On this day in 1469, William Herbert, Earl of Pembroke and his brother were executed. Both had been captured the previous day after the battle of Edgecote Moor, fighting for King Edward IV against his former friend and ally, the Earl of Warwick.

William Herbert started his military career in France, defending the lands of the Lancastrian king, Henry VI of England. He gained significant experience during his time there until his capture at the Battle of Formigny in 1450, after which he was ransomed and returned home to the Welsh Marches. There he formed alliances with both the Duke of York and Richard Neville, the Earl of Warwick. Herbert was one of the men who found himself cultivating relationships with both Lancastrian lords and Yorkist ones during this period, which undoubtedly led to conflicts of conscience down the road.

Ultimately siding with the Yorks paid off for Herbert, as after Edward IV ascended to the throne, he was ennobled and eventually entrusted with the command of the Welsh forces protecting the Yorkist interests. In 1468, Harlech Castle surrendered to Herbert, and Edward IV rewarded him with the title of Earl of Pembroke, which had until recently belonged to the staunch Lancastrian, Jasper Tudor. Herbert also gained the wardship of Jasper’s nephew, the future Henry VII.

Favor with King Edward threatened Herbert’s other alliances, however. The Earl of Warwick, also known as the Kingmaker for his efforts to put the dukes of York on the English throne, took exception to the preference Edward showed to Herbert, who had previously been in Warwick’s service. Warwick also targeted the family of Edward’s queen, Elizabeth Woodville, whom he resented for their influence with the king. By 1469, Warwick had lost patience with the king and was ready to take matters into his own hands.

In July 1469, Warwick married his eldest daughter to Edward’s younger brother George, Duke of Clarence, without the king’s permission. Just days after the wedding, Warwick and Clarence invaded England with the intention of deposing Edward and setting up Clarence and Isabelle on the throne. Edward, initially not believing that his cousin and oldest friend was truly taking up arms against him, bid Warwick and his brother come to him for a meeting. Upon realizing that this was no mere disagreement to be solved with gentle words, Edward armed and rode out to confront the earl.

Herbert’s Welsh forces marched to meet the king’s near Edgecote Moor. Herbert even brought along his ward, Henry Tudor, to give the young nobleman an education in the art of war. Battle broke out with Warwick’s troops on July 26, and Edward’s army was defeated. Herbert and his brother, Richard, were captured and taken to Warwick at Northampton the next day. On July 27th, the two Herberts were beheaded.

Sources and Further Reading

http://www.luminarium.org/encyclopedia/williamherbert.htm

https://henrytudorsociety.com/2016/08/05/sir-william-herbert-earl-of-pembroke-edward-ivs-master-lock/

Johnson, L. (2020). Shadow King the life and death of Henry Vi. Head of Zeus, An Apollo book. 

Jones, D. (2015). Hollow crown – the wars of the roses and the rise of the tudors. Faber & Faber.