had then lodged his armye on the toppe of an hill whyche the inhabitants do call Floddon in a place very strong both by arte and nature for on the left hand a great marishe and slimie gulfes ouergrowen with tuffes of Willowes did possesse all the playne vnderneath the hill On the right hande ranne the riuer of Tyl at the foote of the hill with déeper Chanell and swifter streame than coulde be passed ouer by foorde Their backes were defensed wyth stiepe hylles and very thicke woddes But at the front where nature had only left a gentle comming vp and only way vnto it king Iames had cast vp a ditche and placed all his ordinance on the inner banke thereof and so strongly defensed himselfe that to be entrenched round or assaulted from the lower ground he could not without pernicious encounter When Surrey was come thither he woÌ„dering at the iniquitie of the place thought it not good to assault the Kings Camp but sent an Harauld vnto the Scottishe King with a message the summe wherof was this That king Iames in breaking the solemne oth of peace and in polluting the rightes of most holy inuiolable kinred and affinitie by inferring warres vnto Henry when he was nowe absent by burning his Townes wasting hys Countreys and murthering hys Subiectes when they feared no such thing had done most wickedly cruelly therfore he was come with an armye to reuenge the saide iniuries King Iames himselfe should choose an indifferent place and certaine day to darreine battell for he woulde without any staying or doubting giue him battell as soone as euer he would permitte any equalitie Then Iames as he was a Prince of a stately stomacke and tryed hardinesse courteously speaking vnto the Harrolde thanked Surrey and openly commended hym that of his owne accord he desired the fielde whereas he had long feared with wofull and troubled minde that he would by all sleightes rather haue auoided the same and therefore according vnto that courage he should make readie his weapons and the thirde daye after expect the araunged battels of the Scottes in the open fields that there he woulde seuerely sette in iudgement vpon those iniuries whiche he hadde vntimely and reprochfully mentioned and at the daye prefixed make an ende by annes both of all olde and new controuersies Surrey was encamped in a playne thrée miles from the enimie and there raunged his army but Iames although he were ready to fight yet kept hymselfe within his campe and munitions bycause all the most expect of his nobilitie much misliked to ioyne in battell but aboue all other the Earle of Huntley than whome there was none in that army accompted eyther more valiaunt or more politike spake in the counsell Chamber so loude that the guard also might heare him that there was nothing more foolishe or vayne than to fight at the appoyntmente of the enimie and at his will and pleasure to aduenture the fortune of a pitched field that the King should kéepe hymselfe in that commodious place and by lingering â—lude his fierce foes considering there was in the eminies camp greate penurie of bread neyther could victuals be easily brought out of the inwarde partes of Englande the way béeyng very foule by reason of continuall raine that had fallen that the King within short time by sitting still and doing nothing rashly should not misse to fight very fortunately and giue the enimies beyng tamed by the iniquitie of the place and lacke of victuals a safe slaughter vnto his Souldyers Besides these words of HuÌ„tley many things accompted for foretokens although they were thought to be vayne and procéeding of chaunce hadde stryken Religion and new terror into the Kyngs heart for as he was sytting in counsell with the Captaynes deliberating about the manner of the battayle an Hare lept out of his tent and being stryken at with a thousand weapons escaped vntouched through the middes of the station Moreouer the Myce had grawen asunder the string and buckle of his headpéece and the report went that the vayles of his inner tent were in the morning besprinckled with a bloudy dewe When the King for these causes came not forth into the field Surrey who for sundry incoÌ„modities could no longer stay in those morish foule filthy places neither dyd think that the King would fighte vnlesse he were compelled by extreame necessitie dislodged and leauing the enimie on the left hand and passing ouer the riuer of Tyl marched vnto a better place at the ende of Barme wodde that he mighte there in a more fertile and safe place refreshe hys Souldyers whome with greate iourneys and thinne dyet all those thrée days he had sore wearyed and in the meane time expect new power and according to the mouings of the enimies who had with their multitude filled the next hylles he likewise should follow a new trade in administring the warres Nothing deuided the two Campes but only the Riuer of Tyl neyther dyd eyther partie absteyne froÌ„ tempesting with great