the gallant Scots -awaited the course of events. - -However sanguine Edward of Cĉrnarvon may have been, he certainly -exhibited all reasonable prudence before Berwick, and, before -commencing active operations, caused his camp to be strongly -fortified. When the hour of attack arrived, the valiant Scots who -manned the walls of Berwick found they had a double danger to meet, as -the English mariners were bringing up one of their largest ships, -which was crowded with soldiers, who clung to the masts, rigging, and -spars, ready to leap upon the ramparts, as soon as the sailors brought -up alongside the walls, and got the vessel in position with their -grappling irons. As the vessel drew near, gleaming with steel, and -presenting a most formidable appearance, she suddenly took the ground, -and in a moment all was confusion, the mariners straining every nerve -to get her off into deep water again. All these attempts proving in -vain, and as the vessel lay stranded at ebb-tide, she was set on fire -by the Scots, and consumed, to the great elation of the garrison, and -equally to the disgust of the English. - -While this exciting incident was being enacted, Edward was furiously -assaulting the town from the land, sending his fierce stormers, who -were abundantly supplied with scaling ladders, to the attack by -thousands, and covering their advance by the incessant discharge of -his archers, whose long and deadly shafts swept the ramparts like a -hail-storm. But the Scots met the storm with indomitable bravery, -fringing their walls with glittering pikes, hurling down showers of -missiles upon the enemy, casting down their ladders, and sending their -heavy axes through the iron skull-caps of the stormers before they -could make good their foot-hold upon the ramparts. After long hours of -stubborn and sanguinary toil, Edward withdrew his troops to the -shelter of their entrenchments, and both parties rested after their -severe and exhausting toil: but at the base of the walls, and upon the -bloody ramparts many brave men slept their long death-sleep. - -Untamed by their repulse, the English soldiers prepared to renew their -efforts, and set to work upon the construction of a huge military -machine called a "Sow": this was framed of solid timber, and moved -upon heavy rollers, the roof sloping and affording an efficient -protection to the soldiers who toiled with pick and spade beneath its -cover, intent upon undermining the walls of the beleaguered hold. The -"Sow" was especially dangerous to the Scots in the present case, for -the whole length of the walls being exposed to repeated assaults, they -were so completely outnumbered that they were unable to spare any -considerable number of men to guard against its action, and should -once a breach be effected in the walls it would be impossible to -arrest the pressure of Edward's stormers, who kept the hardy Scots -fully employed even while their ramparts were intact. - -When the English engineers levelled the ground, and wheeled the heavy -machine against the walls, and the miners were waiting, pick in hand, -to fall to work, the contending warriors awaited the result with equal -anxiety and interest. Berwick was indebted for its safety to the -labours of a Flemish engineer named John Crab, who had prepared a huge -catapult for the purpose of hurling heavy missiles against the -terrible "Sow," and, as it approached the wall, he discharged a huge -mass of rock against it. The flight of the missile was regarded with -the utmost interest by both parties, but it failed to strike the -machine, and a second discharge was equally inoperative, and the "Sow" -now drew near the walls, amid the exulting shouts of the besiegers; -but Crab had now obtained a better idea of the power of his catapult, -and, calculating the distance to a nicety, sent a large piece of rock -upon the mid-roof of the doomed "Sow." The massive stone went -thundering and crashing through the solid timber, and, as cries of -rage and dismay burst from the English troops, the miners came rushing -wildly from the ruined machine, and sought to gain the trenches, while -the Scots sent their arrows and missiles after them, exclaiming, in -grim mockery and exultation, "Behold, the English sow has farrowed!" - -The Scots were inspired by their success, the English aggravated by -repeated disappointments and repulses, and the conflict necessarily -waxed fiercer, Crab working his military engines with great vigour, -hurling showers of missiles upon the assailants, and giving the -unlucky "Sow" its _coup de grace_ in the form of a quantity of blazing -and highly inflammable material, which quickly set it on fire. Amid -the tumult of the assault it continued to burn, sending up showers of -sparks and dense volumes of smoke, until it was reduced to ashes. - -The English fleet was brought up to second the efforts of the -stormers, but John Crab had so many cranes and springals in position, -and hurled his huge copper-winged darts, heavy iron chains, and -grappling hooks, and bundles of ignited tow, saturated with pitch, -with such unfailing precision that the commanders were fairly daunted, -and, fearing to involve the fleet in utter destruction, drew off, and -the Scots, thus opportunely relieved, directed their undivided -attention to the repeated assaults of the enemy. - -During those hours of murderous strife the grand steward was passing -from point to point with a reserve of 100 men, and wherever he found -the garrison hardly pressed he succoured them with a few men, and -animated them by his example and exhortations; and where the slaughter -had been especially heavy he made good the loss from his fast -diminishing reserves. The conflict was at its height, and the steward -had done all that he could to strengthen the sorely-pressed garrison, -only one soldier remaining in attendance upon him, when the startling -news was brought that Edward's warriors had destroyed the barriers at -St. Mary's gate, which they were endeavouring to burn down. - -Hastily collecting a band of warriors, he pressed forward to the -threatened point, passing numbers of young lads and fearless women -busily engaged in collecting the missiles thrown over the walls by the -enemy, and on approaching the scene of peril, he commanded the gate to -be thrown open, and charging through the flame and smoke at the head -of his brave followers he fell upon the assailants, sword in hand, and -after a fierce conflict drove them off, restored the defences, and -made fast the door again. The conflict ended in the utter repulse of -the English forces, nevertheless the garrison was sorely thinned and -exhausted, so that unless it was augmented by reinforcements, or some -diversion was made in its favour, but little prospect of maintaining -the fortress remained. - -It was the policy of Robert Bruce never to risk a battle with his -powerful enemies, and although sorely tried by the dangerous state to -which Berwick was reduced, he maintained his resolution, but attempted -a diversion by despatching Douglas and Randolph with 15,000 men to -make a raid upon the northern shires of England, and, if possible, to -fall upon York, and carry off Queen Isabella, who there awaited the -issue of the campaign, imagining that she was secured from all peril -by her distance from the theatre of war and by the strong walls of the -city. - -The Scots were not slow in carrying out the instructions of King -Robert, but crossed the Solway, and made a rapid march upon York, only -to find that their project had been discovered, and the Queen's escape -secured. It appears that a Scottish spy had fallen into the hands of -the English, and confessed, - - "how our enemy, James Douglas, with a chosen band of men, would - come to these parts in order to carry off the Queen, and those - whom he should find resisting should be killed at the same - time." - -The danger of Queen Isabella, whose character was then -unimpeached, aroused all the loyal energies of the Archbishop and -Mayor of York, and hastily collecting a body of armed men, they made a -rapid march to secure her majesty's safety, and caused her to be -conveyed by water to Nottingham. - -The attempt to draw Edward from the siege of Berwick by threatening -the safety of his queen having failed, the Scottish captains -proceeded to carry out the second part of their programme with the -utmost energy, and giving loose to their wild passion for burning and -plundering, they wrought terrible mischief upon the northern towns and -villages, as though determined to extort from King Edward the heaviest -price for the fortress of Berwick, should he decide to maintain the -siege, in spite of every obstacle, until it fell into his hands. - -Deeply touched by the distress of the peasantry, the Archbishop of -York, William de Melton, and the Mayor, Nicholas Fleming, attempted to -organise an army, and check the depredations of the Scots, who had -carried their wild riders to the gates of York, and set the suburbs on -fire. - -Perhaps history can furnish no more rash undertaking than this: -Randolph and Douglas were cool and experienced captains, and ferocious -soldiers; the troops they commanded were veterans, accustomed to -victory, and experienced in the hardships and toils of the field; men -who could only be approached by tried and steady soldiers, and who -were not likely to yield the palm to the flower of the English army. -To meet these, the Archbishop had to rely upon burghers and peasants, -men little accustomed to the use of arms, and entirely deficient in -military training, and for whom no competent leaders could be found. -No lack of energy was shown by the Archbishop and Mayor, and the hasty -and untried levies responded to their exhortations with equal zeal. -There was no time to prepare the volunteers for the ordeal, no -opportunities for testing their courage in skirmishes, for training -them to advance upon such dangerous enemies as the Scots, or to retire -before them in good order if they found them too strongly posted to be -attacked with any prospect of success. - -As though to compensate all physical defects by an extraordinary -weight of spiritual influence, the numbers of the army were augmented -by many priests, who are supposed to have been brought together at -York for the celebration of the feast of St. Matthew. - -Ten thousand men were all that the Archbishop could bring into the -field, and with these he marched after the Scots, who prepared to -receive his attack at "Myton Meadow, near the Swale water," supposed -to be a large field, at that time unenclosed, and situate some three -miles east of Boroughbridge, just above the confluence of the rivers -Ure and Swale, and in the immediate locality of the obscure village of -Myton. - -Half the army of Douglas and Randolph would probably have sufficed to -worst the English in fair and open field, but the Scots commanders had -been long accustomed to foil the English by ambuscades and surprises, -the fatal English archers, and their usual superiority in numbers, -necessitating the utmost caution on the part of the Scots when -engaging with their formidable Southern foes; and on this unfortunate -day the Scots prepared an ambush, which was certain to foil the onset -of the English, and to cast them into that confusion which ends in -panic where undisciplined troops are concerned. - -On the English approaching the bridge across the Swale, the Scots, or -more probably an advanced division of them, feigned a retreat, drawing -the Englishmen within the toils of an ambush, that was prepared for -their destruction. To ensure their more complete defeat, they were -permitted to cross the bridge, and while pushing on, no doubt in some -uncertainty, they were suddenly involved in dense clouds of smoke, -which, drifting before the wind, veiled the movements of the enemy. -The Scots had fired three haystacks, and were coming furiously down -upon their enemies under cover of the smoke, having concentrated their -forces "after the manner of a shield." Before the onset was delivered, -the Scottish army separated into two divisions, and uttering their -dreadful battle-cry, one division threw itself between the English and -the bridge, cutting off every prospect of retreat, while the other -charged full upon the Archbishop's troops. - -Confused by the drifting smoke, the dreadful war-cries of Douglas and -Randolph, the English troops were so completely taken by surprise that -they were half-beaten before a blow was struck. With no regular troops -to maintain the van and rear, and give them steadiness by example, and -without leaders to form them in the best way to meet the charging -enemy into whose hand they were so rashly delivered, the confused mass -of Englishmen were held at utter disadvantage. With steady charge the -Scottish spearmen bore down upon them, the billmen and swordmen rushed -upon their ranks like a tempest, and the men-at-arms taking them in -the rear, a bloody massacre ensued. Utterly unable to maintain their -ranks, hurled upon each other by the furious charges of the enemy, -smitten, broken, trampled under foot, the English, after a vain -attempt at defence, broke, and sought to secure their safety by a -headlong flight. Beset on every side, followed close by the victors, -cut off from the bridge, the wretched troops lost all heart, and, -seized with panic, thought not of attempting to make a stand against -their enemies, but turned all their energies to secure their escape. A -scene of dreadful carnage followed: the Scots were pitiless in their -triumph, and cut down the fugitives with remorseless activity. The -English vainly attempted to cross the Swale, and dreadful and tragic -scenes took place on the bank and in the waters of the river. The -fugitives who hesitated to cast themselves into the water fell by the -sword of the pursuer, and of those who attempted to pass the river -about a thousand were drowned. The approach of night alone saved the -army from utter destruction, and the total loss was computed at nearly -4,000 men, of whom 300 were priests, arrayed in full canonicals, but -who were put to the sword with merciless severity by the Scots, who -lost few men themselves, and treating the slaughter of the churchmen -as a pleasant joke referred to the battle as the Chapter of Mitton. It -was fought on the 13th, September, 1319. - -Sir Nicholas Fleming, who was serving as Mayor of York for the seventh -year, was slain on the field. The pursuit was close, but the -Archbishop of York and the Bishop of Ely, although hardly pushed, -succeeded in effecting their escape. The Archbishop's cross was among -the missing, however, the cross-bearer having secreted it in the hope -of preserving it from the Scots; but a peasant finding it by chance -was tempted to conceal it in his hut for some days, when the pricking -of his conscience becoming too severe he penitently restored it to the -rightful owner. - -The loss of the Scots was insignificant, but the churchyard of Myton -received a huge and ghastly burthen of slain Yorkshiremen. The corpse -of Sir Nicholas Fleming was tenderly cared for, and buried in the -church of St. Wilfred, York, the citizens deeply lamenting the loss of -their patriotic mayor, for the repose of whose soul special provisions -were made by the Archbishop. - -From the bloody field of Myton the hardy Scots pursued their way -triumphantly to Castleford, where they crossed the river Aire, and -proceeding through Airedale, Wharfedale, and Craven, bore off many -captives and much plunder, entering Scotland in safety. - - - - - VII.--BATTLE OF BOROUGHBRIDGE. - - A.D. 1321. - - -On the 1st of July, 1312, a dark and tragic deed was enacted on the -gentle eminence of Blacklow, where the Avon winds through a calm and -peaceful scene. The sun shone brightly on the flashing waters of the -river, on the summer foliage of wood and grove, and on the polished -steel mail of armed men, for the English barons, Arundel, Lancaster, -and Hereford, were actors in the tragedy, and their banners waved from -the ranks of numerous men-at-arms, pikemen, and archers, for at -length, by mingled violence and guile, they had won into their own -hands the life of the King's favourite, and him they now called upon -to conclude the drama of life with what spirit and courage he could -command for so trying an occasion. Then stood forward the handsome and -talented young knight, the favourite of his unhappy monarch, hurried -by rough hands to the fatal block, and the grim headsman performed -his unholy office, striking off the head of Piers Gaveston, sometime -Earl of Cornwall, and--with all his faults--an accomplished knight, -deserving of a better fate. - -Chief of the self-constituted judges who thus presumed to rid -themselves of a personal enemy, was Thomas Earl of Lancaster, the -grandson of Henry the Third, and the most potent noble in the whole -realm of England. To this exalted person, a prince of many virtues, -Gaveston had humbled himself, and pleaded, but vainly pleaded, for -mercy. Lancaster could not forgive the gibes of his fallen enemy. The -"stage-player" and "old hog" now held the life of the offender in his -hands; his proud heart indignantly remembered the shame and -mortification of that day when, in the lists of the tournament, his -haughty crest was abased to the very dust, as the lance of the upstart -Gaveston hurled him from his saddle. So Lancaster avenged himself for -defeat and unmerited insult, and the rude barons declared that he had -done well. - -But Edward of Cĉrnarvon remembered the deed of shame, and waited, as -weak and gentle-minded men will sometimes wait, until circumstances -should enable him to demand of Lancaster a full reckoning for the -blood that had been shed. In the first bitterness of his wrath he -attempted to meet the barons in the field, but they were too powerful -for so unwarlike a monarch as Edward to contend with, and being averse -to endanger the peace of the Kingdom by attacking the King in his own -person, they submitted to his clemency, and were restored to favour. -Persuaded to pardon the crime Edward would not legalize it by -declaring Piers Gaveston a traitor, although importuned to take this -step by the most powerful of the barons. - -Time passed, and all men forgot the Gascon knight Piers Gaveston, or -only remembered him to blame his follies and exult in the sharp and -sudden punishment that overtook him. - -After the triumphs achieved by Edward the I. in his attempts to -subjugate Scotland, and destroy its national life by ruthlessly -slaying her patriots with the soldier's sword or the headsman's axe, -it was with extreme bitterness that the English endured the -humiliation of defeated armies and invaded provinces. They had taken -to the sword, and when that sword fell from the hands of Edward at -Burgh-on-Sands it was seized by Randolph and Douglas, and mercilessly -it was used, until in the invaded, blood-stained Northern provinces -of England the fear and hatred of the Scots became a passion, and he -was indeed a bold or foolish man who presumed to enter into -negotiations with the national enemy. - -Naturally King Edward's hold upon the loyalty of his subjects was -weakened by the Northern troubles, for the stubborn English mind -regarded the red-handed crimes of the father as the virtuous -enterprise of a great monarch, and contrasted with his success the -feeble efforts of his son: it was the glory of Berwick and Falkirk -contrasted with the disasters of Bannockburn and Berwick: it was the -ravaged, outraged Scotland of the first Edward contrasted with the -wasted and blood-stained Northumbria of the second Edward. - -So troubles thickened around the life-path of Edward of Cĉrnarvon. His -authority was subverted, and so low had he descended in the estimation -of his feudatories, that Queen Isabella was denied admission into the -King's Castle of Leeds, in Kent, then held by the Lord of Badlesmere, -under his majesty's authority, and for his majesty's use. The Queen's -attendants naturally insisted upon being admitted, and endeavoured to -force their way into the castle, when the garrison proceeded to -extremities, and several of her majesty's suite were slain. This -high-handed proceeding of Badlesmere caused a revulsion of feeling in -favour of the King, and availing himself of the transient emotion, he -gathered together a powerful army. For once his actions were -energetic, and his blows fell heavily. He took Badlesmere prisoner, -and loaded him with chains, at the same time inflicting a heavy and -well-merited punishment upon his lawless vassals. He made an -unexpected visit to the Lords of the Marches, and captured and hanged -twelve knights. Like all weak-minded men he knew no moderation in the -hour of success, and presumed more upon a transient advantage than a -great monarch would have done if successful in the utter destruction -of a hostile party. - -This sudden change in the royal fortunes alarmed the barons, and many -made submission; but Edward cast them into prison, and seized their -castles. Great Lancaster was now sorely discomposed, and learned, too -late, to fear the monarch whose authority he had so openly slighted. -It had been long suspected that this potent noble had entered into a -confederacy with the Scots, to avert the doom which would probably -overtake him if deserted by the English barons, or defeated by the -royal forces. The time had now arrived when it was necessary to call -in the national enemy to his rescue; and in this crisis of his -fortunes he openly avowed his unpatriotic measures, took up arms, and -urgently appealed to the King of Scotland for assistance. Before those -redoubtable warriors, Moray and Douglas, assembled their men-at-arms -and pikemen, the promptitude of Edward had prevailed. - -Finding that he could not maintain himself against King Edward until -succoured by the Scottish reinforcements, Lancaster marched northward, -and was joined by the Earl of Hereford. This accession of strength did -not, however, enable him to assume the offensive, although it -encouraged him to make a stand at Burton-upon-Trent, where he took up -a position that commanded the bridge, in the vain hope of holding the -royal forces at bay, and of receiving reinforcements from the -disaffected barons. - -The noble blood that had already been shed in requital of treason -against the crown had operated forcibly upon the reasoning faculties -of Edward's violent and restless barons, and they prudently kept their -steeds in stall, and swords in scabbard, leaving Lancaster and -Hereford, with their band of adherents, to make the best of their -quarrel with the King, alone, and unaided, unless they could succeed -in reaching the Scottish border and forming a junction with the Scots -under Randolph and Douglas. It would have fared ill with the nation if -Lancaster's design had succeeded, for although Robert Bruce was too -wise a monarch to attempt to annex any of the English territory, being -satisfied