Battle of Northampton - Letter From The Earl Of Wessex To King Richard III

My Dear Friend Richard,

I am sorry for the delay in responding but it has taken a long time to carry out a proper burial and build an appropriate monument for the fallen foe who died on the Field of Northampton.

The Earl of Essex wishes it to be known throughout the Kingdom that the Army of The Man with No name did indeed fight bravely and with honour - My Nobles recognise their courage and tenacity- we salute you. It was however a futile gesture and they should never have been expected to defend a position that day against our superior force both in terms of numbers and quality.

Ultimately our forces led by Myself , the Earl of Essex, and admirably supported by Lord Stanley managed to secure the prepared positron they had been tasked to capture. Our army did not have the stomach to continue what would have been a slaughter and graciously decided that the few enemy troops left on the battlefield would be allowed- honourably - to retire from the scene and hopefully learn from their error of judgement and misguided loyalty to a cause built on the foundations of illegitimacy. .

We acknowledge the courage of our foe and would welcome them as brothers to join and support our legitimate cause and question the leadership and judgement of our enemies senior commanders to allow such a one sided contest to occur in the first place. Let it be known i take no pleasure in the slaughter of fellow countrymen.

Your Noble Friend,


Perkins Welbeck
Earl Of Essex
Lord Lieutenant of Ireland
Warden of the Northern Marches
High Admiral of England

Duc de Beatee Arrives !!! - INVASION !!!

Invasion

The army of the Duc de Beateee has arrived on the shores of this kingdom of England in glorious fashion bursting through the host of Duke de Hathaway in a very convincing style. The cowardly Lancastrians lined the dunes as the French ships beached and disembarked their brave forces. They proceeded up the beach routing many thousands of iron shod billmen led by a so called noble knight. Some have previously described Francs Archers as "chicken" but these stout Gallic fellows certainly showed their mettle and together with the inspiringly accurate French gunners dispatched the billmen in short order.

The Lancastrian scum knights even left the area having been distracted by a handful of French Peasants allowing the bulk of the French army to successfully land and move to the nearby town where they took the castle by stealth, the garrison of which is now being buried beneath the dunes.

Another great victory to the Yorkists

Alistaire De Campbell
Scribe to the Glorious Dec De Beateee

The Queen Speaks

Well Sir Niknik,

Obviously this relates to a battle that went very differently to the glorious Lancastrian victory I witnessed where someone looking just like you failed to assault Daves position in support of his ally, whether through treachery, cowardice or incompetence I wouldnt know.

Your friend Queen Margaret

Lord Stanley The Younger - Latest Thoughts

Dearest Lords,

I have to take some issue with the recent comments issued by the Scottish element, namely;

1. Horde!! (Although there were two Yorkist Lords our numbers still failed to match that of the heathen Scots fighting in Lancastrian colours), they also had the advantage of secure flanks, narrow frontage, ditches and stakes over which we had to fight to get to the filthy dogs.

2. The only Lancastrians I saw praying were those under my sword at the end of the battle.

3. The only thing the Lancastrians held at the end of the day was a wake to mourn their numerous dead, they certainly did not hold their position as this was over-run by my lusty men. Although technically they did still hold it in a way, as most of their troops adorned the ground in a grisly array of death.

4. My guns crews were not slain but had merely withdrawn due to their powder being ineffective in the inclement weather.


My official head-counter Lord Darling (former chancellor and therefore brilliant bean-counter) said that he had counted over 100 dead felled by our arrows whilst we lost only 7 dead amongst our own number - A victory in any mans book- what happened on the other half of the field was none of my concern!!!

I’ll be quite happy to fight the remains of this army on any day of their Lords choosing!!

All the stuff about Fletch was true.


Lord Stanley the Younger –

“I seek him here I seek him there, my fathers slayer had better be ‘ware’’

Lancastrian Musings

We offer our greetings to all our noble subjects and allies.

We must celebrate our glorious triumphs in battle at Northampton and at Wakefield Common. The rebels have received two devastating defeats in the same week. Surely all must see that God is against them.

At Northampton our Scottish Friend defended the town and Priory against two rebel armies inflicting huge losses upon them and maintained his line of defence until night fell. The Rebel Earl of Essex revealed his popularity by fielding an army of foreign mercenaries. Stanley the Younger decided upon not supporting his allies assault for some mysterious reason so the Yorkists failed when by rights they should have easily swept our forces away. It is rumoured that 'Stanley the Younger' is a lookalike, the real Stanley having been kidnapped following a previous rout of Yorkist forces. Essex followed his usual practice of having huge numbers of his troops killed for no obvious reason.

