March 6th 1471: Coming out of Exile

Margaret of Anjou, from the Coventry Tapestry

(Photo: Adrian Fray)

The Battle of Towton, fought on Palm Sunday in 1461, ended Lancastrian rule. The remnants of King Henry’s supporters put up some resistance in the North East, but that was ended in 1464, when thirty prominent men were executed after the Battle of Hexham. By this time, Queen Margaret was safe in France with the young Prince Edward. Henry wandered the north, a fugitive, until he was captured and taken, unceremoniously, to the Tower of London.

In France, Margaret persuaded her father to provide her a home, at St Mihiel-en-Bar, near Verdun, and a small pension. Here she presided over a small court-in-exile. She made attempts to persuade European rulers to fight for her cause, but to no avail.

Sir John Fortescue, once Lord Chief Justice, fled into exile with Margaret and was responsible for the education of Prince Edward, who had none of the advantages that Princes of the Royal Blood would normally have, or the rounded education the role his mother was fighting for demanded.  When he was twelve years old his character was remarked upon by the Duke of Milan’s Ambassador to the French court; “He already talks of nothing but cutting off heads or making war, as if he had everything in his hands or was the god of battle or the peaceful occupant of that throne”.

Margaret’s world changed again in 1470, when the Earl of Warwick arrived in France as a fugitive. She was summoned to the presence of King Louis, who had an offer she couldn’t refuse. She met Warwick, a man she blamed for her situation, at Angers Castle, her Father’s home, on July 22nd. She made him grovel on his knees for forgiveness before they discussed King Louis’ proposition.

Louis agreed to support Warwick in returning to England to overthrow Edward and put the Lancastrians back into power. His ‘fee’ for this help was English support in his campaign against the Duke of Burgundy. The other part of the agreement was a marriage between Prince Edward and Warwick’s second daughter, Anne. The betrothal ceremony was held three days later, but the wedding was not until December. They were royally entertained in the meantime. The accounts of the Receiver of expenses have an entry:

My lady the Queen of England, for her expenses, of the Prince of Wales, her son, of my Lady Anne, daughter of M. de Warwick and wife of the said prince, in the months of August, September and October, 1470, 2,550 livres and in the months of November and December, for the furnishing of their silverware, 2,831 livres and 1,000 livres for their pleasures.

Warwick returned to England, escorted by a French fleet, but Margaret, her son and his new wife remained in France, to return once King Henry was secured on the throne. In part, this was because Margaret did not trust Warwick and in part because Louis was keeping them back as security, to ensure that Warwick kept to his word. Word arrived that Edward had fled and Henry released, Margaret’s entourage went to Honfleur in December to sail for England, but the severe weather was against them, and they were held in port until April.