Biography of Henry Roos -1504

On 2nd February 1461 at the Battle of Mortimer's Cross at Mortimer's Cross, Herefordshire [Map] the future King Edward IV of England [aged 18] commanded the Yorkist forces including William Hastings 1st Baron Hastings [aged 30], John Wenlock 1st Baron Wenlock [aged 61], John Tuchet 6th Baron Audley, 3rd Baron Tuchet [aged 35], John Savage [aged 17] and Roger Vaughan [aged 51].

In the Lancastrian army Owen Tudor [aged 61] (captured by Roger Vaughan) and his son Jasper Tudor 1st Duke Bedford [aged 29] fought as well as James Butler 1st Earl Wiltshire 5th Earl Ormonde [aged 40] and Henry Roos. Gruffydd ap Nicholas Deheubarth [aged 68] were killed. Watkin Vaughan [aged 66] and Henry Wogan [aged 59] were killed.

Monument to the Battle of Mortimer's Cross at Mortimer's Cross, Herefordshire [Map]. Note Edward IV described as Edward Mortimer. The monument was erected by subscription in 1799.

Gruffydd ap Nicholas Deheubarth: In 1393 he was born to Nicolas ap Philip Deheubarth and Jonet Unknown at Sheffield [Map].

Watkin Vaughan: Around 1395 he was born to Roger Vaughan of Bredwardine and Gwladys ferch Dafydd Gam "Star of Abergavenny" Brecon. Around 1435 Watkin Vaughan and Elinor Wogan were married. The date based on his age being around twenty. The difference in their ages was 29 years.

Henry Wogan: In 1402 he was born to John Wogan at Wiston.

On 17th February 1461 the Lancastrian army defeated the Yorkist army at Second Battle of St Albans and rescued King Henry VI of England and II of France [aged 39]. The Lancastrian army was commanded by Henry Holland 3rd Duke Exeter [aged 30] and included Henry Percy 3rd Earl of Northumberland [aged 39], John Mowbray 3rd Duke of Norfolk [aged 45], Henry Grey 4th or 7th Baron Grey of Codnor [aged 26], Henry Roos and Richard Welles 7th Baron Welles, Baron Willoughby [aged 33].

Thomas Ros 9th Baron Ros Helmsley [aged 33], William Tailboys 7th Baron Kyme [aged 46], John Talbot 3rd Earl of Shrewsbury [aged 12] and Thomas Tresham [aged 41] were knighted.

The Yorkist army included Richard "Kingmaker" Neville Earl Warwick, 6th Earl Salisbury [aged 32], William Fitzalan 9th or 16th Earl of Arundel [aged 43], John Wenlock 1st Baron Wenlock [aged 61] and Henry Bourchier 2nd Count of Eu 1st Earl Essex [aged 57]. John Neville 1st Marquess Montagu [aged 30] was captured. Robert Poynings [aged 42] and James Luttrell [aged 34] were killed.

John Grey [aged 29] was killed fighting for Lancaster. A death that was to have far reaching consequences; his widow Elizabeth Woodville Queen Consort England [aged 24] subsequently married King Edward IV of England [aged 18].

During the battle William Bonville 1st Baron Bonville [aged 68] and Thomas Kyriell [aged 65] were assigned to the protection of the King Henry VI. After the battle both were beheaded against all decent laws of battle.

William Bonville 1st Baron Bonville was beheaded. His great granddaughter Cecily succeeded 2nd Baroness Bonville.

Thomas Kyriell was beheaded.

William Cotton [aged 21] was killed.

On 29th March 1461 the Battle of Towton was a decisive victory for King Edward IV of England [aged 18] bringing to an end the first war of the Wars of the Roses. Said to be the bloodiest battle on English soil 28000 were killed mainly during the rout that followed the battle.

The Yorkist army was commanded by King Edward IV of England with John Mowbray 3rd Duke of Norfolk [aged 45], William Neville 1st Earl Kent [aged 56], William Hastings 1st Baron Hastings [aged 30] (knighted), Walter Blount 1st Baron Mountjoy [aged 45], Henry Bourchier 2nd Count of Eu 1st Earl Essex [aged 57], John Scrope 5th Baron Scrope of Bolton [aged 23] and John Wenlock 1st Baron Wenlock [aged 61].