to strictly maintain the integrity of the Kingdom of -Scotland, yet Lancaster might have involved the nation in the -distractions of a wide-extending civil war, for placed in so desperate -a position he would necessarily have urged the Scots to press any -advantage that their arms might have achieved, and although the -resistance of the English would have been the rising of the nation -against a foreign invader, yet Lancaster might have succeeded in -winning over some of the barons, especially as Edward knew not the art -of attaching them to his interests, but was possessed of an unhappy -facility in disgusting them by his too-obvious lack of the qualities -necessary to a great prince in the middle ages. - -Lancaster failed in his proposed operations, and was obliged to beat -a hasty retreat to secure himself from the advancing royalists. On the -16th March he approached Boroughbridge, to find it defended by the -Warden of the Western Marches, Sir Andrew Harcla, and the Sheriff of -Yorkshire, Sir Simon Ward. The crisis had come: but the conflict was -not to win a sceptre, or a protectorship, but to escape from the axe -and block wherewith traitors were requited for their misdeeds in the -days of the Plantagenets. - -In happier and more fortunate times Earl Lancaster had bestowed the -accolade of knighthood upon Andrew Harcla, and he now endeavoured to -induce the loyal knight to make common cause with him against King -Edward. Harcla was too prudent a man to take so rash and ruinous a -step, and Lancaster drew up his soldiers to attempt to force the old -wooden bridge, which spanned the river Ure. - -The hasty levies which Harcla and Ward had called to arms consisted -largely of northern archers, famous for their skill with the bow, and -they were strongly posted at the head of the bridge. To ford the river -was impossible, it being sixty yards wide at that part; to follow the -course of the river and seek to cross at some other point, with Ward -and Harcla marching _en rapport_ on the opposite side of the river, -and with the royal troops nigh at hand, closing in upon their rear, -was to risk an almost inevitable and irremediable disaster. -Lancaster's one path to freedom was by the storming of the bridge, and -they accordingly prepared for their last passage-at-arms. - -The archers were ordered forward to clear the bridge, and a deadly -trial of skill commenced; the long, keenly-barbed shafts sweeping like -a hail of death from end to end of the bridge: in a moment the dead -lay thick at either end, and the brave and determined archers of -either army mutually faced with admirable courage the fierce sleet of -death that smote them down in bloody heaps. It could not last: the -superiority of the northern archers was beyond dispute, and Lancaster -ordered back the remains of his archers to a less exposed position, to -make room for bills and pikes, and the lances of the dismounted -men-at-arms, for the bridge was too old and full of holes to admit of -a charge of horse. A violent conflict ensued, blood was spilled -freely, and the bridge was heaped with the slain, for the old -Northumbrian war-fury rose to the fierce music of clashing steel and -resonant war-cries, and the defensive position of the royal troops, so -deeply massed at the head of the bridge, gave them every advantage -over their assailants, who could only bring a few lances to the front -in the hopeless struggle to beat a bloody pathway for their escape. -The insurgents fought desperately, as men entrapped, fighting for bare -life, or exacting the heaviest price from the slayer. Hereford set a -noble example to the unfortunate soldiers, charging on foot, sword in -hand, the foremost man in the sanguinary toil; but an untoward stroke -mocked his valour, and discouraged the devoted vassals who fought -beneath his flag. Under the rickety old bridge, with its gaping -timbers, lurked a felon Welshman, armed with a long spear, waiting for -some noble victim, whom he could thus slay without risking his own -person. The wished-for opportunity at length occurred, as Hereford -headed the desperate charge of the Lancastrians, and sustained the -fight in the vicinity of his concealed enemy. Suddenly, to the dismay -and horror of his friends, he reeled and fell heavily upon the bridge; -the pallor of death overspread his features, and the blood gushed from -his wounds. The Welshman had gashed his bowels by a murderous stroke -of his lance. - -Lancaster now attempted to ford the river with a portion of his -troops, but this proved impossible in face of the deadly superiority -of the opposing archers. Sir Roger Clifford was wounded in the head; -Sir William Sulley and Sir Roger Bernefield were slain outright; the -Earl's army was utterly demoralised, his loss was severe, and -abandoning the last hope of forcing the river, he utterly lost heart, -and retired into the town, taking refuge in a chapel. - -De Harcla now ordered the royal troops to advance, and they rushed -furiously over the bridge, bearing down the last feeble defence of the -disheartened Lancastrians, and pursuing the scattered fugitives with a -cruel ardour. Many archers and pikemen fell by sword and bill in that -dark hour, vassals whose only crime was obedience to the lords whose -badge they wore. Many knights and barons surrendered their swords, and -were rudely haled away in bonds, to await the punishment that follows -unsuccessful treason. That day the shadow of death gloomed over many a -brave young soldier, whose valour might have been worthily employed in -defending the northern borders against the incursions of the Scots. - -Earl Lancaster was speedily surprised in the chapel where he had -hidden his unhappy head. Exulting in having achieved so notable a -capture, the rough soldiers laid rude hands upon him, whereon he sadly -gazed upon the crucifix, and fervently and pathetically ejaculated, -"Good Lord, I render myself unto Thee, and put me unto Thy mercy!" And -great was his need of the Divine, for of human mercy he was to receive -none. His knightly armour was torn off, never to be resumed, and, -after many insults, he was conveyed to York, to be hailed with -derisive cries of "King Arthur!" by the rude populace, as they cast -the street mud at him. In his famous Castle of Pontefract was a new -dungeon, built by his directions, and to which entrance was obtained -by means of a trap-door in the turret of the tower. To Pontefract the -Earl was carried, and lowered into this gloomy dungeon, so close a -type of the grave to which he was hourly drawing near. - -King Edward was not long in reaching Pontefract with his army; when -Lancaster was brought to trial before his majesty and the loyal -barons who marched with him. Among them were the Spencers, around -whom he had hoped to draw the toils, and whom he regarded with -indignation and disgust, as the rapacious, upstart favourites of a -weak and foolish prince. The Spencers looked upon him as their most -dangerous enemy, and Edward was only fierce when defending his -favourites: who should speak of mercy in such an hour as that? -Certainly none of Edward's barons, however deeply they might deplore -the fate of the noble Earl, for their plea for mercy might be regarded -as a proof of disloyalty, and Edward was showing a leven of that -savage spirit which existed so strongly in his father, and was shown -by the butchering of so many noble Scotchmen on the scaffold. - -The condemnation and sentence were speedily arrived at. Lancaster was -to be hanged, drawn, and quartered, but being of the royal blood he -was spared the torture which meaner traitors were subjected to, and -the punishment was commuted to decollation. - -On the 22nd of March the headsman waited for Lancaster, who was led to -the scaffold, mounted on a miserable hack, insulted and reviled by the -spectators, many of whom pelted him with mud. Calm and dignified, he -implored the grace of heaven to enable him patiently to endure the -sorrow of that bitter hour. The block was placed upon a hill near his -castle, and he knelt with his face to the east, expecting the stroke -of the executioner; but his pitiless enemies ordered him to turn to -the north, from whence he had expected the Scottish succours, and in -this position he received his death-blow. - -The rebellion of Lancaster involved many noblemen in his ruin. -Ninety-five knights and barons were cast into prison, and stood their -trial for high treason. Other bloody executions followed with -merciless barbarity. The lords Warren-de-Lisle, William de Fouchet, -Thomas Mandute, Fitz-William, Henry de Bradburne, and William Cheney, -suffered at Pontefract; and Clifford, Mowbray, and Deynville were -decapitated at York. Thus bloodily did King Edward avenge the death of -Gaveston--for there can be little doubt that the blow aimed at the -Spencers, and the recollection of Gaveston's doom, were the motives -that moved him to such a cruel exercise of his power over his revolted -and defeated subjects. Perhaps a more humane and generous policy might -have averted the evil days, when he was left as helpless in the hands -of his enemies as was Lancaster on the day of his defeat and capture. -In reguerdon of his great service to the crown, Sir Andrew Harcla was -exalted to the rank of Earl of Carlisle. - -Among the revolted barons who fought with Lancaster and Hereford at -Boroughbridge, was John de Mowbray, lord of the vale of Mowbray, of -Kirby Malzeard, and Thirsk and Upsall Castles. Tradition still retains -his name, and gives a strangely wild and legendary account of his -death; probable enough, but not to be received as authentic history. -In the breaking up of the Lancastrian troops, in the last stormy -passage of the day, John de Mowbray, disengaging himself from the -press, put spurs to his horse, and rode off, in the direction of -Upsall Castle, near Thirsk, where he hoped to secure his safety. The -royalists, however, were soon on his track, pressed him hard, and -reached him as he was making his way through a lane, within sight of -Upsall Castle. In a moment he was seized and unhelmed, and his throat -stretched across the trunk of a fallen tree as one of the King's men -struck off his head. His armour was then stripped off and suspended -from the branches of an oak tree, his body being cast into a way-side -ditch. The tradition is preserved in the name of the lane which is -still called Chop Head Loaning. The Rev. Thomas Parkinson, F.R.H.S., -gives this tradition at length in his interesting volume, "Yorkshire -Legends and Traditions," and quotes Mrs. Susan K. Phillips' poetical -version of the legend--a poem which would have delighted Sir Walter -Scott. - -The blood-stained old wooden bridge across the Ure has long ceased to -bear the traffic of the locality, and a handsome stone erection now -replaces it. Harcla and Ward's old fighting ground, that bristled with -sword and spear and deadly bill on the 16th of March, 1321, is now -more prosaic soil, burdened with houses, timber, and coal-yards; and -is partly cleft by a short canal, the property of the River Ure -Navigation. When the river was embanked in 1792, the excavators at the -Old Banks, below the bridge, discovered some presumed relics of the -battle, consisting of many fragments of arms and armour. - - - - - VIII.--BATTLE OF BYLAND ABBEY. - - A.D. 1322. - - -After the tragedy of Earl Lancaster's revolt had been concluded by the -wholesale executions of the barons and knights implicated in that -misguided movement, the Scots, commanded by Randolph, Earl of Moray, -invaded the Western marches, and ravaged the country in their -customary barbarous style, slaying all who attempted resistance, and -driving before them all the flocks and herds that their swift and -well-organised cavalry could collect. What they could not carry away -they burnt, returning to Scotland without having received a check in -the field. Where they had passed, the summer sun gleamed brightly on -ruined cots and devastated fields, and the English peasantry, inured -to toil and suffering, gazed despairingly upon the ruin of the fruit -of the soil, fostered by their hard labour, and by the sun and rain of -the departed months. - -While the Scots were acting Edward of Cĉrnarvon was preparing to take -the field. Referring to the English monarch's victory at -Boroughbridge, Sir Walter Scott makes the following -reflections:-- - - "This gleam of success on his arms, which had been sorely - tarnished, seems to have filled Edward, who was of a sanguine - and buoyant temperament, with dreams of conquest over all his - enemies. As a king never stands more securely than on the ruins - of a discovered and suppressed conspiracy, he wrote to the pope - to give himself no further solicitude to procure a truce or - peace with the Scots, since he had determined to bring them to - reason by force." - -Edward spared no pains to ensure the success of the expedition into -Scotland, and Parliament authorised military levies in the country to -the extent of one man from every English hamlet and village, and a -proportionate number from the towns and cities. Subsidies of money -were largely granted, and enabled Edward to obtain supplies of arms -and provisions from over seas, besides reinforcing his army with -soldiers from Aquitaine. - -The Scottish monarch timed his movements, and organised his plans to -check the English advance, with his customary foresight and energy; -and although the cruel slaughter of so many of his nearest relatives -and dearest friends might well have steeled his heart against the -English, we are bound to admit that his repeated devastations of the -Northumbrian provinces were of incalculable service in protecting -Scotland from hostile attacks, although they might and did excite the -English to cross the border in expeditions organised for the purpose -of revenge. - -Bruce never wanted for an army to invade England--an army that repaid -its toils by the plunder of the enemy, and this is clearly illustrated -by the campaign that ended with the battle of Byland Abbey; while -Edward was spending months in raising an army, taxing the people, and -making forced levies, drawing supplies of men and munitions from his -continental provinces, Bruce had but to raise his standard, when a -numerous army followed him, to win the reguerdon of their toil with -sword and spear from the fertile English provinces. - -King Robert dared not risk the liberties of Scotland by meeting the -powerful hosts of England, with their deadly archers, in the open -field, and his plan of defence was therefore to devastate the English -borders with fire and sword, to the farthest practicable limit, and -to drive all the flocks and herds on the Scottish border far inland, -wasting the country as far as the Firth of Forth. - -As soon as Moray had performed his raid on the West marches, he was -instructed to join his forces with those of Douglas, and cross the -borders in a more easterly direction, while King Robert penetrated -into Lancashire through the Western marches. The expedition commenced -on the 1st of July, and was concluded on the 24th, when the Scotch -army re-entered Scotland in triumph, with numerous waggons heavily -laden with the plunder of the English. The vale of Furness had been -the scene of their triumphant march, and they left it utterly -desolated; barns, stacks and ricks, and fields of ripening grain had -been given to the flames, or trampled under foot. - -The unhappy peasantry, abandoning their rude cots, sought such refuge -as the woods and wilds afforded, or haply took shelter in the nearest -walled town. Men-at-arms and burghers took spear and bow in hand, made -fast their gates, and kept careful watch lest the enemy should burst -upon them with fire and sword some dreadful night. The wasted country -gleamed with the light of burning villages, and many a rude -border-fortress was taken by assault before King Edward headed his -warriors and marched northward with his mail-clad barons and stout -yeomen. - -The wary Scots waited not for the approach of the splendid army that -marched behind the banners of the unfortunate Edward of Cĉrnarvon; -although the English warriors were animated by an intense desire to -avenge their wrongs, and not a monarch in Christendom but might have -quailed at the prospect of joining battle with them, yet all their -high courage and warlike accomplishments failed to serve them in their -contest with the Bruce. - -Pressing onward, rank after rank, squadron after squadron, with the -glitter of thousands of lances, pikes, and bills, and with hundreds of -banners floating on the breeze, the warriors of King Edward found -neither foes to fight nor plunder to repay their toil, but "a land of -desolation, which famine seemed to guard." The transport of stores for -so large an army was attended with extreme toil and difficulty, for -the wasted soil would not even afford forage for the English horses. -The English captains, hoping that by some chance the enemy might be -brought to an engagement, resolutely maintained their advance, and -the patient soldiers held on their way, in spite of increasing -difficulties and dangers. It was the month of August, and the fatigue -of the heavily armed troops must have been excessive. At length the -toil-worn army reached the capital, but without any amelioration of -their condition, or the prospect of an engagement. The sole spoil -between England and Edinburgh was one lame bull. Well might Earl -Warenne declare, "By my faith, I never saw dearer beef." A fleet with -supplies was expected in the firth, but it was detained by adverse -winds, and after vainly waiting for three days, during which the -troops began to experience the pangs of hunger, Edward reluctantly -commanded the retreat to commence. They knew that Bruce had massed his -army at Culross, and was keeping them under observation, but it was -impossible to get within sight of the Scottish army, or to force an -engagement. In their retreat the suffering and enraged soldiery burst -into the convents of Dryburgh and Melrose, from which all but a few -aged and infirm monks had retired: these unfortunates they put to the -sword, defiled the sanctuaries, and carried off the consecrated -vessels. - -Bruce was now following hard and fast on the track of the retreating -army, alert to seize every advantage, and anxious to secure the safety -of his kingdom by inflicting a crushing blow upon his enemy. The -English soldiery were harassed by being kept continually on the alert, -and by the scarcity of provisions, but their greatest disaster awaited -them on their native soil. Travel-wasted and famine-stricken they -entered England, and were liberally supplied with food from the -principal magazines in the north. Partaking with the impatient avidity -of starving men, they sickened in great numbers, and in a few days -16,000 were carried off by inflammation of the bowels; and of the sick -who recovered, few were ever again fit for service in the field. - -To avert further disasters, and renew the strength and spirit of the -survivors, the King formed a camp at Byland Abbey, some fourteen miles -from York; and there the sorely-tried and weary soldiers found a -temporary rest, and again enjoyed sufficient supplies of wholesome -food. - -The position was extremely strong, and under ordinary circumstances -might perhaps have been considered unassailable when held by English -archers and men-at-arms. It was a country of rocks and woods, where -deep ravines cleft the rocks, and formed huge cliffs, easy of defence. -The soldiers were judiciously posted on the elevated ground -surrounding the abbey, a steep ridge very difficult to scale, the pass -to which was narrow and easily defended by veteran soldiers. The exact -ground that was held cannot now be ascertained; it was certainly an -elevated ridge, and very probably that now known as the Old Stead -Bank, at one end of which is a piece of land called "Scot's corner." -If this is the scene of the conflict, it took place about a mile and a -half to the north-west of the abbey. Doubtless the royal troops were -still demoralised by the mortifying results of the campaign, -disheartened by their losses, and weakened and dejected by their -sufferings. - -King Robert's troops were largely mounted on small and active ponies, -which enabled them to follow fast upon the tracks of the English. -Crossing the Tweed, he attempted to carry Norham Castle, but failed, -and directed his march towards Byland Abbey, for he had intelligence -that the English army had there formed their camp. By a forced march -he appeared in front of the English, to their great surprise. No -doubt Bruce inferred that the English had lost all heart, for Cressy, -Poictiers, and Agincourt were then unfought, and the world knew little -of what the indomitable British spirit could endure, when great and -esteemed captains animated the warriors to the conflict. Edward II. -was neither great nor fortunate in arms, and was dining in the abbey, -attended by his principal officers, when the Scots appeared and -commenced the attack. - -It was the 14th day of October, and the Scots commenced the conflict -by a desperate attempt to carry the pass that was the key to the -English position. Earls Pembroke and Richmond were there, however, -directing the defence, and, although taken by surprise, the English -soldiers made good their position with great courage. The pikemen held -the crest of the rock in solid formation, ready to charge should the -Scots force the pass, and bear them down again: the archers swept the -front of the position with showers of arrows, and huge masses of rock -were hurled upon the advancing enemy. The terrible Scottish infantry -swept on with their long spears and heavy bills and claymores, and a -hot encounter ensued. The Scots were so roughly handled, and the -position was so strong, that Bruce despaired of winning it by -storming the pass. To Douglas was appointed the arduous duty of -continuing the conflict, Randolph, with four squires, fighting under -his command, as volunteers. The English advanced post that defended -the ascent of the cliff was commanded by Sir Thomas Ughtred and Sir -Ralph Cobham--two gallant English knights who acquitted themselves -nobly. There was great bloodshed, and hard fighting for some time. -Bruce, who fully realised the position, headed a chosen band of -Highlanders, active and daring men, and resolved to attempt to take -the English in the rear, for closely engaged with the furious attacks -of Douglas, and probably believing the natural defence sufficient for -their protection, the English had neglected to post their troops in -such a position as would secure them in case of a rear attack being -made. Bruce seems to have realised the necessity of his attack being -too sudden and secret to admit of defensive measures being taken, and, -making a circuit, his Highlanders quickly and noiselessly scaled the -high rocks in flank and rear of the English