STRUGGLE FOR THE THRONE: Crushing Lancaster

Early in 1464, the Duke of Somerset, who had been pardoned by Edward, decided to return to the cause of Lancaster, and engaged in secret correspondence with the deposed king and queen. Somerset hoped to reach Newcastle; if he could take control of this town it would be a distinct advantage to the Lancastrians and hamper the supply lines to the Yorkist forces in the north. Edward discovered the plot in time, and reinforced the garrison with men loyal to York.

Thwarted, Somerset decided to head for Bamburgh, to join the remaining Lancastrian sympathizers. Here he met up with other rebel lords, who were able to wreak havoc with their continual military campaigns. They managed to secure for the Lancastrians the castle of Norham and the towns of Prudhoe, Bywell, Langley and Hexham.

For Edward, the Lancastrians were threatening a potential agreement with the Scots, a priority for Edward's plan in keeping order in the north where Lancastrian sympathies were strongest. For safety's sake, the talks were postponed until 20 April and moved from Newcastle to York. In mid April, Montagu was sent to the border to meet the Scottish envoys and escort them through Lancastrian-held territory to York.

Montagu, by the time he left Newcastle, he had a following of about five thousand men. On April 25, this group met up with the main Lancastrian force at Hedgely Moor. Exact details of the battle are in short supply, but it is believed that Sir Ralph Percy commanded the Lancastrian right wing, Somerset, Bellingham and Grey the center, and Hungerford and Roos the left.

Montagu advanced first and the force under Hungerford and Roos broke and scattered. This surprising departure required the Yorkists to readjust their lines and for Montagu to consolidate his forces against the remaining Lancastrians. The depleted Lancastrians were ineffective against Montagu's forces, and as the Lancastrians began to give way Sir Ralph Percy was deserted by everyone except his household retainers, even Somerset. The remaining Lancastrians fought bravely, but were vastly outnumbered. The battle did not last long, and Percy and most of his men were killed.

After his victory, Montagu continued to the border, met with Scottish envoys and escorted them to York, where a fifteen year truce was agreed upon.

While Montagu was making his way to York with the Scottish envoys, Edward made plans to deal with the Lancastrians. He ordered men to be sent to Leicester, where the king would lead them north. The Lancastrians, meanwhile, regrouped at Alnwick after their defeat. On hearing of Edward's force, they headed south with Henry at the head of their army. They hoped his presence would lead men to support their cause.

On hearing that the Lancastrian army had reached Hexham, Montagu, business concluded in York, decided go there with all his retainers to meet with the Lancastrians, without waiting for reinforcements. On May 15 the Yorkists reached Hexham, taking the Lancastrians totally by surprise.

It was early morning when Montagu ordered his men to charge down the hill and engage the Lancastrians. When the Lancastrians began to give way under the onslaught, they could not retreat, as they had their backs to a stretch of river called Devil's Water. As Somerset tried in vain to reorganize his surprised troops, the front ranks pushed back, those in the rear were pushed into the water, many were drowned under the weight of their armor, while others were crushed to death.

Now the rest of the Yorkists under the command of Lords Greystoke and Willoughby advanced, and the fighting was intense but brief. Somerset tried to rally his army, managed to organize his left flank, but when he turned to deal with the right flank, discovered the unreliable Roos and Hungerford had repeated their actions at Hedgley Moor and had fled the battlefield, taking their men with them. As the Lancastrian line broke, Grey and Neville and their soldiers began to flee. Somerset, cornered, was captured.

Somerset was summarily executed the next day, a great blow to the Lancastrian cause. Roos and Hungerford were captured near Hexham and executed two days later. Over the next two months, more than two dozen noble Lancastrian sympathizers were snared and executed on Montagu's or his brother Warwick's orders. The Lancastrian resistance in the north was effectively crushed. Montagu was rewarded for his services to the crown by being granted the now-vacant earldom of Northumberland.

It seemed as if the crown would remain securely upon Edward’s golden head.....