The Lancastrian army suffered significant casualties including Richard Percy [aged 35], Ralph Bigod Lord Morley [aged 50], John Bigod [aged 28], Robert Cromwell [aged 71], Ralph Eure [aged 49], John Neville 1st Baron Neville of Raby [aged 51], John Beaumont [aged 33], Thomas Dethick [aged 61], Everard Simon Digby, William Plumpton [aged 25] and William Welles [aged 51] who were killed.

Henry Percy 3rd Earl of Northumberland [aged 39] was killed. Earl of Northumberland, Baron Percy of Alnwick, Baron Percy of Topcliffe forfeit.

Ralph Dacre 1st Baron Dacre Gilsland [aged 49] was killed. He was buried at the nearby Saxton church where his chest tomb is extant. Baron Dacre Gilsland extinct.

Lionel Welles 6th Baron Welles [aged 55] was killed. His son Richard [aged 33] succeeded 7th Baron Welles.

The Lancastrian army was commanded by Henry Beaufort 2nd or 3rd Duke of Somerset [aged 25], Henry Holland 3rd Duke Exeter [aged 30], Henry Percy 3rd Earl of Northumberland and Andrew Trollope.

Henry Holland 3rd Duke Exeter was attainted after the battle; Duke Exeter, Earl Huntingdon forfeit.

Those who fought for the Lancaster included William Tailboys 7th Baron Kyme [aged 46], William Plumpton, John Sutton 1st Baron Dudley [aged 60], William Norreys [aged 20], Thomas Grey 1st Baron Grey of Richemont [aged 43], Robert Hungerford 3rd Baron Hungerford 1st Baron Moleyns [aged 30], John Talbot 3rd Earl of Shrewsbury [aged 12], Richard Welles 7th Baron Welles, Baron Willoughby, Richard Woodville 1st Earl Rivers [aged 56], James Butler 1st Earl Wiltshire 5th Earl Ormonde [aged 40], John Butler 6th Earl Ormonde [aged 39], William Beaumont 2nd Viscount Beaumont [aged 22], Henry Roos and Thomas Tresham [aged 41]. Cardinal John Morton [aged 41] were captured.

John Heron of Ford Castle Northumberland [aged 45], Robert Dethick [aged 86], Andrew Trollope and his son David Trollope were killed.

Chronicle of Jean de Waurin Books 3-5 [1400-1474]. Then each of them, hearing the amiable request made by the young Earl, whom they already regarded as King, all responded with one voice that they would assist him with their bodies and their wealth until death. Upon receiving this response, the Earl thanked them, then dismounted from his horse and told them, with sword or bare hands, that he wished to live and die with them on that day, to give them greater courage. He then positioned himself in front of his standard, facing his enemies, who were advancing powerfully with great noise, shouting loudly, "King Henry." On the day of this encounter, there was a great slaughter between the two parties, and for a long time, it was unclear who would emerge victorious, so furious was the battle and so great and pitiful was the carnage, as fathers did not spare sons nor sons fathers. But in the end, through the great prowess primarily of the Earl of March, God granted him victory, and he won the day over his enemies, whom he completely defeated.

Indeed, if one were to recount and describe all the individual feats of arms that occurred on that day, both on one side and the other, it would be too much to cover. Therefore, I will be as brief as possible, but I can assure you that the greatest clash of the battle occurred near the quarters of the Earl of Warwick, who was severely wounded there. However, in the end, those on the side of the King, the Queen, and the Duke of Somerset were completely defeated, and the Earl of March remained victorious. As I was informed by credible sources who were at the battle, all the greatest lords with the King and the Queen were either killed or captured: first, the Earl of Northumberland [aged 39], the Earl of Clifford, the Lord of Mauley [aged 50], the Lord of Willoughby [aged 55], the Lord of Muelles, the son of the Duke of Buckingham [Henry Stafford [aged 36]], the Lord Scales, the Lord Gray, Andrew Trollope, the Lord Roos, the Lord of Percy, Sir Grauan and his son, and several other knights and esquires, which was a pity, as well as thirty-six thousand men who died that day, not counting the prisoners and the wounded, who were numerous, including the Lord of Rivers and his son. The King Henry and Queen Margaret, his spouse, the Duke of Somerset, and the Duke of Exeter fled to York.