army. What followed may be -easily imagined. The charge of the Highlanders was resistless, and -being unexpected, a dreadful scene of slaughter and panic ensued. -Vainly the English sought to close in, and meet the foe that burst -upon rear and flank: this diversion naturally distracted the attention -of the troops who supported the attacks of Douglas and Randolph, and -those hardy warriors forcing the pass won the heights, where a -terrible conflict was going on, the English troops breaking away, and -taking to flight whenever the opportunity offered. Good men were -there, although the panic-stricken fled, and many fell on that -corpse-encumbered and blood-stained ridge, fighting at close quarters, -and dying in their tracks. The bravest were cut down, and those that -could escape the toils took to hurried flight. The battle was soon -over; not so the pursuit. Great was the slaughter that ensued, but the -actual loss of life is not chronicled. - -So unexpected and complete was the victory of the Scots, that Edward -was utterly incapable of making an attempt to rally his troops, or -effect any orderly retreat. Mounting a swift horse, he directed his -flight to York with all conceivable speed, leaving behind him his -plate, money, and treasure, and even the privy seal. Walter Stewart -followed hard after him with 500 horse, and had it not been for the -swiftness of the royal steed, in all probability England would have -undergone the humiliation of having her monarch borne a prisoner from -her own soil by the invaders. As it was, the Scottish warrior could -ill brook the loss of the intended prize, and he lingered before the -walls of York with his slender force of men-at-arms until the shades -of evening began to close over the scene; but so dejected and -dispirited were the royal troops that they tamely submitted to the -affront, although in sufficient numbers to have swept away the stout -riders of Stewart. The Despensers succeeded in effecting their escape -from the scene of confusion and bloodshed, and the day after the -battle accompanied the King to Bridlington. With them went the Earl of -Kent, John de Cromwell, and John de Ross. - -Many Englishmen had taken refuge in the Abbey of Rivaulx when the -struggle became too obviously hopeless; and among the knights and -nobles who there surrendered their swords to the Scots were the Earl -of Richmond, and Sir Henry de Sully. The prisoners were treated with -the greatest courtesy, being simply regarded as chivalrous warriors -doing their devoir in the field; but the Earl of Richmond had -expressed himself in most disrespectful terms against the Bruce, and -to show his opinion of such ungentle behaviour King Robert ordered the -earl to be closely confined. - -On the 22nd of October the Scottish army returned to their own -country, laden with spoil, including £400 exacted for the ransom of -Beverley: they left behind them a ravaged and ruined country. - -Andrew de Harcla for some reason or other had failed to join King -Edward with his levies, but, halting near Boroughbridge, had wasted -the country. This was a suspicious circumstance, and was openly -commented upon, with the implication that he had entered into a league -with the Scots, and would not act against them. It was in the last -days of the year that these grave charges were brought before the -royal notice, when the earl's arrest was immediately ordered. - -Surrounded by his retainers, and occupying the strong fortress of -Carlisle, the earl might have successfully resisted the King's arms -until an opportunity of effecting his escape into Scotland offered; -and Lord Lucy, who put the royal orders into execution, resorted to -strategy rather than force. - -Attended by Sir Hugh de Moriceby, Sir Richard de Denton, Sir Hugh de -Lowther, four squires, and a small party of soldiers, Lord Lucy -entered Carlisle Castle, with as little ostentation as possible, his -soldiers dispersing, to re-assemble in small parties near the gates. -Lord Lucy and his knights then sought the presence of de Harcla, and -demanded his instant surrender, with the option of defending himself -against their attack. The Earl declined to defend himself against the -four warriors, but as he was being carried off a cry of treason was -raised, and the keeper of the inner ward, making a movement to close -the gate, was immediately slain by Sir Richard de Denton. At the same -moment Lord Lucy's soldiers seized the gates, and the Earl's doom was -virtually sealed. He was tried before the chief justiciary, Jeffrey de -Scroop, and was sentenced to degradation and death; being found guilty -of having entered into a treasonable undertaking with King Robert, to -whom he guaranteed the crown of Scotland in return for services to be -rendered in England--no doubt embracing the destruction of the royal -favourites, the Despensers. - -It is difficult to believe that Harcla would enter into so dubious an -undertaking, so soon after the failure of the powerful Earl of -Lancaster. If he had acted as the agent of the Barons, we may believe -that some particulars of the confederation would have been elicited -during his trial. The statement that he summoned the principal -inhabitants of Cumberland to meet him at Carlisle, informed them that -he had entered into a treaty with the King of Scotland, and succeeded -in obtaining their support, is scarcely to be credited. The Earl is -generally regarded as the scapegoat who bore the sins of Byland Battle -to the block. Degraded from his nobility, despoiled of the insignia of -his knightly merit, the unfortunate man was conducted to the scaffold -at Carlisle on the 2nd of March, 1322, and there executed. - -Edward was induced by this final disaster to give more serious -attention to negotiations for peace. Henry de Sully, the French -knight, used his influence to bring the two monarchs to an -understanding, and a preliminary truce was agreed to at Thorpe, and -finally a truce for thirteen years was ratified by Robert Bruce, King -of Scotland, and Edward the II. of England, at Berwick, on the 7th of -June, 1323; a merciful peace after such long and bloody strife, and -for which the name of Henry de Sully deserves to be held in honourable -remembrance. - - - - - IX.--IN THE DAYS OF EDWARD III. AND RICHARD II. - - -King Edward directed his first essay in arms against the Scots, in -requital of their sanguinary invasions of the North. - -The flower of his army was supposed to consist of 2,000 men-at-arms -under Lord John of Hainault, and the distinction thus bestowed upon -foreign troops aroused the honest wrath of the English. King Edward -was accompanied by his mother, Queen Isabella, and while the court was -engaged in festivities in the monastery of the Friars Minors, at York, -on Trinity Sunday, a dreadful tumult arose in the suburbs--the -Hainaulters and the Lincolnshire archers, being quartered near each -other, engaged in a dreadful conflict. A great part of the army was -drawn into the quarrel; houses were fired, and lighted the scene of -murder with a weird and fitful light. - -All authority was defied, and exhaustion alone arrested the conflict, -which was renewed later on, when the Hainaulters combined, and beat up -the quarters of the bowmen of Lincoln and Northampton, slaughtering -three hundred of them before the tumult was quelled. - -After this the English foot entered into a confederation to cut off -the Hainaulters, and the young King had great difficulty in restoring -peace and order in his army. - -The campaign was extremely unfortunate. Douglas surprised the camp one -night, cut down the royal tent, raised his war-cry in the midst of the -startled army, and, after nearly capturing the King, effected his -escape. The Hainaulters received £14,000 for their assistance. - -The Hainaulters were again at York in the following January, on the -occasion of the marriage festivities of King Edward and Queen -Philippa. - -The foreigners distinguished themselves by firing the suburbs of the -city, and by insulting the wives, daughters, and female servants of -the citizens, who challenged them to mortal combat. The foreigners -lost 527 men, slain by the sword or the waters of the Ouse, and -slaughtered 242 Englishmen. - -Several Parliaments were held at York in Edward's reign, and when -David Bruce invaded Northumbria in 1346, Queen Philippa raised her -standard in the city. The Scots kept York under observation for some -time, and attacked the suburbs. - -The impending battle was fought near Durham on the 17th of October. -After a vain attempt to cut off the English archers, the Scots closed -in a hand-to-hand conflict, and fought under a deadly hail of arrows. -The English steadily won ground, and the Scots began to break before -repeated repulses and attacks. The King fought like a lion; his banner -disappeared; the Earl of March and the Great Steward retired their -divisions, believing the King was slain. He still fought on; eighty -loyal gentlemen supporting him. He was surrounded, wounded in the leg, -two spears were entangled in his harness, his sword was dashed out of -his hand, and he was called upon to surrender. Maddened by -mortification and pain, he struck out with his gauntleted fist. John -Copeland lost two teeth by the King's hand, but was gratified by -receiving his surrender. - -After Edward's days of warfare and pride came to an end, Richard II. -reigned in his stead. Some little ferment occurred in Beverley and -Scarborough, but Wat Tyler's death prevented the movement from -spreading. - -In 1385 Richard quartered his army at Beverley, during an expedition -to Scotland. A Bohemian knight, Sir Meles, was insulted by two of Sir -John Holland's squires, and protected by two archers, retainers of -Lord Ralph Stafford. A heated dispute was settled by the death of one -of the squires, who was shot by an arrow. The guilty archer appealed -to Lord Ralph Stafford for protection, and Lord Ralph at once sought -Sir John Holland, who was also out in quest of Sir Meles, vowing to -avenge the death of his favourite squire. Knight and lord met in a -narrow lane, and, it being dark, did not recognise each other until -the challenge passed, when Holland drew his sword, exclaimed, -"Stafford, I was inquiring for you; thy servants have murdered my -squire, whom I loved so much;" then he smote the young lord, and laid -him dead at his feet. - -Holland took sanctuary at Beverley, and King Richard confiscated his -possessions, and declared that he should be executed if he ventured -out of bounds. - -Holland was the King's half-brother by their mother Joan, the widow of -the Black Prince, and she besought pardon for the guilty knight, and -so bitterly bewailed his peril, that, after three days of continuous -weeping, she expired. Holland was then pardoned. He was afterwards -raised to the rank of Earl of Huntingdon, and being seized by the -vassals of the late Duke of Gloucester, whom he had held in deadly -hatred, he was delivered to the headsman's axe. - -For six months, A.D. 1392, the Courts of King's Bench and Chancery -were held at York, Richard being at feud with the citizens of London. -He bestowed the title of Lord Mayor upon the mayors of York; presented -the city with the first mayor's mace; and created the first Duke of -York in the person of Edward Plantagenet, the fifth son of Edward III. -and Queen Philippa. - -In Richard's reign the battle of Otterburn was fought. Earl Douglas -won Sir Henry Percy's lance before the barriers of Newcastle, and -vowed that it should float from the loftiest tower of Dalkeith Castle. -Percy swore that it should not be carried out of Northumberland, and -Douglas promised to plant it before his tent, that Percy might have -an opportunity of regaining it - -On the following night Percy, with 6,000 horse and 8,000 foot, -furiously attacked the Scots, who were encamped at Otterburn. Douglas, -by a skilful movement, took the English in flank, and a hot encounter -ensued, which was interrupted as a dark cloud swept before the moon. -It passed, and the battle was resumed, as the scene was flooded with -light. Douglas smote his way through the press, wielding his axe in -both hands. Three spears smote him, and man and horse went down. He -was found dying, defended by his chaplain, William Lundie, who -bestrode him, curtail-axe in hand. Douglas thanked God that few of his -ancestors had died in bed or chamber. He reminded his friends of the -old prophecy that a dead Douglas should win a field; and commanded -them to raise his fallen banner and his war-cry, but to tell none that -he lay dying there. His orders were followed, and the English were -defeated. - -The De la Poles, merchants of Hull, rose to power during the reigns of -Edward III. and Richard II. Edward received princely assistance from -the brothers during his French wars, and in 1327 bestowed the office -of Chief Butler upon Richard. William he created a Knight-Banneret. -Sir Michael was appointed Admiral of the King's fleet in the North, -and was raised to the peerage as Earl of Suffolk. In 1389 he died at -Paris, a broken-hearted exile. His son and successor followed Henry V. -to France, and died, of a malignant disease, before the walls of -Harfleur. Michael, his eldest son, took up his honours, but perished -on the field of Agincourt, a few weeks later. William, the fourth -earl, famous as a statesman and warrior, was foully slain in the roads -of Dover, his head being struck off against the side of the long-boat -of the ship _Nicholas_. His son, created Duke of Suffolk in 1462, -married Elizabeth, daughter of Richard Duke of York. Their eldest son, -John, Earl of Lincoln, was declared heir to the crown by Richard III. -He fell at the battle of Stoke, June 16th, 1487. The fifth Earl of -Suffolk was brought to the block in 1513; and the exile, Richard, -fought beneath the banner of King Francis, and was slain amid the rout -at Pavia in 1525, when King Francis was taken prisoner, after a -desperate defence. - -In "The Story of the De la Poles," J. Travis-Cook, F.H.R.S., furnishes -the student with a very interesting account of this talented but -unfortunate family. - -Edward Baliol's expedition against Scotland, fruitful of so much -suffering and useless bloodshed, sailed from Ravenser in 1332. The -crown that he won was as suddenly lost as acquired. - - - - - X.--BATTLE OF BRAMHAM MOOR. - - A.D. 1408. - - -In 1387 the Barons of England deprived King Richard of the reins of -government, and impeached his friends, the Archbishop of York, the -Duke of Ireland, the Earl of Suffolk, Sir Robert Tresilian, and Sir -Nicholas Brember. Brember and Tresilian were publicly executed, the -others secured their safety by flight. - -Years passed, and Richard recovered his authority, when he punished -the lords appellant, sparing only his cousin Hereford and the Duke of -Norfolk. Some conversation appears to have passed between these -nobles, and Hereford accused Norfolk of having expressed his suspicion -that Richard would yet revenge himself upon them for their past -offence, and especially for the affair of "Radcot Bridge," when the -Duke of Ireland's forces were dispersed. - -Norfolk denied the charge, and the King permitted the quarrel to be -decided by wager of battle. The 29th of April, 1398, was appointed for -the trial; the place, Coventry. The noblemen had put spurs to their -horses, when Richard, under the advice of his council, stopped the -combat, and banished the offenders--as guilty of treason. Norfolk's -sentence was for life; Hereford's for ten years. - -The Londoners were incensed at losing their favourite, Hereford, and -when his father, the aged John of Gaunt, died on the Christmas -following his son's banishment, and Richard seized his estates, the -general indignation was extreme; for the King had granted legal -instruments to both the exiles, securing to them any inheritance which -might fall to them. - -In face of the gathering storm Richard sailed for Ireland. On the 4th -July, 1399, three small ships entered the Humber, and Hereford, -attended by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Fitz-Alan, son of the -late Earl of Arundel, a few servitors, and fifteen men-at-arms, landed -at Ravenser Spurn. - -Shut out of Hull, he was met at Doncaster by the Earls of -Northumberland and Westmoreland, who espoused his cause, affecting to -believe his assertion that he had returned to claim the estates of -his father. - -King Richard threw himself into Conway Castle, and Northumberland -induced him to leave his refuge, to make terms with Hereford. Drawn -into an ambush, Richard was delivered into his cousin's hands. -Northumberland had sworn on the sacramental elements to keep faith -with the King, and Richard thus reproached him, on the moment of his -seizure, "May the God on whom you laid your hand reward you and your -accomplices at the last day." - -On the 1st of October, the day following his coronation, Henry IV. -signed a licence for Matthew Danthorpe, a hermit, who had welcomed him -at Ravenser Spurn, granting him permission to erect a hermitage and -chapel on that desolate place. - -Richard was imprisoned, and expired in a dungeon of Pontefract Castle, -but whether by stroke of Sir Piers Exton's axe, or broken down by -famine, matters not _now_. - -Northumberland was honoured by the dignity of Constable of England, -and at the coronation bore a naked sword on the King's right hand. He -was further guerdoned by a grant of the Isle of Man. - -On the 7th of May, 1402, the Percies defeated Earl Douglas at the -battle of Homildon, inflicting a heavy loss upon the Scots, and -capturing Douglas; Murdoch, son of the Duke of Albany, and other -captains to the total sum of eighty. - -King Henry forbade the ransoming of the prisoners, an interference -which aroused the bitter wrath of the Percies. As though in mockery of -their pride, he bestowed upon them the Scottish estates of the -Douglas, and ordered them to abstain from ransoming Sir Edward -Mortimer, Hotspur's brother-in-law, who had fallen into the hands of -Owen Glendower, the Welsh patriot. - -These impositions of the royal commands resulted in the revolt of the -Percies. The Scotch prisoners were released, and assisted the Percies -in the field. The captive Mortimer married Glendower's daughter, and -drew that chieftain into the conspiracy. The lineal heir to the throne -was Edmund Mortimer, Earl of March. Him Northumberland proposed to -raise to the throne, virtually partitioning the kingdom between the -Percies, Mortimers, and Glendower. - -The revolt came to the issue of battle at Shrewsbury, on the 21st -July, 1403, when Percy and Douglas penetrated the centre of the royal -army, and Hotspur, casting up the ventaille of his helmet, was shot in -the brain by an arrow, and fell in the press. The victorious advance -was turned into a rout. Of Prince Henry, it is written: "The prince -that daie holpe his father like a lustie young gentleman." - -Northumberland was marching to join his sons, but retired into -Warkworth Castle on receiving the news of their defeat. The King, -either from fear or policy, condoned his part in the revolt. - -When the Archbishop of York, Richard Scrope, took up arms in 1405, the -Earl was implicated in his revolt. Sir John Falconberg had raised the -banner of revolt in Cleveland, but Prince John and the Earl of -Westmoreland had defeated the rebels. The Archbishop's army was so -strong, for it had been augmented by Lord Bardolph and Thomas, Lord -Mowbray, that the royal captains resorted to treaty, and induced the -Archbishop to disband his army. No sooner was this done than the -leaders of the revolt were arrested. - -The Archbishop of York, Lord Mowbray, Sir John Lamplugh, Sir Robert -Plumpton, and several other unfortunates, were put upon their trial, -and condemned to death. On the 8th June the Archbishop of York was -executed at his palace of Bishopthorpe, and his head, with that of -Mowbray, was piked and exposed on York walls. - -The city of York was heavily fined, and the King proceeded to Durham, -where he executed Lords Hastings and Fauconbridge, and Sir John -Griffith. - -Northumberland, "with three hundred horse, got him to Berwike," but on -the King's advance passed into Scotland, accompanied by Lord Bardolph. - -After brief exile, the end came. - - "The earle of Northumberland, and the lord Bardolfe, after they - had been in Wales, in France, and Flanders to purchase aid - against King Henrie, were returned backe into Scotland, and had - remained there now for the space of a whole yeare: and as their - evill fortune would, while the King held a councill of the - nobilitie at London, the saide earle of Northumberland and lord - Bardolfe, in a dismall houre, with a great power of Scots - returned into England, recovering diverse of the earle's - castels and seigneories, for the people in great numbers - resorted unto them. Hereupon encouraged with hope of good - successe, they entered into Yorkshire, and there began to - distroie the countrie." - -The Sheriff of Yorkshire, Sir Thomas Rokeby, is stated to have lured -the old warrior to his doom. Sir Nicholas Tempest reinforced him at -Knaresborough, and the little army crossed the Wharfe at Wetherby. -They had achieved a succession of trifling successes, but now Sir -Thomas Rokeby interposed his forces, cut off their retreat, and -compelled them to give battle, on the 28th February, 1408, on Bramham -Moor, near Hazlewood. - -They were brave men who thus stood opposed. Northumberland's troops -were incited by their dangerous position, by the hope of recovering -their lost possessions, and by their hatred of the King. On the other -hand, the royalists were anxious to gain the honours and rewards which -princes bestow. - -The Sheriff was not slack to close, but advanced his standard of St. -George, and sounded the charge, as Northumberland bore down upon him -with his lances, doing battle once more beneath his banner, that -displayed the proud emblazonments of the house of Percy. - -The onset was fierce and bloody. Lances shivered to splinters; men -went down in their blood, wounded and dying; riderless horses burst -from the press, and wildly galloped over the moor. Lances were cast -aside, as knights and men-at-arms fell-to with sword, and mace, and -axe, testing mail, smashing shield and casque, and finding and -bestowing wounds and death despite of guarding weapons and tempered -plate-mail. - -The archers were fiercely at work, pouring their long shafts upon the -rear ranks; the footmen face to face with the wild play of deadly bill -and thrust of pike. Morions were cleft, corsets pierced, and men fell -thick and fast. The battle was hotly maintained, but for a short time, -the insurgents being sorely over-matched. Northumberland fell--never -to rise again until rough hands stripped off his mail, and held him -for the butcher's work of headsman's axe and knife. There ended Lord -Bardolph's many troubles, as he fell, a sorely wounded and dying man, -into the Sheriff's hands. - -The leaders fallen, no further object for contention remained to the -rebels, and the defeat was complete and irretrievable. The tragedy of -the battlefield had to be concluded by the rush of the pursuers, eager -to maim and slay; and by the useless rally of defeated men, turning -fiercely at bay, to claim blood for blood and life for life; and, -alas! by the seizure of flying men, doomed to rope and axe in -reguerdon of their last act of vassalage to the devoted house of -Northumberland. - -The Earl's head, - - "full of silver horie hairs, being put upon a stake, was openly - carried through London, and set upon the bridge of the same - citie: in like manner was the lord Bardolfe's. The bishop of - Bangor was taken and pardoned by the King, for that when he was - apprehended, he had no armour on his backe. The King, to purge - the North parts of all rebellion, and to take order for the - punishment of those that were accused to have succoured and - assisted the Earl of Northumberland, went to Yorke, where, when - many were condemned, and diverse put to great fines, and the - countrie brought to quietnesse, he caused the abbot of Hailes - to be hanged, who had been in armour against him with the - foresaid earle." - -So, after his treacheries, his aspiring ambitions, the once puissant -Earl of Northumberland was brought as low as Richard of Bordeaux when -he lay upon his bier at St. Paul's, his set and rigid face, bared from -eyebrows to chin, for the inspection of the Londoners, and, in its -surrounding swathing of grave-clothes, in its dreadful emaciation, -eloquent of the unrecorded tragedy of secret murder. - -A grant of the manor of Spofforth, a former possession of the slain -Earl, rewarded the loyalty of Sir Thomas Rokeby. - -In the reign of Henry V., an attempt was again made to restore the -lineal heir to the throne, an augury of the War of the Roses commenced -in his son's reign. The Earl of Marche, the object of the conspiracy, -himself betrayed it to the King. Henry, whose assassination had been -planned, took immediate revenge upon the principal offenders, Richard, -Earl of Cambridge, Lord Scroop of Masham, and Sir Thomas Grey. They -were executed at Southampton, on the 13th of August, 1415, at the -moment when the royal fleet was sailing from the harbour to add the -terrors of invasion to unhappy France, then suffering from internecine -strife. - -There is an old tradition that on the day of Agincourt the shrine of -St. John of Beverley exuded blood, and when King Henry was in -Yorkshire he naturally paid his devotions at the shrine. He was -accompanied by his Queen; and it was at this time that he received the -sad news of the death of his brother Clarence at Beaujé. The Duke was -dashing over the narrow bridge when the charging Scots burst upon him; -Sir John Carmichael shivered his lance upon the Duke's corset, Sir -John Swinton smote him in the face, and, as he dropped from the -saddle, the Earl of Buchan, with one blow of a mace, or "steel -hammer," dashed out his brains. - - - - - XI.