WARLIKE USE OF THE YEW. 



87 



' There were of the Genoese cross-bows about 

 fifteen thousand, but they were so dog-weary 

 of marching that day six leagues, with those 

 same timber cross-bows, that they said they 

 had more need of rest than of battle. How- 

 ever, at length they approached and made a 

 great leap and cry, to abash the English ; but 

 these stood and stirred not for all that. Then 

 the Genoese made another leap and a fell 

 cry, and stepped forward a little ; but still the 

 English moved not a foot. Then, the third 

 time, they leaped and cried; and, coming 

 within bow-shot, shot fiercely with their cross- 

 bows. Then slipt forth the English archers, 

 and let fly their arrows, so wholly and so thick, 

 that it seemed like snow.' The Genoese, in 

 fact, and the French, whom they were hired 

 to serve, had the worst of it, as you know 

 was the case in this battle ; and so it was 



