f the best knights in Christendom, and the fury of their
charge was irresistible. The centre of the royal line was cleft in
sunder, the king's guards were at once dispersed; and, had not Henry
taken the precaution of arraying himself in plain armour, while two of
his knights had put on royal surcoats, the battle would at once have
been decided.

As it was, the two knights were both killed, as were the Earl of
Stafford and Sir Walter Blount. The royal standard was overthrown, and
the young Prince of Wales sorely wounded in the face.

He had already shown signs of great military talent; and, in spite of
his wound, now showed a courage and presence of mind that justified the
confidence his father had shown, in giving him important commands. He
rode hither and thither among the disorganized troops, saw that the gap
in the centre was again closed up, and was ever to be met where the
fight was hottest.

The impetuous charge of Hotspur and Douglas was the ruin of themselves,
and their army. Had they paused until their troops had advanced close
to the enemy, and the mounted men-at-arms were all ranged closely
behind them, and in a position to support them, the fight would
assuredly have speedily terminated in their favour; but before these
arrived the royal army had closed its ranks, and the rebel leaders,
with all their principal knights, were cut off from the main body. In
vain the men of the north tried to cut their way through the southern
ranks, and to come to the assistance of their chiefs; who, surrounded
now by the English knights and men-at-arms, were fighting desperately
against overwhelming numbers.

An hour after the battle began, many parties of Welshmen came up and
joined in the conflict; but the absence of leaders, and the loss of
their respective captains, Hotspur and Douglas, paralysed the efforts
of the Northumbrians and the Scottish contingent. Yet both fought
stoutly, and suffered very heavy losses.

For upwards of two hours Hotspur maintained the unequal fight; but at
length an arrow pierced Hotspur's visor, and he fell dead from his
horse. Further resistance was useless, and the survivors of the group,
which had been reduced to a mere handful, surrendered. For another half
hour the main battle raged; then came the news that Hotspur was killed,
and Douglas and Westmoreland prisoners; the English horsemen dashed
down on the flanks of the northern line, the spearmen pressed forward,
and the Scotch and N