--THE BATTLE OF SANDAL. - - A.D. 1460. - - -Although Henry VI. was beloved by his subjects, he was subjected to -the vicissitudes of the Wars of the Roses. His Queen, Margaret of -Anjou, was unpopular with the people, her favourite minister, William -De la Pole, was hated of the nobles, and nobles and commons were alike -exasperated by the loss of the French possessions. - -Richard, Duke of York, a brave soldier, and popular with the people, -was the lineal heir to the throne, and he was determined to assert his -claim. - -The first battle was fought at St. Albans, on the 23rd May, 1455. The -royalists maintained the town, being commanded by Lord Clifford, the -Dukes of Buckingham and Somerset, and the Earls of Northumberland and -Stafford. York fiercely attacked, being supported by Norfolk, -Salisbury and Warwick. The Northern archers poured their shafts into -the town, and inflicted great slaughter, and the Earl of Warwick, -"seizing his opportunity, moved to the garden side of the town, and -attacking it at the weakest side, forced the barriers." A desperate -conflict ensued, Somerset, Northumberland, and Clifford were slain, -and King Henry, Stafford, Buckingham, and Dudley were wounded by -arrows. Abbot Wethemstede states that he saw, "here one lying with his -brains dashed out, here another without his arm; some with arrows -sticking in their throats, others pierced in their chests." - -The King was defeated and captured, and the Yorkists divided the -government. The Duke was created Constable of the Kingdom, Salisbury -Lord Chancellor, and Warwick governor of Calais. - -Each party watched the other, and the pious King attempted to -reconcile the leaders in 1458, when they went in solemn procession to -St. Paul's, the Duke of York leading the Queen, and the opposing -barons being paired accordingly. - -A few weeks later, and Warwick fled into Yorkshire, the two factions -being put into opposition by a brawl between the servants of Warwick -and Queen Margaret. - -In September, 1459, the Yorkists were again in arms, and Salisbury, -feigning to fly before Lord Audley and the royalists, turned upon -them as they were crossing a brook on Bloreheath, and bore them down -with lance and bill. The conflict was somewhat desultory, and lasted -five hours, the victory remaining with the Yorkists. Lord Audley was -slain, and with him 2,400 men, including the good knights Thomas -Dutton, John Dunne, Hugh Venables, Richard Molineaux, and John Leigh. - -Henry and York met at Ludlow, when Sir Andrew Trollope carried his -command over to the King, and the Yorkists, panic-stricken by this -defection, dispersed. - -The Duchess of York, and two of her sons, fell into Henry's hands, and -was sent to her sister, Anne, Duchess of Buckingham. At Coventry, -November 20th, Parliament attainted and confiscated the estates of - - "the duke of York, the earl of March, the duke of Rutland, the - earl of Warwick, the earl of Salisbury, the lord Powis, the - lord Clinton, the countess of Salisbury, sir Thomas Neville, - sir John Neville, sir Thomas Harrington, sir Thomas Parr, sir - John Conyers, sir John Wenlock, sir William Oldhall, Edward - Bourchier, sq., and his brother, Thomas Vaughan, Thomas Colt, - Thomas Clay, John Dinham, Thomas Moring, John Otter, Master - Richard Fisher, Hastings, and others." - -On the submission of Lord Powis he received the King's grace, but lost -his goods. - -Warwick, March, and Salisbury fled to Calais, and Somerset, the -newly-appointed governor, proceeded to attempt the reduction of the -fortress; but, by a clever counter-stroke, Warwick captured the fleet, -Lord Rivers and his son being surprised before they could leave their -bed. Rivers - - "was brought to Calais, and before the lords, with eight-score - torches, and there my lord Salisbury rated him, calling him - 'knave's son, that he should be so rude to call him and these - other lords traitors; for they should be found the King's true - liege-men, when he would be found a traitor.' And my lord - Warwick rated him, and said, 'that his father was but a squire, - and brought up with King Henry V., and since made himself by - marriage, and also made a lord; and that it was not his part to - hold such a language to lords, being of the king's blood.' And - my lord March rated him likewise. And Sir Anthony was rated for - his language of all the three lords in likewise." - -A notable scene, and picturesque: making easy the mental -transition to a later period, when these fierce lords called for -block and headsmen, and their prisoners made short shrift. Indeed the -period was very near. Osbert Mountford, despatched to reinforce -Somerset, was captured at Sandwich, carried to Calais, and beheaded on -the 25th June, 1460. - -On the 5th June Salisbury and Warwick landed at Sandwich, and reached -London with 25,000 men arrayed under their banners. Margaret strove to -shut them out of the city, but in vain; and Lord Scales discharged the -Tower guns against them. - -On the 19th of July the two armies engaged at Northampton. Margaret, -with a strong escort, watched the conflict with the keenest anxiety. -The heavy rains rendered the King's artillery inoperative, yet, after -five hours of sanguinary fighting, the battle was decided by the -treachery of Lord Grey, of Ruthin, who carried his command over to the -Yorkists. - -King Henry was captured, and carried, in honourable captivity, to -London. Margaret fled to Scotland, accompanied by Somerset and the -young Prince of Wales. - -Richard of York entered London, appeared before the peers, and -advanced to the throne, placing his hand upon the canopy. This mute -claim was received in silence, that was broken by the Archbishop of -Canterbury, as he enquired whether the Duke would not wait upon the -King. York haughtily replied, "I know of none in this realm than ought -not rather to wait upon me," and turning his back upon the peers, -retired. - -It was admitted by the lords that Richard was the lineal heir to the -throne, but Parliament had elected Henry IV. to the crown, Henry V. -had succeeded, and his son, the present King, had been accepted by the -lords and commons, and, but for the ambition of York, his title would -have remained unquestioned. The peers passed over the claims of the -young Prince of Wales, and decided that the King should retain the -crown, but that, on his death, York and his heirs should inherit it. - -Margaret was immediately summoned to London, and prepared for the -journey by raising her standard. Before she appeared upon the scene -the battle of Sandal was fought. - -The Yorkists now freely dipped their hands in blood. Lords Hungerford -and Scales were allowed to pass out of the Tower free men, but the -soldiers and officers had "to abide by the law." Lord Scales was -murdered within the week by mariners serving Warwick and March. He was -seen - - "lying naked in the cemetery of the church of St. Mary Overy, - in Southwark. He had lain naked, being stripped of his clothes, - for several hours on the ground, but afterwards on the same day - he was honourably interred by the earls of March, Warwick, and - others." - -In the same month, July, Sir Thomas Blount, of Kent, with five others -of the household of the Duke of Exeter, were accused before "the -Earl of Warwick and the other justiciaries of the King, of illegally -holding the Tower," and "were drawn to Tyburn and beheaded, and shortly -afterwards John Archer, who was in the councils of the duke of Exeter, -shared the same fate." - -Duke Richard was declared heir-apparent on the 9th of November, with -the present title of Lord Protector, and an allowance of £10,000 to -maintain the dignity. The Yorkshire royalists were in arms, and "had -destroyed the retainers and tenants of the Duke of York and Earl of -Salisbury." - -Salisbury and York immediately marched for the North. - -Their vanguard struck Somerset's army at Worksop, and was cut off. On -the 21st December York occupied his Castle of Sandal. His army -consisted of 6,000 men, too few to cope with the enemy lying at -Pontefract under Somerset and Northumberland. The Duke might have -maintained the defensive until the Earl of March came up from the -Welsh borders, but on the 30th of December he sallied out to rescue a -foraging party from the Lancastrians. With so numerous an army to -feed, and in a position so remote from succour, Richard might -reasonably risk something to protect his foragers. - -Vainly Sir David Hall argued against so perilous an adventure. The -drawbridge was lowered, and York's banner was given to the wintry -wind. It bore for device a Falcon _volant_, _argent_, with a -fetter-lock, _or_. The bird was depicted in the effort of opening the -lock, typical of the crown. - -Behind the falcon-banner marched 4,000 veterans. With the Duke there -rode to his last battle, Salisbury and the good knights, Thomas -Neville, David Hall, John Parr, John and Hugh Mortimer, Walter -Limbrike, John Gedding, Eustace Wentworth, Guy Harrington, and other -notable men-at-arms. - -Raising the war-cry of York, and sounding trumpets, they charged -through the drifting snow-flakes, and awoke the fury of the battle. -The Duke was outnumbered and surrounded, but fought stubbornly, being -nobly seconded by his heroic army. Lord Clifford hotly attacked him, -exerting every effort to cut off his retreat. Duke Richard valiantly -attempted to cut his way through and retire into Sandal, but Clifford -as sternly drew around him the iron bonds of war, prevented all -retreat, and held him to the trial. The battle was extremely -sanguinary, and the Lancastrians fought as though they were the -red-handed arbiters of the whole dispute, and, like avenging angels, -must wash out the treason of York in streams of blood. As Mountford -fought at Evesham so fought the Lord Protector that day--exacting the -heaviest price for his doomed life. Weapons whirled before his face, -rang on his mail, and probed the jointed armour with point and edge -until the good steel harness was dinted and stained with gore. Many -warriors perished around him, and he, too, fell, sorely stricken, and -died in his blood, amid the trampling of iron-clad feet, and the clash -of crossing swords, as friends and foes fought hand-to-hand above his -body. The crisis came. The falcon-banner fell, and the pursuing swords -maimed and slew the fugitives, burdening the old year with the -sorrows of the widow and the orphan. In the triumphant van, in the -moment of victory, Richard Hanson, Mayor of Hull, laid down his life -for Queen Margaret and her fair son. Salisbury won his way through the -press, to fall by headsman's axe. Rutland broke away from the -slaughter, reached Wakefield Bridge, to perish by the steel of -Clifford, happy in his early death that saved him from the infamy of -bloody years that tarnished the fame of his brothers, March, Clarence, -and Gloucester. - -Some chroniclers represent the Queen as commanding her army in person, -and as luring the Duke to meet her in open field. Dissuaded from the -encounter by his friends, he declared that: "All men would cry wonder, -and report dishonour, that a woman had made a dastard of me, whom no -man could even to this day report as a coward! And surely my mind is -rather to die with honour than to live with shame! Advance my banners -in the name of God and of St. George." This is not the York of -history. - -Rutland is represented as a boy, aged twelve years, a spectator, not a -combatant, and accompanied by his tutor, Aspall. Clifford overtook -him, and demanded his name. "The young gentleman dismayed, had not a -word to speak, but kneeled on his knees, craving mercy and desiring -grace, both with holding up his hands and making a dolorous -countenance--for his speech was gone for fear." "Save him," cried -Aspall, "he is a prince's son, and peradventure may do you good -hereafter." Said Clifford, "By God's blood thy father slew mine, and -so will I thee and all thy kin," and so smote him to the heart with -his dagger, and bade the chaplain, "Go, bear him to his mother, and -tell her what thou hast seen and heard." Doubtless Clifford was as -red-handed a sinner as any of the barons, but probably no worse. He is -said to have cut off the Duke's head, crowned it with paper, and -carried it upon a pole to the Queen, exclaiming, "Madam, your war is -done: here I bring your King's ransom." - -Such are some popular errors, perpetuated by historians who have -followed the romantic versions of Grafton and Hall. Margaret did not -lure York to his fate, for she was in Scotland when the battle was -fought, and he did not sally out to fight a battle, but to rescue his -foragers. The execution of Yorkist prisoners was simply a retaliation -for the treason and blood-guiltiness of the Yorkists, and was carried -out without the Queen's knowledge. Clifford may have vowed to avenge -his father's death upon the house of York, and Rutland may have fallen -to his sword: but the duke was in his eighteenth year, and no doubt an -approved man-at-arms. As recorded, he had been attainted of treason a -few months prior to his death. We may safely conclude that there were -no schoolboys on Wakefield-Green on the 30th of December, 1460, and -the only tutors there were tutors in arms. - -William of Wyrcester's account of the battle may be considered the -most probable, and best authenticated:-- - - "The followers of the Duke of York, having gone out to forage - for provisions on the 29th of December, a dreadful battle was - fought at Wakefield between the Duke of Somerset, the Earl of - Northumberland and Lord Neville, and the adverse party, when - the Duke of York, Thomas Neville, son of the Earl of Salisbury, - Thomas Harrington, Thomas Parr, Edward Bourchier, James - Pykering, and Henry Rathforde, with many other knights and - squires, and soldiers to the amount of two thousand, were slain - in the field. After the battle, Lord Clifford slew the young - Earl of Rutland, the son of the Duke of York, as he was fleeing - across the bridge at Wakefield; and in the same night the Earl - of Salisbury was captured by a follower of Sir And. Trollope, - and on the morrow beheaded by the Bastard of Exeter at - Pontefract, where at the same time the dead bodies of York, - Rutland, and others of note who fell in the battle, were - decapitated, and their heads affixed in various parts of York, - whilst a paper crown was placed in derision on the head of the - Duke of York." - -Thus perished Duke Richard in his fiftieth year. - -Edward, Earl of March, Richard's eldest son, was at Gloucester when -the news reached him of the disaster before Sandal Castle. He promptly -advanced his army to intercept the Lancastrians, and dispute their -advance upon the capital. - -Jasper Tudor, Earl of Pembroke, harassed his rear with a tumultuary -army of Welsh and Irish troops. Marching to engage an army, and -alarmed by a powerful enemy in the rear, was too critical a position -for Edward not to appreciate its danger. On the 2nd of February, 1461, -he turned furiously upon the enemy, at Mortimer's Cross, -Herefordshire, and defeated Pembroke with a loss of 3,800 men. - -At Hereford Edward halted, and handed over to the headsman Owen Tudor, -Sir John Throckmorton, and eight of the Lancastrian captains--the -captives of his sword and lance at Mortimer's Cross. - -London threw open its gates to the victor on the 4th of March, and he -was proclaimed King, under the title of Edward IV. - - - - - XII.--THE BATTLE OF TOWTON. - - A.D. 1461. - - -Margaret of Anjou had the honour of defeating the famous Warwick. Thus -Wyrcester:-- - - "After the battle of Wakefield Queen Margaret came out of - Scotland to York, where it was decided by the Council of the - Lords to proceed to London and to liberate King Henry out of - the hands of his enemies by force of arms. Shortly after the - Feast of the Purification, the Queen, the Prince of Wales, the - Dukes of Exeter and Somerset, the Earls of Northumberland, - Devonshire, and Shrewsbury, the Lords Roos, Grey of Codnor, - Fitzhugh, Graystock, Welles and Willoughby, and many others, - amounting in all to 24,000 men, advanced upon St. Albans, and - at Dunstable destroyed Sir Edward Poyning, and 200 foot." - -Margaret's tumultuary army consisted of English, Irish, Welsh, and -Scotch troops, and their excesses tended to the ruin of the -Lancastrian cause. - -On the 17th of February the second battle of St. Albans was fought. At -first the Lancastrians fell back before Warwick's archers, but, -renewing the attack, they fought their way to St. Peter's Street, -driving the enemy before them. On reaching the heath at the north end -of the town, the Yorkists made a stand, and, after a furious struggle, -were put to the rout. Warwick lost Sir John Grey of Groby, and 2,300 -men. King Henry was rescued from the hands of Warwick, but Margaret -ungenerously executed his warders, Lord Bonville, and the veteran Sir -Thomas Kyriel, although the King had pledged his word for their -safety. - -Margaret reached Barnet, but London feared her and her rude army. When -she sent for "victuals and Lenten stuff," the mayor and sheriffs -obeyed her orders, but the commons stopped the carts at Cripplegate. -March and Warwick were drawing near, London would not admit her army, -and Margaret "fled northward, as fast as she might, towards York." - -Henry was deposed by the Yorkists, and the Earl of March declared King -in his stead. Edward IV. carried on the war with vigour. Norfolk -visited his estates to raise troops; Warwick marched out with the -vanguard, the infantry followed, and lastly, on the 12th of March, -Edward issued out of Bishopgate with the rear-guard. - -On the 28th of March Lord Fitzwalter secured Ferrybridge, but at -daybreak the Lancastrians fell on: Fitzwalter was slain as he issued -from his tent, in his night gear, to quell, as he thought, a quarrel -of his rude soldiery. Clifford pressed the fugitives furiously, and -they carried a panic into the camp of Edward, that was only arrested -when Warwick slew his horse, swearing upon the cross-hilt of his -sword, that, "Who would might flee; but he would tarry with all who -were prepared to stand and fight the battle out." - -The troops recovered courage, and Edward proclaimed freedom to depart -for all who desired to quit before the battle; threatening severe -punishments to any who, remaining, manifested fear in the presence of -the enemy. Such cowards were to be slain by their companions. No man -accepted the permission to retire. - -Lord Fauconbridge then fell upon Clifford, defeated him, and recovered -the post. During the retreat Clifford paused, to remove his gorget, -and was struck on the throat, and slain, by a headless arrow. - -Edward crossed the river, and confronted the enemy on Towton field. -The Lancastrians were formed on an elevated ridge between Towton and -Saxton, and presenting a front some two miles in extent. The Yorkists -occupied a neighbouring ridge. A broad battle-space lay between the -two armies. - -The villagers were at mass in Saxton Church when "the celebration with -palms and spears began," for it was Palm Sunday. The heavy clouds hung -low in the sombre sky, and as the wind arose the snow began to fall -heavily, and was driven full into the faces of the Lancastrians. - -It was nine o'clock when, from the heavy masses of Edward's army, -looming portentiously through the thickened air, the flight arrows -descended upon the Lancastrians, and mingled with the wind-driven -snow. In an instant the snow was red with blood, and dead and wounded -men encumbered the ground. - -Falconberg having advanced his archers, and struck the first blow, -retired them, drawing the Lancastrian fire. The Queen's archers shot -fierce and fast, but uselessly exhausted their quivers, when the -Yorkists took a terrible revenge, pouring a deadly sleet of arrows -upon their enemies. It is said that they drew the Lancastrian arrows -from the soil, leaving a few to