iseth to that hight,
That horror neede no further to be sought:
If onely that might satisfie the sight,
Who would haue fame full dearely here it bought,
For it was sold by measure and by waight,
And at one rate the price still certaine stood,
An ounce of honour cost a pound of blood.
[Stanza 288: _The Lords Dampier and Sauesses taken prisoners._]
When so it hapt that Dampier in the Van,
Meetes with stout Darcy, but whilst him he prest,
Ouer and ouer commeth horse and man,
Of whom the other soone himselfe possest:
When as Sauesses vpon Darcy ran
To ayde Dampier, but as he him adrest;
A Halbert taking hold vpon his Greaues,
Him from his Saddle violently heaues.
[Stanza 289]
When soone fiue hundred Englishmen at Armes,
That to the French had giuen many a chase;
And when they couered all the Field with swarmes;
Yet oft that day had brauely bid them base:
Now at the last by raising fresh Alarmes;
And comming vp with an vnusuall pace,
Made them to knowe, that they must runne or yeeld,
Neuer till now the English had the Field.
[Stanza 290: _Arthur Earl of Richmount taken prisoner._]
[_The Count du Marle slaine._]
Where Arthur Earle of Richmount beaten downe,
Is left (suppos'd of eu'ry one for dead)
But afterwards awaking from his swoone,
By some that found him, was recouered:
So Count Du Marle was likewise ouerthrowne:
As he was turning meaning to haue fled,
Who fights, the colde blade in his bosome feeles,
Who flyes, still heares it whisking at his heeles.
[Stanza 291]
Till all disrank'd, like seely Sheepe they runne,
By threats nor prayers, to be constrain'd to stay;
For that their hearts were so extreamely done,
That fainting oft they fall vpon the way:
Or when they might a present perill shunne,
They rush vpon it by their much dismay,
That from the English should they safely flye,
Of their owne very feare, yet they should dye.
[Stanza 292]
Some they take prisoners, other some they kill,
As they affect those vpon whom they fall:
For they as Victors may doe what they will:
For who this Conqueror to account dare call,
In gore the English seeme their soules to swill,
And the deiected French must suffer all;
Flight, cords, and slaughter, are the onely three,
To which themselues subiected they doe see.
[Stanza 293: _The misery of the French._]
A shoolesse Souldier there
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