April 16th 1471: The Lancastrians take stock
Margaret had met with her closest allies on 15th April, and they spent a great deal of time assessing their situation. At Cerne they got the news of the defeat at Barnet and Warwick’s death. It must have come as a blow to Margaret, and a whole new plan was needed. Somerset made light of this defeat. He did not like Warwick and undoubtedly thought that he would have been a problem to them. They decided to press on, and raise troops in the west country. The Arrivall described the plan:
Thither came unto them Edmond, called Duke of Somerset, Thomas Courtney, [sic] called the Earl of Devonshire, with others, and welcomed them into England; comforted them, and put them in good hope that, all be it they had lost one field, whereof the Queen had knowledge the same day, Monday…, and was therefore right heavy and sorry, yet it was to think that they should have right good speed, and that, for that loss, their party was never the feebler, but rather stronger, and that they doubted nothing but that they should assemble so great puissance of people in divers parts of England, truly assured unto their party, that it should not more lie in the Kings power to resist them. And in that country they would begin. And so, forthwith, they sent all about in Somersetshire, Dorsetshire, and part of Wiltshire, for to arready and array the people by a certain day, such, algats, as the said lords, and their partakers, afore that had greatly laboured to that intent, preparing the country by all means to them possible. And, for that they would gather and arrays up the power of Devonshire and Cornwall, they drew from thence more westward to the city of Exeter, moving Edward, called Prince, and his mother, the Queen, to do the same; trusting that their presence-showing in the country should cause much more, and the sooner, the people to come to their help and assistance.
Letters to their friends were dictated and sealed. Among these was Sir Jasper Tudor, Earl of Pembroke, in Wales. The party left for Exeter, to tap a rich seam of Lancastrian support amongst the nobility of Cornwall and Devon.