On August 13th 1470 the Duke of Clarence and Earl of Warwick‘s invasion force departed Aungiers in France to sail on England. The aim was simple: put Henry VI back on the throne, with Warwick and Clarence as the power behind the throne. It was a plan that involved Margaret of Anjou and Edward of Westminster, Prince of Wales. The invasion was the result of the Angers agreement between the Earl of Warwick and Margaret of Anjou.
The plan for the Lancastrians was for the Duke of Clarence and Earl of Warwick to secure the King and London. The Queen and Prince of Wales would land in the South West, gather forces from loyal subjects there and in South Wales. The two armies could then unite to tackle Edward and his Yorkist army.
The plan had risks attached to it. If Edward assembled his full Yorkist force and caught either army before it was at full strength, they stood little chance. If, however, they managed to land, muster and march faster than Edward, the odds were stacked in their favour. This was high stakes warfare, there was very little room for mistakes to be made by either side.
Letters from the Duke of Clarence and Earl of Warwick were written from France to Henry VI and to the Commons of England ahead of this invasion. A translation of one such letter as published by John Stowe. Though his translation itself is now ‘old English’ it is rather more understandable to the modern reader than the original.
Source Material: Invasion of 1470
The Earl of Warwick leaves Aungiers to begin his invasion of England. Letter by George, Duke of Clarence and Richard, 16th Earl of Warwick
“George duke of Clarence and the lord of Richmond, and Richard earle of Warwyke and Salisbury, Greate Chamberleyne of England and Capitayne of Calais, to the worshipfull, discretem and trwe Commons of England gretynge. It is we dowte not notarily and openly knowne unto you all, how uncurtasly that in late days we have bene entreated, takyn, and accepted for the trwe hertes, tendar zeales, loves and affections that God knowith we have evar borne and entend, before all things erthly, to the weale of the Crowne and the avauncynge of the Comon Weale of England; and for reproving of falsehodd and oppression of the pore people; God and owr dedes our Judge. Wof our birthes, by the false meanes and subtill dissimulations of suche certeyne covetows and seditious persons as have guided and bene about the estate Royall of the Realme, whiche have evar had a particular respecte to theyr owne singular and insatiable covetise, and to the magnifienge of theyr friends and adherents, then they have hade to the majestie Royall, or to the things publique of the true comonalitie of the sayde Realme; as daily and howrlye is now by theyre dedes proved amongs yow and the Realm, like to be aliened and governed by streyngers and outward nations yf the seyde covetows persons may rule as they have done; and never lyke to be recovered without gods helpe; the most lamentable and piteous thinge, to be abhorred with every trewe christen man dredinge god or lovynge the weles of his Realme and his neyghbours, hat ever was. We, therefore, establysshid and stedfastly persevering in owr olde customes, beringe and havynge faythefully toward the seyde Crowne and common weale of England as fervent zeale, love, and greate enormyties and inordinate ympositions, contrary to lawe and all good customes, newly layd upon yow, and also greatly sorowinge and abored of the cruall and detestable tirany, and vengeable mourdar and manslawghtar reignynge amonge yow. Wherefore we entend, by the grace of God, and the helpe of every well disposed man, in right short tyme, to put us in deboure to the uttermost of our powers, to subdwe and put undar falshod and oppression; chastice and punishe the seyde covetows persons in perpetuall example to all other; and to set right and justice to theyr places, to se them equally ministred and indifferently, without mede or drede, as owght to be, and to reduce and redeme for evar the said Realme from thraldome of all outward natyons, and make it as fre within it self as evar it was heretofore. And for the furtheringe and more perfecte performinge hereof, we call first unto owr ayde, helpe and assistaunce of almighty god, his blessed mothar and glorious Virgyne seynt Marye, with all the hole company of Heaven; secondly the blessed and holy martire Seynt George owr patrone, and every trwe englyshe man dredinge God, lovynge his realme and the wele of his neyghbours; and thirdly we shall owar discharges in that behalf, bothe against God and Man, put us in owre uttermost devoure that we can or may; and thereupon jeopardy bothe owr lyves, bodyes and goos. In witness whereof, to owr writing we have putte owr signets, and subscribed it with owr owne hands.
Source: Original Letters illustrative of English History, with notes and illustrations by Henry Ellis, keep of Manuscripts at the British Museum. (1827).
Links
Original letters, illustrative of English history; with notes and illustrations. Volume 1. ed Henry Ellis.
PhD Thesis. Carolyn Donahue. Semantic Scholar.
Image Sources
Late Medieval Shipping: National Archives
