The following is a legend about Queen Margaret of Anjou after the Battle of Hexham (1464), as recounted by 19th-century popular historian Agnes Strickland. Strickland's account of the "Queen Margaret and the Robber" legend is appealing in its pathos and high romanticism; it has, however, no basis in history, as Margaret was not even in England at the time of the battle. Furthermore, there are some irregularities to Strickland's cited sources. For the history of this tale dissected, see Archaeologia, Vol 47, Part 2, 286-294.

When the victorious Yorkists broke into the camp at Levels, Margaret, seized with mortal terror for the life of her boy, fled with him on foot into an adjacent forest, where, in momentary dread of being overtaken by the foe, she pursued her doubtful way by the most unfrequented paths. Here she unfortunately fell in with a gang of robbers, who, attracted by the richness of her dress and that of the young prince, surrounded and despoiled them of their jewels and costly robes of estate. While they were quarrelling about the division of the plunder, Margaret, whose intrepidity and presence of mind had been the means of extricating her from a similar peril when captured by Lord Stanley's followers after the battle of Northampton, snatched her son up in her arms and fled to a distant thicket, unobserved by the pitiless ruffians who were deciding their dispute at swords' points.

When the shades of evening closed round, the fugitive queen and her son crept fearfully from their retreat, and, uncertain whither to turn for refuge, began to thread the tangled mazes of the forest, dreading above every other peril, the misfortune of falling into the hands of King Edward's partisans. It was possible that one random turn might lead them into this very danger. While Margaret, bewildered with doubt and alarm, was considering what course to pursue, she perceived, by the light of the moon, another robber of gigantic stature advancing towards her with a drawn sword. Gathering courage from the desperation of her situation, Margaret took her son by the hand, and presenting him to the freebooter, with the dignity of look and bearing that were natural to her, she said, "Here, my friend, save the son of your king."

Struck with astonishment at the majestic beauty of the mother and the touching loveliness of the boy, the robber dropped his weapon at the feet of the royal suppliants, and offered to conduct them to a place of safety. A few words explained to the queen that this outlaw was a Lancastrian gentleman who had been ruined in King Henry's service, and she frankly committed herself and her son to his care. Taking the prince in his arms, he led the queen to his own retreat, a cave in Hexham forest, where the royal fugitives were refreshed, and received such attention as his wife was able to afford.

Strong confirmation is given to this incident by the local traditions of Hexham, no one who has minutely surveyed the antiquities of that town can doubt of the fact. The cave is in a most secluded spot on the south bank of the little rapid stream which runs at the foot of Blackhill. It is still known by the name of Queen Margaret's cave, and at the time it gave shelter to her and the Prince of Wales, it must have been surrounded by forest. It is about two miles from Hexham. The entrance to the cave is still very low, and was formerly artfully concealed from sight. Its dimensions are thirty-four by fourteen feet; the height will barely allow a full-grown person to stand upright. A massive pillar of rude masonry in the centre of the cave seems to mark the boundary of a wall which, it is said, once divided it into two distinct apartments. When warmed and cheered by fire and lamp it would not appear quite so dismal a den as at present.

Such was the retreat in which the queen and prince remained perdu for two days of agonizing suspense. On the third morning their host encountered Sir Pierre de Breze, who, with his squire Barville, and an English gentleman, having escaped the slaughter at Hexham, had been making anxious search for her and the prince.

From these devoted friends Margaret learned the escape of her royal husband, and the terrible vengeance that had been executed on Somerset and her faithful adherents, the Lords Hungerford and Roos. Margaret is said to have received these tidings with floods of tears, the first she had shed since the overthrow of the despairing hopes of Lancaster on the red field of Hexham.

A few hours later, the English gentleman by whom Breze was accompanied, having gone into the neighbouring villages to gather tidings of public events, encountered the Duke of Exeter, and Edmund Beaufort, the brother and successor of the unfortunate Henry, Duke of Somerset. He conducted them to the retreat of the proscribed queen and the youthful hope of Lancaster.

Margaret's spirits revived at the sight of these princes, whom she had numbered with the slain of Hexham, and she determined to send them to their powerful kinsman, the Duke of Burgundy, to solicit an asylum at the court of Dijon, for herself and the Prince of Wales; while she once more proceeded to the court of Scotland, where she imagined King Henry had found refuge. On quitting the dwelling of the generous outlaw, from whom she had received such providential succour in her dire distress, she accorded all she had to bestow—her grateful thanks; but the Dukes of Somerset and Exeter afforded a portion of their scanty supply of money, as a reward to his wife for the services she had rendered to the queen. With a nobility of soul worthy of a loftier station, she refused to receive any thing of that which might be so precious to them at a time of need.

Other Local Resources:

• Queen Margaret of Anjou
  
• The Battle of Hexham
• Wars of the Roses
  

---

	to The Battle of Hexham
	to Queen Margaret of Anjou
	to Luminarium Encyclopedia

Site ©1996-2023 Anniina Jokinen. All rights reserved.
This page was created on August 21, 2010. Last updated May 13, 2023.