he continuing feud between THE BATTLE OF NORTHAMPTON the Percy family and the Nev- illes provided both the back- THEME T drop and catalyst to open TRENCHES & TREACHERY conflict. The culmination of this happened when the Percys (tradi- In 1460 it had been less than a year since the tional Earls of Northumberland) had broken out. There had been skirmishes and increasing politi- and the Duke of Somerset had en- trenched Margaret as de facto ruler cal tensions fermenting for nearly ten years prior to this. The wars of the kingdom due to Henry’s de- themselves were born out of the power that had teriorating mental health. York and over her husband, Henry VI, and the appointment of her family his supporters withdrew from court to avoid their arrest and this led to and supporters to positions of power throughout the realm. both factions start to arm for war.

Conflict broke out when the York- By Eoghan Kelly ist forces repelled an ambush at Blore Heath but the fortunes of the were at a low follow- ing the collapse of their army at the battle of Ludford Bridge in 1459. The various leaders fled into exile. Richard, Duke of York, went to Ire- land where he was Lord Lieutenant (and had the support of the Irish Parliament and landowners). More significantly, Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick left for Calais, where he had significant support.

The control of Calais al- lowed Warwick to control the seas and thereby also the wool trade. This eco- nomic stranglehold meant that the traders in London were aware their fortunes lay tied to York and his supporters. Despite hav- ing won a decisive victory, Margaret’s supporters had frittered it away in less than six months, and her actions of promoting favourites and family members drove more marginal members of court into the opposition camp.

Feeling the time was right, War- wick (along with Salisbury and York’s son Edward) landed at Sandwich in Kent in late June 1460. They only had a small force, but their broad support in the south of England allowed them to pick up garrisons from the channel ports and to march on London. There they entered on 2nd of July without any sig-

nificant opposition. The garrison n The Earl of Warwick watches the action at the Battle of North- Wargames, Soldiers & Strategy 98 1 ampton while Francesco Coppini, the Bishop of Turin, excommuni- cates the Yorkists' enemies. From the cover of Medieval Warfare V-3. © Giuseppe Rava © Michael Perry

Edward's men cross unopposed as Grey's men withdraw. and command of London sought ref- the King. The Yorkists persisted in their tively untested. Roll a d6 at the first uge in the Tower of London, and after claim the conflict was not with the melee clash of the battle, on a 1 he leaving a small force to besiege them King but with his advisors and certain is considered a poor commander, (the last siege of the Tower) War- supporters. Somerset refused permis- on a 2 average, 3 or 4 he wick marched north to try and raise sion and after several more abortive is good and 5 or 6 he is the land in support of York who was attempts to talk, Warwick notified his outstanding. waiting in Ireland for the right time to opponents that he would join battle at land. Warwick’s goal was Coventry, 2 PM that afternoon. Right Battle - William where the court had resided for sev- Neville, Lord Faucon- eral years, and where Henry’s power THE GAME berg, 55 and an experi- enced commander having base was at its strongest. This generic scenario is designed to started his military career be adapted to any Medieval rules. On the 9th of July, Warwick ap- You should be able to adapt the sim- as a youth in Henry V’s proached the grounds of Delapré Ab- ple special rules and the army lists army in France. He is an bey, a Clunaic Convent, that lay to the to your favourite set. Some sugges- outstanding commander. southeast of Northampton and domi- tions are made in the text for specif- nated the main road through the area. Centre Battle - Richard ic rules. Both Swordpoint and Hail Henry and Margaret had deployed Neville, Earl of War- Caesar use the concept of an Army their army in a strong defensive po- wick, was considered Commander, for example. sition, with their flanks (and rear) the leader of the Neville protected by the river Nene. In their faction in the long stand- front, spread along the entire army, THE FORCES ing feud with the Percy was a water filled ditch. On the 10th Yorkist Commanders family. Warwick’s power the Yorkist army deployed on the field Left Battle (the Vanguard) - Edward, gained through political and Warwick attempted to speak to Earl of March, 18 years old and rela- skill, military ability, and

