THOMAS WALSINGHAM
HOTSPURS REBELLION
At that same time the lord Henry Percy the younger, hitherto a favourite of fortune, and on whom were placed the hopes of the whole people, suddenly appeared as an enemy of the king. Contrary to universal ex-pectation he was joined by lord Thomas Percy, earl of Worcester and uncle of the aforesaid Henry. Suddenly leaving the dwelling of the prince, the king's eldest son, whom the king had especially committed to his charge, he betook himself to his nephew, increasing his strength and his determination to revolt. To give colour to their conspiracy they sent letters abroad, setting forth that their design was in no way contrary to their allegiance and fealty to the king, and that they had gathered an army for no other cause than the protection of their own persons and the better government of the state. For the tallages granted to the king for the safeguarding of the kingdom were converted as they said to improper uses, and unprofitably wasted. Moreover they complained that the king's anger was stirred up against them by reason of the base slanders of their rivals, so that they dared not come in person into his presence until the prelates and barons of the king had petitioned on their behalf that they might be permitted to declare their innocence before the king and justify themselves lawfully by their peers. Many therefore who saw these letters, praised the wisdom of these men and applauded the loyalty they were shewing to the state. But the king perceiving their deceitfulness meditated anxiously how he might satisfy the public and make an end of their fabrications. He wrote therefore to the persons to whom they had written saying that he was greatly astonished, since the earl of Northumberland and Henry his son had received the greater part of the money granted him by the clergy and parliament of England for the protection of the Scottish marches, so that lie could clearly shew the basis of what was not merely a complaint but a manifest slander. He wrote further, because he had understood that the earl of Northumberland, his son, and the earl of Worcester likewise, had affirmed to many that they dare not enter the king's presence on account of the slanders of their rivals, without the previous mediation of the prelates and nobles wherefore they prayed that of the king's grace they might come and defend themselves and prove their own innocence: for this reason he wrote to the same earl and the rest under the king's seal that they may come safely and without harm and depart without risk or guile, But their unbridled audacity, scorning the royal mildness, urged them to open rebellion and hurried them to Shrewsbury, trusting it is supposed in the help of Glendower and Edmund Mortimer and certain of the people of Chester and of Wales. But when the king saw that the young man's heart was hardened, for the father had not left his own domains, he resolved to make haste and meet Henry [Percy] and his uncle the lord Thomas Percy before they had gathered a greater force. They indeed and their accomplices had caused it to be published abroad that king Richard was alive and with them, in whose name or cause they had levied war against the king. If they wished to see him forthwith, let them come in arms and with their own eyes see the said king in the camp at Chester. Fraudulent though the story was it caused excitement in the minds of many and made large number hesitate, not knowing to which party it would be safer to adhere. Many indeed were inclined to king Richard, especially those who had once been of his house-hold, and had been endowed with fiefs and other gifts by him. King Henry carefully heeding the above and being a brave man and a valiant, gathered together whom he could; being urged on especially by the Scottish earl of Dunbar who warned him not to delay. The king took the Scot's advice and arrived unexpectedly in those parts where the rebels were disporting themselves. But Henry [Percy] suddenly seeing the royal standard when he was on the point of assaulting the town of Shrewsbury, abstained from attacking the inhabitants. "We must abstain," he said, "from our intention and turn our arms against those who are coming against us. There is the royal standard ; make your stand then stoutly, since this day will uplift us all if we are victorious and will free us from the kings rule if we be vanquished. For it is better to fall in battle for the state that to perish after battle by the sentence of our foe." To this Henry's followers agreed forthwith, to the number of fourteen thousand picked men who declared that they would fight to the last breath with Henry.
Now when on either side the soldiers were awaiting the signal for battle, the abbot of Shrewsbury and a certain
clerk came as messengers from the king to offer Henry [Percy] peace and pardon if he gave up his designs. Henry
being mollified by their persuasions sent back with them to the king Thomas Percy his uncle, to set forth the grounds
for the rising and demand effective remedies. It is said that when the king had given way and submitted so far
as became the person of the king the said lord Thomas Percy returning to his nephew gave a report which was contrary
to the king's answer, enraged the young man, and urged him on to battle against his desire.
Thereupon Henry's bowmen began the battle; there was no room for the arrows to reach the ground, but every arrow
struck a body, and they fell on the king's side like withered leaves in winter after a frost; nor less did the
king's archers do their own work but sent a stinging shower of darts upon their foes. Many fell on either side
as apples in autumn, shaken by the south wind; many also fled from the field thinking that the king was slain with
arrows. Henry himself, the leader of the field on the other side, and his com-panion Douglas the Scot (never were
more valorous men than they) paid no heed to the arrows sent from the king's side, or to the solid wedges of men-at-arms,
but wielded their might only against the person of the king, turned their arms against him, searched for him only,
counting him worth ten thousand prostrate foes, seeking for him with hostile spears and swords. When the earl of
Dunbar perceived their design, he withdrew the king from his post. Whereby the kings life was saved for that time,
since his standard bearer was cut down, the standard itself overthrown, and its guards slain. Among whom fell the
earl of Stafford and the lord Walter Blount, one of the kings knights.
The prince, also, the kings firstborn son, who then for the first time saw a pitched field, was wounded in the
face by an arrow. Meanwhile lord Henry Percy, far before his followers in the fight, rashly thrusting among his
enemies fell unexpectedly, the hand that stayed him being unknown and when they learnt this the soldiers of the
other side took to flight, so many as had the opportunity of fleeing. But the earl of Douglas was taken for the
second time in one year, fighting against the English, and ever finding fortune adverse. For in the first war a
wound in the head bereft him of an eye, and in the second he was sorely wounded and a second time passed under
the yoke of captivity. There were taken also the earl of Worcester Thomas Percy, the source of the whole trouble
as is said, and the cause of the present disaster together with Richard Vernon and many others. On the king's part
there fell ten knights and many gentlemen and common folk, and some three thousand were sorely wounded. On the
side of the rebels fell the greater number of the knights and gentlemen of the county of Chester to the number
of two hundred besides squires and foot soldiers whose number we cannot record. This battle was fought on the eve
of St. Mary Magdalene nor was there ever a fight more keenly contested, as it is thought. On the Monday following,
for the battle was fought upon a Sunday, there were beheaded by judicial sentence at Shrewsbury, the earl of Worcester,
the baron of Kinderton, and lord Richard Vernon. Also on the Monday following while the earl of Northumberland
with a strong hand and with a stretched out arm was hastening towards his own son, or towards the king, as thinking
to renew negotiations for peace, his advance was stayed by the earl of Westmoreland and Robert Walton; They having
collected a large army arrayed themselves to meet him. But he counting that neither of them was his well-wisher
drew bridle and returned to his own castle of Warkworth.