At Wakefield Common our victory was even more decisive: Richard of York (self styled 'King' Richard), faced the forces of Margaret of Anjou and Lord Percy. All he had to do was leave Wakefield Castle, and take the road to Pontefract Castle to evade our forces. Instead he was cornered at Wakefield Common, believing that Lord Percy would aid him. Alas he was mistaken, for Percy had accepted Our forgiveness and deployed to attack Yorks forces. This he proceeded to do with skill and boldness. Anjous forces engaged Yorks all along his front and succeeded in turning back the rebels and eventually overwhelming their entire army.

At this point Richard could have shown his mettle and led his army to victory or death like a King. Instead he revealed his true nature; as his Men at Arms were hemmed in on all sides he slipped away from them and ran off to Pontefract, leaving his army to its fate. He boldly, bravely, ran away!

Richards army dissolved soon after and he was the only survivor. Our spies note that when interviewed by his allies after his heroic escape he confided "they were all expendable. I was okay and thats what mattered." Who could not want to follow this noble 'King' into battle?

We are grateful to our loyal and victorious generals and bestow upon them our thanks and the following gifts:

Our Scottish Friend is awarded the Lordship and Baronetcy of Houghton and Wyton, including the new village and garrison of Wyton on the Hill. He may also freely sack and destroy our disloyal towns of Lakenheath and Hendon at a time of his choosing.

We recognise the loyalty of our Noble Lord Percy and forgive him any sins and misjudgements that he may have had before. He has served Us bravely in battle and We award him the town and Castle of Wakefield, the Lordship and Baronetcy of the Alconburys.

Queen Margaret of Anjou's forces were led by a common soldier going by the name of 'Big Lawrence'. In our gratitude for his fighting skills, loyalty and success in the field of battle we award him the Lordship of Stewkely including Stewkely Meadows, and he is hereafter recognised as Her Majesties Champion.

In addition we must celebrate these crushing victories. All loyal nobles are instructed to have two days feasting and general debauchery, during which it will be in order to hang anyone bearing the name Richard or York without penalty as part of our victory celebrations. Peasants may have one half day off work to go to Church to thank God for saving them from the Yorkists.

For King Henry Plantagenet

A Highland Viewpoint

Gentlemen,

1. Please excuse the tardiness of this missive, as I have been incredibly busy after the dastardly attack by overwhelming Yorkist cowards round the bends in the river near Northampton. The 2 Yorkist lords, (Fletch & Nick) assembled their hordes (and my, they were big hordes) and brought them thundering across England's green and pleasant fields to bring death and destruction to my vastly outnumbered force, which was reduced by having many of their nobility attending prayers, and who therefore missed the battle.

2. That notwithstanding, the noble Lancastrian force bravely held their ground in the face of overwhelming odds, and even launched an audacious counterattack on Fletch's craven mercenary pikemen. This threw lord Fletch into severe panic, with various of his troops running in abject panic, while his noble knights, not having any counterparts to worry about, endeavoured to charge the advancing Lancastrians but botching up their manoeuvre and getting tangled up in a ditch - thereby playing no part in the battle. Some scurrilous bounders actually suggested that this was done quite deliberately, as a commander as able as Lord Fletch couldn't possibly make such a basic blunder, and that the Yorkist knights were afraid to face the Lancastrian infantry! Whatever the reason, the Yorkie bar Knights played no part in their armies endeavours, but almost joined their infantry in the route!.

3. Meanwhile, Lord Nick was fighting a much more canny battle. Advancing slowly, he was using his far greater volume of bowmen to whittle the gallant Lancastrian numbers. It wasn't without cost; the Lancastrian bowmen, incensed at the treatment they were receiving, showered the 2 Yorkist cannons with arrows, wiping out their crews. So as night began to fall, the Lancastrians were desperately holding their position by the river, having suffered dreadful losses from Lord Nick's archers, while Lord Fletch's forces were in complete disarray, with dead bodies strewn across the battlefield, and men routing in terror from the gallent band of Lancastrian defenders. An epic result for a hideously outnumbered Lancastrian force, and one that is thirsting for revenge.

One very enraged Lancastrian supporter.

TREACHERY TREACHERY TREACHERY !!

Gentlemen, another After Action Report from 'Sabre' our independent and totally impartial reporter who is covering the conflict.
Ian
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Yesterday on the green fields of the Sandal Castle Common, King Richard (Ian) offered the seemingly outnumber Lancastrian scum, the Duke of Somerset (Lawrence), the opportunity to join with the God fearing Yorkist cause. The Lancastrian trash spurned the Kings generous terms, and sought to gain an early advantage by advancing on the King and his army whilst they were at prayer. Enraged at such unchivalrous action the King Richard led his most noble knights in a glorious charge across the battlefield. As the cowardly mercenaries hired by the unworthy Lancastrians fled in abject terror, victory looked certain for the King. However, Percy Earl of Northumberland (Dave H) at that very moment did reveal that he had treacherously switched sides to the godless Lancastrian cause. Long will the Yorkist cause remember this action, and not rest until his rotting head adorns the walls of York. As the King cleaved his way through the Duke of Somerset's army he was heard to say, "I shall have my vengeance, in this life or the next !". In the fading light the remaining Yorkists sold their lives dearly cutting down hundreds of the ungodly Lancastrian filth before they eventually succumbed under the greater weight of numbers.

