sith it is not possible for them either to fight or to flée, what other
thing can they doo, but (as appointed by Gods ordinance) offer
themselues and all they haue about them presentlie vnto vs. Yée sée then
their horsses, their armour, and their bodies readie here at your
pleasure, lift vp your hearts therefore, and reach your hands to take
that with great chearefulnesse of mind, which the Lord hath thus offered
and freelie presented vnto you."

Now yer he had all made an end of his words, the batels were readie to
ioine, they met with great noise of trumpets and other instruments, and
the fight began with a verie sore and cruell slaughter. [Sidenote:
_Matth. Paris._ _Hen. Hunt._] Hard it was in the beginning to gesse who
should haue the better. The wing of the disherited men ouerthrew and
bare downe their aduersaries, which were led by the duke of Britain, and
the forenamed earles. On the contrarie part, the earle of Albemarle and
William de Ypres put the Welshmen to flight, but by the earle of Chester
and his retinue, the same earle and William de Ypres were fiercelie
assailed afresh, and put out of order. [Sidenote: _W. Paru._ _Hen.
Hunt._] Thus was the kings side put to the worse, namelie his horssemen,
who being placed in the forefront, and there ouermatched, fell to
galoping. Which thing when the king beheld, he was not yet any whit
therewith abashed, but like an hardie captein (as he was no lesse
indéed) comforted his footmen whom he had about him, and rushing vpon
his enimies, [Sidenote: _Polydor._] bare them down, and ouerthrew so
manie as stood before him, so that with the point of his weapon he made
himselfe waie. His footmen, who were but a few in number to the
multitude of his enimies, counteruailed in all points the prowes and
manlike dooings of their king and capteine, insomuch that few battels
had beene better fought, nor with greater slaughter on both sides, if
the kings fore ward (which in maner at the first shranke backe and was