n soon to assume so formidable an
appearance that Margaret found it would be best for her to retire
toward the north again. She of course took with her the king and the
Prince of Wales.

[Sidenote: Advance of Edward.]

At the same time, Edward, the young Duke of York, advanced toward
London. The whole city was excited to the highest pitch of enthusiasm
at his approach. A large meeting of citizens declared that Henry
should reign no longer, but that they would have Edward for king.

[Sidenote: London.]

When Edward arrived in London he was received by the whole population
as their deliverer. A grand council of the nobles and prelates was
convened, and, after solemn deliberations, Henry was deposed and
Edward was declared king.

Two days after this a great procession was formed, at the head of
which Edward rode royally to Westminster and took his seat upon the
throne.

[Sidenote: Battle of Towton.]

Margaret made one more desperate effort to retrieve the fortunes of
her family by a battle fought at a place called Towton. This battle
was fought in a snow-storm. It was an awful day. Margaret's party were
entirely defeated, and nearly thirty thousand of them were left dead
upon the field.

[Sidenote: Flight of the queen.]

As soon as the result was known, Margaret, taking with her her husband
and child and a small retinue of attendants, fled to the northward.
She stopped a short time at the Castle of Alnwick,[15] a strong-hold
belonging to one of her friends; but, finding that the forces opposed
to her were gathering strength every day and advancing toward her, and
that the country generally was becoming more and more disposed to
yield allegiance to the new king, she concluded that it would not be
safe for her to remain in England any longer.

[Footnote 15: See map of the border at the commencement of
chapter xix.]

[Sidenote: Alnwick.]

So, taking her husband and the little prince with her, and also a few
personal attendants, she left Alnwick, and crossed the frontier into
Scotland, a fugitive and an exile, and with no hope apparently of ever
being able to enter England again.

CHAPTER XVIII.

A ROYAL COUSIN.

[Sidenote: 1461.]

[Sidenote: Margaret in Scotland.]

[Sidenote: Her friends.]

As soon as Margaret escaped to Scotland, far from being disheartened
by her misfortunes, she began at once to concert measures for raising
a new army and going into England again, with a