On the night when Edward IV won his crown back from Henry VI, he had to decide how to deal with those who had still been backing Henry during the day.
1471
King Henry VI 1422-1461, 1470-1471 to King Edward IV 1461-1470, 1471-1483
In 1461, Edward of York crushed Henry VI at Towton, and at just eighteen was proclaimed king of England. Henry was captured in 1465 and sent to the Tower. In September 1470, his supporters turned the tables and drove Edward onto the Continent, but their songs died on their lips the following April, when Edward IV came storming back, and the citizens of London welcomed him with open arms.
spelling modernised
WHEN the duke of Somerset and other of king Henry’s friends, saw the world thus suddenly changed every man fled, and in haste shifted for himself,* leaving king Henry alone, as an host* that should be sacrificed, in the Bishops palace of London, adjoining to Paul’s church, not knowing of whom nor what counsel to ask, as he which with trouble and adversity was clearly dulled and appalled, in which place he was by king Edward taken, and again committed to prison and captivity.
This was a sudden change, for the same day, the Archbishop of York to the intent that the people might more firmly stick on his side, caused him to ride about London, apparelled in a gown of blue velvet, with a great company crying ‘king Henry, king Henry’ (which sight as much pleased the citizens as a fire painted on the wall, warmed the old woman) not knowing that or* night, his triumphing should be turned to trembling, and his solemnity converted into mourning, such chance was to him provided.
* ‘Shift for oneself’ means ‘manage as best one can without help’.
* From the Latin word hostia meaning ‘victim’.
* A variant spelling in Middle English for ‘ere’, meaning ‘before’.