impede the Queen's advance. - -Somerset determined to close, and ordered a general advance. Knights -dashed from point to point along the lines; Northumberland and -Trollope closed their decimated ranks, and moved to the attack. -Edward's army had suffered little, and was kept well in hand. It -advanced steadily to meet the tide of war that surged madly forward -through the mirk air and falling snow. - -King Edward commanded the centre: the lion of England crested his -helmet, he carried a long lance, with a peculiar vamplate, and the -crimson velvet housings of his steed were powdered with suns and white -roses. When the armies joined battle, he dismounted, and fought on -foot. Warwick commanded the right wing, Lord Falconberg the left, and -Sir John Denman and Sir John Venloe were in charge of the rear-guard - - "As if battle were the gate of Paradise, and the future an - incomprehensible dream, they raised against each other a - tumultuous shout of execration and defiance." - -The front ranks struck, with -shivering of knightly lances on the wings, and with deadly play of -mauls, of bills and pikes in the van. The slaughter was dreadful: the -moans of the dying were drowned in the clashing of steel, fierce -war-cries, and the rush of stormy winds. Savagely assailed, and beaten -by the pitiless, incessant snow, the Lancastrians valiantly maintained -their ground, although their original superiority in numbers was more -than balanced by their first losses and their exposed position. The -front ranks fought desperately, for Edward of York had issued orders -that no quarter should be extended to the vanquished. The archers of -York poured their last arrows into the rear of the Queen's army. - -Norfolk should have commanded the van, but, seized with a sudden -sickness, he had remained at Pontefract with the rear-guard. His -orders were to bring forward his command, with any reinforcements that -might reach him. Edward anxiously awaited his arrival. The battle -raged for hours; the imprisoned peasantry in Saxton Church fearfully -awaited the end; and Edward was scarcely less anxious, for the -murderous butchery of the hand-to-hand fight favoured neither army. -Norfolk was steadily marching through the wintery weather with his -hardy soldiers, and messenger after messenger reached him requesting -him to hurry up the reserves. - -The form of battle was lost, as the two hosts were locked in the -sanguinary struggle. The dark and stormy day was glooming to a wild -and early night, when a louder tumult of battle rose on the -Lancastrian left flank at North Acres. Norfolk was on the field, and -had struck his enemy. The Lancastrians could not bear up under the -augmented storm, and the retreat commenced. In the confusion the -retiring wings struck each other, and the difficulties of the position -were increased. Edward urged his infuriated soldiery to unsparing -vengeance, and the Lancastrians turned again and again upon their -pursuers. Ere they reached the river Cock--a tributary of the -Wharfe--the Lancastrian army had merged into a dense and tumultuary -crowd of fugitives, upon whose flank and rear the Yorkists hung with -the blood-thirsty fury of barbarians. On reaching the stream the -massacre became frightful, and the waters were tinged with gore and -darkened with the slain, and are stated to have communicated their -dreadful burthen and sanguinary stains to the Wharfe. For three days -the Lancastrians were hunted out and butchered by the victors. - -On the gloomy night of that fatal 29th of March, 1461, a stormy rout -of knights and men-at-arms urged their jaded war-horses through the -narrow streets of York, calling loudly upon the King and Queen to -mount in hot haste and ride for their lives. That night the King and -Queen, with the young prince, rode through Bootham, through the gloom -of Galtres forest, fugitives, _en route_ for Scotland. - -The total loss was computed at 40,000 souls, the Lancastrians being -heavily in excess. The death-roll contains the names of the Earls of -Northumberland, Westmoreland, and Shrewsbury; of Lords Dacres and -Wells, and Sir Andrew Trollope. - -At York Edward executed the Earls of Devonshire and Ormond, Sir -Baldwin Fulford, Sir William Talboys, and Sir William Hill. The Earl -of Wiltshire suffered at Newcastle on the 1st of May. The heads of -York and Salisbury were replaced by those of Devonshire and Hill. - -According to tradition, "The Lord Dacres was slain in Nor-acres." -Having removed his gorget he was shot in the throat by the cross-bow -bolt of a lad lurking behind a burtree, or elder-bush. - -The blood and snow froze on the field of Towton, and when the thaw -came the furrows overflowed with mingling blood and water. The slain -were buried in vast pits; and there is a strange legendary belief that -the roses which so persistently flourish upon the field, and the -petals of which are pure white, slightly flushed with red, sprang from -the commingling blood of the partisans of the red and white roses. - -Edward was duly crowned, but his throne was threatened by the plots of -the Lancastrians, although he kept the headsman's axe steadily at -work. In 1462 the Scots caused some trouble in the North; and, towards -the close of the year, Margaret appeared in arms, but precipitately -retired without being able to make head against the King. - -In 1464 Margaret again appeared in the North, when the gallant Sir -Ralph Percy was slain on Hedgeley Moor, fighting for the red rose. The -battle of Hexham followed a rout of the Lancastrians, whose leaders, -Somerset, Ross, and Hungerford, were executed. - -Sir Ralph Grey having betrayed Bamborough Castle to the Queen, and -then defended it against Edward, was executed at Doncaster. - -Margaret escaped, but Henry ultimately fell into Edward's hands, and -was committed to the Tower. - - - - - XIII.--YORKSHIRE UNDER THE TUDORS. - - -Edward IV. disgusted the Earl of Warwick by espousing Elizabeth, widow -of Sir John Grey, of Groby, and the Yorkshire rising, known as the -Thrave of St. Leonard, followed. The defeat and death of the royal -captains, the Earls of Devon and Pembroke, was succeeded by Edward's -confinement in Middleham Castle, and his escape to the Continent, when -Warwick restored King Henry to the throne. On the 14th March, 1471, -Edward landed at Ravenser Spurn and defeated Warwick at the battle of -Barnet, when the king-maker and his brother Montacute were slain. On -the day of Barnet, Queen Margaret, her son and his bride, landed at -Weymouth, and the battle of Tewkesbury was fought on the 4th May, when -Prince Edward was slain, and Queen Margaret captured. Edward was now -firmly fixed upon the throne, and in 1478 he requited the numerous -treacheries of his brother Clarence by procuring his condemnation on a -charge of high treason. Clarence perished in the Tower, either being -drowned in a butt of wine, or permitted to drink himself to death. On -the 9th of April, 1483, Edward IV. departed this life, leaving two -sons, Edward and Richard. Richard, Duke of Gloucester, promptly -appeared upon the scene, seized Lord Rivers, the Queen's brother, and -Lord Grey, her son, and sent them to Pontefract, where they were -executed. Procuring possession of the persons of his nephews, he -caused them to be murdered, and usurped the throne. Nemesis followed -him; he lost his only son, and was defeated and slain at Bosworth -Field by Henry Tudor, who espoused Elizabeth, daughter of Edward IV., -and was crowned under the title of Henry VII. Richard had proclaimed -John De-la-Pole, Earl of Lincoln, heir presumptive to the throne, but -this unfortunate nobleman was slain at the Battle of Stoke, ostensibly -fighting in the cause of the Pretender, Lambert Simnel. The wars of -the Roses were now ended, and Henry concluded the series of diabolical -tragedies by obtaining the condemnation and execution of the Earl of -Warwick, Clarence's son, and the lineal heir to the throne. He was -judicially murdered on the 24th November, 1499. - -Henry's love of gold led to a revolt in Yorkshire, A.D. 1489, when the -people, furious against the imposition of a tax, murdered the Earl of -Northumberland, and took up arms; to be defeated and severely -punished. - -Henry VIII. succeeded to the throne, and by the suppression of the -monasteries roused the indignation of the Yorkshire people, who made -an armed remonstrance, known as the Pilgrimage of Grace. But for the -moderation of the people, Henry's throne might have been overturned, -and His Majesty requited their loyalty by wholesale executions, and by -hanging Sir Robert Constable over the Beverley gate at Hull, and -executing Robert Aske at York. Another of the leaders, Lord Darcy, was -executed on Tower Hill. - -The reign of Edward VI. witnessed a tumultuary outbreak at Seamer, -consequent upon changes that had been made in the forms of religious -worship. It was promptly put down by troops from York, and the -ringleaders were executed. - -During the reign of Queen Mary there was some little excitement in -Yorkshire, consequent upon Sir Thomas Wyat's insurrection, when -Thomas, son of Lord Stafford, seized Scarborough Castle, and paid with -his life for the daring exploit. - -The nation was sorely disturbed by the complications resulting from -the lust and religion of Henry VIII., when Elizabeth ascended the -throne, and Her Majesty's interference with the affairs of Scotland, -and her imprisonment of Mary Stuart, added to the difficulties of the -position. - -The Northern Rising, headed by Thomas Percy, Earl of Northumberland, -and Charles Neville, Earl of Westmoreland, occurred in November, 1569, -and was promptly suppressed, and followed by the customary severities. - -Fortunately royal lines die out, and with Elizabeth the Tudors ceased; -but only to entail upon the nation the wars and revolutions resulting -from the follies of the Stuarts. - - - - - XIV.--THE BATTLE OF TADCASTER. - - A.D. 1642. - - -When Charles I. visited Hull in 1639, he was most loyally received by -the people; but his second visit, on the 23rd of April, 1642, ended in -a bitter disappointment, and brought on the resort to arms. His power -had waned, the Star Chamber was a tyranny of the past; Stafford was -surrendered to the block, and Laud was in prison. - -Before Charles reached the town, he was requested to defer his visit, -and on appearing before the Beverley gate, he found it closed, the -drawbridge raised, shotted cannon frowning upon him, pikemen and -musketeers holding the ramparts. - -Sir John Hotham dare not for his life admit the King. Vain the orders, -the threats, the persuasions of Charles; he was compelled to retire, -after commanding the garrison to hurl the traitor over the walls. Sir -John was deeply distressed; he had heard himself proclaimed a traitor -by the royal heralds, who sounded trumpets before the walls. - -On the 3rd of June, the nobility and gentry of Yorkshire met the King -on Heworth Moor, and from that day the nation was virtually in arms. - -On the 2nd of July, the Royalists occupied Hull Bridge, and the -"Providence" entered the Humber with military stores for the King. -Hotham attempted to capture the stores, but his troops were driven -back, and the munitions of war were carted to York, being escorted by -a large force of the King's friends. - -Shortly after Hull was besieged, and the banks of the river being cut, -the country around was submerged. Batteries were erected and the town -cannonaded, but with little effect. As the month waned, sorties were -organised, and the royal lines penetrated. One day the foot were -scattered and the royal cavalry had to retire to Beverley. -Reinforcements from London encouraged Sir John Meldrum, who assisted -in the defence, in repeating the sorties. On one occasion the Earl of -Newport was hoisted out of his saddle by a cannon ball, and hurled -into a ditch. He was with difficulty rescued, being reduced to a state -of insensibility. The siege was raised. - -At Nottingham, on the 25th of August, Charles raised his standard. It -was blood-red, bore the royal arms, quartered, with a hand pointing to -the endangered crown, and the motto, "Give to Cĉsar his due." It was -almost instantly levelled with the ground as a sudden blast of wind -swept with a weird moaning across the face of the hill. - -Cumberland maintained the King's cause in the loyal North, and to -counteract his influence, Parliament appointed Lord Fairfax to the -command of the Northern forces, his son, Sir Thomas, acting as General -of Horse. - -Various skirmishes ensued, Fairfax operating from his head-quarters at -Tadcaster. On one occasion the loyal city of York was insulted by one -of Fairfax's officers, who fired a pistol in Micklegate Bar. - -At Wetherby, the younger Fairfax was surprised by Sir Thomas Glemham, -but the explosion of a powder magazine induced the Royalists to draw -off. Sir Thomas was in great peril, being repeatedly fired upon at -close quarters. Major Carr, of the King's army, was slain, and the -Parliamentarian Captain Atkinson was mortally wounded, his thigh being -fractured by the repeated blows of pistols. - -The Earl of Newcastle assuming the command of the Cavaliers, attacked -Fairfax at Tadcaster. A bridge over the Wharfe led to the main street -of Tadcaster, and Fairfax cast up a breastwork to command this bridge, -while he posted musketeers in a number of houses that flanked the -position. The attack commenced on the morning of Tuesday, the 7th of -December, eight hundred Parliamentarians withstanding the numerous -army of Newcastle. When Fairfax beheld Newcastle's cavaliers marching -down the York Road, and over the fields on each side, he resolved to -evacuate the town, perceiving the impossibility of holding it against -so numerous an enemy. It was, however, too late to retire in the face -of the enemy, and the troops had barely time to occupy the position at -the bridge before Newcastle made a determined attack upon them. -Planting two demi-culverins to command the bridge, and hurrying up his -infantry, Newcastle opened the ball at eleven o'clock. For five hours -the cavaliers attacked, and the Parliamentarians as gallantly defended -the position. - -Again and again the King's men came steadily on, with pikes in the -front, and the musketeers firing and reloading with the most -determined courage; but ere they could reach the breastwork the brave -men of Nunappleton and Denton, and the stout-hearted burghers of -Bradford and Bingley, smote them with a storm of shot, shattered and -thinned their ranks--sending them back to re-form and renew the attack -with the same obstinate but unavailing courage. After a while the -fight slackened, the Royalists lining the hedges and maintaining a -brisk exchange of shot with their adversaries. - -It was important that Newcastle should effect a lodgment within the -lines of defence by carrying the houses on the river banks, and -several desperate attempts to effect this were made. Some fierce -conflicts resulted, and many men were slain. At length Newcastle -carried one of the houses that commanded the main body of the -Parliamentarians. In this strait, Major-General Gifford was ordered -forward to retake the lost positions. Some heavy fighting at close -quarters ensued, and pike and sword were red with blood, and the soil -cumbered with the slain and wounded, before the stubborn Royalists -were driven out, and the buildings re-occupied. - -As the shades of evening closed over the mournful scene of slaughter -and confusion, Newcastle sent forward another party against one of -the houses. It was his last effort, and was gallantly made; but the -hail of bullets smote so fiercely in the face of the division, that it -was driven back in confusion, with some loss of men, including Captain -Lister, a young and promising officer, whose death was deeply -lamented. - -Newcastle drew off, intending to renew the attack on the following -morning. Upwards of a hundred dead and wounded men were left upon the -field. - -Lord Fairfax retained the honours of the field, but was compelled to -retire his forces, and accordingly occupied the town of Selby. His -position was extremely precarious, and he was deeply distressed by the -necessity of leaving the towns of the West exposed to the attacks of -their powerful enemies. - - - - - XV.--THE BATTLE OF LEEDS. - - A.D. 1643. - - -On the 14th December, Sir Thomas Fairfax and the gallant Captain -Hotham sallied out of Selby, and stormed Sherborne, to come back on -the spur, closely pursued by the enraged Goring. - -Sir William Savile, of Thornhill, compelled Leeds and Wakefield to -surrender; and on Sunday, December 18th, attacked Bradford with 200 -foot, six troops of dragoons, and five of horse. A spirited engagement -ensued, and the Royalists were beaten off. Shortly after, Sir Thomas -made a night-march through the Royalist lines, and entered Bradford -with 300 foot and three troops of horse. - -Reinforced by numerous recruits Sir Thomas resolved to attack Sir -William Savile, who was strongly entrenched in Leeds. The approaches -from the Bridge and Hunslet Lane were defended by breastworks, and two -demi-culverins commanded the long, broad Briggate, or principal -street. - -On Monday, January 23rd, 1643, Fairfax summoned the town with 2,000 -clubmen, 1,000 musketeers, six troops of horse, and three of dragoons -at his back. Sir William Savile rejoined by a gallant defiance, having -1,500 foot and 500 horse posted in the town. Sir Thomas had formed his -troops in two divisions to storm both sides of the town, and they -advanced to attack as a snow-storm burst over the moor. - -The watchword was "Emanuel," and with sounding trumpets Sergeant-Major -Forbes and Captain Hodgson fell on at the head of five companies of -foot and one of dismounted dragoons. They were saluted with a volley -of musketry, all but inoperative. The musketeers had aimed too high. - -The roar of battle rose at the end of Ludgate, when Sir William -Fairfax and Sir Thomas Norcliffe assaulted the entrenchments, and was -answered from the south side of the river, where the stormers were -fighting their way to the south end of the bridge. Here they -established themselves, and flanked the defenders of the works at the -north-end of the bridge, who were holding Forbes and his stormers in -check. Sir William Savile ordered up one of the demi-culverins, and -planted it upon the bridge, to arrest the Parliamentarian advance. -Maitland, who led the attack, despatched a party of dragoons to the -waterside, and compelled the defenders of the lower breastwork to -retire, when Forbes occupied the deserted position. Schofield, a -minister of Halifax, celebrated this success by singing a verse of the -lxvii. psalm; and as it was concluded the cheers of the dragoons -announced the evacuation of the upper breastwork. Still singing the -psalm, Forbes charged up the Briggate, and captured the -demi-culverins. Here they were met by Sir William Fairfax, who had -gallantly forced his way into the town. - -Fairfax had stormed three positions, and captured Leeds, after three -hours of close fighting. His conduct was highly eulogised. - -Sir William Savile and the Rev. Mr. Robinson swam their horses across -the Aire, and escaped. Unhappily Captain Beaumont was drowned in the -attempt. - -Fairfax lost about twenty men, and took 460 prisoners, the two -demi-culverins, a number of muskets, and fourteen barrels of -gunpowder. The prisoners were allowed to depart on engaging not to -arm against Parliament. - -Sir Thomas Fairfax being in delicate health returned to the -head-quarters at Selby. Newcastle withdrew from Wakefield, and -concentrated his army at York, leaving the country between Selby and -the West open to the Fairfaxes, who occupied Howley Hall, between -Wakefield and Bradford. - - - - - XVI.--THE BATTLE OF WAKEFIELD. - - A.D. 1643. - - -While the Fairfaxes held Selby, Queen Henrietta landed at Bridlington, -where she was briskly cannonaded by Vice-Admiral Batten, whose -ungallant conduct was generally reprobated. Fairfax offered her -Majesty an escort of Yorkshire Parliamentarians. - -The plots of the Hothams closed Hull to the Fairfaxes, and they -resolved to march to Leeds, a distance of twenty miles, although -exposed to a flank attack. Sir Thomas drew off the enemy by marching a -division in the direction of Tadcaster, thus enabling Lord Fairfax to -carry the main body to Leeds. - -The Royalists believed that Sir Thomas had designs upon York, and -Goring followed hot upon his track, and on Whin Moor, near the village -of Seacroft, charged his rear and right flank, and dispersed the -Parliamentarians, of whom a few were wounded or slain, and many were -captured. - -After a sharp pursuit and some shrewd blows, Sir Thomas Fairfax and -Sir Henry Foulis reached Leeds with a few troopers. - -Chiefly for the purpose of obtaining prisoners for the exchange of his -captured soldiers, Sir Thomas resolved to make an attempt upon -Wakefield, then held by Goring with seven troops of horse and six -regiments of foot. Outworks, trenches, breastworks, and several cannon -defended the town. - -The Royalist officers were given to drinking and playing at bowls, and -although aware of Fairfax's advance, he found some officers in liquor -when the attack began. Doubtless this refers to the few; the majority -would be on the alert like gallant and loyal gentlemen. - -At midnight on Saturday, the 20th of May, Sir Thomas marched from -Howley with 1,500 horse and foot, drawn from the garrisons of Leeds, -Bradford, Halifax, and Howley. At four o'clock, he approached -Wakefield, to find the enemy on the alert. Driving a body of horse out -of Stanley, he assailed Wrengate and Northgate. Major-General Gifford, -Sir Henry Foulis, Sir William Fairfax, and other brave officers, -supported Sir Thomas. The stormers were saluted by a hot fire from -muskets and cannon, but suffered little thereby. Undaunted by their -hot reception, the stormers faced the hail of shot and fell on with -pike and musket, capturing the works and turning the guns upon the -enemy. Driving the cavaliers before him, Fairfax cleared the streets, -capturing, with many others, General Goring, Sir Thomas Bland, -Lieut.-Colonel Sir Geo. Wentworth, Lieut.-Colonel Saint George, -Lieut.-Colonel Macmoyler, Sergt.-Major Carr, Captains Carr, Knight, -Wildbore, Rueston, Pemberton, Croft, Ledgard, Lashley, Kayley, and -Nuttall; Captn.-Lieut. Benson, Sergt.-Major Carnabie. Left wounded in -Wakefield, upon their engagement to be true prisoners, Lieutenants -Munckton, Thomas, Wheatley, Kent, Nicholson; Ensigns Squire, Vavasor, -Masken, Lampton, Ducket, Stockhold, Baldwinson, Davis, Carr, Gibson, -Smathweight, Ballinson, Watson, Smelt, Hallyburton, and Cornet Wivell. - -Too weak to retain his conquest, Fairfax marched off in triumph with -his prisoners, captured cannon, colours, arms, ammunition, etc. - -London greatly rejoiced on receiving news of the victory. Parliament -ordered public thanksgivings to be observed in the city; and in the -churches and chapels narratives of the action were read. - -The following is the official account of the battle, as made to Lord -Fairfax: - - "On Saturday night, the 20th of May, the Lord General Fairfax - gave orders for a party of 1,000 foot, three companies of - dragoons, and eight troops of horse, to march from the garrison - of Leeds, Bradford, Halifax, and Howley; Sir Thomas Fairfax - commanded in chief. The foot were commanded by - Sergt.