The Battaile of Agincourt Part 13

When now the Marshall Boucequalt, which long Had through the Battaile waded eu'ry way, Oft hazarded the murther'd Troupes among, Encouraging them to abide the day: Finding the Army that he thought so strong, Before the English faintly to dismay, Brings on the wings which of the rest remain'd, With which the Battaile stoutly he maintain'd.

[Stanza 252: _Sir Thomas Erpingham getteth in with his three hundred Archers._]

Till olde Sir Thomas Erpingham at last, With those three hundred Archers commeth in, Which layd in ambush not three houres yet past; Had the Defeat of the French Army bin, With these that n.o.ble Souldier maketh hast, Lest other from him should the honour win: Who as before now stretch their well-wax'd strings, At the French Horse then comming in the wings.

[Stanza 253]

The soyle with slaughter eu'ry where they load, Whilst the French stoutly to the English stood, The drops from eithers emptied veynes that flow'd, Where it was lately firme had made a flood: But heau'n that day to the braue English ow'd; The Sunne that rose in water, set in blood: Nothing but horrour to be look'd for there, And the stout Marshall vainely doth but feare.

[Stanza 254: _The Marshall of France slaine._]

His Horse sore wounded whilst he went aside, To take another still that doth attend, A shaft which some too-lucky hand doth guide, Peircing his Gorget brought him to his end; Which when the proud Lord Falkonbridge espide, Thinking from thence to beare away his friend, Strucke from his Horse, with many a mortall wound, Is by the English nayled to the ground.

[Stanza 255]

The Marshalls death so much doth them affright, That downe their weapons instantly they lay, And better yet to fit them for their flight, Their weightier Armes, they wholly cast away, Their hearts so heauy, makes their heeles so light, That there was no intreating them to stay, Ore hedge and ditch distractedly they take, And happiest he, that greatest haste could make.

[Stanza 256: _Count Vadamount._]

[_The Duke of Brabant a most couragious Prince._]

When Vadamount now in the Conflict mett, With valient Brabant, whose high valour showne That day, did many a blunted Courage whett, Else long before that from the Field had flowne, Quoth Vadamount, see how we are besett, To death like to be troden by our owne, My Lord of Brabant, what is to be done?

See how the French before the English runne.

[Stanza 257: _A bitter exclamation of the Duke of Brabant against the French._]

Why, let them runne and neuer turne the head, Quoth the braue Duke, vntill their hatefull breath Forsake their Bodies, and so farre haue fled, That France be not disparadg'd by their death: Who trusts to Cowards ne'r is better sped, Be he accurst, with such that holdeth faith, Slaughter consume the Recreants as they flye, Branded with shame, so basely may they dye.

[Stanza 258]

Ign.o.ble French, your fainting Cowardize craues The dreadfull curse of your owne Mother earth, Hardning her breast, not to allow you graues, Be she so much ashamed of your birth; May he be curst that one of you but saues, And be in France hereafter such a dearth Of Courage, that men from their wits it feare, A Drumme, or Trumpet when they hap to heare.

[Stanza 259: _Anthony Duke of Brabant, sonne to the Duke of Burgundy._]

From Burgundy brought I the force I had, To fight for them, that ten from one doe flye; It splits my breast, O that I could be mad; To vexe these Slaues who would not dare to dye: In all this Army is there not a Lad, Th'ign.o.ble French for Cowards that dare crye: If sca.r.s.e one found, then let me be that one, The English Army that oppos'd alone.

[Stanza 260: _The valiant Duke of Brabant slaine._]

This said, he puts his Horse vpon his speed, And in, like lightning on the English flewe: Where many a Mothers sonne he made to bleed, Whilst him with much astonishment they viewe: Where hauing acted many a Knight-like deed, Him and his Horse they all to peeces hewe: Yet he that day more lasting glory wan, Except Alanzon then did any man.

[Stanza 261: _Many of the French in their flight get into an old Fort._]

When as report to great King Henry came, Of a vast Route which from the Battaile fled, (Amongst the French most men of speciall name) By the stout English fiercely followed; Had for their safety, (much though to their shame) Got in their flight into so strong a sted, So fortifi'd by nature (as 'twas thought) They might not thence, but with much blood be brought.

[Stanza 262: _The Kings slight answer._]

An aged Rampire, with huge Ruines heapt, Which seru'd for Shot, gainst those that should a.s.sayle, Whose narrow entrance they with Crosbowes kept, Whose sharpned quarres came in show'rs like hayle: Quoth the braue King, first let the field be swept, And with the rest we well enough shall deale; Which though some heard, and so shut vp their eare, Yet relish'd not with many Souldiers there.

