May 1st 1471: Disappointment for Edward

Malmesbury Abbey

The Lancastrian army decided against battle. Edward had been waiting for them at Malmesbury as they approached Bath, but at Bath they didn’t carry on north; they made a turn to the west and instead went to nearby Bristol, where the ‘Arrivall’ suggests that they were well received and spent a comfortable night.

And there [Malmesbury] had he knowledge that they, understanding his approaching and marching near to them, had left their purpose of giving battle, and turned aside-hand, and went to Bristol, a good and strong walled town, where they were greatly refreshed and relived, by such as were the King’s rebels in that town, of money, men, and artillery.

Whilst the ‘Arrivall’ suggests that the Lancastrians suddenly got cold feet and retreated to Bristol, the truth is likely to be that, for once, Margaret’s deception had worked. The Lancastrian intent was to increase the size of their army, with Welsh and northwester allies, and to do that they needed to outpace King Edward. This sudden move to Bristol had not outflanked him, but it had outwitted him. Until he had better information about Margaret’s direction, Edward was stuck in Malmesbury.

Bristol seems to have been a haven of Lancastrian support. As well as the city’s guns, they recruited several prominent citizens and their entourages.

By some means, the Lancastrians got a message to Edward that they were still preparing to fight and would give battle at Sodbury. Edward seemed to believe this, roused his men and moved them southwards.