CHAP. VII.] 



DECLINE OF FEUDALISM. 



217 



immensely superior, while the Black Prince was in a 

 hostile territory, short of provisions, and greatly out- 

 numbered. King John should have cut off the English 

 foraging parties, watched their movements, refused to 

 attack in so strong a position, or if he did attack he 

 could easily have turned either flank and avoided 

 marching through so dangerous a defile ! The Black 

 Prince saved his army from a great danger, but he was 

 much aided by the mismanagement of his enemy. 



Viewed altogether Poitiers marks a distinct step in 

 advance in the art of war — for it shows an appreciation 

 by the English general of the respective values of 

 the two services, and how to employ each skilfully in 

 its own sphere. His arrangements to use his men-at- 

 arms as infantry in the beginning of the action, and his 

 rapid change from cautious defence to the impetuous 

 charge of cavalry in the crisis of the battle, we will 

 venture to assert, evinces a knowledge of the charac- 

 teristics of the different arms not shown by any general 

 of his time or for hundreds of years before him. 



The battle of Homildon Hill, fought in 1402 between 

 the Scotch Under Earl Douglas and the English under the 

 Percys, is another remarkable instance of the increasing 

 j)Ower of the English infantry against cavalry in the open 

 field. Douglas drew up his army in a deep square on 

 Homildon Hill which was an excellent position to resist 

 cavalry. The English army was drawn up on the 

 opposite eminence, which the Scotch allowed them to do 

 without resistance. Had Diiuglas at once charged with 

 bis 1,000 Scotch knights and men-at-arms and reduced 

 the fight to a close hand-to-hand conflict it would have 

 been his best policy, but he awaited tha attack, and the 

 English, instead of charging with their cavalry, sent on 

 the archers who, slowly advancing, poured their volleys as 

 thick as hail upon the Scots, who wedged closely together 

 were struck down without a chance of returning a blow. 

 The effect was dreadful, for the English shafts pierced 

 with ease the light armour of the Scots, which was no 

 defence against the deadly missiles. The better- tempered 

 armour of the knights was found utterly unequal to resist 



