Proclamation of E4 as king

• • After Wakefield – Edward = EOMarch + now DoYork, marched from the West to intercept Lanc. forced heading south BUT then received news of Welsh Lancastrian force under Jasper Tudor + the Earl of Wiltshire
  • Changed course of army + met force at crossroads of Mortimer’s Cross
• • 2nd-3rd Feb – Small-scale battle
  • Strange conditions observed – three suns seen in the sky!!! York (18 years old) interpreted this as a good omen + was victorious
  • Jasper Tudor + Wiltshire escaped
  • Owen Tudor (Henry’s stepfather) was captured + executed
  • Edward quickly moved on to meet Warwick in Oxfordshire + entered London on 27th Feb 1461 after hearing of MOA retreat  
• • 4th March 1461 - E4 declared himself the king – encouraged + supported by Warwick
  • Only way Yorkists could legitimise their rule as no longer could claim to be acting on Henry’s behalf
  • Justified this by arguing Henry had lost claim to the throne by killing York + failing to honour the Accord