Almost a battle!

At Last! - I had finished repainting my Earl of Northumberland retinue for the Wars of the Roses. I was pleasantly surprised to find I like the historically accurate Gules and Sable livery as much as the previously used Russet Or and Tawny!

So, for their first outing!...

 The battle would take place in a quite congested area..

 A Cardinal (!!!) berating the locals in a small hamlet.

 The peasantry about their tasks near Thirlwall castle.

My Percy retinue..the extreme left wing. 

 The main body on their way to the hamlet.

 

 Their De Lacey allies on their right awaiting the Montagu attack. 

...in safety behind a wood. 

 The Montagues appeared facing Phil's De Laceys. 

...In some force! 

The Percies hastened to support the De Laceys. 

 The Montagues advanced confidently. 

 Atop Thirlwall castle, the Percy garrison watched in alarm!

 The montagu forces split to face both Lancastrian forces.

 The Percy flank guard tried to outflank the Montagues. 

 The De Laceys moved into the wood, unable to face the Yorkists alone.. 

The Montagues moved to positions on the Large hill and the road. 

..leaving crossbowmen to protect their right flank. 

The Percies cautiously approached the hamlet. 

 Their forward archers came under crossbow shot from down the road and sought cover. 

 Some Percy spearmen reconnoitred ahead. 

 And observed the Montagues who moved onto the road.

 ..and the large hill.

 The main Percy body reached the hamlet.. 

..their flanking force moved round the hamlet.

The Montagues in the road saw a spearman observing them and let fly...

 

The wind was with the archers...

 

The hapless spearman fell in a hail of arrows!

The Cardinal and his flock decided discretion was the order of the day! 

The Percy archers moved to either side of the house to trade shots..and hopefully prompt the De Laceys to emerge in support... 

..but they stayed safely in their wood!

 So outshot, the Percies moved back into cover. 

With neither side willing to fight in the open, and with all sides lacking sufficient numbers of men-at-arms to force the issue in the woods, the battle ceased.

The terrain - and the cautiousness of the attacking Yorkists prevented any serious action developing, which was a pity!

Though both sides carried arms. 

Scarce any man was shot.

Such was the stand of thirlwall

For a battle it was not!