THE
FIELD OF THE BATTLE
OF
WAKEFIELD. {53a}
_Duke of York_.—“But stay; What news? Why com’st thou in such post?”
_Messenger_.—“The Queen, with all the northern Earls and Lords,
Intend here to besiege you in your castle:
She is hard by with twenty thousand men;
And therefore fortify your hold, my Lord.”
SHAKESPEARE’S _Henry VI._ part iii. act 1, scene 2.
(_Sandal Castle_, _near Wakefield_.)
Richard Duke of York, {53b} desirous to disperse a considerable body of
troops, which Queen Margaret {53c} was assembling in the North, marched
from London on the 2nd of December, 1460, with a small army, and
proceeded into Yorkshire, whilst his eldest son, Edward Earl of March,
afterwards King Edward IV., went into Herefordshire, and to the borders
of Wales, to levy a large body of forces, in order to assist his father,
{53d} and intended to follow him with an army, to his castle of Sandal,
near Wakefield.
On Christmas Eve, the Duke of York took up his position, at Sandal; and
his friends, retainers, and tenants, speedily began to assemble around
him. Margaret marched with diligence from York, {54a} with the Duke of
Exeter, {54b} the Duke of Somerset, {54c} the Earl of Devonshire, {55}
the Earl of Wiltshire, {56a} Lord Clifford, {56b} Lord Roos, {56c} the
Earl of Northumberland, {57} and many of the knights and gentry of the
northern parts, at the head of about 18,000 men, and advanced before
Sandal, with the object of attacking him before his forces were fully
mustered. It is certain that the Duke of York’s army was much inferior
in numbers, and some accounts state, that he was only at the head of 5000
men. It is said that he was advised by his officers, in a council of
war, not to risk an engagement, until his son Edward could arrive with
the Welsh march-men. Several reasons have been conjectured, why the Duke
of York came to the fatal conclusion, to hazard the chances of a battle;
but it is very probable, that the true reason may be found, in the
impossibility of provisioning a considerable body of troops, in the depth
of winter, at Sandal, when no previous preparation had been made for
them; or that he was ignorant of the great disproportion in numbers,
between the two armies. Some of the historical accounts state, that he
imagined that the main body of the Lancastrians who presented themselves
and offered battle under the command of the Duke of Somerset, constituted
all the army with which he had to fight, and that he was not aware of the
fact, that there were other bodies of troops on each of its flanks, but
at some distance, and concealed from his observation, one commanded by
the Earl of Wiltshire, and the other by Lord Clifford. It is not,
however, very easy to understand, how it could be possible, with the
advantage of overlooking the flat country occupied by the Lancastrians,
that two considerable bodies of them could be so placed, as to be near
enough to assist the main body, without being observed by him.
Sandal Castle stood upon an eminence upon which the Yorkists were posted,
which extends a considerable distance, and gradually slopes down towards
the meadows on the northward, and towards Wakefield on the north-westward
side.
Having determined on a battle, the duke and his forces, on the 31st {58a}
of December, 1460, descended the eminence and furiously attacked the
Lancastrians. The battle was fought at the place then called Wakefield
Green, {58b} and the result was such as might have been foreseen. His
array nearly surrounded and overwhelmed by numbers, was completely
defeated.
The Duke of York, and about 2800 of his forces, were slain, amongst whom
were William Bonvile, commonly called Lord Harrington; {58c} Sir David
Hall, Sir Hugh Hastings, Sir John Mortimer, Sir Hugh Mortimer; Sir Thomas
Neville, third son of the Earl of Salisbury; {58d} Sir Edward Bourchier,
son of the Earl of Ewe (afterwards of Essex); Reginald Grey, the third
son of Edward Lord Ferrers of Groby; and abundance of the gentry of the
south of England. The Earl of Salisbury {58d} was wounded, taken
prisoner, and sent the next day to Pontefract, and there beheaded, with
some other persons of distinction; and their heads, with that of the Duke
of York, were afterwards fixed on the gates or walls of York: that of the
duke having a paper crown upon it, in derision of his claims to the
throne. This act of barbarity is alluded to by Shakespeare, who
attributes to Queen Margaret the expression, after the death of the Duke
of York,—
“Off with his head and set it on York gates
So York may overlook the town of York.” {59a}
The victory was closely followed by an act of shocking wickedness and
barbarity. Edmund Plantagenet, Earl of Rutland, a son of the Duke of
York, a boy only twelve years old, was captured when flying with his
tutor from the field of battle, and was put to death near Wakefield
Bridge, by Lord Clifford: a murder which obtained for him during the very
short remainder of his life, the epithet of “the Butcher.”
An extract from the act of attainder, which was passed after the
accession of Edward IV. to the throne, against the Lancastrians, is
interesting, as giving a list of such of them as took a part at the
battle of Wakefield.
