k, and were soon joined by the Duke of Somerset and the
Earl of Devon. "Parliament being prorogued in December, the Duke of
York and the Earl of Salisbury hastened from London with a large armed
force towards York, but coming unexpectedly upon the troops of the
Duke of Somerset at Worksop, their vanguard was destroyed. On the 21st
of December, however, they reached Sandal Castle with six thousand
men, and kept their Christmas there, notwithstanding that the enemy
under the Duke of Somerset and the Earl of Northumberland were close
by at Pontefract" (_William Wyrcester_). On the 30th of December the
opposing forces met at Wakefield, and in the terrible battle which
ensued Richard, Duke of York was slain, his son, Lord Rutland, was
murdered by Lord Clifford while escaping from the battlefield, and the
Earl of Salisbury and others were taken as prisoners to Pontefract,
where they were beheaded.

Edward, son of Richard Duke of York, was afterwards joined by his
cousin, Richard, Earl of Warwick, the famous "kingmaker." They
hastened northwards and met the Lancastrians at Towton, where a
decisive battle was fought, and won by the Yorkists. Edward was then
recognised by Parliament and proclaimed king as Edward IV., and Henry
VI. was attainted of high treason.

IN 1461 EDWARD THE FOURTH

called his first Parliament at Westminster, and concluded the session
by the unusual but popular measure of a speech from the throne to the
Commons delivered by himself. It was during this session that the
statute was passed prohibiting the great and rich from giving or
wearing any liveries or signs of companionship, except while serving
under the king; from receiving or maintaining plunderers, robbers,
malefactors, or unlawful hunters; and from allowing dice and cards in
their houses beyond the twelve days of Christmas (Parl. Rolls, 488).

The Christmas festival was kept by Edward IV. with great magnificence,
the king's natural inclinations leading him to adopt whatever was
splendid and costly. "At the Christmas festivities he appeared in a
variety of most costly dresses, of a form never seen before, which he
thought displayed his person to considerable advantage" (_Croyland
Chronicler_). Sir Frederick Madden's narrative of the visit of the
Lord of Granthuse, Governor of Holland, to Edward, in 1472, paints in
glowing colours the luxury of the English Court. On his arrival at
Windsor he was received by Lord Hastings, who conducted him to