hey 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
t