When Suffolk chargeth Huntingdon with sloth, Ouer himselfe too wary to haue bin, And had neglected his fast plighted troth Vpon the Field, the Battaile to begin, That where the one was, there they would be both; When the stout Earle of Huntingdon, to win Trust with his friends; doth this himselfe enlarge To this great Earle who dares him thus to charge.

[Stanza 228]

My Lord (quoth he) it is not that I feare, More then your selfe, that so I haue not gone; But that I haue beene forced to be neare The King, whose person I attend vpon, And that I doubt not but to make appeare Now, if occasion shall but call me on, Looke round about my Lord, if you can see, Some braue aduenture worthy you and me.

[Stanza 229: _A desperate attempt by the Earle of Huntingdon._]

See yan proud Banner, of the Duke of Barres, Me thinkst it wafts vs, and I heare it say, Wher's that couragious Englishman that darres, Aduenture, but to carry me away, This were a thing, now worthy of our warres; I'st true, quoth Suffolke, by this blessed day, On, and weele haue it, sayst thou so indeed, Quoth Huntingdon, then Fortune be our speed.

[Stanza 230]

And through the Ranckes then rushing in their pride, They make a Lane; about them so they lay, Foote goes with foote, and side is ioynde to side, They strike downe all that stand within their way, And to direct them, haue no other guide, But as they see the mult.i.tude to sway; And as they pa.s.se, the French as to defie, Saint George for England and the King they cry.

[Stanza 231: _One braue exploit begetteth another._]

By their examples, each braue English blood, Vpon the Frenchmen for their Ensignes runne, Thick there as trees within a well-growne wood; Where great Atchiements instantly were done, Against them toughly whilst that Nation stood, But o what man his destinie can shunne That n.o.ble Suffolke there is ouerthrowne, When he much valour sundry wayes hath showne.

[Stanza 232: _The Earle of Suffolke slaine._]

Which the proud English further doth prouoke, Who to destruction bodily were bent, That the maine Battaile instantly they broke, Vpon the French so furiously they went And not an English but doth scorne a stroake, If to the ground it not a Frenchman sent, Who weake with wounds, their weapons from them threw, With which the English fearefully them slue.

[Stanza 233: _The English kill the French with their owne weapons._]

Alanzon backe vpon the Reareward borne, By those vnarm'd that from the English fled, All further hopes then vtterly forlorne, His n.o.ble heart in his full Bosome bled; What Fate, quoth he, our ouerthrowe hath sworne, Must France a Prisoner be to England led, Well, if she be so, yet Ile let her see, She beares my Carka.s.se with her, and not me.

[Stanza 234]

And puts his Horse vpon his full Careere, When with the courage of a valiant Knight (As one that knew not, or forgot to feare) He tow'rds King Henry maketh in the fight, And all before him as he downe doth beare, Vpon the Duke of Glocester doth light: Which on the youthfull Chiualry doth bring, Sca.r.s.e two Pykes length that came before the King.

[Stanza 235: _The Duke of Glocester ouerthrowne by the Duke of Alanzon._]

Their Staues both strongly riuetted with steele, At the first stroke each other they astound, That as they staggering from each other reele; The Duke of Gloster falleth to the ground: When as Alanzon round about doth wheele, Thinking to lend him his last deadly wound: In comes the King his Brothers life to saue And to this braue Duke, a fresh on-set gaue.

[Stanza 236]

When as themselues like Thunderbolts they shot, One at the other, and the Lightning brake Out of their Helmets, and againe was not, E'r of their strokes, the eare a sound could take Betwixt them two, the Conflict grew so hot, Which those about them so amaz'd doth make, That they stood still as wondring at the sight, And quite forgot that they themselues must fight.

[Stanza 237: _The King of England in danger to be slaine, by the Duke of Alanzon._]

Vpon the King Alanzon prest so sore, That with a stroke (as he was wondrous strong) He cleft the Crowne that on his Helme he wore, And tore his Plume that to his heeles it hong: Then with a second brus'd his Helme before, That it his forehead pittifully wroong: As some that sawe it certainly had thought, The King therewith had to the ground beene brought.

[Stanza 238: _Alanzon beaten downe by the King of England._]

But Henry soone Alanzons Ire to quit, (As now his valour lay vpon the Rack) Vpon the face the Duke so strongly hit, As in his Saddle layde him on his back, And once perceiuing that he had him split, Follow'd his blowes, redoubling thwack on thwack: Till he had lost his Stirups, and his head Hung where his Horse was like thereon to tread.