“For asmoch also as Henry Duc of Somerset, purposying, ymaginyng and
compassying of extreme and insaciate malice and violence to destroy
the right noble and famous Prynce of wurthy memorie Richard late Duc
of York, Fader to oure Liege and Soverayne Lord Kyng Edward the
fourth, and in his lyf verrey Kyng in right of the Reame of Englond,
singuler Protectour Lover and Defensour of the good governaunce,
pollicie, commyn wele, peas and tranquillite thereof; and also Thomas
Courteney late Erle of Devonshire, Henry late Erle of Northumberlond,
Thomas Lord Roos, John late Lord Nevill, {59b} John Welpdale late of
Lychefeld Clerk, Philip Lowes late of Thouresby in the counte of
Lincoln Clerk, Bawdewyn Fufforth Knyght, Alexander Hody Knyght,
Nicholas Latymer Knyght, James Loterell Knyght, Edmund Mountford
Knyght, Thomas Fyndern Knyght, Henry Lewes Knyght, John Heron {60a}
of the Forde Knyght, Richard Tunstall Knyght, Henry Belyngeham
Knyght, Robert Whityngham Knyght, William Grymmesby late of London
late Squier, Thomas Tunstall late of Thurland in the shire of
Lancastr’ Squier, Symond Hammes Knyght, Thomas Dalton late of
Lilbourne in the counte of Northumberlond Gentilman, James Dalton
late of the same Gentilman, George Dalton late of the same Gentilman,
John Clapam late of Skipton in Craven in Yorkshire Yoman, Andrew
Trollop {60b} late of Guysnes Squier, Antony Notehill Knyght, John
Botiller late of Howke in the counte of Dorset Squier, Gawen
Lampleugh late of Warkeworth in the shire of Northumberlond
Gentilman, Edmund Fyesh late of York Taylleour, Thomas Frysell late
of the same Smyth, John Smothyng late of the same Yoman, John
Caterall late of Brayton in the counte of York Gentilman, Thomas
Barton late of Helmesley in the counte of York Gentilman, William
Fyppes late of Southduffeld in the counte of York Yoman, Henry Clyff
the elder late of Lokyngton in the countee of York Yoman, Robert
Tomlynson late of Helagh in the counte of York Yoman, and Thomas
Barton late of York Mason; at Wakefield in the shire of York on
Tywesday the xxx day of Decembr’ last past, with grete despite and
cruell violence, horrible and unmanly tyrannye murdered the seid
right noble Prynce Duc of York.” {60c}
As the city of York, from whence Queen Margaret advanced with the
Lancastrians, lies on the north-eastward of the village and castle of
Sandal, it might have been inferred, that the road by which she advanced,
was that through Pontefract, on the eastward side of the river Calder.
Wakefield and its bridge over the Calder, are on the north-westward side
of Sandal; and if the Earl of Rutland, at the time when he was captured,
were trying to effect his escape, by Wakefield Bridge, it might be
supposed, that during the fight, that side of the field of battle was in
the rear of the Yorkists, and consequently was open and unoccupied by the
Lancastrians. {61a} But that is not reconcileable with the fact, that
previously to the battle, the Duke of York’s army was posted at Sandal,
and that the battle was fought between Wakefield and Sandal, and upon
Wakefield Green; because in that case, Wakefield and its bridge, must of
necessity have been in the possession of the Lancastrians; and if so,
they naturally must have advanced from York to Wakefield on the west side
of the Calder. It seems probable, that when the Earl of Rutland was
captured in his flight, his capture took place at some spot other than
Wakefield Bridge, and that he was brought a prisoner to Lord Clifford,
who murdered him on or near the bridge.
On the 31st of July, 1852, {61b} I first visited the field of battle, the
castle, and also the village and church of Sandal. The church has not
any old monuments to boast of; and I could not discover that any monument
whatever, which had any relation to persons slain at the battle, had ever
existed there. The Rev. Thomas Westmorland, recently the vicar of
Sandal, now of Leominster, has, however, very kindly sent me a copy of an
inscription in old characters apparently of about that age; but I am far
from saying, that it had any reference, to any individual named Percy,
connected with that battle, viz.:—“Orate pro bono statu Joselynni Pyrcy
Armigery.” I am also indebted to him, and to William Shaw, Esq., of
Porto Bello House, for some valuable information upon some other points.