[Stanza 263]

Some that themselues by Ransomes would enrich, (To make their pray of Pesants yet dispise) Felt as they thought their b.l.o.o.d.y palmes to itch, To be in action for their wealthy prize: Others whom onely glory doth bewitch, Rather then life would to this enterprize: Most men seem'd willing, yet not any one Would put himselfe this great exployt vpon.

[Stanza 264: _Woodhouse ieereth at the attempt._]

Which Woodhouse hearing meerily thus spake, (One that right well knew, both his worth and wit) A dangerous thing it is to vndertake A Fort, where Souldiers be defending it, Perhaps they sleepe, and if they should awake, With stones, or with their shafts they may vs. .h.i.tt, And in our Conquest whilst so well we fare, It were meere folly, but I see none dare.

[Stanza 265: _Braues pa.s.se between Gam and Woodhouse._]

Which Gam o'r hearing (being neere at hand) Not dare quoth he, and angerly doth frowne, I tell thee Woodhouse, some in presence stand, Dare propp the Sunne if it were falling downe, Dare graspe the bolt from Thunder in his hand, And through a Cannon leape into a Towne; I tell thee, a resolued man may doe Things, that thy thoughts, yet neuer mounted to.

[Stanza 266]

I know that resolution may doe much, Woodhouse replyes, but who could act my thought, With his proud head the Pole might easely tuch, And Gam quoth he, though brauely thou hast fought, Yet not the fame thou hast attain'd too, such, But that behind, as great is to be bought, And yonder tis, then Gam come vp with me, Where soone the King our Courages shall see.

[Stanza 267]

Agreed quoth Gam, and vp their Troopes they call, Hand ouer head, and on the French they ran, And to the fight couragiously they fall, When on both sides the slaughter soone began; Fortune awhile indifferent is to all, These what they may, and those doe what they can.

Woodhouse and Gam, vpon each other vye, By Armes their manhood desperatly to try.

[Stanza 268: _Captaine Gam slaine._]

[_For this seruice done by Woodhouse, there was an addition of honour giuen him: which was a hand holding a Club: with the word _Frappe Fort_, which is born by the Family of the Woodhouse of Norfolke, to this day._]

To clime the Fort the Light-Arm'd English striue, And some by Trees there growing to ascend; The French with Flints let at the English driue, Themselues with s.h.i.+elds the Englishmen defend, And faine the Fort downe with their hands would riue: Thus either side their vtmost power extend, Till valiant Gam sore wounded, drawne aside By his owne Souldiers, shortly after dy'de.

[Stanza 269]

Then take they vp the bodies of the slaine, Which for their Targets ours before them beare, And with a fresh a.s.sault come on againe; Sca.r.s.e in the Field yet, such a fight as there, Crosse-bowes, and Long-bowes at it are amaine, Vntil the French their ma.s.sacre that feare, Of the fierce English, a cessation craue, Offring to yeeld, so they their liues would saue.

[Stanza 270]

Lewis of Burbon in the furious heat Of this great Battaile, hauing made some stay, Who with the left wing suffered a defeate, In the beginning of this lucklesse day, Finding the English forcing their retreat, And that much hope vpon his valour lay, Fearing lest he might vndergoe some shame, That were vnworthy of the Burbon name.

[Stanza 271]

Hath gathered vp some scattred Troopes of Horse, That in the Field stood doubtfull what to doe; Though with much toyle, which he doth reinforce With some small power that he doth add thereto, Proclaiming still the English had the worse, And now at last, with him if they would goe, He dares a.s.sure them Victory, if not The greatest fame that euer Souldiers gott.

[Stanza 272: _A deuise of Burbons to giue encouragement to the French._]

And being wise, so Burbon to beguile The French, (preparing instantly to fly) Procures a Souldier, by a secret wile To come in swiftly and to craue supply, That if with Courage they would fight awhile, It certaine was the English all should dye, For that the King had offered them to yeeld, Finding his troopes to leaue him on the Field.

[Stanza 273]

When Arthur Earle of Richmount comming in, With the right wing that long staid out of sight, Hauing too lately with the English bin, But finding Burbon bent againe to fight, His former credit hoping yet to winn, (Which at that instant easily he might) Comes close vp with him, and puts on as fast, Brauely resolu'd to fight it to the last.

[Stanza 274]

And both encourag'd by the newes was braught Of the ariuing of the Daulphins power; Whose speedy Van, their Reare had almost raught, (From Agincourt discouer'd from a Tower) Which with the Norman Gallantry was fraught, And on the suddaine comming like a shower; Would bring a deluge on the English Host, Whilst they yet stood their victory to boast.