Battle of Mortimer's Cross

On 2nd February 1461 following the battle Owen Tudor (age 61) was beheaded in the Market Place, Hereford [Map]. He was buried thereafter in Greyfriars Church, Hereford in a tomb paid for by his son David Owen (age 2). Somewhat curious that his other son Jasper Tudor 1st Duke Bedford (age 29) didn't contribute although the political situation may have made it difficult to do so.

Memorial to Owen Tudor in the Market Place, Hereford [Map]. Somewhat incongruously between a toddlers merry-go-round and a baked potato stall on the day of our visit.

Chronicle of William of Worcester [1415-1482]. 1st February 1461. On the eve of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary [2nd February 1461], a battle [Battle of Mortimer's Cross] took place near Wigmore at Mortimer's Cross, where the Earl of March encountered the Earl of Pembroke with fifty thousand troops against eight thousand, where the Earl of Pembroke (age 29), the Earl of Wiltshire (age 40), and many others fled from the same field. Owen Tudor (age 61) (the father of the said Earl of Pembroke) and John Throckmorton, esquire, along with eight other captains, were beheaded at Hereford.

Vigilia Purificationis beatæ Marias factum est bellum prope Wigmore apud Mortimer Crose, ubi comes Marche occurrit cum li. millibus contra comitem Penbrochiæ cum octo mille, ubi fugerunt de eodem campo comes Penbrochiæ, comes Wyltescire, et multi alii. Ac Owenus Tedere (pater dicti comitis Penbrochiæ), et Johannes Throgmertone, armiger, cum viii. aliis capitaneis decollati sunt apud Herforde.

Chronicle of Gregory [1400-1467]. 2nd February 1461. Alle so Edwarde Erle of Marche (age 18), the Duke of Yorke is son and heyre, hadde a gre jornaye at Mortymer is Crosse in Walys the secunde day of Februar nexte soo folowynge, and there he put to flyght the Erle of Penbroke (age 29), the Erle of Wylteschyre (age 40). And there he toke and slowe of knyghtys and squyers, and of the,^a to the nomber of iij M¹ [3000]., &c.

Ande in that jornay was Owyn Tetyr (age 61) take and brought unto Herforde este, an he was be heddyde at the market place [Map], and his hedde sette a-pone the hygheyste gryce of the market crosse, and a madde woman kembyd his here and wysche a way the blode of his face, and she gate candellys and sette a-boute him brennynge, moo then a C [Note. One hundred]. Thys Owyne Tytyr was fadyr unto the Erle of Penbroke, and hadde weddyd Quene Kateryn, Kyng Harry the VI (age 39). is modyr, wenyng and trustyng all eway that he shulde not be hedyd tylle he sawe the axe and the blocke, and whenn that he was in his dobelet he trustyd on pardon and grace tylle the coler of his redde vellvet dobbelet was ryppyd of. Then he said, "That hede shalle ly on the stocke that was wonte to ly on Quene Kateryns lappe," and put his herte and mynde holy unto God, and full mekely toke his dethe.

Alle soo the same day that the Erle of Marche shulde take his jornaye towarde Mortymer is Crosse fro Herforde este [Map]^b, he mousterd his many without the towne wallys in a mersche that is callyd Wyg mersche. And ovyr him men say^c iij [3] sonnys schynyng.

Note a. So in MS.

Note b. Haverfordwest. [Note. While the note suggests Haverfordwest we believe this is a reference to Hereford?]

Note c. And over him men say three suns shining. A reference to the Parhelion which occurred on the morning of the Battle of Mortimer's Cross.

Chronicle of Jean de Waurin [1400-1474]. [2nd February 1461] And the Earl of March knew well that the Earl of Wiltshire had assembled a large force to join the Queen's army. To prevent this, the Earl of March deployed his troops to the fields and went to the place where the Earl of Wiltshire was encamped. He charged straight at him [Battle of Mortimer's Cross], and six to seven thousand men died on the spot. The queen was greatly displeased by this, as she held great affection for the Earl of Wiltshire.

