England
War and Devils
Buckingham's attempts to appease York without destroying them had by 1459 obviously failed. The Queen and other Lancastrians decided that the only way to deal with York was to destroy him. They did this under a veil of legality, by way of something called a Bill of Attainder.
Technically, this was nothing more ominous than the crown asserting its right to lay claim to land held illegally. Bills of Attainder had been employed by the crown for two centuries, but from time to time they had also been used to destroy an overmighty vassal by seizing his power base.
At a Parliament at Coventry, York's lands were attainted. York decided once again that he must deal with the king personally. The king, though, was ensconced at Kenilworth Castle, doing pretty much whatever his advisors told him to do. If York wanted to see Henry, he was going to have to fight his way there.
York was joined by the Earl of Salisbury and the Earl of Warwick, who now returned from Calais. In October they joined up and occupied Worcester, but fell back before royal forces to Ludlow. They took a stand at nearby Ludford Bridge.
It went badly for the Yorkists from the beginning. More troops were supposed to arrive, but did not. Anthony Trollope, commanding the vanguard, went over to the Lancastrians. He knew the Yorkist dispositions in detail. That night, York and Salisbury and Warwick fled in panic. York went to Ireland, while the two Nevilles went to Calais, as did the Earl of March (the future Edward IV). The army, now leaderless, surrendered without a fight.
It looked like a complete victory for the house of Lancaster, and they were after revenge. The following month, Parliament—a parliament known as the "Parliament of Devils"—accused York and twenty of his followers of treason. The estates of all were attainted.