Alors chascun deulz, oians la requeste tant amyable que leur faisoit le jenne comte lequel desja tenoient pour roy, respondirent tous dune voix que jusques au morir ilz lui aideroient de corpz et davoir; de laquele responce le comte les remercya, si descendy de son coursier en leur disant, lespee ou poing, que ce jour voulloit vivre et morir avec eulz, adfin de leur donner plus grant courage, et lors se vint il mettre devant son estandart regardant ses annemis, qui marchoient puissamment, menant moult grant bruit, cryant a haulte voix: "King Henry," si eut au jour de cest aprochement moult grant occision entre les deux parties, et fut une longue espace que len ne scavoit a qui donner la victore, tant fut la bataille furieuse et la tuyson grande et pitoiable, car le pere ne deportoit le filz ne le filz le pere; mais en fin, par la grant proesse principalement du comte de La Marche, Dieu luy donna la victore, et guaigna la journee sur ses annemis, lesquelz il mist a plaine descomfiture.

A la verite qui volroit declarer et dire toutes les proescheuses apartises darmes qui ce jour se firent tant dun coste comme dautre, len y porroit trop mettre, et pourtant men passeray le plus brief que faire porray, mais je vous ose bien affermer que la plus grant froisse de la bataille saborda vers le quartier du comte de Warewic lequel y fut durement navre; mais en fin ceulz de la partie du roy, de la royne et du duc de Sombresset furent menez a plaine descomfiture et demoura victorien le comte de La Marche, et comme je fus imforme par gens de credence qui a la bataille furent, tous les plus grans princes davec le roy et la royne y demourerent mors ou prins: premierement le comte de Northumbelland, le comte de Clifford, le seigneur de Muelle, le seigneur de Willebic, le seigneur de Muelles, le filz du duc de Bouquinghuem, le seigneur de Scalles, le seigneur de Gray, et Andrieu Trolot, le seigneur de Ros, le seigneur de Persy, messire Grauan et son filz, et plusieurs autres chevalliers et escuyers, dont ce fut pitie, telement quil y morut ce jour bien trente six mille hommes sans les prisonniers et navrez qui y furent en moult grant nombre, entre lesquelz estoient le seigneur de Riviere et son filz; si sen fuyrent a Yorc le roy Henry et la royne Marguerite son espeuse, le duc de Sombresset et le duc dExcestre.

Chronicle of Gregory. 29th March 1461. Ande the xxix [29] day of the same monythe of Marche, that was þe Palme Sunday, the kyng [aged 18] mette with the lordys of the Northe at Schyrborne. And there was on Harrys party that was King-

Prynce Edwarde [aged 7], Kyng Harrys son.

The Duke of Exceter [aged 30].

The Duke of Somersett [aged 25].

The Erle of Northehumberlond [aged 39].

The Erle of Devynschyre [aged 29].

The lord Roos.

The lord Bemound [aged 33].

The lord Clyfforde [deceased].

The lord Nevyle.

The lord Wellys [aged 51].

The lord Wylby [aged 40].

The lord Harry of Bokyngham.

The lord Rivers [aged 56].

The lord Schalys.

The lord Maule [aged 50].

The lord Ferys of Groby [aged 23].

The lord Foschewe. [Possibly John Fortescue [aged 67]]

The lord Lovelle [aged 28].

Syr Thomas Hammys, captayne of alle the fote men.

Syr Androwe Thorlloppe.

Syr Thomas Tressam [aged 41].

Syr Robert Whytyngham [aged 32].

Syr John Dawne.

And the yonge Lord of Schrouysbury [aged 12], and many moo othyr, bothe lordys, knyghtys, and squyers.

Here ben the namys of the lordys that were slayne in the felde in King Harrys [aged 39] party.

The Erle of Northehumberlond,

The lord Clyfforde,

The lord Nevyle [aged 51],

The lord Wellys,

The lord Maules,

And many moo then I can reherse; but whythe [t]es and othyr that were slayne in the fylde is a grete nombyr, by syde xlij [42] knyghtys that were slayne aftyr; the hoole nombyr is XXXV M¹ [35000] of comeners. Jhesu be þou marcyfulle unto her soulys. Amen.

And the lordys before wretyn fledde, the substance in to Schotlond with the King Harry and Quene Margarete [aged 31], and son the Prynce with hym, full of sorowe and hevynys, no wondyr. God knowythe, but every man deme the beste tylle the trought be tryde owte. For many a lady lost her beste be lovyd in that batayle.