All about history book of the tudors 28

Battle for the throne Edward IV’s took personal control of the battle by fighting right at the front with his men, spurring them on to victory slope, crashing in waves upon the waiting Yorkist host The slugging match begins and thousands of men hack at one another with battle-axe and bill The Earl of Warwick, holding the Yorkist centre and right flank, absorbs a violent assault from the Lancastrian left, commanded by the Earl of Northumberland The Lancastrians’ greater numbers start to tell and the Yorkists lose ground If the Lancastrians can push them back over the southern slope their line will break and a rout will ensue Warwick appeals for help and messengers are quickly sent to King Edward, who responds by rushing in with his army’s reserve and fighting like a man possessed During the 15th century, it was common for lords and nobles fight amid the press, rallying their troops beneath their fluttering insignia and now as Edward enters the killing zone like a fabled hero of old, he lays about his enemy with his long reach, breaking bones and crushing skulls, moving constantly to bolster his trembling battle-line 28 “ The Lancastrian army comes thundering down the slope, crashing in waves upon the waiting Yorkist host” The field is now heaped high with the dead and dying, and men are slipping on the gore underfoot For all Edward’s prowess, his line still waivers The superior Lancastrian soldiery are making their presence felt and Edward’s reserve is thinning out The Yorkist’s left wing is pushed back and the battle line starts to turn on its axis With a little more effort, the Lancastrians will take the day – Edward’s future hangs in the balance Then, emerging from the snowstorm comes the Yorkist army’s errant division – the Duke of Norfolk’s troops have arrived at last Moving up the battlefield’s eastern edge they attack with fresh vigour, some mounted and some on foot, cascading down upon the Lancastrian left The move is decisive and Somerset and a number of leading Lancastrian lords, realising that the day is now against them, mount their steeds and gallop away Once the Lancastrian force sees its commanders’ pennants streaming from the field, the remainder turn on their heels and run The Lancastrian line is broken and a bloody slaughter ensues Men throw down weapons and strip off armour as they run for safety, but few make it Many head westwards and meet the Cock Beck on the Lancastrian right The ground is soon slaked with the blood of countless men, earning it the title: Bloody Meadow The Yorkist ‘prickers’ are on the field – mounted men who ride down the fleeing infantry Wielding war-hammer and mace, they