vitiate in arms, signalized
himself on his father's footsteps; and even a wound, which he received
in the face with tin arrow, could not oblige him to quit the field.[**]

* Hall, fol. 21, 22, etc.

** T. Livii, p. 3

Piercy supported that fame which he had acquired in many a bloody
combat. And Douglas, his ancient enemy, and now his friend, still
appeared his rival amidst the horror and confusion of the day. This
nobleman performed feats of valor which are almost incredible: he seemed
determined that the king of England should that day fall by his arm: he
sought him all over the field of battle: and as Henry, either to elude
the attacks of the enemy upon his person, or to encourage his own men by
the belief of his presence every where, had accoutred several captains
in the royal garb, the sword of Douglas rendered this honor fatal to
many.[*] But while the armies were contending in this furious manner,
the death of Piercy, by an unknown hand, decided the victory, and the
royalists prevailed. There are said to have fallen that day on both
sides near two thousand three hundred gentlemen; but the persons of
greatest distinction were on the king's; the earl of Stafford, Sir Hugh
Shirley, Sir Nicholas Gausel, Sir Hugh Mortimer, Sir John Massey, Sir
John Calverly. About six thousand private men perished, of whom two
thirds were of Piercy's army.[**] The earls of Worcester and Douglas
were taken prisoners: the former was beheaded at Shrewsbury; the latter
was treated with the courtesy due to his rank and merit.

The earl of Northumberland, having recovered from his sickness, had
levied a fresh army, and was on his march to join his son; but being
opposed by the earl of Westmoreland, and hearing of the defeat at
Shrewsbury, he dismissed his forces, and came with a small retinue to
the king at York.[***] He pretended that his sole intention in arming
was to mediate between the parties: Henry thought proper to accept of
the apology, and even granted him a pardon for his offence: all the
other rebels were treated with equal lenity; and, except the earl of
Worcester and Sir Richard Vernon, who were regarded as the chief authors
of the insurrection, no person engaged in this dangerous enterprise
seems to have perished by the hands of the executioner.[****]

* Walsing. p. 366, 367. Hall, fol. 22.

** Chron. Otterborne, p. 224. Ypod. Neust. p. 560.

*** Chron. Otterborne, p. 225.

**** Rymer, vo