hostilities between the rival yorkist and lancastrian factions soon flared into armed conflict. in may 1455, just over five months after henry vi recovered from a bout of mental illness and richard of york's protectorship had ended, margaret called for a great council from which the yorkists were excluded. the council called for an assemblage of the peers at leicester to protect the king "against his enemies". york apparently was prepared for conflict and soon was marching south to meet the lancastrian army marching north. the lancastrians suffered a crushing defeat at the first battle of st albans on 22 may 1455. edmund beaufort (somerset), the earl of northumberland and lord clifford were killed, wiltshire fled the battlefield and king henry was taken prisoner by the victorious duke of york. in march 1458 along with her husband and leading nobles of the warring factions, she took part in the love day procession in london.