t choke vp some chanell side to side,
And the craz'd banks doth downe before it cast,
Hoping the English would them not abide,
Or would be so amazed at their hast,
That should they faile to route them at their will,
Yet of their blood, the fields should drinke their fill.

[Stanza 276]

When as the English whose o'r-wearied Armes,
Were with long slaughter lately waxed sore,
These inexpected, and so fierce Alarmes,
To their first strength doe instantly restore,
And like a Stoue their stifned sinewes warmes,
To act as brauely as they did before;
And the proud French as stoutly to oppose,
Scorning to yeeld one foot despight of blowes.

[Stanza 277]

The fight is fearefull, for stout Burbon brings
His fresher forces on with such a shocke,
That they were like to cut the Archers strings
E're they their Arrowes hansomly could nock
The French like Engines that were made with springs:
Themselues so fast into the English lock,
That th'one was like the other downe to beare,
In wanting roomth to strike, they stoode so neare.

[Stanza 278]

Still staggering long they from each other reel'd,
Glad that themselues they so could disingage:
And falling back vpon the spacious field
(For this last Sceane, that is the bloody Stage)
Where they their Weapons liberally could weeld,
They with such madnesse execute their rage;
As though the former fury of the day,
To this encounter had but beene a play.

[Stanza 279]

Slaughter is now desected to the full,
Here from their backs their batter'd Armours fall,
Here a sleft shoulder, there a clouen scull,
There hang his eyes out beaten with a mall,
Vntill the edges of their Bills growe dull,
Vpon each other they so spend their gall,
Wilde showtes and clamors all the ayre doe fill,
The French cry _tue_, and the English kill.

[Stanza 280]

The Duke of Barre in this vaste spoyle by chance;
With the Lord Saint-Iohn on the Field doth meete,
Towards whom that braue Duke doth himselfe aduance,
Who with the like encounter him doth greete:
This English Barron, and this Peere of France,
Grapling together, falling from their feete,
With the rude crowdes had both to death beene crusht,
In for their safety, had their friends not rusht.

[Stanza 281]

Both againe rais'd, and both their Souldiers shift,
To saue their lyues if any way they could:
But as the French the