Ancient_and_modern_York_a_guide

MODERN YORK. 27
Bramham ; where both Northumberland and Bardolf were
slain. About this time appeared John Wickliff. He was
born in Yorkshire ; but whether his teaching produced
any results in this city, does not appear.
In the year 1421, the renowned Henry V.—in his salad
days, the mad-cap " Hal" and boon companion of Jack
Falstaff—who, afterwards, " did affright the air at
Agincourt," visited York, in company with his queen.
Both went, after the fashion of the times, on a pilgrimage
to the shrine of St. John of Beverley.
During " the wars of the Roses," or the sanguinary
struggles which took place between the rival houses of
York and Lancaster, this city was the theatre of much
suffering and of many commotions. Edward IV., (of the
House of York,) who succeeded Henry VI., immediately
after his accession to the throne, marched to Yorkshire
with 49,000, to oppose the Lancastrians. The army of
Queen Margaret (of the House of Lancaster) amounted
to 60,000, under the Duke of Somerset, and was posted in
and around York; where were also the queen, her husband,
and her son. On Palm Sunday, in that year, (1461,) was
fought the most terrible battle ever witnessed in England, at
Towton, eight miles from this city ; the description of
which, is thus forcibly given by the poet Drayton :—
Now followeth that black scene, borne up so ivonderous high,
That but a poor dumb show before a tragedy
The former battles fought have seemed to this to be.
O, Towton! let the blood Palm Sunday pour'd on thee
Affright the future times, when they the muse shall hear
Delivered so to them ; and let the ashes there
Of forty-thousand men, as they would live again
To tell the manly deeds that bloody day were wrought.
All the high road from Towton almost to the walls of
York, was stained with blood and strewn with corpses ;
"revolting human sight and accusing human wickedness."
Edward marched immediately to York, and took down
the heads of his father and Salisbury, that had been put
on spikes above one of the bars, and buried them ;