The King back as his Headquarters has declared that a reward of £ 500 will be paid to who ever can bring him the head of the despicable traitor Percy, and called on the Pope himself to excommunicate the coward, to ensure that his godless soul rots in the very deepest pits of hell.

Sabre
Senior Reporter at the Yorkist Times.

Battle of Tillyfield - Skirmish at Nibley Green

Battle of Tillyfield - Skirmish at Nibley Green On 10th Jun (By Dave Till)

I write this to report the emphatic victory of the ‘Yorkist’ forces at the battle of Tillyfield. Such a one-sided victory will surely never be forgotten. Despite the many heroic deeds performed on this battlefield the true glory belongs to John de la Pole, Earl of Lincoln and his brave force that created the foundation for this victory.

Whilst preparing for the upcoming battle, news arrived within the Yorkist camp of another force approaching the expected battlesite. This force apparently being led by the Earl of Lincolns father. A decision was taken to despatch a small force to intercept, so as to ascertain their loyalties. Orders were given to delay their progress and prevent them reaching Tillyfield during the battle, also to seize any supplies of arrows ensuring they were in Yorkist hands. The Earl of Lincoln certain that his father’s loyalties were with the Yorkist cause volunteered to lead this force to prevent any ‘misunderstandings’.

Arriving at Nibley Green, Lincoln found an Army arrayed in front of him. He hastily placed his force on the field, still confident of his fathers affections he felt confident to place himself clearly visible at the front of his army. A view confirmed when troops left his fathers force and dashed across the battlefield swelling his ranks by a further 20%.

However his father’s views had been poisoned against the legitimate king and an unexpected bombardment ensued. Lincoln decided to rush across the battlefield in an attempt to speak to his father but he was not prepared to listen. The skirmish came to an end when a freak shot from one of the Lancastrian cannon unseated Lincoln from his horse and he had to helped from the field, reports of his death can not as yet be confirmed. However his brave actions did successfully delay this supporting force and all their arrows were in Yorkist possession by the end.

A word of caution against complacency though for the Yorkist cause. It must be remembered that the ultimate victors in any conflict sometimes distort history. Should the unthinkable occur and Lancastrian supported ambitions be successful, the truth about the heroic and brave delaying action will no doubt be distorted and claimed as a Lancastrian success whilst major victories such as that at Tillyfield will be striken from history for all time. Be warned!

Justice will be done as Nibley Green social services have been alerted to this child abuse.

Next Battles

June will see more of the great Lords of England join the fray.

June 10th
The Battle of Nibley Green, 1460: Pole v's Pole

June 17th
The Battle of Northampton, 1460: Essex and Stanley the Younger v's Scots Mercenaries

Additional acenarios for 1460 (sign up and claim your victory).

The Siege of London, 1460: 2 Yorkists v's 1 Lancastrian
The Battle of Worksop, 1460: 1 Yorkist v's 1 Lancastrian
The Battle of Wakefield, 1460: 1 Yorkist v's 2 Lancastrians

Other news:

Lord Grey has committed himself to the Lancastrian cause.

King Richard has seen fit to recognise the claim of Perkin Warbeck, annointing him as Lord Essex.

Campaign Information

Results so far:

Followers of the Lancastrian cause have made great claims as to their victories so far in the campaign. Some protagonists on behalf of the Yorkist cause have disputed the accuracy of these claims. Most have seen fit to keep their counsel to themselves.

Oh the rancour, the bleating. Love it. Please keep it up chaps its what campaigns are all about.

As the totally impartial campaign co-ordinator I can only go on what is reported. I do not listen to verbal "results" they could of course be biased and an attempt to pervert the course of history.

I am sure that you would all agree that a totally impartial campaign co-ordinator would not lower himself into such a position.

No instead the campaign will be judged by modern day historians who can use the carefully transcripted writings of the past to present thir own modern interpretation of the events of 500 (or so) years ago.

I present the Richard III Society as an example of this - despite the undisputed facts they still consider that complete and utter b*stard as being a jolly good chap.

There are two perfectly good ways of communicating such information - a simple e-mail to the group or posting on the campaign blog. I will happily post reports to the blog if requested. It is worth at least one player from a battle to report upon it or otherwise the events will simply be a postscript and lost for all time.

Unlike other campaigns, as you have found out you only get games if you "sign up" for them. Likewise you only get credit for your victories if you claim them, after all with nothing to go on the historians have nothing to re-interpret history from.

