The Lancastrian Army attacked
the right division of the Yorkists. This attack was led by the Earl of Wiltshire
and Ormond, who had professional soldiers and mercenaries together with French
and Irish contingents and were the crack troops of the Lancastrian side.
Wiltshire's attack on the
right of the Yorkists was successfull and Devereux and his men were pushed
back up the valley towards Aymestrey. Encouraged by this the Earl of Pembroke
advanced with the main body of the Lancastrian Army to engage the Yorkist
centre, commanded by the Earl of March. Wilshire and his men on the left continued
their pursuit of the Yorkist left up the valley towards Aymestrey. A hard
fight ensued during which the Lancastrian right, under Owen Tudor and Sir
John Throckmorton thought they saw an opportunity to out-flank the Yorkist
left and moved around to the right.
As Tudor and Throckmorton
moved to the right to try to out-flank the Yorkist left under Herbert, they
exposed their own flank. Herbert charged quickly at this, sending the Lancastrians
into disarray. In the centre the Earl of March had succeeded in pushing back
the Lancastrians, who saw the hopelessness of their position and fled the
field. Some tried to escape across the freezing and swollen River Lugg. Those
that made it were ruthlessly cut down by more Yorkist reserves who had come
from Croft Castle. Others fled south and were persued as far as Hereford.
Tudor and Throckmorton were captured and lost their heads in Hereford marketplace
shortly afterwards.