ordinaunce and other shot But a hill at the hither side of the riuer rising vp gently a mile high serued Surrey to great vse for it defended the front of his Campe from all iniurie of the enimies ordinaunce From that hill Thomas Lord Howard Surreys son a yong Gentleman of passing prowesse surueying the hilles the lay about it vpon whome the enimie was encamped and the playne beneath sheweth his father that the Scotte might easily be excluded from Scotlande or else being gotten out of his strong lodging be brought to fighte if he woulde agayne transport hys army ouer Tyl in that place where before he had come ouer and fetching no greate compasse aboute woulde shewe hymselfe on the backe of the enimie as farre within as the streightes of the hyll woulde suffer Surrey who hadde whollye bente hys mynde to fyghte sente certayne menne verye skilfull in the Countrey and also in martiall discipline to viewe the place who vppon theyr returne when they reported vnto hym the verye same and hys sonnes counsell was confirmed by all mens opinions hée incontinently commaunded the army to dislodge and thrée miles from thence passed ouer the Riuer by two bridges in two companyes at one time But Iames coniecturing Surreys intente least by remayning still on those hylles and beeyng intercluded from Scotlande muche agaynste hys dignitie hée should léese frée libertie to forage and therewithal too whyche hée thoughte muche apperteyned to reteyne his authoritie least by detracting the fyghte and béeyng lyke vnto one besieged he should séeme to repose more trust in the place the munitions than in the prowesse valor of hys Souldyers straight way dislodged and marched directly to take the nexte hyll whereof hée greately feared hys enimie would haue preuented him but it was broughte to passe thorough hys owne celeritie and the industrie of the drudges of the armie who had at the Kyngs departure as was commaunded them fylled all the Countrey with one smoke and blacke
myste by settyng on fyre the Souldyers Cabins the strawe and al the rest of the forrage that Kyng Iames was come to hys purposed place before Surrey who was but one myle from hym eyther perceyued hys departure or coulde sée the long traine of hys marchyng armye Kyng Iames thus possessing the toppe of the hyll Surrey came wyth all hys power vnto the foote thereof and staying there a little whyle determined wyth hymselfe séeyng the hyll was neyther verye hygh nor harde to ascende to climbe it and to fyght before the enimie hadde fortifyed hys camp and then calling togyther the Souldyers he declared vnto them into what place and case they were come that on the one syde the hygh bankes of the ryuer and on the other the stiepe hylles that ranne along many myles tooke quite away from them al wayes of flight yea and all hope of lyfe vnlesse they foughte lustyly and vanquished valiauntly and therefore they shoulde couragiouslye encounter their forsworne enimyes who breaking the league thoughte thorough the occasion of the Kyngs absence to winne the Empyre of the whole Islande neyther shoulde theyr heartes be troubled with their greate multitude for it had but sufficiently tryed by the often victories of their auncestors how small strength and constancie there is in Scottes that God hymselfe woulde be with them in the fielde as he hathe alwayes héeretofore bin iustly agaynste the breakers of their faythe and the contemners of hys and mans lawes and Religion onely the Souldyers shoulde reteâ—ne styll the memorie of theyr olde prowesse for by the consente of all menne the most iust cause of warres is to propell iniuries and defende by armes theyr Houses Children Wyues and that whyche séemeth to be much more renowmed the dignitie of the Papall libertie the whyche with noble hearte and holye counsell hadde taken vpon hym to defende and so accordinglye by Goddes assistaunce hadde dryuen the vngodly oppugners of the inuiolable Maiestie béeyng discomfyted in battayle theyr Captayne 's taken prisoners and theyr strong Citie wonne into the inner partes of Fraunce and therefore they should vnder the conduct of the same God fight against men defyâ—ed with the same contagion of polluted Religion and if they made accompt of the honor of their Countrey the Kyngs estimation and finally their owne glory and safetie that they shoulde followe hym their Captayne ready eyther to vanquish gloriously or else to dye honorably The Souldyers cryed out incontinently that he should giue the signall of fight and nothing doubt to darreyne battell yea though in a place of great disaduantage for they stoutely said that they would with their wounding weapons climbe the toppe of the hill and neuer returne into the Campe but victors Then Surrey in this hope and couragiousnesse of the Souldyers deuided all his power into thrée battels The fore warde he assigned vnto the Lorde Howarde wherein he also placed Edmunde another of his sonnes to gouerne