The New Student's Reference Work/Warwick, Richard Neville

Warwick, Richard Neville, Earl of, called the king-maker, was born about 1420. He was a son of the earl of Salisbury, but through his wife obtained the estates and title of Earl of Warwick. In the Wars of the Roses he sided with the duke of York and won for him the battle of St. Albans, receiving in recompense the governorship of Calais and command of the English fleet for five years. At the battle of Towton, near York, the followers of Lancaster were gaining ground, when Warwick, riding up to Edward, duke of York, and getting down from his horse, which he shot in the head as a signal for an attack without retreat, said: "Sire, let him flee who will, but by this cross I will stand by him who will stand by me." The Yorkist party won, and Edward was crowned king in London, June 22, 1461. Edward's marriage with Elizabeth Woodville and that of his brother Clarence to Warwick's daughter made a breach between the two, which ended in the battle of Edgecote, where Edward was made a prisoner. After a partial reconciliation and another insurrection, Warwick openly deserted to the Lancastrian party under Queen Margaret, his son-in-law Clarence being promised the succession to the throne. Edward IV fled to Holland, and the imprisoned monarch Henry VI was restored, but only for a few months. Edward returned, with an army of 2,000 Englishmen; Clarence deserted Warwick and came to his aid; Henry was again sent to the Tower; and at the battle of Barnet Warwick's forces were defeated and Warwick was slain (April 14, 1471). He lived royally, owning 100 manors, the city of Worcester and the Islands of Guernsey, Jersey, Alderney and Sark. At his house in London six oxen were usually eaten at a breakfast, and he daily feel 30,000 guests. He is called The Last of the Barons. See Baronage of England by Dugdale and History of England by Lingard.