A Chronicle of London. 2nd February 1461 ... and at Candilmas therle of Marche discomfeited therle of Wiltshire and other at Mortymers crosse;

Chronicle of Edward Hall [1496-1548]. The duke of Yorke, called erle of Marche, somwhat spurred and quickened with these noueltyes, retired backe, & mett with his enemies in a faire playne, nere to Mortimers crosse, not farre from Herford east, on Candelmas day [2nd February 1461] in the mornyng, at whiche tyme the sunne (as some write) appered to the erle of March, like. iii. sunnes [See Parhelion], and sodainly ioined all together in one, and that upon the sight therof, he toke suche courage, that he fiercely set on his enemies, & then shortly discomfited: for which cause, men imagined, that he gaue the sunne in his full brightnes for his cognisaunce or badge. Of his enemies were lefte dead on the ground, iii. M. &. viii. C [3,800]: The erles of Penbroke (age 29) and Wilshyre fled, and syr Owen Tewtber (age 61), father to the sayd erle of Penbroke, which Owen had marled kyng Henries mother (as you haue heard before) with Dauid floyde, Morgan ap reuther, & divers other were taken and behedded at the citie of Herford.

Holinshed's Chronicle [1525-1582]. The people on the marches of Wales, for the favour which they bare to the Mortimers linage, more gladlie offered him [the earle of March, now Duke of York] their aid and assistance than he could desire the same; so that he had incontinentlie a puissant armie, to the number of thrée and twentie thousand, readie to go against the quéene, and the murtherers of his father. But when he was setting forward, newes was brought to him, that Iasper earle of Penbroke haife brother to king Henrie, and Iames Butler earle of Ormund and Wilshire, had assembled a great number of Welsh and Irish people to take him: he herewith quickned, retired backe and met with his enimies in a faire plaine, néere to Mortimers crosse [Battle of Mortimer's Cross], not far from Hereford east, on Candlemasse daie [2nd February 1461] in the morning. At which time the sunne (as some write) appeared to the earle of March like three sunnes [See Parhelion], and suddenlie ioineil altogither in one. upon which sight he tooke such courage, that he fiercelie setting on his enimies, put them to flight; and for this cause men imagined, that he gave the sunne in his full brightnesse for his badge or cognisance. Of his enimies were left dead on the ground three thousand and eight hundred.

The earles of Penbroke and Wilshire fled, but sir Owen Teuther father to the said earle of Penbroke (which Owen had married king Henries mother, as yee haue heard before) with Dauid Floid, Morgan ap Reuther, and diuerse other were taken, and beheaded at Hereford.

An English Chronicle. The iij^de day of Feuerer the same yere [3rd February 1461], Edward the noble erle of Marche faught with the Walsshmen besyde Wygmore in Wales, whos capteyns were the erle of Penbrook and the erle of Wylshyre, that wolde fynally haue dystroyed the sayde erle of Marche.

And the Monday before the daye of batayle [2nd February 1461], that ys to say, in the feest of Puryficacion of oure blessed Lady abowte x atte clocke before none, were seen iij sonnys in the fyrmament shynyng fulle clere, whereof the peple hade grete mervayle, and therof were agast. The noble erle Edward thaym comforted and sayde, "Beethe of good comfort, and dredethe not; thys ys a good sygne, for these iij sonys betokene the Fader, the Sone, and the Holy Gost, and therfore late vs haue a good harte, and in the name of Almyghtye God go we agayns oure enemyes." And so by His grace, he had the vyctory of his enemy es, and put the ij erles to flyghte, and slow of the Walsshemen to the nombre of iiij. M¹ [4000].

Chronicle of John Benet. 3rd February 1461. And on the 3rd day of February²⁸⁶, the Earl of March fought in Wales against the Earl of Wiltshire and the Earl of Pembroke, and there the Earl of Wiltshire and the Earl of Pembroke fled.

Et 3 die Februarii Comes Marchie in Wallia pugnavit cum comite comitatus Wyltonie et Comite de Pembroke et ibi Comes Wyltonie et Comes de Pembroke fugerunt.

Note 1. There is some dispute whether the battle was fought on 2 or 3 February, most sources preferring the former date. See C. L. Scofield, Reign of Edward IV.

Calendar of State Papers of Milan 1461. [3rd February 1461]. On the 3rd inst. the Earl of March won a battle against two of the princes of the island, who support the queen; 8,000 men fell in that battle, including, they reckon, 200 and more knights and noble squires. By that victory he recovered the little country of Wales, which is in the part of the island farthest away, towards Ireland. It is a lordship of the Duke of York, and therefore of his son. In fine those who consider the revolutions of this island declare that since the time of Caesar who conquered it, that kingdom has not suffered so many calamities as it has since the murder of the late Duke of Gloucester until now; and it seems that a great deal more is to follow.