a parte thereof Hall makes it a wing He himselfe ledde the middle battell and ordeyned Sir Edward Stanley to bée Captaine of the rereward He placed the Lorde Dacres with the Horsemen for a battell of succoure and dysposed the great ordinaÌ„ce in certaine distaunces among the rankes and in the front and so with a round marche maketh towardes the enimie In the meane time when the King saw the glistering of the armoure and the seuerall battels of the enimie as he might very well from the hyll thinking that occasion of victorie was that day giuen him if he being then superioure both by the sighte the ground and also the nuÌ„ber of men did out of hand fight with the enimie he gaue the signal of battell and turning vnto the nobilitie of his Realme who stoode néere vnto him vsed such a like spéeche Séeyng most valiant compéeres in armes that we shall this day fight with better condition and more aduauntage than euer any of our auncestoures hathe héeretofore done with this enimie remember that now is the time of supreme occasion to reuenge youre iniuries whiche ye feared woulde neuer haue come and haue hitherto in vayne wished for when ye suffered all villanies and reproches of these most proude enimies but we that haue borne these things so long at home with sighing for vaine anger often crying vnto God for reuenge and at length in this most goodly occasion haue taken so iust and so needefull armes shoulde doubtlesse shew our selues very vile and abiecte persons and of all men the vainest if nowe when deedes and true prowesse are needefull and that we muste sette foote t s foote and by woundes and death seeke for glorious victory we shoulde feare the face of our enimies and wyth timorous hearte measure the perills of battells I for my parte beyng contented with the old limits of my kingdom enioyed wyth good peace could haue passed my time in reste and quietnesse and haue bene wythout the perylles and laboures that warres doe dayly bryng If without care of dishonour I had preferred mine owne priuate felicitie before both the dignitie of my countrye and your safetie But by your generall consent in that passyng great opportunitie of reuenging of your wrongs and of all other thinges when you were al of one opinion that warres were openly to be made bycause that those things which wee and our Progenitours had suffered at the handes of oure moste bitter and spitefull enimies were shamefull gréeuous and intollerable I forthwith proclaymed warres wyth greate courage and that whyche dothe make me hope of victory ye wyth greater endeuour and desire singular feruencie and incredible alacritie haue folowed the ensignes that one daye by doing some notable acte and as it were the vttermoste worke of valiauncie ye might shew the egregious fortitude of your heartes and ende those immortall controuersies by a notable victory For what may there anye doubt be had of the prosperous successe of the victory seing the armye of the enimies is in nothing to bee compared wyth ours theirs consisteth wholy of a kinde of freshe water Souldiers that will quickely runne awaye amaine beyng take vp in haste wythout regarde of prowesse and â—uenished with weapons and armour only for a shewe of Souldiours for all the olde men of warre or suche as are meet for the field indeed either for strength of youth or good personage are caâ—â—ed awaye by Kyng Henry into France And will not you then from the higher ground wyth the multitude of your weapons 〈◊〉 â—heâ—â—â—â— a sort of wretches 〈◊〉 we in number and spent with weaâ—â—nesse and famâ—â—ie assoone â—s they shall 〈◊〉 daâ—e 〈◊〉 approche you They clamber vppe the hill â—oâ— bycause they be so hardy but for that they are needy and must needes doe it that they maye at once more honestly and spéedely by death escape the pinching pains of vnwonted labour hunger after the manner of wild beasts whoÌ„ when fretting fury hath once vexed theyr heartes and famine their bellies extreame anger dryueth into raging
madnesse Drawe your swords therefore with me and cutte the throats of these freshe water Souldiours and be ashamed not to goe thither for feare of death whither ye shall see mee your Captaine leade you the way for renowne and glory The souldiours succlamed vnto the Oration of the king yet speaking with the clashing of their weapons and dissonant cries wythout any longer delay the king first sending out of sight his own horse and then al other doing the like to the end that all mens peril being made equal all hope of flight quitetaken away as it is the manner of that nation hee might shewe both his strength of bodye and valiauncie of minde diuided all his power into fiue battels for this reason that the midle battell wherin was his chiefe standerde shoulde be guarded on both sides with two battels as it were with wings In the right were the Earles of Huntley Craforde and Montrosse in the lefte the Lorde Hume and the erle of Lennox and