[Stanza 239: _The King killeth two Gentlemen that aduenture to rescue the Duke._]

When soone two other seconding their Lord, His kind Companions in this glorious prize, Hoping againe the Duke to haue restor'd, If to his feet his Armes would let him rise: On the Kings Helme their height of fury scor'd; Who like a Dragon fiercely on them flies, And on his body slew them both, whilst he Recouering was their ayde againe to be.

[Stanza 240]

The King thus made the Master of the Fight: The Duke calls to him as he there doth lye: Henry I'le pay my Ransome, doe me right: I am the Duke Alanzon; it is I.

The King to saue him putting all his might, Yet the rude Souldiers, with their showt and crie, Quite drown'd his voyce, his Helmet being shut, And, that braue Duke into small peeces cut.

[Stanza 241: _The Duke of Alanzon slaine._]

Report once spred, through the distracted Host, Of their prime hope, the Duke Alanzon slayne: That flower of France, on whom they trusted most: They found their valour was but then in vayne: Like men their hearts that vtterly had lost, Who slowly fled before, now ranne amayne.

Nor could a man be found, but that dispaires Seeing the Fate both of themselues and theirs.

[Stanza 242: _The Duke Neuers taken prisoner._]

The Duke Neuers, now in this sad retreat, By Dauid Gam and Morisby persude, (Who throughly chaf'd, neere melted into sweat, And with French blood their Poleaxes imbrud) They sease vpon him following the defeate, Amongst the faint, and fearefull mult.i.tude; When a contention fell betweene them twaine, To whom the Duke should rightfully pertaine.

[Stanza 243: _Morisby and Gam at contention for the Duke of Neuers._]

I must confesse thou hadst him first in chase, Quoth Morrisby; but lefts him in the throng, Then put I on; quoth Gam, hast thou the face, Insulting Knight, to offer me this wrong; Quoth Morrisby, who shall decide the case, Let him confesse to whom he doth belong; Let him (quoth Gam) but if't be not to me, For any right you haue, he may goe free.

[Stanza 244: _Morisby a braue young Knight._]

[_Dauid Gam oft mentioned in this Poem._]

With that couragious Morrisby grew hot, Were not said he his Ransome worth a pin, Now by these Armes I weare thou gett'st him not: Or if thou do'st, thou shalt him hardly win; Gam whose Welch blood could hardly brooke this blot, To bend his Axe vpon him doth begin: He his at him, till the Lord Beamount came Their rash attempt, and wisely thus doth blame.

[Stanza 245]

Are not the French twice trebl'd to our power, And fighting still, nay, doubtfull yet the day: Thinke you not these vs fast enough deuoure: But that your braues the Army must dismay: If ought but good befell vs in this howre: This be you sure your lyues for it must pay: Then first the end of this dayes Battaile see, And then decide whose prisoner he shall be.

[Stanza 246: _The Duke of Excester cometh in with the Reare._]

Now Excester with his vntaynted Reare Came on, which long had labour'd to come in: And with the Kings mayne Battell vp doth beare; Who still kept off, till the last houre had bin: He cryes and clamours eu'ry way doth heare: But yet he knew not which the day should win: Nor askes of any what were fit to doe, But where the French were thick'st, he falleth to.

[Stanza 247]

The Earle of Vandom certainly that thought, The English fury somewhat had beene stayde: Weary with slaughter as men ouer-wrought, Nor had beene spurr'd on by a second ayde: For his owne safety, then more fiercely fought, Hoping the tempest somewhat had been layde: And he thereby (though suff'ring the defeate,) Might keep his Reareward whole in his Retreate.

[Stanza 248]

On whom the Duke of Excester then fell, Reare with the Reare now for their Valours vy, Ours finde the French their lyues will dearely sell; And th'English meane as dearely them to buy: The English follow, should they runne through h.e.l.l, And through the same the French must, if they flye, When too't they goe, deciding it with blowes, With th'one side now, then with th'other't goes.

[Stanza 249]

But the sterne English with such luck and might, (As though the Fates had sworne to take their parts) Vpon the French preuailing in the Fight, With doubled hands, and with re-doubled harts, The more in perill still the more in plight, Gainst them whom Fortune miserably thwarts: Disabled quite before the Foe to stand, But fall like gra.s.se before the Mowers hand.

[Stanza 250: _The Earle of Vandome slaine._]

That this French Earle is beaten on the Field, His fighting Souldiers round about him slaine; And when himselfe a Prisoner he would yeeld, And beg'd for life, it was but all in vaine; Their Bills the English doe so easely weeld To kill the French, as though it were no paine; For this to them was their auspicious day, The more the English fight, the more they may.

[Stanza 251]