-Major-General Gifford and Sir William Fairfax. The horse - were divided into two bodies, four troops commanded by Sir - Thomas Fairfax, and the other four troops by Sir Henry Foulis; - Howley was the rendezvous, where they all met on Saturday last, - about twelve o'clock of night; about two next morning they - marched away, and coming to Stanley, where two of the enemy's - troops lay, with some dragoons, that quarter was beaten up, and - about one-and-twenty prisoners taken. About four o'clock in the - morning we came before Wakefield, where, after some of their - horse were beaten into the town, the foot, with unspeakable - courage, beat the enemies from the hedges, which they had lined - with musketeers, into the town, and assaulted it in two places, - Westgate and Northgate, and after an hour and a half fight, we - recovered one of their pieces, and turned it upon them, and - entered the town at both places at one and the same time. When - the baracadoes were opened, Sir Thomas Fairfax, with the horse, - fell into the town, and cleared the street, when Colonel Goring - was taken by Lieut. Alured, brother to Captain Alured, a member - of the house; yet in the Market Place there stood three troops - of horse and Colonel Lampton's regiment, to whom Major-General - Gifford sent a trumpet with offer of quarter, if they would lay - down their arms. They answered they scorned the motion. Then he - fired a piece of their own ordnance upon them, and the horse - fell in among them, beat them out of the town, and took all - their officers, expressed in the enclosed list, twenty-seven - colours of foot, three cornets of horse, and about 1,500 common - soldiers. The enemy had in the town 3,000 foot and seven troops - of horse, besides Colonel Lampton's regiment, which came into - the town after he had entered the town. The enemy left behind - them three pieces of ordnance, with ammunition, which we - brought away.--Signed, Thomas Fairfax, Henry Foulis, John - Gifford, William Fairfax, John Holmes, Robert Foulis, Titus - Leighton, Francis Talbott." - - - - - XVII.--THE BATTLE OF ADWALTON MOOR. - - -With an army of 12,000 men at his back the Marquis of Newcastle was -bound to clear Yorkshire of the Parliamentarians. Having stormed -Howley Hall, he marched upon Bradford, halting on Adwalton Moor on the -29th of June, 1643; making a careful disposition of his army, and -placing his artillery in position, as though apprehensive of an attack -from his active and daring opponents. - -The audacity of the Fairfaxes was justified by their desperate -position. Hull was closed to them by the defection of the Hothams; the -open towns of the West were exhausted, and they were surrounded by -enemies in the heart of a hostile country. - -While Newcastle was encamping on Adwalton Moor, Fairfax was preparing -to march upon him at four o'clock on the following morning. The -excitement in Bradford was intense. The success of Fairfax could -alone deliver them from the hands of the Royalists, who were deeply -exasperated against the stubborn burghers. - -The march of the Parliamentarians was delayed until eight o'clock, in -consequence of the tardiness or treachery of Major-General Gifford, if -we may believe the grumblings of Sir Thomas Fairfax, who was doubtless -impatient to be at the enemy. - -The main body of the Cavaliers was posted before the hamlet of -Adwalton, and a "Forlorn Hope," as the advanced guard was called, held -the Westgate Hill, half a mile distant from the army. - -Here Fairfax dealt his first blow, and swept the Cavaliers before his -advancing army. So first blood was claimed, and scattered on the turf -lay the mangled forms of many brave men, their cold, still faces -looking doubly pallid and sad in the bright morning sunshine. - -Jutting out from the main road by Westgate Hill, Hodgson's Lane led up -to Newcastle's position, and entered Warren's Lane, opening on the -moor from Gomersal. - -Lord Fairfax, with 3,000 men against 12,000, had to fight a defensive -battle, and lining the hedges at the head of Warren's Lane with -musketeers, he ordered Gifford to move down Hodgson's Lane upon -Newcastle's position. - -The ground was scarcely occupied before twelve troops of cavalry swept -across the moor, trumpets sounding, armour clashing, and the long, -thin rapiers flashing back the morning's sun. Ere they reached the -Roundheads, the muskets flashed from the hedge-rows, and as the white -smoke drifted on the breeze, and the loud report rang out, the gallant -Cavaliers retired with thinned and disordered ranks, leaving Colonel -Howard and many other gallant men dead upon the field. Again they -charged, again broke before the deadly fire of the musketeers, leaving -another colonel upon the field. Then Fairfax charged, and bore them, -sorely buffeted and cut-up, before his strong riders, until they found -protection beneath the muzzle of their cannon. - -Gifford was handling his infantry with such address that Newcastle's -spirits drooped, and he thought of commanding a retreat. But he had -bold, strong gentlemen beneath his banners, and Colonel Skerton, -heading a stand of pikes, broke Gifford's ranks, and made deadly work -as the royal horse followed his charge. The Parliamentarians were not -allowed time to rally, but were driven into Bradford. - -Sir Thomas had no order to retire, and was not aware of the defeat of -his father's command. For some time he maintained his ground, and -succeeded in carrying his troops into Halifax. - -The next morning he was in Bradford. A day of heavy fighting followed, -but the place could not be maintained. Sir Thomas attempted to pass -through the royal lines, but his party was dispersed, and his wife -captured by the enemy. He gained Leeds, where the news arrived that -the Hothams had been arrested, and Hull was open to the -Parliamentarians. The Fairfaxes resolved to make the attempt to reach -the fortress, and succeeded after many perils, Sir Thomas being shot -through the wrist during a skirmish, and fainting from excessive pain -and loss of blood. - - - - - XVIII.--THE BATTLE AT HULL. - - A.D. 1643. - - -Newcastle marched upon Hull, drove Sir Thomas Fairfax out of Beverley, -and besieged the town with 12,000 foot and 4,000 horse, on the 2nd of -September, 1643. Attempts were made to command the Humber by the -erection of forts at Hessle and Paull, and red-hot shot were thrown -into the town. A sally was beaten back, but the besiegers were -hindered by the cutting of the banks of the Hull and Humber, when the -country around was laid under water. Oliver Cromwell and Lord -Willoughby of Parham visited the town to consult with the Fairfaxes as -to the best measures for the defence, but appeared satisfied that it -could be maintained. The sorties of the garrison were spirited, and -attended with some success. On the 9th October the Royalists attempted -to carry the town by escalade, and almost succeeded. The Charter House -battery was stormed, but re-captured, and many lives were lost. The -gallant Captain Strickland was slain while leading the stormers. On -the morning of the 11th of October a pitched battle was fought before -the town. Fairfax organised a force of 1,500 men, drawn from the -garrison, burghers, and the crews of the warships in the Humber. - -Meldrum and Lord Fairfax issued out of the Hessle and Beverley gates, -and took the Royalists by surprise, driving them out of their works; -but being assailed by fresh troops from the main body of the -besiegers, they were very roughly handled, and driven under the town -walls, when the cannon opened upon the Cavaliers, and enabled Meldrum -and Fairfax to re-form their troops. - -Supported by the fire of the town guns, the Parliamentarians renewed -their attack; and, in the face of a heavy fire, stormed the enemy's -works, the dispute being very severe, and the fighting stubbornly -maintained at close quarters. Newcastle's warriors made a gallant -attempt to re-conquer their lost forts, but the cannon were turned -upon them, and the Parliamentarians repulsed every attack. After three -hours of hard fighting the Cavaliers retired, having received over -one hundred discharges of the town guns. - -An anxious night was passed, for the Parliamentarians expected -Newcastle to renew his attempts to regain his forts and cannon, but -the Marquis had suffered heavily, and, taking council with his -officers, resolved to abandon the siege, and retire under cover of the -night. His main army retired upon York, securing the retreat by -breaking down bridges and obstructing the roads. - -The men of Hull rejoiced in the capture of two famous cannon, Gog and -Magog, a demi-culverin, four small drakes mounted on one carriage, two -large brass drakes, and a saker. - -The burghers spent the following day in public thanksgiving, and thus -observed the anniversary of their deliverance until the restoration of -the Stuarts. - - - - - XIX.--THE BATTLE OF SELBY. - - A.D. 1644. - - -In 1644 King and Parliament were so closely matched that any accession -of strength to either party would tend to the speedy conclusion of the -conflict. When, on the 4th of March, the Earl of Leven occupied -Sunderland with 30,000 Scots, reinforcements for Parliament, the -greatest concern was felt by all good Cavaliers, and the Marquis of -Newcastle promptly brought up his Yorkshire Royalists, and held Leven -at bay. - -In this strait Sir Thomas Fairfax was ordered to the North to -reinforce the Scots with cavalry, and enable them to engage the King's -men. Lord Fairfax joined his son near Hull, and, augmenting his -forces, it was resolved to attack Selby, which was defended by -barricades, and garrisoned by a strong force of foot and horse under -the command of Colonel Bellasis, the son of Lord Falconberg. - -On the 11th of April, 1644, the Parliamentarians advanced to the -storm. The army was formed into three divisions, commanded by Lord -Fairfax, Sir John Meldrum, and Colonel Bright. Sir Thomas Fairfax -supported with his cavalry. - -The steady advance was met by the red flash of the guns, and the smoke -rose and drifted over the front. But the drums beat on, the pikemen -held bravely to the front, and the musketeers began to handle their -guns, as the front ranks poured into the trenches, leaving on the -green sward behind them the silent forms of slain men, whose white, -drawn faces looked very sad in the midst of the fresh young grass, and -under the shifting April clouds. In the trenches and by the barricades -some hot work went on, with clash of pikes and hail of bullets, until -the Cavaliers were fairly beaten from their defences, and their -reluctant officers, failing to rally their disordered ranks, retired -them from the front. The lines were won, but Colonel Bellasis held the -open ground with his horse, ready to sweep back the hostile foot -should they attempt any further advance, and a desultory fire of -musketry was maintained, until Sir Thomas Fairfax succeeded, after a -fierce struggle, in breaking down a barricade and making way for his -horse. Then the files of heavy cavalry came crashing over the -disputed ground, beating under hoof the heaps of debris and rubbish, -and overthrowing all who strove with pike and musket to bar their -path. Sir Thomas occupied the ground between the houses and the river, -when, with trumpets sounding the charge, a numerous body of royal -horse bore down upon them. The charge was gallantly received, and a -severe conflict ensued, when, beaten back by dint of steel and lead, -the Royalists broke away in confusion, and availing themselves of the -bridge of boats, crossed the river and took to flight. - -Scarcely had the panting warriors time to re-form their disordered -ranks before the fiery Bellasis burst upon them in a furious charge, -eager to avenge his defeated horse. Cold steel met in thrust and -parry; the pistols flashed, and brave men fell thickly as, -hand-to-hand, in dust and smoke, the sharp hot _melee_ held; then -riderless steeds broke away from the shock; Sir Thomas was hurled from -his steed amid plunging hoofs and slashing steel, but was rescued by -his gallant troopers, and re-mounted. The Cavaliers fought as King's -men should that day, but were over-weighted by Fairfax's heavy horse, -and driven off in headlong flight for York, leaving Colonel Bellasis -a prisoner in the hands of the victorious Roundheads. - -In the meantime the Parliamentarian foot had made good their hold of -the town, and accepted the surrender of the royal foot. - -The results of this engagement were remarkable. The Fairfaxes had only -defeated some two or three thousand men, and wrested a small town from -the King's hands, yet the strong city of York trembled for its safety, -and Newcastle was urgently requested to return and defend the county. -He complied. The Scots were at liberty. Fairfax immediately joined -them with his little army; and, on the 19th of April, York was -blockaded by the combined forces. Manchester augmented the besieging -army; York was closely invested, its fall was imminent; and King -Charles urgently demanded of Prince Rupert the raising of the siege. -Gallantly was the demand met, but was followed by the famous battle of -Marston Moor, from the effects of which the royal cause never -recovered. - - - - - XX.--BATTLE OF MARSTON MOOR. - - A.D. 1644. - - -King Charles was fully conscious of the perilous position in which he -would be placed if York fell, and Yorkshire passed into the hands of -the enemy; he therefore instructed Prince Rupert to march to the -relief of York, using the following impressive language:-- - - "I command and conjure you, by the duty and affection which I - know you bear me, that, all new enterprise laid aside, you - immediately march, according to your first intention, with all - your force to the relief of York; but if that be either lost, - or have freed themselves from the besiegers, or that, for want - of powder, you cannot undertake that work, that you immediately - march with your whole strength to Worcester, to assist me and - my army, without which, or your having relieved York by beating - the Scots, all the successes you may afterwards have, most - infallibly will be useless unto me." - -Gathering up forces as he advanced, Rupert marched to the succour of -the city, and occupied Knaresborough and Boroughbridge on the evening -of the 30th of June. On the following morning the Parliamentarians -drew up on Hessay Moor, to arrest Rupert's advance. Outgeneraling his -adversaries, the Prince marched to Poppleton Ferry, halted his army, -and entered York with 200 Cavaliers. That night a council of war was -held, and Rupert resolved to give battle to the enemy. The Marquis of -Newcastle endeavoured to dissuade the Prince from this step, and -begged him to await the arrival of a reinforcement of 5,000 men, -expected in the course of a few days. Rupert is accused of behaving -with discourtesy towards Newcastle, and for this there can be no -defence. There was, however, good reason for fighting, and at once. -Certainly the Prince could not be expected to put a great value on -Newcastle's advice. Rupert had achieved many successes, and had -relieved York by a masterly movement; on the other hand, Newcastle had -not achieved any remarkable success, and had allowed himself to be -besieged in York without fighting a battle. If he could hold Leslie in -check, surely he might have attempted to raise the blockade of York -before Manchester arrived with reinforcements. Had Rupert waited for -reinforcements, would the Parliamentarians have accepted battle, or -retired to some stronger position? Rupert was in a favourable -position, with a tried army, almost as strong as that of the enemy, -and if he did not at once give battle as favourable an opportunity -might not again occur. Having relieved York, was he to retire and -leave the enemy in Yorkshire to again besiege the city, or capture the -various royal strongholds? Two nearly equal armies were opposed on -Yorkshire soil, would one army leave the other in possession? would -the Parliamentarians compel the Cavaliers to fight? or would the two -armies move away in different directions, seeking other fields and -other foes? Rupert and the Parliamentarian leaders knew that they were -there to fight. The King's affairs absolutely demanded a victory, and -the blame that attaches to Rupert is that he forgot the general in -acting the part of a captain of horse, and so lost a battle that it -was within his capabilities to have won, as the conduct of his army -abundantly proved. - -The morning of the 2nd of July beheld Rupert's army in motion; but -the enemy were marching upon Tadcaster, not expecting an engagement. A -threatening movement of Rupert's cavalry was promptly checked, and -both armies began to form for battle under the Earls of Leven and -Manchester and Lord Fairfax on the one hand; and Rupert, Goring, -Lucas, and Sir John Urrie on the other. Some time elapsed before the -various divisions reached the field, and stood opposed in order of -battle. - -The Parliamentarians occupied a gentle eminence covered by a crop of -rye, beaten down by horse and foot. The regiments of Scotch and -English were intermixed, that the grace or blame of victory or defeat -might be equally shared. The centre consisted of serried masses of -pikemen and musketeers, commanded by Leven and the elder Fairfax; Sir -Thomas Fairfax led the right wing, consisting of his Yorkshire -cavalry, supported by three regiments of Scottish horse, and -outflanked by the village of Marston. The left wing, extending to -Tockwith village, was commanded by Manchester and Cromwell. Their -field word was "God with us!" Before them was the open moor, held by -the King's men, but the furze and broken ground was calculated to -retard their charges. Between the two armies extended a ditch and -hedge, soon to be immortalised as the scene of some heavy fighting and -dreadful slaughter. - -Some uncertainty exists as to the disposition of the Royalists, the -various accounts of the battle being very contradictory, but it may be -assumed that the centre was commanded by Goring, Sir Charles Lucas, -and General Porter; Newcastle heading his own regiment of white-coated -pikemen. Rupert carried his huge red-cross banner, emblazoned with the -arms of the Palatinate, on the left wing; and Sir John Urrie commanded -the right. Grant seems disposed to support the statement of Rushworth, -that Rupert led the right wing, and Sir Charles Lucas the left. - -Rupert's position was excellent for the fighting of a defensive -battle. To cross the ditch that lay between the armies was a serious -undertaking for either army, but especially for the Parliamentarians, -as Rupert had lined the hedge with musketeers, and had planted a -battery on an eminence behind his centre, thus demanding a heavy -sacrifice of life from the Parliamentarians before they could exchange -blows with his centre, and, in the event of his assuming the -offensive, the advance would be partially covered by the battery. - -The combined armies consisted of about 46,000 men, and were of almost -equal strength, the Parliamentarians having, probably, some little -advantage in numbers. For several hours no hostile movement took -place, with the exception of a few discharges of cannon, by one of the -first shots of which the loyal Sir Gilbert Houghton lost his son. -Apparently both parties were awed by the importance of the impending -conflict, and reluctant to make the first movement, with all the -difficulties attending the passage of the ditch and hedge. - -The pleasant summer afternoon waned into evening, peaceful and calm. -Seven o'clock approached: surely the bloody bout would be delayed -until the morrow. Occasionally the cannon roared, and a few men fell; -one of these unfortunates was young Walton, Cromwell's nephew, who was -severely wounded; and it is supposed that this brought about the -Parliamentarian attack. - - "It was now between six and seven, and Rupert, calling for - provisions, dismounted, and began to eat his supper. A large - number of his followers did the like. Newcastle strolled - towards his coach to solace himself with a pipe. Before he had - time to take a whiff, the battle had begun."