Arguile reported to bee experte menne of warre He had ordeined a knight to be captaine of euery band and with them certaine Frenche captaines whome King Lewes had sente into Scotlande a little before to teach them the discipline of war and all the ordinaunce which coulde serue to no greate vse down the hill being bestowed in a fitte place hee himselfe stoode in the middle battell againste Surrey Nowe had Edmunde aduaunced the foremoste bandes vppe the hill when the ordinaunce on both sides being shotte off and the firste rankes disordered Hume brought downe hys speares on foote who lay wyth so furious force vppon the Englishemenue commyng vppe the hill that the valiauntest of the ring leaders being slaine and Edmunde stroken downe they had turned almost all that battell into flight And nowe was thereâ—â— hope to abide the handes being both affrighted and also defeated vnlesse that in so greate daunger on one side Bastarde Heron a renowmed man for his wonderfull strength of body and noble courage and embrued with his own and hys enimies bloud had lifted vp Edmund and from another parte Dacres beeyng intentiue to all sodayne chaunces of the battell had sente an hurlewinde of horsemen ouerthwarte the side of the enimies And therewithall the Lorde Howarde also comming after with the moste chosen men the battell was without doubt restored and courage was rendered vnto the vanquished So the fortune of the battell béeyng made equal and then mo Englishemen comming still vppe bande after bande the afflicted beyng intermedled wyth the freshe beganne wyth emulation of prowesse to aduaunce the front of the battell vp the hill Nowe when they were come vnto the strengthe of the Sedttes and bothe sydes foughte almoste wyth greater hatred than strength Montrosse and Craforde commyng into the foremost rankes to encourage the Souldiours were there slaine valiantly fighting and the esquadron of the speares on foote was broken through scattred slain and vtterly defeated by the horsmen and footmen But in the lef wyng almoste at the same tyme Stanley being ioyned in battayle hadde won the hill of the Scottes and with the multitude of his arrowes lighting thicke vppon them had brought them into that case that nowe they foughte not close togither but their rankes beeyng loosed and thynne and as menne that soughte to auoyde the shotte their ensignes beganne to sweye and shrinke hyther and thyther Whiche when Stanley perceyued he fetching aboute thrée bandes of succour vppon the open side of the enimies broughte so greate terrour that they were not able to susteine their violent charge and stande to it but incontinentely fledde and running headlong downe the hill hidde them selues in the Woddes There Arguile and Lennox reteyning wyth voyce and handes the enclined battell were slaine In the meane tyme Kyng James who hadde a little before ioyned in battell wyth Surrey as soone as he sawe that the arraye of his menne was disordered in the wings and his enimies were spreadde abroade rounde aboute hys skyrtes adhortyng the bande that was appointed for his guarde and the olde souldiours and the noble men that were aboute him that they would doe nothing vnworthye of themselues nor their auncestours broughte his battell into the middes of hys enimyes So that a newe battell arose againe afreshe and sharper than the firste bycause all this Scottishe battell being well armed had very wel susteined the arrowes of the Englishemen and certain Captaine of the foremost rankes being slaine had perced almost to the Englishe ensignes There were on both partes very tall men chosen by both Captaines for the supreame and laste chaunces of the battell and the fight as it must needes bee in such a case was diuers and doubtefull one whyle to the one and another whyle to the other prosperous and deadly The King hymselfe fighting on foote before the ensignes mayntayned the fight wyth greate pertinacie inflaming some with praise and other wyth shame finally crying out to them all with diuers encouragements that since now they had gotten their enimies they should be reuenged on them with sworde and woundes the which thing they had so greately desired and so gréedely thyrsted after On the other syde Surrey when the best of hys Souldiours were eyther slayne or wounded contended with greate valor still wythdrawyng the wounded into the hindermoste rankes very earnestly encouraged his men to bring the battell to the dint of sworde and where the enimies moste vrged there also fought he moste stoutly But whilest this hotte conflicte lasted at the ensignes with vncertaine euent the lorde Howard and Stanley who hauing defeated theyr enimies at both wings came victors vnto the middle battel turned their powers vppon the enimies charging him in two quarters and therwithall in very good tyme Dacres ranne vppon the backes of them with a very thicke troupe of horsemen so that when the Scottes were slaine