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This calm was not of long duration. Margaret A: C:14614 having obtained a small reinforcement in France, A&. Pub, commanded by Peter De Brezé fenefchal of Normandy, fet fail for England, in full confidence of being joined by the inhabitants of the northern provinces. But, when the landed at Tinmouth, fhe found herself in danger of being furrounded by a body of Edward's troops, which obliged her to retire on board of her fhips with the utmost precipitation. A ftorm immediately beginning to blow, her fhip was separated from the reft of the fleet, and with great difficulty made the harbour of Berwick, while the other veffels were driven towards Bamburg, where the French attempted to land; but their descent being opposed by the Baftard Ogle, at the head of fome forces, they retired to the small island of Lindisfarne. There they were attacked by Ogle, who flew part of their number, and took the reft prifoners; and their commander De Brezé made his escape in a fishing-boat to Berwick.

Biondi.

are routed

ron Monta

Edward being informed of these transactions, and A. C. 1463. fuppofing that Margaret was affured of fuccours in Henry and Scotland, with which the would not fail to invade Margaret the northern counties, detached baron Montague, at Hexham with the forces that were at hand, to retard her by the baprogrefs, until he himself fhould follow with a nu- gue. merous fleet and army to overturn all her projects. Margaret had actually entered Northumberland with a body of freebooters, who enlifted on promife of being allowed to plunder; and her army encreased to such a degree, that the duke of Somerset and Sir Ralph Piercy began to imagine the would fucceed in her enterprize; and notwithstanding the late oath they had taken to Edward, joined her with all their adherents. Montague, having advanced as far as Durham, halted fome days in that place until he received a reinforcement; then continuing his march, encountered a detachment of the enemy's

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A. C. 1463. enemy's army, commanded by the lords Hungerford and Roos, on Hedgeley-Moor, where they were routed; and Sir Ralph Piercy loft his life on this occafion. Montague, encouraged by this fuccefs, refolved to have the whole honour of defeating Margaret before the king fhould come up, and marching directly to Hexham, where her army was intrenched, he attacked them in their lines before they had intimation of his approach, and obtained a complete victory. The duke of Somerset was taken prifoner, together with the lords Roos and Hungerford; but Henry, his queen, and fon, efcaped into Scotland, though they were fo hotly pursued, that fome of Henry's attendants were these the pertaken almost by his fide; and among fon who carried his cap of state, which was delivered to Edward. The prifoners were not fuffered to languish in confinement; Somerset, Roos, Hungerford, W. Tailboys earl of Kyme, and Sir John Finderne, were immediately beheaded, the first at Hexham, and the rest at Newcastle; Sir Humphrey Nevil and twelve other gentlemen were executed at York; their eftates were distributed the adamong herents of the victor, and the lord Montague was created earl of Northumberland; though Denry Piercy, fubmitting to Edward in the fequel, was reftored to his honours with the confent of Nevil, who contented himself with the title of marquis of Montague.

Edward concludes a

France, and

After the victory at Hexham, the king, who had truce with advanced as far as Durham, thought it unneceffary to Scotland. proceed farther northward in perfon, but fent the earl of Warwick to reduce fome places which Margaret had taken, while he himself returned to London. The earl dividing his army into three bodies, invested at the same time the caftles of Bamburg, Dunftanburg, and Alnewick: the two firft of these places were foon reduced, and the commanders pu

pished

nifhed as traitors: but De Brezé, who commanded A. C. 1463 • the garrison of Alnewick, composed of French troops, defended himfelf with great gallantry, until he and his men were brought off by the earl of Angus at the head of a strong body of Scottish cavalry. Edward's laft victory cooled that friendship which the French and Scots had hitherto manifested for the unfortunate Henry, whose affairs they now looked upon as defperate. The Scots perceiving the precautions which were taken by Montague, whom the king of England had just declared warden of the marches, faw no profpect of eluding his vigilance by incurfions, and defired that Edward would grant fafe-conducts for ambaffadors to come and treat of a pacification: at the fame time Lewis XI. negotiated a truce with him for one year, by the mediation of the duke of Burgundy, who likewife renewed the truce of commerce between England and the Low Countries. Mean while the archbishop of St. Andrew's repairing to London, as envoy from the regency of Scotland, concluded a like truce between the two kingdoms, on condition that the respective kings fhould not in any shape countenance or affift the enemies of each other.

