England
A Rough Summer
Warwick and Clarence landed in Kent in late July, 1469. Edward was in the North, where rebellions had broken out. He knew, of course, that an invasion by Warwick was likely, but he evidently felt the uprisings were more serious than they actually were. He knew London would hold out for him, and probably thought he could return south in sufficient time and with sufficient numbers.
Kent, though, turned out for Warwick. As Captain of Calais, Warwick had cleared the Channel of French pirates and made the Kentish coast safe, so he was a hero to them. A fellow calling himself Robin of Redesdale declared for Lancaster in the north and defeated a Yorkist army. When Robin won at Edgecote on 29 July, Edward found himself cut off and isolated at Nottingham. The Lancastrians captured and executed Queen Elizabeth's father and one of her brothers.
His one thought now was to get to London, where he could hold out until other forces could come to his aid. But he was captured in Buckinghamshire and sent under guard to Middleham Castle in North Riding.
Warwick was now in London, seemingly triumphant. In truth, though, he was in a very awkward spot. He seems to have intended to rule England in Edward's name, content with the power but not the title. He could not have wanted to reinstate Henry, for Warwick was too clearly a Yorkist. There was some talk about declaring Edward illegitimate and replacing him with George, but the Duke of Clarence had won very few friends and inspired confidence in no one.
Meanwhile, with no one clearly in command of the kingdom, all sorts of feuds and petty battles broke out. The civil war had already produced a good deal of changes in property titles, not to mention wagonloads of grievances from battles lost and executions all around. There was hardly any nobleman who did not have cause for exacting vengeance on another. We hear report after report of sheer banditry: murders, arson, burglary, and the like. There were riots and looting even in London. There was even a revolt in the Lake District to bring back Henry VI.