Historic%20Yorkshire

56
BLACK-FACED CLIFFORD.
His career of ferocity and crime was soon,however,to be
ended,and it is difficult to avoidafeelingof regretthat the
nature of his death was comparatively painless, and
wantingin that retributivejustice which so frequentlyhas
fallenupon the tyrannicaland cruelinhistory.
Immediately previous to the Battle of Towton, the
issue of which so materiallychanged the political aspect
of the country, Clifford commanded one of the main
bodies of the Lancastrian army, and he was instructed,
on the eve ofthe battle, to capture from the Yorkists the
passageof the Aire, which he did with great slaughter of
the enemy's troops. But the valuable position was soon
after retaken by a body of Yorkistsunder Neville, Lord
Falconberg, who crossed about four miles up the river,
swept down upon Cliffoid's band without any notice,
and after a severestruggle, put them to flight. Clifford
fled towardsTowton, and it is said stopped at Dittingdale
or Dittondale, to refresh himself at a brook there.
Apartyof Yorkistssuddenly appearingwhilehis gorgetwas
yet off (to permit his partakingof a draught of water) an
arrowstruck himinthe throat; hefell,andin a short time
was no more. Shakespeare puts into his mouth, while
dying, thefollowing words: —
Here burns my candle out,
That, whilst itlasted, gave King Henry light.
Oh, Lancaster!Ifear thine overthrow,
More than my body's parting from my soul.
My love and fear glued many friends to thee;
And nowIdie, that tough commixture melts,
Impairing Henry, strengthens misproud York:
The common people swarm like summer flies,
And whitherfly the gnats but to the sun ?
And who shines now but Henry's enemy ?
Oh, PhSbus! hadst thounever given consent
That Phaethon should check thy fiery steeds,
Thy burning car had never scorch'd the earth;
And, Henry,hadst thou lived asKings should do,
Giving no foot unto the house of York,
Iand ten thousand in this woful land
Hadleft no mourning widows for ourdeaths,