Page 16 - A Knight of the White Cross

in Kent, and there lived quietly for some months. The Duke of Clarence
had joined Warwick as soon as he saw that his brother's cause was lost; and

as the Duke had no knowledge of his changed feelings towards him, he was
heartily welcomed. An act of settlement was passed by Parliament entailing

the Crown on Henry's son Edward, Prince of Wales, and in case of that
prince's death without issue, on the Duke of Clarence. On the 12th of
March following (1471) Edward suddenly appeared with a fleet with which

he had been secretly supplied by the Duke of Burgundy, and, sailing north,
landed in the Humber. He found the northern population by no means

disposed to aid him, but upon his taking a solemn oath that he had no
designs whatever upon the throne, but simply claimed to be restored to his
rights and dignities as Duke of York, he was joined by a sufficient force to

enable him to cross the Trent. As he marched south his army speedily
swelled, and he was joined by many great lords.

Warwick had summoned Henry's adherents to the field, and marched north
to meet him. When the armies approached each other, the Duke of

Clarence, who commanded a portion of Henry's army, went over with his
whole force to Edward, and Warwick, being no longer in a position to give

battle, was obliged to draw off and allow Edward to march unopposed
towards London. The citizens, with their usual fickleness, received him
with the same outburst of enthusiasm with which, five months before, they

had greeted the entry of Warwick. The unfortunate King Henry was again
thrown into his dungeon in the Tower, and Edward found himself once

more King of England.

Sir Thomas Tresham, as soon as he heard of the landing of Edward, had

hastened up to London. In his uncertainty how matters would go, he
brought his wife and son up with him, and left them in lodgings, while he

marched north with Warwick. As soon as the defection of Clarence opened
the road to London, he left the Earl, promising to return in a few days, and
rode to town, arriving there two days before Edward's entry, and,

purchasing another horse, took his wife and son down to St. Albans, where
leaving them, he rejoined Warwick. In a few days the latter had gathered

sufficient forces to enable him to risk the fortunes of a battle, and, marching
south, he encamped with his army on the common north of Barnet. Edward