I hope that this is all clear.

Mike - the totally impartial campaign co-ordinator.

Not to confused with

WILLIAM DE LA POLE, Earl, Marquis, and Duke of Suffolk, chief minister of Henry VI, favourite of Margaret of Anjou, champion of St John of Blore.

He of course would not be so impartial.

Red Rose Rising

Good fellows yet more tidings on behalf of our true king, King Henry.

A new tide of Yorkist supporters has been halted on the beaches of Dover. The traitorous Northumberland landed with huge numbers of French dogs to be met by a small but infinitely brave group of true Englishmen, hastily brought together under the banner of the Duke of Sussex.

Raising the battle cry “St John of Blore” our gallant men turned back wave after wave inflicting horrendous casualties on our foe.

Northumberland seeing his rag tag army mowed down in their droves scuttled off with his tail between his legs. A sorrier looking cur you will never see.

God was with us for the brave men fighting for the true cause suffered light casualties.

Colpethe Cartwright
Squire in the service of the house of Lancaster

YORKIST LIES

The REAL Battle of Huntingdon 1459

Well, the "independant" reporter was obviously commenting on a different battle. After the bold Scots, with their heroic Lancastrian allies, advanced across the field into the hailstorm of cowardly Yorkisk bowfire, the gallant few assaulted the town walls. Prior to reaching the walls, the Lancastrian bowmen brought such firepower down on some stupid Yorkist levy bowmen, that they broke, never to rally. First blood to the good guys! The Irish Gallowglass, supporting the Scots as they obviously know whose side God is on, attacked some scury scum crossbowmen hiding behind one of the town's outer walls. The craven crossbowmen kept dodging the lethal axes of the Irishmen, and thought salvation was at hand when some Yorkist nobility (nobility? NOBILITY?!?) charged into the flank of the axemen. Who stoutly held, their massive axes laying low the odd mounted gentry. This was too much for the lowly mercenaries, who promply fled. This caused yet more crossbowmen to turn tail, not wanting to face the wrath of the real warriors.

Now unsupported by any friends, the Yorkie Bar knights were taken in the rear by some Irish Kerns, gleefully taking advantage of the knights preoccupation with the Gallowglass, and this was too much for the gentry; they broke, and were cut down to a man in the following pursuit.

While all this was happening in the East of the town, the bold Scots general (a distant relative to the Spaniard "who had no name") was leading his German pikemen in an assault against the western ramparts. Alas, the heroic troops could make no headway, so the general, seeing an opportunity to lay down some devastating bowfire against the pretender, who had advanced (yes, I know, staggering isn't it?!?) into an interesting position. So the good guys broke of their attack against the town, but the chivalrous bowmen decided not to shoot at the pretender! How outrageous was that? So the Lancastrians, in full control of the Eastern half of the town, started to regroup their entire army - all of whom were still on the battlefield - ready to initiate another co-ordinated assault against the battered defenders, when the prentender asked for a truce (something to do with his bedtime?).

So, when the following morning arises, the victorious Lancastrians expect to be in complete control of the town, with the Yorkist's having slunk away in the night. And far from the Scots general avoiding combat, he was in the front rank of his men, on foot, battering at the walls and the defenders hiding behind them, while the pretender remained well to the rear, sat on his horse, ready for a speedy getaway.

What can I say? That's what happened. Who do I get to fight next? And surely my reputation grows? Stormed my way into and through 2 towns now. When is some Yorki "hero" actually going to give me a proper fight?

He also who has no name.

The Battle Of Huntingdon 1459

Gentlemen, we are indeed again incredibly fortunate to have an After Action Report from 'Sabre' our independent and totally impartial reporter who has recently being covering the conflict.
Ian

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VICTORY FOR KING RICHARD !

King Richard (Ian) whilst undertaking his royal duties in the town of Huntingdon yesterday, hastened to its defence when a Scottish looting mob led by Lord Bravetart (Dave I) in the pay of the filthy Lancastrian scum attempted to attack the town. The King with only a small retinue and grossly outnumbered put up a spirited and masterly defence from behind the town walls. Although the unwashed trash did penetrate into a small part of the town, the quality of the defence was such, and the losses taken so horrendous, that in front of his entire army, the cowardly Bravetart did flee in front of the slaughter, when faced with the possibility of having the fight the King himself in personal combat.

As night fell, the thousands of Lancastrian dead were collected and burned like the vermin they are, and the 35 god fearing men of the Kings army who fell in combat were buried with full military honours. A sad day indeed for their families, however they can take solace from the fact that they gave their lives for a noble and worthy cause which on this day was an Total Victory for the god fearing Yorkist cause.

Sabre
Senior Reporter at the Yorkist Times.