cost him a father and a brother. His brother, Sir Thomas Nevil, fell in the action; and his father, the Earl of Salisbury, being wounded and taken prisoner, was carried to Pomfret, and there beheaded, and his head fixed upon the walls of York, as well as that of the duke. So that the Earl of Warwick, by the death of his father, was now also become Earl of Salisbury.

Shortly after the battle of Wakefield, Edward, Earl of Marche, son to the late Duke of York, who was animated by the death of his father to a desire of revenge, defeated a part of the queen's army, which was under the command of the Earls of Pembroke and Wiltshire, at Mortimer's Cross, in Herefordshire, the Lancastrians losing four thousand men in the action. However, Queen Margaret, with the remainder of her army, which was still numerous, continued her march towards London.

The Earl of Warwick, being informed of the approach of the queen's army, assembled his troops, and marched out of London to meet it. Margaret's army had proceeded as far as St. Alban's, when she understood that Warwick was advancing against her, with the king in his army. The two armies met and engaged on Bernard's heath, near St. Alban's. The queen's army was much superior to Warwick's. But notwithstanding the inequality of numbers, the bravery and conduct of Warwick rendered the fortune of the day for a long time doubtful; but the Lord Lovelace, who commanded one of the wings, having treacherously withdrawn from the combat, the Yorkists were at last defeated, with the loss of two thousand men. The Earl of Warwick, however, rallied his broken troops with great address, and retreated in good order. Lord Bonvil and Sir Thomas Kyriel, who had been entrusted with the care of King Henry's person, were persuaded to remain with that prince, on his solemn assurance that they should sustain no injury; but Margaret, regardless of her husband's honour, ordered their heads to be struck off at St. Alban's, though they had continued with Henry only to preserve him from outrage.

The Londoners were so much enraged at this, and several other instances of Margaret's cruelty, that they absolutely refused to admit her into the city, or even to supply her troops with provisions, and she was soon after obliged to retire into the north. For the Earl of Warwick, with the remainder of his troops, had joined the Earl of Marche at Chipping Norton, in Oxfordshire, and from thence they marched towards London. On the 28th of February, 1461, they entered the city, amidst the shouts and acclamations of the people. The Earl of Marche, who was in the bloom of youth, and remarkable for the beauty of his person, his courage, activity, and affability, found himself so much the object of public favour, that he determined to mount the throne, and was proclaimed king.

Queen Margaret, who, with Henry, was now in the northern counties, had, however, found means by her address, and the affability which she assumed, to collect an army of sixty thousand men, warmly attached to the interest of the Lancaster family. The young King Edward, who was now only in his twentieth year, was no sooner informed of the queen's progress, than he set out from London together with the Earl of Warwick, and an army of forty thousand men, in order to oppose her. When they arrived at Pontefract, they detached a body of troops, under the command of the Lord Fitzwalter, to secure the passage of Ferrybridge, over the river Aire, which ran between them and the enemy. Fitzwalter executed the order with diligence and success, and took post on the north side of the river. The surprise of Ferrybridge by Edward's troops greatly disconcerted Henry's general's. However, Lord Clifford, setting out with a party in the night-time, attacked the enemy's detachment so unexpectedly, that they recovered the pass, the Yorkists being driven to the other side. of the river with great slaughter, and Lord Fitzwalter himself was killed. in the action.

This loss might have proved fatal to Edward, had it not been for the great courage and presence of mind of the Earl of Warwick. He was alarmed at the

news of this disaster, and dreaded the consequences with which it might be attended, at a time when a general battle was every moment expected. He, therefore, galloped up to King Edward, who was posted at the head of his army, which was drawn out; and immediately dismounting, stabbed his horse in the presence of all the troops. Warwick then addressed himself to the king, "God have mercy, sir, (said he) upon

their souls, who for love of you, in the beginning of your enterprize, have lost their lives. Yet let them fly that will fly; for by this cross, (kissing the hilt of his sword) I will stand by him who will stand by

me."

The Earl of Warwick's gallant and resolute behaviour, animated not only King Edward, but his whole army. And to inspire the troops with the greater courage, a proclamation was issued, giving to every one who pleased, full liberty to retire ; but threatening the severest punishments to those who should discover any symptoms of cowardice in the ensuing battle. Lord Falconbridge, who was uncle to the Earl of Warwick, was afterwards sent to retake the post which had been lost, and he succeeded in the attempt; Lord Clifford, who commanded it, being killed, and his whole party defeated. At Towton the two armies came to a general engagement. Henry's army consisted of sixty thousand men, but Edward's of not quite forty. Henry's army was commanded by the Dukes of Somerset and Exeter, and the Earls of Northumberland and Westmoreland. The vanguard of Edward's army was commanded by the Lord Falconbridge, and the main body by the Earl of Warwick. The battle was long, obstinate, and bloody; victory, however, at length declared for the Yorkists; for Henry's army was totally defeated, and with great slaughter. In this fatal action, upwards of THIRTY-SIX THOUSAND Englishmen fell by the sword! Henry and Margaret, who had continued at York during the battle, when they were informed of the defeat of fled into Scotland.

their army,

The victorious Edward, having gained this signal victory, marched back to London, where he was soon after crowned. And on the 20th of March, 1462, the Earl of Warwick was made keeper of the narrow seas, a post different from that of high admiral of England, which was given to the Earl of Warwick's uncle, the Earl of Kent; but in consideration of Warwick's great and important services, he was afterwards also appointed governor of Calais and the Rysebanck, lieutenant of the marches, and governor of the castle of Guisnes; general warden of the west marches of Scotland, lord great chamberlain of England for life, constable of Dover castle, and lord high steward of England. So that besides his private inheritance, his revenues were valued at eighty thousand crowns per annum.