on the from the sides and the back and being wearied with laboure and woundes coulde not breake through for the heaps of slaine carkasses weapons and armours they being on eche side enclosed were forced to fight in a ring But when the Kyng saw his chiefe standerd throwen downe and Adam Forman that bare it slayne before his face then doubting nothing but that he muste immediatly dye that he might deliuer his harte from imminent reproches ranne foorth vnto the thickest of his enimies and there was slaine fighting very valiauntly Nor farre from him certeyne greate men of the Church contending with equall pertinacie and prowesse were likewise slaine One Archebishoppe twoo Byshoppes and foure Abbots and of noble men and men of marke for dignitie of knighthoode and honours of warfare thirtie sixe Hume and Huntley getting horses in this tumult through the benefit of the night approching escaped into Scotland wyth the hindermoste bandes and battells whiche consisting of a very cowardly kynde of Souldiours had not stroke one stroke There were slaine that daye about eight thousand Scottes and almost so many taken but all the ensignes were
smal dauÌ„ger in victorie for that vnknown aideâ— may come to the vanquished and with small labour defeate the scattered victors a thing which hath often happened the Emperour commaunded the men of armes to be called backe the retire to be sounded But incoÌ„tineÌ„tly after newes was brought vnto his maiestie that the Saxon was taken There were stain of the Saxons about ij M. footemen aboue vij C. wounded moe than vto C. taken of horsmen v. C. slaine farre moe taken yet many Germanes were let go by the Germanes of all the armye not aboue iiij C. horsmen so many footmen escaped to VViteÌ„berg Few of mark were slaine there were takeÌ„ beside the Saxon Ernest the Duke of Brunfwicke and Charles of Thuring and two of the Saxon his secretaries There were also taken xvij ensignes of footemen ix of horsemen great store of houshold stuffe money and martiall furniture two Culnerings iiij Demiculuerings foure Demicanons and fiue Falconets His eldest sonne Iohn being wounded in two places was throwne off his horse but being succoured by his frends he that had wounded him being slayne he escaped to VVittemberg There were slaine of the Emperials vnto the number of fiue hundreth bicause that the fight being begunne at eleuen of the clocke continued vntill seauen for the Saxons marched fighting fiftene myles from the riuer of Elbe After this victorie all Saxonie yéelded and also the Lantgraue came in and other Almaine states submitted themselues vnto the Emperour who was nowe absolute victor ¶ Muscleborough fielde fought in Scotlande betvvene Edvvard Duke of Somerset and Iames Hamelton Earle of Arraine Regents of Englande and Scotland during the nonage of Edwarde and Marie the Princes of the saide Realmes in Anno. 1547. Taken out of VVilliam Patens WHen that Marie the yong Quéene of Scottes was not deliuered vnto the Englishe nobilitie to be ioyned in happie mariage wyth Edwarde the sixt the yong King of Englande according vnto faithfull promise made Edwarde Seimar Duke of Somerset and Protector of his Maiesties person and dominions inuaded Scotlande the thirde of September with an armie by lande of ten thousande footemen of whome sixe hundreth were harquebusiers sâ—ure thousande men of armes and Demilaunces and two thousande light horsemen and of them two hundreth were hakbutters on horsebacke thirtene hundreth Pioners and fiftene péeces of great ordinance and a fléete of Lxv. vessels whereof the Galley and xxxiiii more were perfectly appointed for the wars and the resid ue for munition and vittayle The Admirall of this fléete was the Lorde Clinton The ninth of September the Englishmen were encamped within two myles of the Scottish power leuied and ledde by lames Earle of Arrane Gouernour of Scotlande The next morning the Scottes leauing their lodging which was very strong and of great aduauntage and to the intent that aswell none of their souldiours shoulde lurke behinde them in their campes as also that none of their Captaines shoulde be able to flée from their enterprice hauing caused all their tentes to be let flatte downe to the grounde ere they came out and then all aswell nobles as others fewe except that were not horsemen appointed to leaue their horses behinde them and to march on with their souldiours on foote hasted towardes the Englishmen who were also marching against them but neither side any whit ware of the others intent But the Scottes staying a while vpon the waye our Galley shot of and slue the maister of Greyme with xxv neare him and therewith so scarred the foure thousande Archers brought by the Earle of Arguill that where as it was sayde they shoulde haue bene a wing to the foreward they coulde neuer after be made to come for warde Herevpon did their armie hastily remoue and from thence declyning Southwarde