Wargames, Soldiers & Strategy 98 2 clever marriage has made him Left Battle - John Talbot, 2nd Earl © Michael Perry one of the most powerful in of Shrewsbury, 43 years old and an the land, and this power experienced statesman and leader. will gain him the soubri- He originally sided with Warwick quet of ‘The Kingmaker’. He but changed allegiance following may act as Army General. the First Battle of St Albans. A Good Commander. Loyalty rating 5+ Troops Three battles of roughly 1,000 Right Battle - Edmund Grey, 1st Earl men each. The make up is as follows: of Kent (Lord Grey of Ruthin), 45 and an experienced commander. His on- • 600 foot men-at-arms, well ar- going feud with Henry Holland, 3rd moured and equipped with bills, Duke of Exeter, in a property dispute polearms, maces and swords. had caused considerable unhappi- These are split into 2 units. ness with the lack of support he felt • 300 archers equipped with he was due from the Crown. A Good longbows, fielded as one unit. Commander. Loyalty rating 3+ • 100 mounted knights on ar- moured horses and equipped Centre Battle - Humphrey Stafford, with lances and melee weap- 1st Duke of Buckingham, 58 and was ons, fielded as one unit. These considered to be loyal beyond ques- were nominally the body- tion. He served the Kings father in guard for each of the com- France and then acted as bodyguard manders of the battles. They to the current monarch. Although may dismount. related to the Nevilles he staunchly supported the Queens position. An For Lion Rampant, treat each ‘Battle’ average leader. Loyalty rating 6+ as a separate command with one Men at Arms, two expert Serjeants Royal Tent - The bodyguard is com- and one Expert Bowmen. manded by Percy and Beaumont. Both are outstanding leaders but may only Lancastrian Commanders command the bodyguard. Henry and Overall General - Henry VI, King Margaret are also at the Royal Tent. of England. Henry is an inept com- mander and gives no ‘Army Com- Troops tion, a 2 to 1 ratio of billmen to arch- mander’ bonus to the Lancastrians. Three battles of roughly 1,000 men ers and a small men-at-arms contin- He spent the battle in his tent praying. each, similar to the Yorkist disposi- gent. However, the units of men at arms must be deployed at the rear to guard the Royal tent.

© Rocío Espin © Rocío Finally, the Royal forces had four bombards – this was the first time that gunpowder weapons were de- ployed in England. These were de- ployed in front of the centre battle.

SPECIAL RULES Loyalty The Lancastrian player has three loy- alty tokens. They are allocated to the Lancastrian Battles, with no maxi- mum or minimum. The Yorkist play- er has four tokens. These are also allocated to the Lancastrian Battles. Any battle that has more Yorkist to- kens than Lancastrian is subject to a Loyalty test. A roll is made per addi- tional token and any roll equal to or over the value will cause that noble and all their Battle to become neu-

3 Wargames, Soldiers & Strategy 98 Warwick's men force their way over the defences and into Buckingham's men who are guarding the camp. trals and withdraw from the field. Initiative and weather his retainers and his Queen. Shrews- This test is only taken when forces The Yorkists move first and always bury, Buckingham, Egremont and are within charge range. To keep this have the initiative. The weather is dry Beaumont were all killed trying to a surprise, only the Yorkist player but misty due to recent rain, visibility save Henry and he was captured by may know which force or forces will is reduced and the ground is difficult an archer called Henry Mountfort. be testing their loyalty. going for cavalry. Following this victory the Duke of Artillery VICTORY York was spurred to land in Eng- The wonder weapons were slightly Victory goes to the side who controls land and following a campaign he hampered by a heavy rainstorm just the field. A major victory is scored by was killed at the Battle of Wake- before the battle. To reflect this and the Yorkists if they capture the King. A field, leaving Edward as the Duke to allow the possibility of their use Major victory is won by the Lancas- of York. He fought a series of cam- (historically they never fired) test trians if they kill either Warwick or paigns that culminated in his de- each gun when it wants to fire. Roll Richard (and it’s fair to say complete struction of the last Lancastrian D6 and on a 6 a wise gunner has victory in the wars if they kill both!) force in March 1461 and he was kept a single charge dry and the gun duly crowned Edward IV, the first will fire once (and once only). HISTORICAL OUTCOME Yorkist King of England… WS&S Defensive trench In true Wars of the Roses fashion, We know Yorkists wore a white rose, This is a formidable obstacle and Lord Grey of Ruthin was bought and history attributes the red rose to is considered to be the hardest ter- off by the Yorkists and promptly Lancaster – but evidence sug- rain your rules allow for while still switched sides, his troops actively gests this was only worn being passable. Defenders behind helping the Yorkist forces to cross by Tudor support- the ditch should get a defensive the barrier. The battle was effectively ers after the Battle bonus from shooting and attack over in a matter of minutes. The Lan- of Bosworth (apply the Schiltron rule if using castrian forces collapsed and in the in 1485. Lion Rampant). mayhem Henry was abandoned by

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