In the army of King Richard, the Duke of Norfolk and his son the Earl of Surrey had the honour of leading the van, consisting principally of archers; the main body (or main battle, as it was at that time called) was led by the King in person; and the rear was commanded by the Earl of Northumberland. [164]
The van of the Earl of Richmond’s army, consisting also principally of archers, was commanded by the Earl of Oxford, the main body by the Earl of Richmond and his uncle Jasper Earl of Pembroke, the right wing by Sir Gilbert Talbot, and the left by Sir John Savage.
Cannons and other descriptions of firearms, were in common use by the English in war at that period, and we cannot dispute the fact of their having been used at the battle of Bosworth, because we know, from the accounts handed down to us by Philippe de Commines, the historian, that the King of France, besides advancing money, furnished the Earl of Richmond with some pieces of artillery for his expedition against Richard, “une bonne somme d’argent, et quelques pieces d’artillerie, et ainsi fut conduict, avec le navire de Normandie, pour descendre en Galles, dont il estoit;” [165a] besides which, guns are mentioned in the act of attainder of 1st Henry VII. [165b] passed against the adherents of Richard who took part in the battle; and cannon balls of a small size have been dug up upon Bosworth Field. [165c]
The principal commanders on the part of Richard were, the Duke of Norfolk [165d] (slain in the battle), his son the Earl of Surrey, [165e] the Earl of Northumberland, [165f] Francis Viscount Lovel, [166a] John Lord Zouch, [166b] Walter Lord Ferrers of Chartley, [166c] Sir Richard Ratcliffe, [166d] Sir Gervase Clifton, [166e] and Sir Robert Brackenbury. [166f] All the four last-mentioned commanders were slain in the battle.
The principal commanders on Henry’s part were, the Earl of Pembroke, [166g] the Earl of Oxford, [166h] Sir William Brandon, [167a] who was Henry’s standard-bearer; Sir Gilbert Talbot, [167b] of Grafton in Worcestershire; Sir John Savage, [167c] Sir John Byron, [167d] and, at an opportune time after the battle had commenced, Lord Stanley. [167e] The only person of note of Henry’s army who was slain in the battle was Sir William Brandon, his standard-bearer; and historians inform us, that he was slain by Richard with his own hand. Richard made a courageous and intrepid charge [168a] and attempt, with some of his forces, to cut his way to Henry, and to terminate the battle by despatching him; and in his charge slew Sir William Brandon, and unhorsed Sir John Cheney. Richard’s daring enterprise at first seemed likely to be attended with success, but was frustrated by Sir William Stanley, [168b] who then declared for Henry, and threw the weight of 3000 fresh soldiers into the scale of the latter, and attacked Richard’s right flank.
This appears to have been the important period of the battle alluded to by Shakespeare:—
Catesby.—“Rescue my Lord of Norfolk! Rescue! Rescue!
The king enacts more wonders than a man,
Daring an opposite to every danger;
His horse is slain, and all on foot he fights,
Seeking for Richmond in the throat of death.
Rescue, fair Lord, or else the day is lost!”Shakespeare’s Richard III., act v., scene 4.
(Bosworth Field.)
It was at a critical moment that Sir William Stanley declared for Henry, because, if he had deferred his aid a very short time longer, he might have deferred it for ever; for fortune seemed at that moment to be propitious to Richard’s enterprise and invincible courage; and Henry was in the utmost danger, and it was probable that he must either have perished or fled.
The consequence of Sir William Stanley’s opportune and most valuable assistance was, that Richard and most of the noblemen, knights, and soldiers, who accompanied him in the charge, were surrounded by superior numbers and slain, and Henry obtained the victory. [169a]
It is not known with any degree of certainty what the respective numbers were in the hostile armies, but it is supposed upon reasonable grounds, that Richard brought into the field about 12,000 men, that Henry brought 7000, Lord Stanley 5000, and Sir William Stanley 3000; [169b] consequently, Richard’s forces were considerably more numerous than his enemy’s at the commencement of the battle; but were considerably outnumbered by those on the side of Henry, after Lord Stanley and Sir William Stanley had joined him. Authors differ very much respecting the number of the slain; some state it to have been very considerable. Mr. Hutton, on the contrary, inclines to think that it was only about 900 on both sides, [169c] of which by far the greatest carnage was in the pursuit. Probably his estimate is too low; but, as the battle did not last very long, and as the principal part of Richard’s forces were indifferent or reluctant to fight in his cause, it may perhaps be reasonably inferred that the slain did not very greatly exceed that number. Hall, Holinshed, and Grafton, concur in stating, that the number of the slain was not much more than 1000, which may probably be correct.