[Sidenote: The ordering of the battels on the kings aduersaries part.]
Now on the aduersaries side, the earle of Chester led the fore ward, and
those whome king Stephan had disherited, were placed in the middle ward.
In the rere ward the earle of Glocester with his companie had the rule.
And besides those thrée battels, the Welshmen were set as a wing at one
of the sides.

Here the earle of Chester (to vtter the good will which he had to fight)
appointed in faire armour as he was, [Sidenote: The oration of the earle
of Chester. _Ran. Higd._] spake these words in effect as followeth,
directing the same to the earle of Glocester, and other the capteines,
saieng: "I giue you hartie thanks, most inuincible chiefteine, and you
my fellow soldiers, which declare your hartie good wils towards me, euen
to the ieoparding of your liues at this my request and instance. Sith
then I am the occasion of your perill, it is conuenient that I make the
first entrance, and giue the onset of the battell vpon that most
disloiall king, who granting a truce, hath broken the peace; and
swearing to be a subiect, is now prooued a most wicked vsurper: I
therefore trusting both vpon reuenge of the vniust dealings of this
king, and also vpon mine owne force and courage, shall straitwaies
breake in sunder the arraie of his armie, and make waie through the
middest of the enimies with sword in hand. It shall be your parts then
to follow me, who will lead you the waie: for euen now my mind giueth
me, that I shall passe thorough the battels, tread the capteines vnder
foot, and run the king through with this my sharpe sword."

[Sidenote: The earle of Glocesters answer to the earle of Chesters
oration.] When he had thus ended, the earle of Glocester answered in
this wise: "It is not against reason that you should require the honor
of the first onset, both for the nobilitie of your house, and also in