In 1463, King Edward marched at the head of a numerous army into the north of England, in order to oppose Queen Margaret; for that princess had repaired to France, and obtained succours from that kingdom. But before the arrival of King Edward, the Lancaster army was totally defeated at Hexham by the Lord Montague, brother to the Earl of Warwick. When King Edward arrived near Durham, and found that the success of Montague had rendered it unnecessary for him to advance

further, he returned to York, leaving the Earl of Warwick to reduce the castles, with some other places which were still in the hands of the Lancastrians.

After the defeat of the Lancastrian army at Hexham, Queen Margaret, with her young son, made her escape into Flanders; but her husband, King Henry, was not so fortunate. For some of that unhappy prince's friends having taken him under their protection, had conveyed. him into Lancashire; but he was there discovered by the Yorkists, and being seized, his legs were fastened under the belly of a horse, like the. vilest malefactor, and in this unworthy manner they carried him prisoner towards London. He was met on the road by the Earl of Warwick, who proceeded with the captive prince to London, and Henry was immediately committed prisoner to the Tower.

Besides the many preferments which King Edward had already be-stowed upon the Earl of Warwick, he now gave him the temporalities of the bishopric of Carlisle, which happened to be vacant; he also gave him some crown lands and estates, forfeited by the Lancastrian party. His brother, Lord Montague, was also made Earl of Northumberland, in the room of Percy, who had forfeited his title and estate by his attachment to the Lancaster family; but soon after, King Edward thought proper to restore Percy to the Earldom of Northumberland, and instead thereof, created Montague a marquis. Montague, however, was extremely disgusted with this alteration; and, it is said, that his brother, Warwick, began now, also, to be discontented with Edward, not thinking his services sufficiently rewarded.

But notwithstanding this, in 1464, the Earl of Warwick was appointed to go over into France, to treat of a marriage between King Edward and the Lady Bona, of Savoy, sister to the Queen of France. It is said, that Lewis XI., King of France, had before this held a close correspondence with the Earl of Warwick; that they were perfectly well acquainted with each others sentiments, and that Warwick had always been for keeping fair with the French court; and, therefore, was not displeased. at this opportunity of having a personal interview with Lewis, and of introducing Edward's intended bride to the throne of England. King Edward, who happened in the enterim, to be hunting in Northamptonshire, near the manor of Grafton, had a mind to go and visit Jaquelina of Luxemburgh, Duchess of Bedford, who had espoused in a second marriage Sir Richard Wideville. By him she had several children; and, among the rest, Elizabeth, who was remarkable for the beauty of her person, as well as for other amiable accomplishments. This young lady had married Sir John Grey, of Groby, by whom she had children; and her husband being slain in the second battle of St. Alban's, fighting for the family of Lancaster, and his estate being on that account confiscated,

the young widow withdrew to her father's seat of Grafton, where she lived in a retired manner. But the king's visit appearing to her a favourable opportunity of soliciting his favour, she came and threw herself at Edward's feet, beseeching him to restore the lands of her deceased husband, and entreating him, with many tears, to have pity upon her children. The sight of so much beauty in distress, had a powerful effect upon the young monarch, whose constitution was remarkably amorous; he became violently enamoured with the beautiful widow, and Edward, despairing of being able to obtain her any other way, at length, offered her marriage, and he privately married the Lady Grey at Grafton.

The Earl of Warwick and the French Ambassador were at sea when this marriage was consummated, and were greatly astonished when they understood it on their landing; but, according to others, Warwick received intimation of it while he was in France, and thereupon instantly returned into England. But however this was, they all agree, that the Earl of Warwick was highly enraged at it, deeming himself affronted, both by being employed in such a deceitful negotiation, and by being kept a stranger to the king's intentions, who had owed every thing to his friendship.

The new queen did not lose her influence over King Edward by marriage; and made use of it to draw every mark of royal grace and favour to her own friends and kindred, and to exclude those of the Earl of Warwick, whom she considered as her mortal enemy. Her father, Sir Richard Wideville, was created Earl of Rivers; her brother, Anthony Wideville, was married to the only daughter of Lord Scales, enjoyed the greate state of that family, and had the title of Lord Scales conferred upon him; and her son by her former husband was created Marquis of Dorset. And King Edward himself seems at this time to have been very jealous of the great power, credit, and popularity of the Earl of Warwick; and to have been very desirous of lessening his influence.

But though the Earl of Warwick was sometimes at court, and employed in the public affairs of the kingdom, yet he frequently repaired to his castle of Warwick. His unbounded hospitality, and his popularity on this, and on other accounts, was not decreased by the decline of his influence at court. No great Roman possessed the arts of popularity more than this great Englishman. To all the better sort he appeared a companion, and to their inferiors a father; and he was at the pains to welcome every one in person, and to salute them by their names.

King Edward's queen was so intent upon aggrandizing her own relations and immediate dependents, and in which the king imprudently concurred, that the principal nobility of the kingdom were very much disgusted; and in particular the Duke of Clarence, the king's second brother, being excluded from all offices of trust and profit, and all share in