to the danger。 The clamor of their war…cries filled the air； and
they tossed their pennoned spears over their heads in menace and
defiance。 From the English line it was a noble sight； the
gallant； pawing； curveting horses； the many…colored twinkling
riders； the swoop and wave and toss of plume and banner。
Then a bugle rang forth。 With a sudden yell every spur struck
deep； every lance was laid in rest； and the whole gallant squadron
flew like a glittering thunderbolt for the center of the English
line。
A hundred yards they had crossed； and yet another hundred； but
there was no movement in front of them； and no sound save their
own hoarse battle…cries and the thunder of their horses。 Ever
swifter and swifter they flew。 From behind the hedge it was a
vision of horses； white； bay and black； their necks stretched；
their nostrils distended； their bellies to the ground； whilst of
the rider one could but see a shield with a plume…tufted visor
above it； and a spear…head twinkling in front。
Then of a sudden the Prince raised his hand and gave a cry。
Chandos echoed it； it swelled down the line； and with one mighty
chorus of twanging strings and hissing shafts the long…pent storm
broke at last。
Alas for the noble steeds！ Alas for the gallant men。 When the
lust of battle is over who would not grieve to see that noble
squadron break into red ruin before the rain of arrows beating
upon the faces and breasts of the horses？ The front rank crashed
down； and the others piled themselves upon the top of them； unable
to check their speed； or to swerve aside from the terrible wall of
their shattered comrades which had so suddenly sprung up before
them。 Fifteen feet high was that blood…spurting mound of
screaming； kicking horses and writhing； struggling men。 Here and
there on the flanks a horseman cleared himself and dashed for the
hedge； only to have his steed slain under him and to be hurled
from his saddle。 Of all the three hundred gallant riders； not one
ever reached that fatal hedge。
But now in a long rolling wave of steel the German battalion
roared swiftly onward。 They opened in the center to pass that
terrible mound of death； and then spurred swiftly in upon the
archers。 They were brave men； well led； and in their open lines
they could avoid the clubbing together which had been the ruin of
the vanguard； yet they perished singly even as the others had
perished together。 A few were slain by the arrows。 The greater
number had their horses killed under them； and were so shaken and
shattered by the fall that they could not raise their limbs；
over…weighted with iron； from the spot where they lay。
Three men riding together broke through the bushes which sheltered
the leaders of the archers； cut down Widdington the Dalesman；
spurred onward through the hedge； dashed over the bowmen behind
it； and made for the Prince。 One fell with an arrow through his
head； a second was beaten from his saddle by Chandos； and the
third was slain by the Prince's own hand。 A second band broke
through near the river； but were cut off by Lord Audley and his
squires； so that all were slain。 A single horseman whose steed
was mad with pain； an arrow in its eye and a second in its
nostril； sprang over the hedge and clattered through the whole
army； disappearing amid whoops and laughter into the woods behind。
But none others won as far as the hedge。 The whole front of the
position was fringed with a litter of German wounded or dead；
while one great heap in the center marked the downfall of the
gallant French three hundred。
Whilst these two waves of the attack had broken in front of the
English position； leaving this blood…stained wreckage behind them；
the main divisions had halted and made their last preparations for
their own assault。 They had not yet begun their advance； and the
nearest was still half a mile distant； when the few survivors from
the forlorn hope； their maddened horses bristling with arrows；
flew past them on either flank。
At the same moment the English archers and men…at…arms dashed
through the hedge； and dragged all who were living out of that
tangled heap of shattered horses and men。 It was a mad wild rush；
for in a few minutes the fight must be renewed； and yet there was
a rich harvest of wealth for the lucky man who could pick a
wealthy prisoner from amid the crowd。 The nobler spirits
disdained to think of ransoms whilst the fight was still
unsettled； but a swarm of needy soldiers； Gascons and English；
dragged the wounded out by the leg or the arm； and with daggers at
