Elizabeth Wydville In Sanctuary

Henry VI's Readeption and Edward IV's Restoration

Nov 5, 2008

Elizabeth Wydville's story continues. She faces danger during the Readeption of Henry VI. (She is usually known as Elizabeth Woodville in history books.)

The Earl of Warwick restored Henry VI to his throne, with some help from Louis XI of France and Margaret of Anjou. His forces invaded in Warwick’s forces invaded in September 1470.

Sanctuary in Westminster Abbey

Edward was deposed and forced to flee abroad. Elizabeth was forced to flee to Sanctuary at Westminster Abbey, as she feared for her life and that of her unborn child. She was seven months pregnant.

Her mother, Jacquetta of Luxembourg, and her three daughters accompanied Elizabeth. Thomas Millyng, the Abbot of Westminster, provided the best three rooms for her comfort. Her physician, Dr Serigo, was also a regular visitor. A London butcher supplied meat to feed her household.

The future Edward V was born on 2 November. He was baptised without any pomp or ceremony by the sub-prior of Westminster.

Warwick was killed at the Battle of Barnet on 14 April. Edward pursued Queen Margaret’s army. They clashed at Tewksbury on 4 May where Margaret of Anjou was captured. Prince Edward of Lancaster (Henry VI’s son) and several prominent nobles lost their lives.

Edward IV Regains His Throne

Elizabeth remained in Sanctuary until March 1471 when Henry VI was once again deposed and returned to his prison.

Elizabeth produced six more children—four daughters and two sons. Their third son died in infancy. He arranged grand marriages for his children as part of his foreign policies.

Unfortunately, Edward IV died before his time, aged 41, in 1483 from suspected pneumonia. He had nominated his brother, Richard of Gloucester, as Lord Protector, as Edward V was only twelve years old.

Richard III

Elizabeth did not trust her brother-in-law so she again fled into Sanctuary with her daughters and her youngest son. She feared retribution as Gloucester disapproved of her marriage and he loathed her greedy relatives.

Gloucester took the young Edward V into his care. He persuaded Elizabeth to allow her youngest son to join his brother in the Tower. Elizabeth never saw her sons again.

Robert Stillington, Bishop of Bath and Wells, claimed Edward committed bigamy. His ‘first wife’, Eleanor Butler, was allegedly alive at the time of his secret wedding to Elizabeth. Their marriage was declared invalid and their children declared illegitimate. Edward V was deposed so Gloucester claimed the throne as Richard III.

NB: Elizabeth's family name is often, and incorrectly, spelt "Woodville" according to Alison Weir, The Princes in the Tower, p 19

Sources

Falkus, Gila, The Life and Times of Edward IV, Weidenfeld and Nicolson, London, 1981

Lewis, Brenda Ralph, Kings & Queens of England: Murder, Mayhem, and Scandal--1066 to the Present Day, Reader's Digest, Pleasantville NY, 2003

Starkey, David, Monarchy: From the Middle Ages To Modernity, HarperCollins Publishers, London, 2006

Weir, Alison, Lancaster & York: The Wars of the Roses, Pimlico (an imprint of Random House), London, 1998

Weir, Alison, The Princes in the Tower, Pimlico (an imprint of Random House), London, 1992

Williams, Neville, The Lives of the Kings & Queens of England [edited by Antonia Fraser], Weidenfeld & Nicholson, London, (reprinted 2005), Edward IV

Williamson, David, Debrett's Kings and Queens of Britain, Webb & Bower (Publishers) Limited, London, 1986

The copyright of the article Elizabeth Wydville In Sanctuary in Late Middle Ages is owned by Carolyn M Cash. Permission to republish Elizabeth Wydville In Sanctuary in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.