‘They are playing hide and seek it would seem,’ Wiltshire grumbled. He had intended to wave the king’s standard, which he had the honour of carrying, boldly in the face of the opposing forces, to make them aware that they would be committing an act of treason by attacking the king’s person. King Henry himself was stationed in the town’s central Market Place with Buckingham and his bodyguard. ‘If it has no purpose here I must take the standard back to the king,’ he said, beckoning his squire to bring his horse. ‘You take over command of my men, Jasper.’

‘I will but you should know that I have no experience of battle, only the theory …’

‘There you are then.’ He cut me off, re-mounted and shouldered the standard. ‘Just apply the theory and all will be well. I doubt if there will be conflict anyway. Buckingham’s orders are to avoid civil war and so it will likely be a repeat of York’s march on London three years ago – all bluff and bluster with his heralds conveying spurious declarations of loyalty and of bringing the people’s grievances before the king. York and Warwick will be forgiven and we will all continue on our merry way.’

I very much hoped Wiltshire was right but I watched him ride away with serious misgivings. Our captains were lingering by the bar awaiting instructions and I had little notion of what to tell them but did my best to hide my inexperience by issuing orders to establish a hidden defence, using the network of lanes and alleyways off the main highway to deploy the troops where they might spring a surprise on any incursion. Soon after the men had concealed themselves, banners displaying the Duke of York’s Falcon and Fetterlock and the Earl of Salisbury’s Verteagle began to emerge from the suburban gardens of the houses lining the roadway beyond the bar. It appeared that York and Salisbury had had the same idea of concealment but their troops were now mustering to make a rush for the centre of the town.

I bid my herald give the signal to emerge and confront them and at the same time loud shouts and trumpet calls sounded behind us and I heard the unmistakable whoosh and thud of arrows finding their mark. I realized with dismay that the Yorkists had split their army and that while his allies kept us occupied, Warwick was moving in on the Market Square from the east. We were caught between the two forces. In the absence of Lord Wiltshire it would be impossible to command on both fronts and so I had no choice but to turn my back on Warwick’s attack and order the men to engage the troops approaching rapidly from the north.