April 27th 1471: Riotous Behaviour in Wells

Wells Cathedral 

Queen Margaret’s army finally left the Somerset Levels, climbing the foothills of the Mendips towards Wells. When they reached the City, we have a glimpse of what the citizens of towns on the route of undisciplined armies must have feared, something which Queen Margaret’s armies had form for in the past. They sacked the Bishop’s Palace and released all the prisoners from the goal. The effect of this on the citizenry can only be imagined, and it couldn’t have been an instruction from the leadership. There would be no useful recruits from amongst the prisoners and seeing this behaviour would deter decent townsmen from joining what must have looked like a rabble.

Unreasonably, in the aftermath of the campaign when the enquiries were held, King Edward held Robert Stillyngton, Bishop of Bath and Wells, responsible for the escape of felons. He was, though, pardoned for this misdemeanour in February 1472.

Still practicing their deception tactics, the Lancastrians sent a detachment southeast towards Bruton, but the tactical value of these movements at this stage in the campaign must be questioned, unless it was simply a recruiting exercise.

On the evening of April 27th, King Edward arrived at Abingdon, where his army spent the night.