their throats demanded their names； title and means。 He who had
made a good prize hurried him to the rear where his own servants
could guard him； while he who was disappointed too often drove the
dagger home and then rushed once more into the tangle in the hope
of better luck。 Clermont； with an arrow through the sky…blue
Virgin on his surcoat； lay dead within ten paces of the hedge；
d'Andreghen was dragged by a penniless squire from under a horse
and became his prisoner。 The Earl of Salzburg and of Nassau were
both found helpless on the ground and taken to the rear。 Aylward
cast his thick arms round Count Otto von Langenbeck； and laid him；
helpless from a broken leg； behind his bush。 Black Simon had made
prize of Bernard； Count of Ventadour； and hurried him through the
hedge。 Everywhere there was rushing and shouting； brawling and
buffeting； while amidst it all a swarm of archers were seeking
their shafts； plucking them from the dead； and sometimes even from
the wounded。 Then there was a sudden cry of warning。 In a moment
every man was back in his place once more； and the line of the
hedge was clear。
It was high time； for already the first division of the French was
close upon them。 If the charge of the horsemen had been terrible
from its rush and its fire； this steady advance of a huge phalanx
of armored footmen was even more fearsome to the spectator。 They
moved very slowly； on account of the weight of their armor； but
their progress was the more regular and inexorable。 With elbows
touching … their shields slung in front； their short five…foot
spears carried in their right hands； and their maces or swords
ready at their belts； the deep column of men…at…arms moved onward。
Again the storm of arrows beat upon them clinking and thudding on
the armor。 They crouched double behind their shields as they met
it。 Many fell； but still the slow tide lapped onward。 Yelling；
they surged up to the hedge； and lined it for half a mile；
struggling hard to pierce it。
For five minutes the long straining ranks faced each other with
fierce stab of spear on one side and heavy beat of ax or mace upon
the other。 In many parts the hedge was pierced or leveled to the
ground； and the French men…at…arms were raging amongst the
archers； hacking and hewing among the lightly armed men。 For a
moment it seemed as if the battle was on the turn。
But John de Vere； Earl of Oxford； cool； wise and crafty in war；
saw and seized； his chance。 On the right flank a marshy meadow
skirted the river。 So soft was it that a heavily…armed man would
sink to his knees。 At his order a spray of light bowmen was
thrown out from the battle line and forming upon the flank of the
French poured their arrows into them。 At the same moment Chandos；
with Audley； Nigel； Bartholomew Burghersh； the Captal de Buch； and
a score of other knights sprang upon their horses； and charging
down the narrow lane rode over the French line in front of them。
Once through it they spurred to left and right； trampling down the
dismounted men…at…arms。
A fearsome sight was Pommers that day； his red eyes rolling； his
nostrils gaping； his tawny mane tossing； and his savage teeth
gnashing in fury； as he tore and smashed and ground beneath his
ramping hoofs all that came before him。 Fearsome too was the
rider； ice…cool； alert； concentrated of purpose； with； heart of
fire and muscles of steel。 A very angel of battle he seemed as he
drove his maddened horse through the thickest of the press； but
strive as he would： the tall figure of his master upon his
coal…black steed was ever half a length before him。
Already the moment of danger was passed。 The French line had
given back。 Those who had pierced the hedge had fallen like brave
men amid the ranks of their foemen。 The division of Warwick had
hurried up from the vineyards to fill the gaps of Salisbury's
battle…line。 Back rolled the shining tide； slowly at first； even
as it had advanced； but quicker now as the bolder fell and the
weaker shredded out and shuffled with ungainly speed for a place
of safety。 Again there was a rush from behind the hedge。 Again
there was a reaping of that strange crop of bearded arrows which
grew so thick upon the ground； and again the wounded prisoners
were seized and dragged in brutal haste to the rear。 Then the
line was restored； and the English； weary； panting and shaken；
awaited the next attack。
But a great good fortune had come to them … so great that as they
looked down the valley they could scarce credit their own senses。
Behind the division of the Dauphin； which had pressed them so
ha