Editing Yeoman (section)

===Yeoman of the Guard (15th century-present)===
{{anchor|Yeo Guard}}
{{Main|Yeoman of the Guard}}
{{See also|Battle of Bosworth Field}}
[[File:Yeomen of the Guard.JPG|thumb|Yeomen of the Guard in procession. Their uniform has remained relatively unchanged since the Tudor dynasty. The spears are carried in remembrance of their role in protecting Henry Tudor at Bosworth Field.]]
On 22 August 1485, near the small village of Stoke Golding, [[Henry VII of England#Rise to the throne|Henry Tudor]] met [[King Richard III]] in battle for the Crown of England. The [[War of the Roses]] had persisted intermittently for more than 30 years between the rival claimants of the [[House of York]] (white rose) and the [[House of Lancaster]] (red rose). In 1483, Richard, of the House of York, had deposed his young nephew, 12-year old [[Edward V]]. Henry Tudor, of the House of Lancaster, was the favored candidate to replace Richard.<ref name=HistoricEngland_bosworth/>

Three armies met that day on Bosworth Field: Richard, with his supporters, [[John Howard, 1st Duke of Norfolk|Duke of Norfolk]] and the [[Henry Percy, 4th Earl of Northumberland|Earl of Northumberland]]; Henry, with his troops under command of the veteran [[John de Vere, 13th Earl of Oxford|John de Vere]], Earl of Oxford; and the troops of [[Thomas Stanley, 1st Earl of Derby#The Battle of Bosworth|Thomas, Lord Stanley]]. Stanley was a powerful lord in northwest England. But he was stepfather of Henry Tudor, and Richard was holding his son hostage. Stanley's forces remained uncommitted as the battle raged. As Oxford advanced, the troops appeared to leave Henry, his bodyguards, and some French mercenaries isolated. Or so it appeared to Richard. Sensing an opportunity, Richard charged toward Henry. Seeing this, Stanley made his decision, and charged to reinforce Henry. Henry's bodyguards fought bravely to hold off Richard's bodyguards until the arrival of Stanley's troops. During the [[melee]], Richard's horse became mired in the marsh, and he was killed. Henry had won.<ref name=HistoricEngland_bosworth/>

Henry rewarded his bodyguards by formal establishing the ''Yeomen of the Guard of (the body of) our Lord the King''. The King of England always had bodyguards (''Yeoman of the Crown''). This royal act recognized their bravery and loyalty in doing their duty, and designated them as the first members of a bodyguard to protect the King (or Queen) of England forever. In their first official act on 1 October 1485, fifty members of the Yeoman of the Guard, led by John de Vere, 13th Earl of Oxford, formally escorted Henry Tudor to his coronation ceremony.{{r|"1911_Britannica_YeomanGuardIA"|p=916}}