Battle of Stoke from the Book of Days

BATTLE OF STOKE

On the 16th of June 1487, the last contest between the rival houses
of York and Lancaster —the last great battle on English soil—was
fought near Stoke, in Nottinghamshire. The fortunes of the Red Rose
prevailed, firmly securing the house of Tudor on the throne of
England; but the destruction of life was lamentable, six thousand men
being numbered among the slain.

The Earl of Lincoln, Martin Swartz, Lord Thomas Fitzgerald, and
Francis Viscount Level, commanded the Yorkist party. Henry VII, aided
by the choice of the English nobility, defended in person his right
to the throne. The battle commenced by the Earl of Lincoln descending
to the attack from a hill still called 'The Rampire,' hoping by a
furious charge to break the first line of the king's army, and thus
throw the main body into confusion. But, after fighting desperately
for three hours, during which the German auxiliaries under Swartz
exhibited great valour, and the Irish under Fitzgerald, armed only
with darts and knives, obstinately maintained their ground, the royal
troops prevailed, and the insurgents were routed with immense
slaughter.

Lambert Simnel, the puppet set up by the Earl of Lincoln to clear his
own way to the crown, was taken prisoner, and by an artful stroke of
policy was made turnspit in the king's kitchen. But the dead bodies
of the earl and all the other principal leaders, save that of Lord
Lovel, were found where they had fallen sword in-hand on the fatal
field.

Lord Lovel, as it has been often told, was never seen, living or
dead, after the battle. Some assert that he was drowned when
endeavouring to escape across the river Trent, the weight of his
armour preventing the subsequent discovery of his body. Another
report was that he fled to the north, where, under the guise of a
peasant, he ended his days in peace. Lord Bacon, in his History of
Henry the Seventh, says that 'he lived long after in a cave or
vault.' And this last account has been partly corroborated in modern
times.

William Cowper, Esquire, Clerk of the House of Commons, writing from
Herlingfordbury Park in 1738, says:

'In 1708, upon occasion of new-laying a chimney at Minster Lovel,
there was discovered a large vault or room underground, in which was
the entire skeleton of a man, as having been sitting at a table,
which was before him, with a book, paper, pen, &c.; in another part
of the room lay a cap, all much mouldered and decayed. Which the
family and others judged to be this Lord Lovel, whose exit has
hitherto been so uncertain.'

http://www.thebookofdays.com/months/june/16.htm

I suspect that those who took part at Edgehill, Marston Moor and Naseby
might dispute that description.

Richard

--- In , "fayreroze"
<fayreroze@...> wrote:
>
> BATTLE OF STOKE
>—the last great battle on English soil—

--- In , "rgcorris" <RSG_Corris@...> wrote:
>
> I suspect that those who took part at Edgehill, Marston Moor and Naseby
> might dispute that description.
>
> Richard

All wars are horrific - but I have always thought Civil War particularly so. To lay your life
down to protect your country from a foreign invader is one thing, but in these two cases,
two English civil wars, Englishman killing Englishman is heartbreaking. Visiting the sites
of these battles really brings it home to you - what a complete and absolute waste of life.
Has anyone ever tried to work out the number of lives in total lost in the War of the Roses
or the English Civil War. What about civilian lives - is it known how many of these were
lost? To what extent would the civilian populations been effected, besides losing their
sons, brothers and fathers. I believe that Margaret of Anjou and her army struck fear in
the hearts of many as she was ruthless. Perhaps her army was made up of mercenaries?
Eileen
>
> --- In , "fayreroze"
> <fayreroze@> wrote:
> >
> > BATTLE OF STOKE
> >—the last great battle on English soil—
>

You've missed a civil war, we have had three - Matilda and Stephen fought for the crown over many years in the 11th century. But he Wars of the Roses certainly had more traitors and intrigue than either of the other two.

vicki

All wars are horrific - but I have always thought Civil War particularly so. To lay your life
down to protect your country from a foreign invader is one thing, but in these two cases,
two English civil wars, Englishman killing Englishman is heartbreaking. Visiting the sites
of these battles really brings it home to you - what a complete and absolute waste of life.
Has anyone ever tried to work out the number of lives in total lost in the War of the Roses
or the English Civil War. What about civilian lives - is it known how many of these were
lost? To what extent would the civilian populations been effected, besides losing their
sons, brothers and fathers. I believe that Margaret of Anjou and her army struck fear in
the hearts of many as she was ruthless. Perhaps her army was made up of mercenaries?
Eileen