--_Gardiner._ - -Manchester moved forward his infantry in heavy masses, with pikes and -muskets ready for the deadly work, and attempted the passage of the -ditch, while Cromwell's magnificent cuirassiers swept forward to clear -the same formidable obstacle, and engage the enemy's right. Rupert -hurried forward a large body of musketeers to meet Manchester's -attack, and at the same time swept their ranks by the deadly -discharges of his field battery. Rupert's musketeers being covered by -the hedge, inflicted heavy loss upon the Parliamentarians, and -Manchester vainly exerted himself to re-form their shattered ranks. -Two cannons were hurried up, and the officers exposed themselves with -the utmost devotion to encourage their troops, but they were powerless -to advance in the face of that deadly shower of bullets, and the -position was becoming critical in the extreme, when relief came, and -that not a moment too soon. Cromwell, making a wide sweep, gained the -open moor, found room for a charge, and bore down upon the enemy's -right with a tremendous and fatal force. A short but desperate -conflict ensued as Cromwell carried his Ironsides through the sorely -buffeted and shattered squadrons of the royal horse. Pressing on, he -stormed the battery and put the gunners to the sword. A moment's -breathing space was allowed the horses, and then the musketeers, who -held Manchester's advance in check with their forks planted in the -ditch-bank, maintaining a steady and destructive fire, became the -object of attack. These brave soldiers did not attempt to meet the -charge, but retreated in close order, with presented pikes, and -although they suffered severely from the fury of the enemy, they -endeavoured to check the successive charges by the repeated fire of -their muskets. - -There was no braver man in the field than Sir Thomas Fairfax, but he -suffered a sad defeat on that memorable July evening. The ground -occupied by his troops was broken and intersected by a number of -lanes; not difficult to defend, but preventing united action when the -moment for the advance arrived. Nevertheless he struggled forward, -wasting his strength by a succession of weak charges, but unable to -find room for a general attack. The fiery Rupert was opposed to him, -and swept his ranks by a cruel and incessant fire of musketry, until -little hope for the Parliament remained in this part of the field. For -a time the impending ruin was averted by Cromwell, who charged the -Prince's infantry, and afforded Fairfax an opportunity of re-forming -his torn and wearied forces; but in the midst of the struggling -advance of the over-mastered Parliamentarians Rupert delivered his -grand charge, and storming over and through every obstacle, filled -this part of the field with a wild rout of unhappy fugitives, amongst -whom the keen rapiers of his gay Cavaliers wrought terrible havoc. The -brother of Sir Thomas Fairfax was mortally wounded, but the good -knight clung desperately to the ground with 500 of his own horse and a -regiment of lancers, to be wounded and fairly borne off the field by -the impetuous Rupert. Here the Prince took a deadly and fatal revenge -on the Scotch cavalry, put them to headlong flight, and bore on in -stormy pursuit, while the royal infantry was exposed to the attacks of -Manchester's foot and Cromwell's victorious Ironsides. Had Rupert -succoured his centre at this stage of the battle he must have -compelled the Parliamentarians to yield to him the victory. - -Nobly the royal foot met the deadly storm of battle; exerting such -heroic courage that they fairly pushed back the Parliamentarian -advance, and the King's prospects were yet promising, maugre the -terrible handling received from Cromwell. That gallant soldier held -his cavalry well in hand, albeit their ranks were somewhat thinned by -shot and steel; and they now wrested the victory from the rashly -impetuous Rupert. The Marquis of Newcastle's incomparable regiment of -Northumbrians perished here. They were known as "lambs," or -"white-coats," from the colour of their doublets, and resisted -Cromwell to the last. Again and again he charged them, but they -returned blow for blow, and, disdaining all offers of quarter, -perished almost to a man, the few that were saved owing their lives -rather to the magnanimity of their enemies than to any exertions of -their own to escape the slaughter. They fell in their proper -battle-order, and presented a ghastly spectacle as they lay upon the -field in rank and file, their white coats cruelly slashed with many a -crimson stain. The remainder of the royal foot were now taken in the -rear by the Ironsides, and sustained a bloody and ruinous defeat. -Before their ruin was consummated the Prince returned, and a fierce -conflict ensued. Rupert had counted the victory as already won, and -rage and mortification added to the fury of the last sanguinary and -stubborn conflict. Cromwell was wounded in the neck, and his charge -was all but abortive, when Leslie came up and retrieved the mishap by -a terrible onslaught that sent Rupert's over-mastered warriors in wild -confusion from the field. The infantry now surrendered, and Cromwell -captured all the cannon, baggage, &c, of the royal army, which was -pursued almost to the gates of York. - -At a late hour throngs of wounded men and fugitives from the field -appeared before Micklegate-Bar, but the soldiers of the garrison were -alone admitted into the city, and the confusion that ensued was of the -most deplorable and painful character. - -Cromwell remained on the field, anxious and alert, fearful that the -impetuous Rupert might rally some remains of his army, and, by a -sudden onslaught under cover of night, wrest from his shattered army -the victory so hardly won by dint of heavy fighting. - -The general loss was estimated at 7,000 men, Prince Rupert losing over -3,000 slain, and 3,000 prisoners, including many officers. The -Parliamentarians captured forty-seven colours, twenty-five pieces of -artillery, a number of carbines and pistols, 130 barrels of gunpowder, -and 10,000 arms. Among their prisoners were Generals Sir Charles -Lucas, Tilliard, and Porter, and Lord Goring's son. Amongst the -gallant gentlemen who laid down their lives for King Charles on -Marston Moor were Lord Kerry, Sir Francis Dacres, Sir William Lampton, -Sir Charles Slingsby, Sir William Wentworth, Sir Marmaduke Luddon, Sir -Richard Gledhill, Colonel John Fenwick, Sir Richard Graham, and -Captain John Baird. Sir Richard Gledhill, as a matter of fact, died in -his own house an hour after he succeeded in gaining its shelter. He -had received twenty-six wounds. Sir Charles Lucas was informed that he -could select some of the slain for private interment, and in thus -distinguishing one unfortunate Cavalier caused a bracelet of silky -hair to be removed from his wrist, "as he knew an honourable lady who -would thankfully receive it." The Scots suffered severely, and the -English lost Captains Micklethwaite and Pugh, and Sir Thomas Fairfax -had to deplore the loss of his brother Charles, and of Major Fairfax. - -No two accounts of the battle agree, and Cromwell, whose conduct -conduced so largely to the winning of the battle, has been even -accused of cowardice by one writer. Rapin says, - - "I shall not undertake to describe this battle, because in all - the accounts I have seen I meet with so little order or - clearness that I cannot expect to give a satisfactory idea of - it to such of my readers as understand these matters." - -The Parliamentarians assumed a white badge to distinguish them from -their opponents. - -Prince Rupert would probably have won the battle had he acted as a -commander-in-chief instead of leading a wing; but it was then -customary for each of the three commanders to fight his own battle, -with too little regard to the general issue, when there was no -commander directing the operations of the divisions. - -The King's affairs never recovered from the results of this battle, -and the royal cause undoubtedly received its death-blow on Marston -Moor, when the last of the Yorkshire battles was fought. - - - - - XXI.--BATTLE OF BRUNANBURGH. - - A.D. 937. - - -King Athelstan reigned in troublous days, with the restless Danish -population in the North, the Welsh in the West, the Scots ready to -support his enemies, and his own nobles discontented and disloyal. -Athelstan had conferred upon Sithric, King of Northumberland, the hand -of his sister; but the prince violated his obligations, and was only -secured from punishment by the sudden stroke of death. - -Sithric's sons, Anlaf and Godfrid, took refuge in Ireland and -Scotland; and a confederation of the princes of Scotland, Wales, -Ireland, and Cumberland, seconded by a Danish fleet, threatened the -crown of Athelstan. - -After four years of preparation and recruiting the storm burst. In 937 -Anlaf entered the Humber at the head of a huge armada of 615 sail, and -occupied Bernicia. - -Athelstan, with a powerful army, marched to the North and encamped at -Brunanburgh. It is said that Anlaf entered the King's camp disguised -as a minstrel, and was liberally rewarded by Athelstan, but, in his -pride, buried the gold, and was perceived by one of the royal -soldiers, who then recognised him, but permitted him to retire from -the camp before he apprised Athelstan of the identity of the minstrel. -His excuse that had permitted Anlaf to escape because he had at one -period sworn fealty to him, was accepted as a sufficient reason; but -Athelstan removed his camp, and shortly after the Bishop of Sherborne -came up with his troops and occupied the ground that Athelstan had -vacated. - -That night Anlaf made a sudden attack upon the Saxons, and slew the -Bishop of Sherborne and many of his followers, before he was driven -off. - -The day of battle dawned. Each army was formed into two corps. -Athelstan commanded the West Saxons; Turketul, his heroic chancellor, -led the warriors of Mercia and London. Anlaf and his wild Northmen -opposed the King; Constantine, King of Scotland, confronted Turketul -with his Scots and Cumbrians. - -At sunrise the war-smiths fell to, with sleet of arrows and deadly -play of bills and spears, as the banners were pushed forward. Bravely -the golden-haired Athelstan acquitted himself in the van, amid the -communion of swords and the clashing of bills, the conflict of banners -and the meeting of spears, when the keen javelins strewed the soil -with the slain, and the unerring arrows carried death above the -guarding shield. Athelstan's sword dropped in the press, but as Otho, -Archbishop of Canterbury, entreated the heavenly aid, a sword of -celestial potency filled the empty sheath, and with it Athelstan -fought until night closed upon the scene. - -As the day was drawing towards eventide, with the wild war-wrestle at -its maddest, and the song of the fiery Northman rolling like thunder -over the field, now heaped with slain and wounded men, for the front -ranks had been mown down, and renewed again and again, Turketul headed -a veteran corps of spearmen, and made an irresistible charge upon the -Scots. Vainly Constantine strove to hold his ground; his fierce Scots -were over-weighted, broken, and borne down. Anlaf's Northmen were -dismayed, and gave ground. Turketul charged them; a brief, fierce -struggle ensued; then he penetrated their ranks; flight commenced; -the field was covered with fugitives; the Northmen anxiously striving -to regain their nailed barks, and crowd all sail for Ireland. - -Then pressed the West Saxons hard on "the footsteps of the loathed -nations." "They hewed the fugitives behind, amain, with swords -mill-sharp," while on the battle-stead lay five "youthful kings, and -seven eke of Anlaf's earls." - - "Constantine, hoary warrior, he had no cause to exult in the - communion of swords. Here was his kindred band of friends - o'erthrown on the falkstead, in battle slain; and his son he - left on the slaughter-place, mangled with wounds, young in the - fight." - -The slaughter was dreadful, but the throne of Athelstan was secured, -and his northern subjects humbled. He left behind him a terrible -carnage field, - - "the sallowy kite the corse to devour, and the swarthy raven - with horned nib, and the dusky 'pada' erne white-tailed, the - corse to enjoy, greedy war-hawk, and the grey beast, wolf of - the wood. Carnage greater has not been in this island ever yet - of people slain, before this, by edges of swords, as books us - say, old writers, since from the east hither, Angles and - Saxons came to land, o'er the broad seas Britain sought, - mighty war-smiths, the Welsh o'ercame, earls most bold, this - earth obtained." - -In later years Anlaf obtained considerable successes over King Edmund, -and the northern provinces were ceded to him; but scarcely had he -obtained this high position ere death touched his brow, and kingly -pride and vain ambition were overcome. - -Despite the labours of Yorkshire and Lancashire antiquaries, the -locality of Brunanburgh must be regarded as unascertained, and no -evidence has been produced that can justify its inclusion in the list -of Yorkshire battles. - - - - - XXII.--FIGHT OFF FLAMBOROUGH HEAD. - - A.D. 1779. - - -In the years 1778 and 1779 British commerce suffered severely from the -attacks of Paul Jones. - -In September of the latter year he cruised along the East coast with -the "Bonne Homme Richard," 40 guns, 375 men; the "Alliance," 40 guns, -300 men; the "Pallas," 32 guns, 275 men; and the "Vengeance," 12 guns, -70 men. On the 20th of September, Bridlington was alarmed by an -express stating that Paul Jones was off Scarborough; that evening he -was seen by the fishermen of Flamborough, and a fleet of merchantmen -crowded into Bridlington bay, and the harbour was soon thronged with -vessels, a number being chained alongside the piers. The townsfolks -mustered, rudely armed, and supported the two companies of -Northumberland Militia, who marched to the quay with drums beating. - -The Baltic fleet, with a freight valued at £600,000 pounds, was -approaching the coast, convoyed by the "Serapis," 40 guns, captain, -Pearson; and the "Countess of Scarborough," 20 guns, captain, Piercy. -On Thursday, September 23rd, the fleet approached Scarborough, and was -warned by the bailiff that the enemy was in the neighbourhood. Captain -Pearson then signalled the fleet to bear down upon his lee, but the -ships continued their course. About noon a scene of confusion ensued -as the leading ships perceived the enemy bearing down upon them. The -two captains hoisted all sail, prepared for action, and took the post -of danger. - -Twilight was closing over waves and cliff when, at about twenty -minutes past seven, the "Serapis" challenged the "Bonne Homme -Richard," and saluted him with a cannon shot. The American flag was -run up, and the shot returned. Captain Pearson delivered a broadside, -which was returned, and for some time the battle was carried on by -repeated discharges of cannon. The moon arose with unusual brilliancy, -and the natives of Flamborough thronged to the cliffs to witness the -exciting scene. Paul Jones attempted to board, but with bayonet, pike, -and cutlass the British tars maintained their decks, and the "Bonne -Homme Richard" sheered off. An attempt to lay the "Serapis" square -with her adversary was foiled, and the "Bonne Homme Richard" was laid -across the bows of the "Serapis." With cannon and small arms a -murderous conflict was maintained, then the jib-boom of the "Serapis" -gave way, and the ships fell broadside to broadside, with yard-arms -locked; swaying and reeling as they ripped up each other's sides with -repeated broadsides, although the muzzles of the cannons touched, and -many of the port-lids were torn away. - -The night closed in, and the conflict continued. The decks of the -"Serapis" were swept by shot, covered with the slain and wounded. For -two hours her crew maintained the fight with heroic courage. -Combustibles were thrown upon her decks, ten times she took fire; a -hand-grenade exploded a cartridge, and the explosion ran along the -line of guns where the cartridges lay, abaft the mainmast. Many men -were killed or wounded, and the guns remained unfought to the end. - -During this murderous work the "Alliance" sailed round and round the -combatants, and raked the "Serapis" with successive broadsides. - -On a cry for quarter being raised, Captain Pearson boarded the "Bonne -Homme Richard," but at once retired on perceiving a numerous party of -the enemy lying in ambush. The battle re-commenced, when the -"Alliance" again raked the "Serapis," inflicting dreadful slaughter, -and bringing down the mainmast. - -The "Serapis" was little better than a wreck, and the old flag was -reluctantly hauled down. Paul Jones received the conquered enemy most -courteously. Without the aid of the "Alliance" the "Bonne Homme -Richard" would have been captured. She was on fire in two places, the -guns on her lower deck were dismounted, and she had seven feet of -water in her hold. Out of her crew of 375 men, 306 were killed and -wounded. The total loss of the two English ships did not reach half -that number. On the following day the "Bonne Homme Richard" was -abandoned, and, before all her wounded could be removed, went to the -bottom. - -The "Countess of Scarborough" fought the "Pallas" and "Vengeance" for -upwards of two hours, and only struck when a third vessel bore down -upon her. - -The King of France presented Paul Jones with a gold-hilted sword, and -requested the American Government to sanction the bestowal of the -military Order of Merit upon the gallant adventurer. - -Captain Pearson was knighted, and was rewarded by the merchants for -saving the Baltic fleet. He was appointed Lieutenant-Governor of -Greenwich, and received the Freedom of the corporations of Hull, -Scarborough, Appleby, and Dover. - -[Illustration: THE END] - - - - - Index. - - - Adela, daughter of William I., 56 - - Adelwald, King of Deira, 8-10 - - Aire, River, 8, 99, 185 - - Airedale, 99 - - Albany, Duke of, 142 - - Albemarle, William, 3rd Earl of, 61, 66 - - Alberic, Bishop of Ostia, 73 - - Aldred, Archbishop of York, 43 - - Alexander II., King of Scotland, 79, 80 - - Alexander III., King of Scotland, 79 - - Alfred, King of the North-Humbrians, 10, 11 - - Alfred, King of England, 20 - - Alnwick Castle, 76 - - Alred, 70 - - Alured, Lieut., 191 - - Alured, Captn., 191 - - Anlaf, 216-220 - - Annandale, Robert Bruce, Lord of, 64-66 - - Appleby, 225 - - Archer, John, 156 - - Arundel, Edmund Fitz-Alan, 2nd Earl of, 100 - - Aske, Robert, 175 - - Aspall, 159-160 - - Athelstan, King of Mercia, 13, 216-220 - - Atkinson, Captn., 179 - - Audley, John Touchet, 6th Lord, 152 - - Avon, River, 100 - - - Badlesmere, Bartholomew, 1st Lord de, 103-4 - - Baird, Captn., John, 214 - - Baldwin V., Earl of Flanders, 18 - - Baldwinson, Ensign, 189 - - Baliol, Bernard de, 61, 64-66, 76 - - Baliol, Edward, King of Scotland, 138 - - Ballinson, Ensign, 189 - - Bamborough Castle, 50-51, 172 - - Banbury, 81 - - Bangor, Bishop of, 147 - - Bardolph, Thomas, 5th Lord, 143-7 - - Barfleur, 54 - - Battles: Adwalton Moor, 193-5 - - Agincourt, 124, 137, 148 - - Bannockburn, 83, 103 - - Barnet, 173 - - Beaujé, 149 - - Bloreheath, 152 - - Boroughbridge, 107-110 - - Bosworth, 174 - - Bramham Moor, 145-6 - - Brunanburgh, 13-14, 217-220 - - Byland Abbey, 122-128 - - Cressy, 124 - - Durham, or Neville's Cross, 133 - - Ebberston, 11 - - Evesham, 158 - - Falkirk, 103 - - off Flamborough, 222-5 - - Fulford, 24 - - Hastings, or Senlac, 27, 37-41, 53 - - Hedgeley Moor, 172 - - Hexham, 172 - - Homildon, 142 - - Hull, 196-8 - - Leeds, 183-6 - - Marston Moor, 202 - - Mortimer's Cross, 162-3 - - Myton Meadows, 95-8 - - Northampton, 154 - - Otterburn, 135 - - Pavia, 137 - - Radcot Bridge, 139 - - Sandal, or Wakefield-Green, 157-162 - - Selby, 199-201 - - Shrewsbury, 142 - - St. Albans (first), 150-1 - - St. Albans (second), 164-5 - - Stamford Bridge, 15, 25-34 - - Standard, the, 51 - - Stoke, 137, 174 - - Tadcaster, 180-182 - - Tewkesbury, 173 - - Towton, 166-172 - - Wakefield, 188-191 - - Winwidfield, 8-10 - - Beaumont, Captn., 185 - - Bellasis, Col., 199-202 - - Benedict, a rich Jew of York, 77 - - Benson, Captn.-Lieut., 189 - - Beorne, Earl, 43 - - Bernefield, Sir Roger, 110 - - Berwick, 83-93, 103, 130, 144 - - Beverley, 128, 134, 148, 178, 196 - - Bingley, 181 - - Bishopthorpe, 144 - - Blacklow, 100 - - Blanche Nef, 54 - - Bland, Sir Thomas, 189 - - Blount, Sir Thomas, 156 - - Bonville, William, 1st Lord, 165 - - Bootham, 171 - - Boroughbridge, 84, 95, 107-111, 114-115, 117, 128, 204 - - Bourchier, Edward, 161 - - Bosworth, Battle of, 174 - - Bradburne, Henry de, 113 - - Bradford, 181, 183, 188, 190, 192, 194 - - Bramham Moor, 145 - - Brember, Sir Nicholas, 139 - - Brian, son of Earl Alan Fergan, 55 - - Bridlington, 127, 187, 221 - - Bright, Col., 200 - - Bruce, Robert, Earl of Annandale, 64-66 - - Bruce, Robert, Earl of Carrick and King of Scotland, 83-5, 91-2, 106, - 117-125, 128-130 - - Bruce, David, King of Scotland, 133 - - Buchan, Earl of, 149 - - Buckingham, Duchess of, 152 - - Buckingham, Henry Stafford, 2nd Duke of, 150-151 - - Burgh, Hubert de, 79 - - Burgh-on-Sands, 81, 102 - - Burton-upon-Trent, 105 - - Byland Abbey, 118, 122-7, 130 - - - Cadwalla, King of the West Britons, 7 - - Calais, 153-4 - - Cambridge, Richard Plantagenet, 4th Earl of, 148 - - Canterbury, Wm. Corbois, Archbishop of, 57 - - Canterbury, Thos. Fitz-Alan (alias Arundel), Archbishop of, 140 - - Canterbury, Thomas Bourchier, Archbishop of, 155 - - Canute, King of England, 18, 41 - - Carlisle, 49, 58, 70-73, 128-130 - - Carmichael, Sir John, 149 - - Carnabie, Sergt.-Major, 189 - - Carr, Major, 179 - - Carr, Sergt.-Major, 189 - - Carr, Captn., 189 - - Carr, Ensign, 189 - - Castleford, 99 - - Chapter of Mitton, 98 - - Charles I., King of England, 177-179, 203 - - Cheney, William, 113 - - Chop Head Loaning, 115 - - Cinque Ports, 85 - - Clarence, Thomas Plantagenet, 2nd Duke of, 148-9 - - Clarence, George Plantagenet, 3rd Duke of, 159, 174 - - Clay, Thomas, 152 - - Cleveland, 143 - - Clifford, Sir Roger, 110 - - Clifford, Thomas de Clifford, 8th Lord, 150-1 - - Clifford, John de Clifford, 9th Lord, 158-162, 166 - - Clinton, John de Clinton, 5th Lord, 152 - - Clitheroe, 64 - - Cobham, Sir Ralph, 125 - - Cock, River, 170 - - Coifi, a pagan priest 5-6 - - Colt, Thomas, 152 - - Constable of England (Duke of Northumberland), 141 - - Constable, Sir Robert, 175 - - Constantine, King of Scotland, 217-219 - - Conway Castle, 141 - - Conyers, Sir John, 152 - - Copeland, John, Esquire, 133 - - Cornwall, Piers de Gaveston, Earl of, 81-2, 100-2 - - Cospatrick, 4th Earl of Northumberland, 44, 52 - - Coventry, 140, 152 - - Crab, John, a Flemish engineer, 88-90 - - Croft, Captn., 189 - - Cromwell, John de, 127, - - Cromwell, Oliver, 196, 206, 208-13, 215 - - Cuichelm, King of the West Saxons, 4 - - Culross, 121 - - Cumberland, 179 - - Cumin, William, Chancellor of Scotland, 73 - - - Dacres, Ralph, 1st Lord, 171 - - Dacres, Sir Francis, 214 - - Dalkeith Castle, 135 - - Danthorpe, Matthew, hermit, 141 - - Darcy, Thomas, 1st Lord, 175 - - David I., King of Scotland, 55, 58-60, 63, 64-5, 71-2 - - David II., King of Scotland, 133 - - Dedington Castle, 81 - - Deira-field, Castle of, 11 - - Denman, Sir John, 168 - - Denton, Sir Richard de, 129 - - Denton, 181 - - Derwent, River, 3, 127 - - Despenser, Sir Hugh, 112, 113, 127, 129 - - Despenser, Hugh, Earl of Winchester, 112, 113, 127, 129 - - Devonshire, Thomas Courtenay, 14th Earl of, 171 - - Devonshire, Humphrey Stafford, 15th Earl of, 173 - - Deynville, 113 - - Doncaster, 7, 140, 172 - - Dovenald, 68-9 - - Douglas, Sir James, 83-4, 91-3, 95-6, 102, 105-6, 119, 125-6, 132 - - Douglas, James, Earl of, 135-6 - - Douglas, Archibald (Tine-man) Earl of, 142 - - Dryburgh, 121 - - Dunstable, 164 - - Durham, Geoffrey Ruffus, Bishop of, 73 - - Durham, 47-9, 52, 58, 144 - - - Edgar Atheling, 20, 43, 49 - - Edward, the Confessor, King of England, 16-20, 59 - - Edward I., King of England, 80, 81, 83, 85, 102, 112 - - Edward II., King of England, 81, 83-88, 90, 92-93, 100-7, 111-2, - 117-8, 120-1, 124, 126-7, 128, 130 - - Edward III., King of England, 131-3, 135 - - Edward IV., King of England, 163, 165-174 - - Edward V., King of England, 174 - - Edward VI., King of England, 175 - - Edwin, King of Northumbria, 3-8 - - Edwin Earl of Northumbria, 17, 19, 21, 23-5, 52 - - Egbert, Archbishop of York, 44 - - Ella, Usurper of Northumbria, 12-3 - - Ely, John Hotham, Bishop of, 98 - - Espec, Walter l', 61, 66 - - Exeter, Henry Holland, 4th Duke of, 156, 164 - - - Fairfax, Ferdinand, 2nd Lord, 179-187, 193-7, 199-200, 202-6 - - Fairfax, Sir Thomas, 179-202, 206, 210-11 - - Fairfax, Sir William, 184-5, 188, 190-1 - - Fauconberg, William Neville, 7th Lord, 167-8 - - Fitz-John, Eustace, 63-73 - - Fleming, Nicholas, Mayor of York, 92-5, 98 - - Foulis, Sir Henry, 188, 190-1 - - - Gaunt, John of, 2nd Duke of Lancaster, 140-1 - - Gaveston, Piers de, 81-2, 100-2, 113 - - Gifford, Major-General John, 181, 188, 190-1, 193-4 - - Glemham, Sir Thomas, 179 - - Gloucester, Robert, 1st Earl of, 55-6, 75 - - Gloucester, Thomas Plantagenet, 1st Duke of, 135 - - Gloucester, Richard Plantagenet, 3rd Duke of, 159, 174 - - Goring, Lord