II. In the Forest
They camped with others at Royston until the arrival of the three Richards: Richard of York, Richard of Warwick and Richard of Salisbury, on May 20. Two days later found the Yorkists encamped outside St. Albans, with the Lancastrians in the town. After much parleying the Yorkists advanced to the attack. The Duke of York led on one wing, the Earl of Salisbury on the other, while John was with the Earl of Warwick in the center. The palisades at this point were old and rotten and the ditch dry. They were soon passed and the defenders driven back or killed.
“Come with me, Jabez,” said John as they advanced, “I know a way.”
“Surely, at the side of the house next the Checquers, the side door at the stairway where we met Rhoda,” said Jabez.
“Aye,” said John, “but go quietly along by the bushes that we be not seen.”
But they were seen, and an arrow found lodging in Jabez’ breast, who fell, while John reached and passed behind a projecting buttress that hid a small doorway. This opened on a stair, up which he passed to a window fronting on Checquers Street where he posted himself and began shooting at the Lancastrians in the street below. He had been closely followed by numerous archers and several men at arms. The archers posted themselves at the other windows while the men at arms broke into the rooms below, killed those posted there and issued forth into the street from the doorway. Presently Richard of Warwick issued forth into the street and led the fighting while other Yorkist archers broke into the houses on the other side of the street and shot from the windows, all the while shouting: “A Warwick! a Warwick!” Here you saw one fall with his brains dashed out, there another with a broken arm, a third with a cut throat and a fourth with a pierced chest, and the whole street was full of dead corpses.[[1]]
As the Lancastrians broke and fled in confusion, John remembered Lisbeth and Blanche, unprotected. There was his place of duty. Straightway he descended and pushed his way along the crowded road to the house in Dagnal Lane in time to head the rabble who, crazed with blood and drink, had begun to sack the town.
“Come with me!” he called to the frightened pair, bursting in at the door, “but bring warm clothing; we must even sleep afield this night.” So saying he hurriedly filled a basket, caught up some wraps and started northward toward an angle of the palisade and ditch.
The flight of the vanquished was in three directions: Northwest toward Dunstable, along Watling Street, North toward Harpenden and southwest toward Watford.
Breaking down some palisades, John helped the women over the ditch and the three ran toward the shelter of the forest. This gained, he helped them climb into the arms of an ancient beech, where they lay concealed while the pursued and pursuers thundered by down the road on either side, and a scattering few stole through the underbrush below and around them.