tooke their direct waye towarde an hill called Fauxside Braye Of this Sir Râ—fe Vane Lieutenant of all our horsemen quickly aduertised my Lorde Protector who thereby did readily conceyue much of their meaning which was to winne of vs the hill and thereby the winde and the Sunne of it had shyned as it did not for the weather was cloudie and louring The gaine of which thrée things whether partie in fight of battell can happe to obteyne hath his force doubled against his enimie In all this enterprise they vsed for haste so little the helpe of horses that they pluckt forth their ordinance by draught of men whiche at thys time began fréely to shoote of towardes vs whereby we were further warned that they ment more than a flâ—rmish Herewithall began euery man to be smitten with the care of his office and charge and therevpon accordingly to apply himselfe aboute it and also my Lordes grace and the Councell on horsebacke as they were fell streyghte in consultation The sharpenesse of whose circumspect wisedomes as it quickly espyed out the enimies intents so did it among other things promptly prouyde therein to preuent them as needefull it was for the time asâ—ed no leysure Their deuise was this that my Lord Gray of VVilton Marshall of the armie and Captaine Generall of all the horsemen shoulde with his bande of Bulloners and with my Lorde Protectors bande and the Earle of VVarwickes Lorde Lieutenant of the armie bande all to the number of xviij C. horsmen on the one halfe Sir Rafe Vane with Sir Thomas Darcie Captaine of the Pencioners and men of armes and my Lorde Fitzwaters with his band of Demilances all to the number also of xvj C. to be readie and euen with my Lorde Marshall on the west halfe and thus all these togither afore to encounter the enimies a front whereby eyther to breake their araye and that waye weaken their power by disorder or at the least to stop them of their gate and force them to stay while our fore warde might wholy haue the hilles side and our battel and rerewarde be placed in groundes next that in order and best for aduantage And after this then that the same our horsemenne shoulde retire vp the hilles sides to come downe in order afresh and infest them on both their sides whiles our battels shoulde occupy theÌ„ in fight a front The policy of this deuise for the state of the case as it was to all that knew of it generally allowed to be the best that coulde be euen so also taken to be of no small daunger for my Lorde Marshall Sir Rafe Vane and other the assaylers the which neuerthelesse I knowe not whether it were more nobly or wisely deuised of the Councell or more valiantly and willinglye executed of them For euen there wyth good courage taking their leaues of the Counsell my Lorde Marshall requiring only that if it went not well with him my Lordes grace woulde be good to his wife and children he sayde he woulde méete the Scottes and so with their bandes these Captaynes tooke their way towardes the enimie By this were our fore warde and theirs within two flyght shottes
a sunder The Scottes basted with so fast a pace that it was thought of the most part of vs they were rather horsemen than footemen Our men againe were ledde the more with spéede The maister of the ordinance Sir Francis Flemming to our great aduauntage pluckt vp the hill then certaine péeces and soone after planted two or thrée Canons of them well nie vpon the top there wherby hauing so much the helpe of the hill he myght ouer our mens heades shoote nyest at the enimie My Lorde Protector whose peculiar charge of al this voyage was the conduct of the middle battell being cladde in fayre armour tooke his waye towardes the heigth of the hill accompanyed with no mo than Sir Thomas Challoner â–ª to tarie by the ordinaunce whereas he moughte both best suruey vs all and succour with ayde where moste hée sawe néede and also by his presence be a defence vnto the thing that stoode weakest in place and moste in daunger the which therby howmuch it stood in stead anon shall I shew But the Scottes in the middes of their swifte marche were all at a sodaine staye and stoode still a good while the cause whereof is vncertaine and then made hastily towardes vs againe I know not to saye the truth whether more stoutlye of courage or more strongly of order me thought then I might note both in their march But what after I learned specially touching their order their armour and their maner of fight as well in going to offende as in standing to defende I haue thought necessarie here to vtter Hackbutters had they fewe or none and appoynt their fighte moste commonlye alwayes on foote They come to the fielde well furnished with Iacke Scull Dagger Buckler and Swordes all notably broade and thinne and of excéeding good temper and vniuersally so made to slice that as I neuer saw none so good so thinke I it harde to deuise the better hereto euery man his pike a great kerchiefe wrapped