Act. Pub.

conveyed to

Henry being thus abandoned by all his allies, Henry is and thinking his perfon unfafe at Edinburgh fince taken and the conclufion of this laft agreement, took the im- the Tower. prudent refolution of repairing privately to England, where perhaps he hoped the northern counties would again rife in his favour. He accordingly fet out from Edinburgh, in difguife, attended by three divines, and reached Waddington Hall in Lancashire, where, after he had lain concealed for some time, he was discovered by Sir James Harrington, who treated this unfortunate prince with the utmost indignity. He was feized as he fat at dinner, and being placed upon a horfe, his legs were tied under the belly of the beaft, as if he had

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A. C. 1463. been the vileft malefactor. In this manner he was conducted to London, and being met upon the road by the earl of Warwick, that nobleman infulted him in the moft opprobrious terms, even encouraging the multitude to deride the unfortunate monarch. After the capture of Henry, his queen, and fon, afraid of trufting to any perfon's fidelity, fled for refuge into woods and defarts, where they fuffered all the extremity of distress, till at length they were rifled by robbers, who would, in all probability, have deprived them of their lives as well as of their apparel and effects, had not the thieves quarrelled about the booty, and attacking one another, afforded an opportunity for the royal prifoners to make their escape. They had not proceeded far when they were met by another ruffian, who approached them with a drawn fword in his hand and fury in his afpect. On this occafion, Margaret exhibited a remarkable proof of presence of mind and refolution. Taking her fon by the hand, and affuming an air of confidence and majefty, Here, friend," faid fhe, "fave my fon, the

fon of good king Henry." The robber was ftruck with the dignity and beauty of her perfon, as well as with the nature of her addrefs. He happened to be one of those who had been outlawed for adhering to the cause of her husband. His favage heart was melted with compaffion, at fight of his queen and prince in fuch deplorable diftrefs. He comforted them with affurances of fidelity and protection; and carefully conducted them to a village near the fea fide, where they found an opportunity of embarking in a veffel for Flanders. They were hofpitably received by the duke of Burgundy, from whose court they repaired to that of Margaret's faMonftrelet, ther René of Anjou. About the fame time Ed

mund duke of Somerset, brother of him who was beheaded at Hexham, and the duke of Exeter, ef

caped

caped to the Low Countries, where they concealed A. C. 1463.
their quality, in apprehenfion of being delivered in-
to the hands of Edward; and were reduced to fuch
extremity of wretchednefs, that even in the feve-
rest time of winter, they ran about barefoot as
errand boys to the loweft clafs of people, till at
length they were discovered and accommodated by
the duke of Burgundy with moderate penfions for Comines.
their fubfiftence.

Philip de

A. C. 1464.

Various

matches

Edward,

Edward having Henry in his power, and Margaret having quitted the kingdom, there was no other perfon capable of disturbing his tranquility. He proposed for therefore feized this opportunity of acquiring the affection of his fubjects, who had been alarmed and disgusted by his late acts of severity. He had published a general amnefty in favour of all the Lancaftrians who, within a certain specified time, should fubmit to his government, and take the oath of allegiance. He exerted all his talents in efforts to render himself popular. He treated all his noble. men as if they had been his own brothers: he affected to appear the father of his people. His perfonal accomplishments and gallantry recommended him to the favour of the female fex, which he cultivated with the most affiduous addrefs. By his affable deportment he ingratiated himself with all degrees of people; the meaneft fuppliant was admitted to his prefence, and every day was diftinguished by his acts of compaffion and generofity. During this feason of peace and good humour, his chief counsellors advised him to convert his thoughts to matrimony, that he might see the fucceffion fettled upon his own iffue. He feemed to relish the advice; and three matches were propofed for his acceptance. The firft was Margaret fifter of the Scottish king; but befides that this princefs was already betrothed to Edward the fon of Henry, she was too young for confummation. The fecond was Ifabel

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