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CHAP. by the flower of the nobility rushed out at another, the rout became general, and the banditti fled with precipitation to their ships: sixty houses were burned on the bridge, and a wide conflagration in other parts of the city marked the devastating progress of the insurgents. Repulsed but not vanquished Falconberg retired into Kent, and drew up his troops at Blackheath, whence learning that the king was moving forwards with an army of thirty thousand men he again retreated, and entrenched himself at Sandwich, where he possessed a navy of forty-seven ships. Edward entered London on the twenty-first of May, and eagerly bent upon the reduction of the Kentish rebels, remained in the metropolis only for a single day, and passed with all his array to Canterbury.

1471.

Falconberg despairing of success in an encounter with such an overwhelming force, took advantage of his strong position to sue for peace; he should rather have trusted the ocean which lay open before him, than the worthless pledge of Edward's promise. The expedience of accepting the rebel's offers was discussed in the council, and after long deliberation the king consented to receive his submission, and to accord forgiveness to an intrepid spirit who still possessed the means of producing new commotions. The Duke of Gloucester was appointed to convey the monarch's assurance of pardon on the surrender of the town and ships which were given up on the twenty-sixth of May, in the full confidence that life would be the reward of obedience. In the September following Falconberg experienced the fallacy of his hope of Edward's grace; the treacherous monarch

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revoked his word, and the yielding prisoner suffered CHAP. a traitor's death; his head, a ghastly monument of the perjured king's dishonour, was placed upon London bridge, "looking towards Kent."*

The last enemy was subdued, and one of the followers of the triumphant prince concludes his account of the rapid and important conquests achieved by this invincible champion of the white rose in the following words :-" Thus then may be now seen how, with the aid of God and our lady, Saint George and all the Saints, the final expedition and proper recovery of the just title and right of our Sovereign Lord the King, Edward the Fourth, to his kingdom of England is at length completed and terminated, within the space of eleven weeks; during which period, through the grace of God, he has by his great good sense and excellent policy, undergone and escaped many eminent perils, dangers, and difficulties; and by his noble and valourous conduct has won two great battles, and dispersed divers great assemblages of rebels in various parts of his kingdom, great numbers of whom although as powerful and as wickedly disposed as possibly could be, were withal so terrified and overpowered by his chivalrous courage, that they were put into utter confusion. It clearly appears then, and is as firmly believed, that with the assistance of the Almighty (which has never been wanting to him from the very commencement to the present hour) our sovereign lord will, in a very short time, pacify the whole of his

• Fenn's Collection, vol. ii.

Translated from a French MS. in the Public Library of Ghent, and printed in the 21st vol. of the Archæologia.

CHAP. kingdom, so that peace and prosperity will increase XXIII. from day to day to the great honour and praise of

1471. May 29.

God, to his own singular and famous renown, to the signal joy and consolation of his people, his friends, and valiant allies, and to the confusion of his enemies and evil-minded men."

Edward displayed his exultation at the brilliant success which had rewarded his gallant struggle for the crown of England, and his gratitude to those friends who had afforded sympathy and assistance in his dreary exile, in a letter addressed to

"The Nobles and Burgo-Masters, Sheriffs, and Council of Bruges. Edward, by the grace of God, King of England and of France, and Lord of Ireland, to our very dear and special friends, the Nobles Men, Escontelles, Burgo-Master, Sheriffs and Council of the town of Bruges, and to each of them, health and happiness.*

Very dear and special friends. We thank you as much and as cordially as we can, for the good cheer and great courtesy, which from your benevolent affection it did please you to bestow on us, and demonstrate so graciously and profusely for the good and consolation of us and our people, during the time that we were in the said town; that we consider ourselves greatly beholden to you, and that you know in effect how dearly we prize it, as we never can do sufficient for you and for the said town; signifying to you, that it has pleased our blessed Creator, by his grace, to give us since we left the said town and arrived in this our kingdom, such good and pros* Archæologia, vol. xxi.

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perous fortune, that we have obtained the victory CHAP. over all our enemies and rebels, so that thereby we have peaceably retaken possession of our said kingdom, crown and regalia, and are very duly obeyed, as by the bearer of these presents you can be more fully informed. For which we return and give very particular thanks and acknowledgment to our Creator, who very dear and special friends we pray may always have you in his holy keeping.

"Given under our seal, in our city of Canterbury, the 29th day of May. Signed,

"EDWARD."

CHAPTER XXIV.

Death of Henry VI.-Suspicions concerning it-Gloucester's Share in that dark Transaction-Afflictions of Henry VI.-Character of that Monarch-his Funeral-Veneration of the People-Parsimony of Henry VII.-Margaret's destitute State-Misfortunes of her Father -The Queen ransomed-she quits England-Flight of the Lancastrians-their Shipwreck-their Reception in Bretagne Exploits of the Earl of Oxford-Intrenchment at St. Michael's Mount-Mutiny of the Soldiers-Oxford capitulates-Penury of Lady Oxford— -Miseries sustained by the Duke of Exeter-his melancholy FateImprisonment of the Archbishop of York-his Release-Edward's Treachery-Pillage of the Archbishop's Property—his Exile, Imprisonment and Death.

HENRY of Lancaster's mysterious death took place CHAP. in the Tower of London during Edward's absence. XXIV. It happened opportunely for the House of York; and the sanguinary disposition of the king and of his brother the Duke of Gloucester would sanction the report that he fell by their hands or by their order; if indeed the numberless calamities heaped upon the stricken monarch had not reduced him broken-hearted to the grave. The opinion current at the time that he fell by violence unsupported by more substantial evidence is weak and inconclusive.