Looking from Sandal Castle Hill, a flat plain appears, of considerable
extent, cultivated as meadow fields, extending from the castle to the
river Calder. Those meadows are at present called “the Pugnays.” They
are designated “the Pukenills,” on the Manor Court Rolls, which are still
in existence, and of a date prior to the fourteenth century. Adjoining
the tract of meadow-land, and in the extreme north-westward, bounded by
the river Calder, is “Porto Bello,” a mansion erected by Samuel
Holdsworth, Esq., and now occupied by William Shaw, Esq. The battle was
fought upon that spot, upon part of the meadow-land before mentioned, and
upon the tract of ground formerly part of Wakefield Green, extending from
thence across the turnpike road in a north-eastwardly direction. The
green must have been at that time a large open tract of ground, but it
has long been enclosed, and its position appears to have been on the
southward side of, and about half a mile from the bridge; {62} its site
is crossed by the modern turnpike road, from Wakefield to Barnsley, and
part of it has acquired the name of Fall Ings, according to tradition,
from the great numbers who fell there, in the battle.
There are now no remains of Wakefield Green: all of it has been enclosed,
and several portions of it are built upon; and it is worthy of notice,
that on one side of the spot, where the green is said to have been, the
ground descends from Sandal to the present turnpike road, and to a tract
of level ground close to Porto Bello House; and that, at a little
distance further on the turnpike road leading towards Wakefield, there is
a slight elevation in the road, and in the contiguous fields. After
carefully viewing the ground, I came to the conclusion that this little
elevation, which faces the high ground at Sandal, must be considered to
have been the position of the Lancastrians; and also that the battle was
fought upon the level ground between it and Sandal, extending on the one
side towards Porto Bello House, and on the other to the Fall Ings, and
towards the Pontefract road. In digging the foundations of Porto Bello
House, and in forming the sunk fence there, human bones, broken swords,
spurs, and other relics, were discovered, which were considered fully
confirmatory of that locality having been the scene of the conflict. On
the northern part of Fall Ings, near the side where the highway to
Pontefract runs, fragments of armour, and other indications, apparently
of the battle, are said to have been discovered some time ago, in making
an excavation there. It was also the spot, and on the side of Sandal,
where the battle would naturally take place, after the advance of the
Lancastrians from York to Wakefield; and it tallies with the accounts
handed down to us, that the battle was fought between Wakefield and
Sandal, and upon Wakefield Green.
There has not been discovered, within the memory of man, any large trench
or pit near Sandal Church, where it might reasonably be supposed that
some of the slain would be interred, such as has been discovered at
Battlefield Church, in consequence of the battle of Shrewsbury, and at
Saxton Church, in consequence of the battle of Towton. {63}
Sandal Castle has not been an extensive one; and, except that its
position was on an eminence, it was devoid of the natural advantages
which many castles possess, such as being built on the margin of rivers,
or the edges of steep precipices. All that now exists of it, consists of
rather large mounds, on which the outworks and walls have stood; two
shattered and not large fragments of the latter remain, but so imperfect,
that it is not possible to ascertain of what part of the castle they
originally formed a portion. The moat is tolerably perfect; indeed in
one place, it contained water when I visited it, although the season was
hot and dry. There is also a very large and high mount, in a
considerable degree artificial, on which the keep has stood, almost
encompassed by an inner moat, which is of considerable depth.
In the additions to Camden’s _Britannia_, it is stated, with reference to
the death of the Duke of York, that the spot where he fell was enclosed
with a triangular wall, including about a rood or ten feet, now converted
into a garden, the owners being obliged to keep it hedged in; that a
large stone cross raised on it, was demolished in the civil war; that
here was found a large gold ring, supposed to have belonged to the duke,
and given to Mr. Thoresby; on the sale of whose museum, Mr. Bartlet, who
remembered the finding of it, bought it for two guineas; that within is
engraved, “Pour bon amour,” and on the broad outside are “three saints.”
{64a}
On the right side of the old road leading from Wakefield to Barnsley,
which passes the castle, and is called Sandal Castle Lane, {64b} is a
small field or close, of rather a triangular form, which is said to be
the spot where the Duke of York fell. {64c} It will scarcely admit of
any doubt, that this is the identical place which is mentioned in the
addition to Camden’s _Britannia_, although there is not a vestige of the
cross now left. As the place is rather nearer to the castle than to the
field of battle, it is not unreasonable to infer that the Duke of York
may have been mortally wounded, and have been removed to a little
distance in the rear (the spot in question would be in the rear of the
Yorkists’ army), or he may have endeavoured to escape, on finding that
the day was against him, and may have been slain there in his flight.
The strong probability is, that it is the place where he fell. The small
field or close may easily be distinguished: it lies about a mile from
Wakefield Bridge; and at a very trifling distance beyond the toll-bar, a
little well will be remarked, in the hedge, on the right side of the old
road to Barnsley; and about midway between the toll-bar and the well, the
small field or close presents itself to view. It is remarkable for
having two very old willows growing in the hedge adjoining the road; and
more of them were not very long ago growing there. A small compartment
of the field was, within the recollection of the recent vicar of Sandal,
fenced off from the remainder of it, and planted with red and white
roses, which must naturally be supposed to have been done to commemorate
the battle, or the death of the Duke of York. {65a}