twise or thrice about his neck not for cold but for entting In their aray toward the ioyning with the enimie they cling thrust so neare in the â—ore ranke shoulder to shoulder togither with their pikes in both handes streight afore them and their followers in that order so harde at their backes laying their Pykes ouer their foregâ—ers shoulders that if they doe assayle vndisseuered no force can well withstande them Standing at defence they thrust shoulders likewise so nie togither the forerankes well nie to knéeling stoupe lowe before for their fellowes behinde holding their Pykes in both handes and therewith in their lefte their Bucklers the ende of the Pyke against their righte foote the other against the enimie brest high their followers crossing their Pyke pointes with them forwarde and thus eche with other so nie as place space will suffer through the whole warde so thicke that as easily shall a bare finger péerce through the skin of an angrie Hedgehogge as anye encounter the front of their Pykes My Lorde Marshall notwithstanding whom no daunger detracted from doing of his enterprise with the company and order afore appointed came full in their faces from the hylles side with present mynde and courage continuing their course towarde the enimie And my Lordes grace also at his place furiously tempested aloft with the ordinance The enimies were in a fallowe fielde whereof the furrowes laye sideling towarde our men By the side of the same furrowes next vs and a stones cast from them was there a crossedich or slough which our men must néedes passe to come to them wherein many that could not leape ouer stacke fast to no small daunger of themselues and some disorder of their fellowes The ennimies perceyuing our men fast approch disposed themselues to abide the brunt and in this order stoode still to receyue them The Earle of Anguish next vs in the forewarde as Captaine of the same with an eight thousande and foure or fiue péeces of ordinance on his right side and foure hundreth horsemen on his left behinde him somewhat westward the Gouernour with x. M. inlande men as they call them the choysest men counted of their countrie And the Earle Huntley in the rerewarde welnie euen with the battayle on the left hande with eyght thousande also The foure thousand Irish archers as a wing vnto them both last in déede in order and first as they sayde that ranne away These battelles and rarewarde were warded also with ordinaÌ„ce according Edwarde Shelley Lieutenant vnder my Lorde Grey of his bande of Bulleners was the first on our side that was ouer this slough my Lorde Grey nexte and so then after two or thrée rankes of the former bandes But badly yet coulde they make their race by reason the furrowes laye trauerse to their course That notwithstanding and though also they were nothing likely wel to be able thus a front to come within them to hurt them as well bicause the Scottishe mens pykes were as long or longer than their staues as also for that their horses were all naked without bardes whereof thoughe there were right many among vs yet not one put on forasmuch as at our comming forth in the morning we looked for nothing lesse than for battell that daye yet did my Lorde and Shelley with the residue so valiantly and strongly giue the charge vpon them that whether it were by their prowes or power the lefte side of the enimies that his Lordshippe did set vpon though their order remained vnbroken yet was compelled to swaye a good waye backe and gyue grounde largely and all the residue of them beside to stande much amased Before this as our men were welnie at them they stoode very braue and bragging shaking their Pyke poyntes crying come here Loundes come here Tykes come here Heretikes and such like opprobrious wordes Our Captaines that were behinde perceyuing at eye that both by the vneuennesse of the grounde by the sturdie order of the enimie and for that their fellowes were so nie and streight before them they were not able to any aduauntage to maintaine this onset did therefore according to the deuise in that poynt appointed turne themselues and made a soft retire vp towarde the hill againe Howbeit to confesse the truth some of the number that knewe not the prepensed policie of the couÌ„sayle in this case made of a sober abuised retire an hastie temerarious flight My Lord Marshall Edwarde Shelley little Preston Brampton and Gerningham Bulleners Ratcliffe the Lorde Fitzwaters brother Sir Iohn Cleres sonne and heire Digges of Kent Ellerker a Pencioner Segraue Of my Lorde Protectors bande my Lorde Edwarde his Graces son Captaine of the same bande Stanley VVodhouse Conisbie Hergill Morris Dennis Arthur and Atkinson with the other in the fore ranke were not able in this earnest assault both to tende to their fight afore and to the retire behinde the Scottes agayne well considering hereby how weake they remayned â–ª ranne sharplye forwarde vpon them and