Discord at the royal court! Nevertheless the Yorkists receive good news!
‘I do desire an alliance with the finest Burgundy, says Edward the king’.
‘But Warwick disagreed and the benefits of aligning with France he did sing!’
The seeds of a Lancastrian return to power were already been sown. There were tensions at Court. King Edward agreed with his father in-law Richard Woodville, Earl Rivers that an alliance with Philip of Burgundy rather than France was the best option for England. However, Warwick disagreed and advocated an alignment with King Louis XI of France.
‘Listening to father-law Richard, well best to keep it in the family way!’
Does this mean that Warwick’s influence has had its day?
Anyway despite these differences good news was on its way!
Richard Woodville, Earl Rivers.
In the summer of 1465:
The fugitive king, Henry VI who had been in hiding in the north!
Was found lurking in Lancashire and to the Tower was brought forth!
Henry, escorted by Warwick was brought south and confined in the Tower of London. His wife Queen Margaret of Anjou was distraught, her hatred of Warwick became even more vehement.
King Henry VI in happier days.
However tensions at King Edward’s court were rising.
Loyalties sometimes firm, may with time begin to drift!
In June Edward’s action would widen the King Edward-Warwick rift!
The Lord Chancellor was Warwick’s younger brother, Archbishop George Neville. In June 1467, King Edward felt that the archbishop was less than trustworthy and dismissed him.
‘The widening gulf between the two men continued at quite a pace!
‘In the summer of 1468, Warwick received an almighty slap in the face?’
Margaret of York, the king’s sister married Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy. Warwick was beside himself with rage and a gnawing sense of acute disappointment. So furious was he that he kept away from court for some considerable time.
Warwick’s dream of an Anglo-French alliance now seemed further away than ever. In his anguish, Warwick proclaimed:
‘Ah, ha! So he is known as Charles the Bold!
Well, I hope that he is in his tomb before he is not so old!’
Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy
Nevertheless, there were reasons for Warwick to be cheerful. Certain developments calculated to undermine the king had had come to the fore.
Merry England was not exactly brimming with merriment at the close of the 1460s. King Edward had promised peace and prosperity but this had yet to materalise. Taxation was high and this caused the usual resentment.
Lawlessness stalked the land, the English people feared for life and limb as well as their hard earned possessions. Brigands were making their appearence at many a corner in England’s fair land.
‘Tis a pity that in this land of ours so green and fair!’
That many would like to venture out at night but they do not dare!
All of this and more brought the scent of rebellion to the air!’