George, 183, 187, 188-9, 191, 206-7 - - - Hanson, Richard, Mayor of Hull, 159 - - Harcla, Sir Andrew, 1st Earl of Carlisle, 107-8, 110, 114-5, 128-30 - - Harold Hardrada, King of Norway, 15, 21-32 - - Harold, King of England, 15-18, 20-3, 26-9, 31-7, 39-41, 43 - - Henrietta, Queen of Charles I., 187 - - Henry I., King of England, 53-8 - - Henry II., King of England, 75-6 - - Henry III., King of England, 79-80, 101 - - Henry IV., King of England, 141-4, 155, 164-5 - - Henry V., King of England, 137, 148, 153, 155 - - Henry VI., King of England, 150-5, 160, 165, 171-3 - - Henry VII., King of England, 174-5 - - Henry VIII., King of England, 175-6 - - Henry, Prince, of Scotland, 63, 65, 69-70, 72 - - Hereford, Humphrey de Bohun, 2nd Earl of, 100, 105-6, 109-10, 114 - - Hereford, Henry Plantagenet, 1st Duke of, 139-41 - - Hereward le Wake, 42, 48, 52 - - Hessay Moor, 204 - - Hinguar, a Danish chief 12-3 - - Holland, Sir John, 13th Earl of Huntingdon and 1st Duke of Exeter, - 134-5 - - Hotham, Sir John, 177-8, 187, 192, 195 - - Hotham, Captn. John, 183, 187, 190, 192 - - Houghton, Sir Gilbert, 208 - - Hubba, a Danish chief, 12, 13 - - Hull, Kingston-upon-, 80, 140, 175, 177-8, 187, 192, 195, 199, 225 - - Hungerford, Robert, 3rd Lord, 155, 172 - - - Ireland, Robert Vere, Ninth Earl of Oxford, and First Duke of, 139 - - Isabella, Queen of Edward II., 92, 103-4, 131 - - - John, King of England, 78, 79 - - John, Prince, First Duke of Bedford, 143 - - Jones, Paul, 221-5 - - - Keith, Sir William, of Galston, 84 - - Kent, Edmund Plantagenet, Fourth Earl of, 127 - - Kyriel, Sir Thomas, 165 - - - Lacy, Ilbert de, 61 - - Lancaster, Thomas Plantagenet, Second Earl of, 100-1, 104-114, 116, - 129 - - Lancaster, John of Gaunt, Second Duke of, 140-1 - - Lancaster, Henry Plantagenet, Third Duke of, 141 - - Leeds, 6, 183-5, 187-9, 195 - - Leeds Castle, Kent, 103-4 - - Leven, Earl of, 199, 206 - - Lincoln, John de la Pole, Ninth Earl of, 137, 174 - - London, 20, 57, 147, 154, 163-165, 178, 189 - - Longchamp, William, Bishop of Ely, 178 - - Lucas, Sir Charles, 206-7, 214 - - - MacDonoquhy, William, 64, 65 - - Malcolm III., King of Scotland, 21, 47, 50 - - Malcolm IV., King of Scotland, 76 - - Malcolm II., King of Scotland, 76 - - Malise, Earl of Strathearn, 65 - - Manchester, Earl of, 202, 205-6, 209-11 - - March, Edmund Mortimer, Fifth Earl of, 148 - - March, Edward, Titulary Earl of, 152-3, 156-7, 159, 162-3, 165 - - Margaret of Anjou, 150-1, 154-5, 159-60, 164, 167, 171-3 - - Matilda, daughter of Henry I., 55-58, 75 - - Matilda, Queen of Stephen, 73 - - Meldrum, Sir John, 178, 197, 200 - - Melton, William de, Archbishop of York, 92-4, 96, 98 - - Montacute, John Neville, First Marquis of, 173 - - Morkar, First Earl of Northumberland, 17-18, 21, 23, 24-5, 52 - - Mortimer, Edmund, Fifth Earl of March, 142 - - Mowbray, Roger de Mowbray, Second Lord de, 61 - - Mowbray, John de Mowbray, Second Lord de, 113, 114 - - Mowbray, Thomas de, Sixth Lord, 143-4 - - - Newcastle, 58, 76, 81, 85, 135, 171 - - Newcastle, Marquis of, 180-2, 186, 192-4, 196-9, 202, 204, 207, 209, - 212 - - Newport, Earl, 178 - - Norfolk, Thomas, Baron Mowbray, First Duke of, 139-40 - - Norfolk, John Mowbray, Third Duke of, 150 - - Norfolk, John Mowbray, Fourth Duke of, 165, 169-70 - - Northampton, 17, 18, 19, 154 - - Northumberland, Henry Percy, Twelfth Earl of, 140-47 - - Northumberland, Henry Percy, Thirteenth Earl of, 150-151 - - Northumberland, Henry Percy, Fourteenth Earl of, 157, 161, 164, 168, - 171 - - Northumberland, Henry Percy, Sixteenth Earl of, 175 - - Northumberland, Thomas Percy, Nineteenth Earl of, 176 - - Nottingham, 92, 179 - - Nowel, Ralph, Titular Bishop of Orkney, 61, 66 - - - Odo, Bishop of Bayeux, 39, 48-9 - - Ormond, Earl of, 171 - - Osbert, King of Northumbria, 12-13 - - Osred I., King of Northumbria, 11 - - Oswy, King of Northumbria, 8-10 - - Otho, Archbishop of Canterbury, 218 - - - Parkinson, the Rev. Thomas, F.R.H.S., 151 - - Pearson, Captain, 222-5 - - Pembroke, Aylmer de Valence, Tenth Earl of, 124 - - Pembroke, Jasper Tudor, Sixteenth Earl of, 162 - - Pembroke, William Herbert, Seventeenth Earl of, 173 - - Penda, King of Mercia, 7-11 - - Percy, Sir Henry, K. G., "Hotspur," 135-6, 142-3 - - Philippa, Queen, 132-3, 135 - - Phillips, Mrs S. K., 115 - - Pole, de la, Sir William, 137 - - Pole, de la, Sir Richard, 137 - - Pole, de la, Michael, First Earl of Suffolk, 137 - - Pole, de la, Michael, Second Earl of Suffolk, 137 - - Pole, de la, Michael, Third Earl of Suffolk, 137 - - Pole, de la, William, Fourth Earl and First Duke of Suffolk, 137 - - Pole, de la, John, Second Duke of Suffolk, 137 - - Pole, de la, John, Ninth Earl of Lincoln, 137 - - Pole, de la, Edmund, Fifth Earl of Suffolk, 137 - - Pole, de la, Richard, Titulary Duke of Suffolk, 137 - - Pontefract, 111, 113, 141, 157, 162, 174 - - Porter, General, 207, 214 - - Powis, Lord, 152-3 - - - Randolph, Thomas, Earl of Moray, 83-4, 91-3, 95-6, 102, 105-6, 116, - 119, 125-6 - - Richard I., King of England, 76-8 - - Richard II., King of England, 133-136, 139-41, 147 - - Richard III., King of England, 137 - - Richmond, John de Dreux, Ninth Earl of, 124, 127-8 - - Rivers, Richard Widvile, First Lord, 153 - - Rivers, Anthony Widvile, Second Lord, 174 - - Robert, Earl (Robert Comyn, Third Earl of Northumberland), 43 - - Robert, Earl (Robert de Mowbray, Eighth Earl of Northumberland) 50-1 - - Robert, Duke of Normandy, 53-4, 56 - - Rokeby, Sir Thomas, 145-6, 148 - - Roos, Thomas de Roos, Tenth Lord, 164 - - Rupert, Prince, 202, 215 - - Rutland, Edmund Plantagenet, Titulary Duke of, 152, 159-162 - - - Salisbury, Richard Neville, Eighth Earl of, 150-3, 156-7, 159, - 161-162, 171 - - Savile, Sir William, of Thornhill, 183-5 - - Scales, Thomas de Scales, Seventh Lord, 154-6 - - Scarborough, 23, 81, 134, 221-2,225 - - Scroop, Jeffrey de, Chief Justiciary, 129 - - Scroop, Henry le Scroop, of Masham, Third Lord, 148 - - Shrewsbury, John Talbot, Fifth Earl of, 164, 171 - - Siward, Earl of Northumbria, 15-16, 47 - - Somerset, Edmund de Beaufort, Second Duke of, 150-1 - - Somerset, Henry de Beaufort, Fifth Earl of, 153-4, 156-7, 161, 164, - 168, 172 - - Stafford, Humphrey de Stafford, Fifth Earl, 150-1 - - Stafford, Henry, First Lord, 176 - - Stephen, King of England, 51, 56, 57-8, 61, 75 - - Stigand, Archbishop of Canterbury, 20 - - Sulley, Sir Henry de, 127, 130 - - - Tadcaster, 26, 31, 179, 187, 206 - - Thurstan, Archbishop of York, 61, 62 - - Tilliard, General, 214 - - Tosti Godwinsson, Earl of Northumbria, 15-7, 19-23, 25-27, 31-2 - - Travis-Cook, John, F.R.H.S., 137 - - Trollope, Sir Andrew, 152, 162, 168, 171 - - Tudor, Henry, Sixteenth Earl of Richmond, 174 - - Turketul, 217-8 - - - Urrie, Sir John, 206, 207 - - - Wakefield, 159, 161-2, 164, 183,186 - - Walcher of Lorraine, Bishop of Durham, Sixth Earl of Northumberland, - 47, 48 - - Wales, Edward, Prince of, 154-5, 164, 171, 173 - - Waltheof Siwardsson, Fifth Earl of Northumberland, 16, 43, 45, 47-8 - - Ward, Sir Simon, Sheriff of Yorkshire, 107-8, 115 - - Warwick, Guy de Beauchamp, Eleventh Earl of, 81 - - Warwick, Richard Neville, Sixteenth Earl of, 150-4, 156, 164-6, 168, - 173 - - Warwick, Edward Plantagenet, Eighteenth Earl of, 174-5 - - Welles, Leo de Welles, Sixth Lord, 164, 171 - - Westmoreland, Ralph Neville, First Earl of, 140, 143 - - Westmoreland, Charles Neville, Sixth Earl of, 176 - - Widvile, Sir Anthony, 153 - - William, Duke of Normandy, 19-20, 23, 35-41 - - William I., King of England, 44-49, 51-54, 59 - - William II. (Rufus), King of England, 49-53 - - William, son of Robert Duke of Normandy, 53-56 - - William, son of Henry I., 54-55 - - Willoughby, Richard Welles, Seventh Lord, 164 - - Willoughby, of Parham, Lord, 196 - - Wiltshire, James Butler, Second Earl of, 171 - - Wulstan, Bishop of Worcester, 20 - - - York, 1, 16-17, 25-26, 43-47, 75-81, 92-94, 126-7, 131-3, 135, 144, - 171, 202-5, 213 - - York, Walter de Grey, Archbishop of, 139 - - York, Richard Scroop, Archbishop of, 143-4 - - York, Edward Plantagenet, First Duke of, 135 - - York, Richard Plantagenet, Fifth Duke of, 174 - - York, Richard Plantagenet, Eighth Duke of, 137, 150-2, 154-62, 171 - - - - - PUBLICATIONS - - OF - - WILLIAM ANDREWS & CO., - - HULL. - - - - - NEW BOOK BY WILLIAM ANDREWS, F.R.H.S. - - _Elegantly bound in cloth gilt, demy 8vo., price 6s._ - - Old-Time Punishments. - - By William Andrews, F.R.H.S., - - AUTHOR OF "CURIOSITIES OF THE CHURCH," "HISTORIC ROMANCE," "FAMOUS - FROSTS AND FROST FAIRS," "HISTORIC YORKSHIRE," ETC. - - - CONTENTS. - - Carefully prepared papers, profusely illustrated, appear on the - following subjects:-- - - _The Ducking Stool_--_The Brank, or Scold's Bridle_--_The - Pillory_--_Punishing _Authors and Burning - Books__--_Finger-Pillory_--_The Jouga_--_The Stocks_--_The - Drunkard's Cloak_--_Whipping_--_Public Penance in White - Sheets_--_The Repentance-Stool_--_Riding the Stang_--_Gibbet - Lore_--_Drowning_--_Burning to Death_--_Boiling to - Death_--_Beheading_--_Hanging_, _Drawing, and - Quartering_--_Pressing to Death_--_Hanging_--_Hanging in - Chains_--_The Halifax Gibbet_--_The Scottish Maiden, etc._--_An - Index of five closely-printed pages._ - - MANY CURIOUS ILLUSTRATIONS. - - - PRESS OPINIONS. - - "This in an entertaining book ... well-chosen illustrations and - a serviceable index."--_Athenĉum._ - - "A hearty reception may be bespoken for it,"--_Globe._ - - "A work which will be eagerly read by all who take it - up."--_Scotsman._ - - "It is entertaining."--_Manchester Guardian._ - - "A vast amount of curious and entertaining matter."--_Sheffield - Independent._ - - "We can honestly recommend a perusal of this book."--_Yorkshire - Post._ - - "Interesting, and handsomely printed."--_Newcastle Chronicle._ - - "A very readable history."--_Birmingham Daily Gazette._ - - "Mr. Andrews' book is well worthy of careful study, and is a - perfect mine of wealth on the subject of which it - treats."--_Herts Advertiser._ - - "It is sure of a warm welcome on both sides of the - Atlantic"--_Christian Leader._ - - - LONDON: SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, HAMILTON, KENT, & CO. HULL: WILLIAM - ANDREWS & CO. - - - - - _In the Press._ - - YORKSHIRE FAMILY ROMANCE. - - By FREDERICK ROSS, F.R.H.S., - - AUTHOR OF "THE RUINED ABBEYS OF ENGLAND," "CELEBRITIES OF YORKSHIRE -WOLDS," "BIOGRAPHIA EBORACENSIS," "THE PROGRESS OF CIVILISATION," ETC. - - -It will be observed from the following list of subjects that the work -is of wide and varied interest, and will make a permanent contribution - to Yorkshire literature:-- - - - CONTENTS: - - The Alum Workers. The Murderer's Bride. - Blackfaced Clifford. The Orphan Heiress of Denton. - The Martyred Cardinal. Phases In the Life of a Political - Martyr. - Burning of Cottingham Castle. Rise of the House of Phipps. - The Doomed Heir of Osmotherley. The Plumpton Marriage. - The Eland Tragedy. The Prodigal Son. - St. Eadwine, the Royal Martyr. Saltmarshe, the Fanatic. - The Felons of Ilkley. The Shepherd Lord. - The Gunpowder Plot. The Viceroy Siward. - The Ingilby Boar's Head. The Synod of Streoneshalh. - The Lady Jockey. The Traitor Governor of Hull. - Little Moll and her Husband. The Topcliffe Insurrection. - The Londesborough Peerage. Waterton, the Wanderer. - The Maiden of Marblehead. The Earldom of Wiltes. - The Metcalfes and the Three Calves The Witches of Fewston. - passant. - - - _The Volume will be tastefully bound in Cloth Gilt, and printed - from new type on toned paper, and no pains will be spared to - render it a lasting and important contribution to Yorkshire - literature._ - - - HULL: WILLIAM ANDREWS & CO., THE HULL PRESS. - - - - - _Elegantly bound in cloth gilt, demy 8vo., price 5s._ - - Curiosities of the Church: - - Studies of Curious Customs, Services, and Records. - - By WILLIAM ANDREWS, F.R.H.S., - - AUTHOR OF "HISTORIC ROMANCE," "FAMOUS FROSTS AND FROST FAIRS," - "HISTORIC YORKSHIRE," ETC. - - - CONTENTS: - - Early Religious Plays: being the Story of the English Stage in - its Church Cradle Days--The Caistor Gad-Whip Manorial - Service--Strange Serpent Stories--Church - Ales--Rush-Bearing--Fish in Lent--Concerning Doles--Church - Scrambling Charities--Briefs--Bells and Beacons for Travellers - by Night--Hour Glasses in Churches--Chained Books in - Churches--Funeral Effigies--Torch-light Burials--Simple - Memorials of the Early Dead--The Romance of Parish - Registers--Dog Whippers and Sluggard Wakers--Odd Items from Old - Accounts--An Index of six closely-printed pages. - - ILLUSTRATED. - - - Press Opinions. - - "A volume both entertaining and instructive, throwing much - light on the manners and customs of bygone generations of - Churchmen, and will be read to-day with much - interest."--_Newbery House Magazine._ - - "An extremely interesting volume."--_North British Daily Mail._ - - "A work of lasting interest."--_Hull Examiner._ - - "Full of interest."--_The Globe._ - - "The reader will find much in this book to interest, instruct, - and amuse."--_Home Chimes._ - - "We feel sure that many will feel grateful to Mr. Andrews for - having produced such an interesting book."--_The Antiquary._ - - "A volume of great research and striking interest."--_The - Bookbuyer (New York)._ - - "A valuable book."--_Literary World (Boston, U.S.A.)._ - - "Contains, in a popular and readable form, much that is curious - and instructive."--_Manchester Guardian._ - - "An admirable book."--_Sheffield Independent._ - - "An interesting, handsomely got up volume.... Mr. Andrews is - always chatty, and expert in making a paper on a dry subject - exceedingly readable."--_Newcastle Courant._ - - "Mr. William Andrews' new book, 'Curiosities of the Church,' - adds another to the series by which he has done so much to - popularise antiquarian studies.... The book, it should be - added, has some quaint illustrations, and its rich matter is - made available for reference by a full and carefully compiled - index."--_Scotsman._ - - - HULL: WILLIAM ANDREWS & CO., THE HULL PRESS. - - - - -_Elegantly bound in cloth gilt, demy 8vo., Vols. I. and II., price 5s. - each._ - - North Country Poets: - - POEMS AND BIOGRAPHIES - - Of Natives or Residents of Northumberland, Cumberland, Westmoreland, - Durham, Lancashire, and Yorkshire. - - EDITED BY - - WILLIAM ANDREWS, F.R.H.S. - - -_In Vol. I. Biographies and Examples of the best Poetry of the -following are included_:--James Armstrong, William E. A. Axon, Mrs. -Geo. Linnaeus Banks, Geo. Linnaeus Banks, A. A. D. Bayldon, Elizabeth -Barrett Browning, H. T. Mackenzie Bell, Ben Brierley, William Brockie, -James Burnley, Joseph Baron, W. Hall Burnett, W. Gershom Collingwood, -Samuel Collinson, James Clephan, Arthur Hugh Clough, Rev. E. G. -Charlesworth, Joseph Cooper, Sir Francis Hastings Doyle, Thomas -Parkinson Dotchson, J. H. Eccles, Rev. Robert W. Elliot, M.A.; C. F. -Forshaw, Dora Greenwell, Lord Houghton, Patty Honeywood, Henry -Heavisides, David Holt, Florence Jackson, Robert Kidson, George -Lancaster, William Leighton, George Milner, James Ashcroft Noble, -Thomas Newbigging, W. C. Newsam, Mrs. Susan K. Phillips, Jno. Macleay -Peacock, Rev. W. Morley Punshon, LL.D.; John Richardson, John Duncan -Richardson, Joseph Skipsey, Sir Henry Taylor, W. W. Tomlinson, William -Tirebuck, Samuel Waddington, Aaron Watson, William Watson, Jno. Rowell -Waller, Edwin Waugh, Joe Wilson. - -_In Vol. II. Biographies and Examples of the best Poetry of the -following are included_:--Rev. Richard Abbay, M.A.; Richard Abbot, -John Thomas Barker, John Thomas Baron, Bernard Batigan, William -Billington, Anthony Buckle, B.A.; Thomas Burns, The Earl of Carlisle, -George Cotterell, C. W. Craven, Canon Dixon, M.A.; Jno. Emmet, F.L.S.; -Rev. James Gabb, M.A.; Rev. A. Vine Hall, Jno. Harbottle, G. R. -Hedley, Jno. Holland, Fred Holmes, Allison Hughes, George Hull, J. W. -Inchbold, Rev. J. W. Kaye, Richard Le Gallienne, Thomas W. Little, -Alfred Lishman, Wm. Longstaff, Rev. J. Bernard M'Govern, H. Ernest -Nichol, Fred Pratt, Ben Preston, Joseph Readman, William Renton, J. -Ryley Robinson, LL.D.; J. P. Robson, John Sewart, Abraham Stansfield, -Alfred T. Story, Mrs. Tonkin, J. R. Tutin, Jno. Walker, R. -Spence-Watson, LL.D.; Mrs. Laura A. Whitworth, Geo. Oswald Wight. - - - Press Opinions. - - "It is a really excellent repository of the best local poetry - of the Northern Counties, the specimens being selected with - sound judgment, and the pithy biographies being in the case of - each poet supplied by some writer well situated to obtain - original and reliable information."--_Lancashire Evening Post._ - - "Mr. ANDREWS has not only achieved success, but deserved - it."--_Eastern Morning News._ - - "All lovers of English literature will eagerly welcome this - work."--_York Gazette._ - - "It is really a handsome and interesting book. It is a - permanent addition to the literature of the North - Country."--_Newcastle Weekly Chronicle._ - - "The biographical sketches are interesting in the - extreme."--_Sheffield Daily Telegraph._ - - "The memoirs are exceedingly well done, and the sample pieces - have been chosen with sound critical judgment."--_Christian - Leader._ - - - LONDON: SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, HAMILTON, KENT & CO., LIMITED. - - HULL: WILLIAM ANDREWS & CO., HULL PRESS. - - - - - AN IMPORTANT BOOK FOR REFERENCE. - - F'cap 4to. Bevelled boards, gilt tops, Price 4s. - - FAMOUS FROSTS AND FROST FAIRS IN GREAT BRITAIN. - - Chronicled from the Earliest to the Present Time. - - By WILLIAM ANDREWS, F.R.H.S., - - AUTHOR OF "CURIOSITIES OF THE CHURCH," "OLD-TIME PUNISHMENTS," ETC. - - Only 400 copies printed, each copy numbered, and only 50 remain on - sale. Three curious full-page illustrations. - - -This work furnishes a carefully prepared account of all the great -Frosts occurring in this country from A.D. 134 to 1887. The numerous -Frost Fairs on the Thames are fully described, and illustrated with -quaint woodcuts, and several old ballads relating to the subject are -reproduced. It is tastefully printed and elegantly bound. - - - _The following are a few of the many favourable reviews of "Famous - Frosts and Frost Fairs."_ - - "The work is thoroughly well written, it is careful in its - facts, and may be pronounced exhaustive on the subject. - Illustrations are given of several frost fairs on the Thames, - and as a trustworthy record this volume should be in every good - library. The usefulness of the work is much enhanced by a good - index."--_Public Opinion._ - - "The book is beautifully got up."--_Barnsley Independent._ - - "A very interesting volume."--_Northern Daily Telegraph._ - - "A great deal of curious and valuable information is contained - in these pages.... A comely volume."--_Literary World._ - - "The work from first to last is a most attractive one, and the - arts alike of printer and binder have been brought into one to - give it a pleasing form."--_Wakefield Free Press._ - - "An interesting and valuable work."--_West Middlesex Times._ - - "Not likely to fail in interest."--_Manchester Guardian._ - - "This chronology has been a task demanding extensive research - and considerable labour and patience, and Mr. Andrews is to be - heartily congratulated on the result."--_Derby Daily Gazette._ - - "A volume of much interest and great importance."--_Rotherham - Advertiser._ - - - HULL: WILLIAM ANDREWS & CO., THE HULL PRESS. - - - _Elegantly bound in cloth gilt, crown 8vo., price 4s._ - - * * * * * - - YORKSHIRE IN OLDEN TIMES. - - Edited by WILLIAM ANDREWS, F.R.H.S. - - * * * * * - -This work consists of a series of carefully written papers, reprinted - from the _Wakefield Free Press_ and other Journals. - - =CONTENTS:= - -=An Outline History of Yorkshire.= By THOMAS FROST. =The Cow-Devil: A -Legend of Craven.= By WILLIAM BROCKIE. =The First Anglo-Saxon Poet.= -By JOHN H. LEGGOTT, F.R.H.S. =The Battle of Brunanburgh.= By FREDERICK -ROSS, F.R.H.S. =Old Customs at York.= By GEORGE BENSON. =Elizabethan -Gleanings.= By AARON WATSON. =The Fight for the Hornsea Fishery.= By -T. TINDALL WILDRIDGE. =Folk Assemblies.= By JOHN NICHOLSON. =Quaint -Gleanings from the Parish Register-Chest of Kirkby Wharfe.= By the -Rev. RICHARD WILTON, M.A. =The Wakefield Mysteries.= By WILLIAM HENRY -HUDSON. =A Biographical Romance.= By WILLIAM ANDREWS, F.R.H.S. =Some -Scraps and Shreds of Yorkshire Superstitions.= By W. SYDNEY, F.R.S.L. -=The Salvation of Holderness.= By FREDERICK ROSS, F.R.H.S. =Yorkshire -Fairs and Festivals.= By THOMAS FROST. =James Nayler, the Mad Quaker -who claimed to be the Messiah.= By WILLIAM ANDREWS, F.R.H.S. =Duke -Ricard's Doom: A Legend of Sandal Castle.= By EDWARD LAMPLOUGH. -=Obsolete Industries of the East Riding.= By JOHN NICHOLSON. =Bolton -Abbey: Its History and Legends.= By ALFRED CHAMBERLAIN, B.A. =To -Bolton Abbey.= By the Rev. E. G. CHARLESWORTH. - - =A CAREFULLY COMPILED INDEX.= - - - Opinions of the Press. - - _The following are extracted from a number of favourable - reviews of_ "YORKSHIRE IN THE OLDEN TIMES." - - The _Bury Free Press_ says: "The volume is one of wide and - varied interest, which will secure for it readers in all parts - of the country." - - The _Shields Daily Gazette_ states: "The work consists of a - series of articles contributed by various authors, and it thus - has the merit of bringing together much special knowledge from - a great number of sources. It is an entertaining volume, full - of interest for the general reader, as well as for the learned - and curious." - - The _Hornsea Gazette_ concludes its notice by saying: "The work - is one which cannot fail to instruct and entertain the reader." - - It is pronounced by the _Hull Examiner_ "a most readable and - well-bound volume." - - Says the _Malton Gazette_: "Unlike many books akin to it, this - work contains nothing not of permanent and exclusive worth, and - Mr. Andrews' latest book is one which the future historian of - the shire of many acres will be glad to avail himself of." - - The _Christian Leader_ finishes a long and favourable review as - follows: "The volume is one of diversified interest, likely to - find readers in other parts of the country as well as in the - great province to which it has particular reference." - -_The Edition is limited to 400 copies, and only a few remain on sale. - - An early application for copies necessary._ - - * * * * * - - LONDON: SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, HAMILTON. KENT, & CO. - HULL: WILLIAM ANDREWS & CO., THE HULL PRESS. - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Yorkshire Battles, by Edward Lamplough - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK YORKSHIRE BATTLES *** - -***** This file should be named 44852-8.txt or 44852-8.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/4/4/8/5/44852/ - -Produced by sp1nd and the Online Distributed Proofreading -Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from -images generously made available by The Internet Archive) - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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