ABSTRACT
In the warm spring dawn of 22 May, the King received intelligence that the northerners were approaching St Albans. Thus, before continuing his march, King Henry summoned an urgent meeting of his officers. Somerset showed no desire to avoid a fight. The sight of Somerset's banners can only have had the opposite effect. York would not be budged from his position on Somerset's future, the terms employed made no bones about what fate awaited the Duke should he come into the northerners' power. The northern Lancastrians, Percy and his affinity, were not shy of a showdown with their Neville rivals. As the northerners surged towards the gates, more Lancastrians appeared, to shore up the defenders and, in the narrows, they maintained the advantage. Having witnessed Buckingham's parley the Lancastrians, holding the inner flank of the ditch, seem to have adopted a somewhat relaxed approach, thinking the business would finish without recourse to arms.
