, Edward advanced his line,
and did execution with impunity on the dismayed Lancastrians: the bow,
however, was soon laid aside, and the sword decided the combat, which
ended in a total victory on the side of the Yorkists. Edward issued
orders to give no quarter.[**] The routed army was pursued to Tadcaster
with great bloodshed and confusion; and above thirty-six thousand men
are computed to have fallen in the battle and pursuit:[***] among these
were the earl of Westmoreland, and his brother Sir John Nevil, the
earl of Northumberland, the Lords Dacres and Welles, and Sir Andrew
Trollop.[****] The earl of Devonshire, who was now engaged in Henry's
party, was brought a prisoner to Edward; and was soon after beheaded by
martial law at York. His head was fixed on a pole erected over a gate
of that city; and the head of Duke Richard and that of the earl of
Salisbury were taken down, and buried with their bodies. Henry and
Margaret had remained at York during the action, but learning the defeat
of their army, and being sensible that no place in England could now
afford them shelter, they fled with great precipitation into Scotland.
They were accompanied by the duke of Exeter, who, though he had married
Edward's sister, had taken part with the Lancastrians; and by Henry,
duke of Somerset, who had commanded in the unfortunate battle of Touton,
and who was the son of that nobleman killed in the first battle of St.
Albans.

* Hall, fol. 186.

** Habington, p. 432.

*** Holingshed, p. 665. Grafton, p. 656. Hist. Croyl. Cont.
p. 533.

**** Hall, fol. 187. Habington, p. 433.

Notwithstanding the great animosity which prevailed between the
kingdoms, Scotland had never exerted itself with vigor, to take
advantage either of the wars which England carried on with France, or of
the civil commotions which arose between the contending families. James
I., more laudably employed in civilizing his subjects, and taming them
to the salutary yoke of law and justice, avoided all hostilities with
foreign nations; and though he seemed interested to maintain a balance
between France and England, he gave no further assistance to the
former kingdom in its greatest distresses, than permitting, and perhaps
encouraging, his subjects to enlist in the French service. After the
murder of that excellent prince, the minority of his son and successor,
James II., and the distractions incident to it, retained the Scots in
the sam