lenfcour'$ afe. 33 



discharged did their work, and many fell ; the king's bow- 

 men were not wanting in return, and the battle raged 

 with great fury. Henry was in the thickest of the fight, 

 and his gallant son, who afterwards carried misery and 

 desolation throughout the fields of France, signalized 

 himself that day. Percy, too, supported the fame which 

 he had earned in many a hard-fought battle, and 

 Douglas, his ancient enemy, though now his friend, still 

 appeared his rival, amid the horror and confusion of the 

 scene. He raged through the field in search of the king, 

 and as Henry, either to elude the vigilance of the enemy, 

 or to encourage his own men by the belief of his presence 

 everywhere, had accoutred several captains in the royal 

 garb, the sword of Douglas rendered this honour fatal 

 to many. At length the standard of the king, fluttering 

 high in air, recalled Douglas to the spot, and little heed- 

 ing the flight of arrows, which rattled on his armour like 

 hail, nor yet the chosen band who were appointed to 

 guard the banner, he and his associate Hotspur pierced 

 their way thither. Henry was thrice unhorsed, and would 

 have been either taken or slain, had not his men kept 

 back, with desperate valour, the furious onset of the 

 assailants, while the Earl of March forced him from the 

 scene of danger. Yet still they sought him, and having 

 beaten down his banner, and slain its bearer, with many 

 of the faithful band appointed to guard the royal flag, vic- 

 tory began to swerve in favour of the rebel army. But in one 

 moment a loud voice sounded far and wide over the dread - 



c 5 



