The Holinshed Texts (1587, Volume 6, p. 523)

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 3 The Scots (as some write) which had the fore ward on the Persies side, Hall. The Scots. intending to be reuenged of their old displeasures doone to them by the English nation, set so fiercelie on the kings fore ward, led by the earle of Stafford, that they made the same draw backe, and had almost broken their aduersaries ar|raie. The Welshmen also which before had [...]aine lur|king in the woods, mounteines, and marishes, hea|ri [...]g of this battell toward, came to the aid of the Persies,The Welsh|men come to aid the Per|sies. and refreshed the wearied people with new succours. The king perceiuing that his men were thus put to distresse, what with the violent impression of the Scots, and the tempestuous stormes of ar|rowes, that his aduersaries discharged fréely against him and his people, it was no need to will him to stirre: for suddenlie with his fresh battell, he appro|ched and relieued his men; so that the battell began more fierce than before. Here the lord Henrie Per|sie, and the earle Dowglas, a right stout and hardie capteine, not regarding the shot of the kings battell, nor the close order of the ranks, pressing forward to|gither bent their whole forces towards the kings per|son, comming vpon him with speares and swords so fiercelie, that the earle of March the Scot,

The earle of March.

Tho. Walsi.

percei|uing their purpose, withdrew the king from that side of the field (as some write) for his great benefit and safegard (as it appeared) for they gaue such a violent onset vpon them that stood about the kings standard, that slaieng his standard-bearer sir Walter Blunt, and ouerthrowing the standard, they made slaughter of all those that stood about it, as the earle of Staf|ford, that daie made by the king constable of the realme, and diuerse other.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 The prince that daie holpe his father like a lustie yoong gentleman: Hall. The valiance of the yoong prince. for although he was hurt in the face with an arrow, so that diuerse noble men that were about him, would haue conueied him foorth of the field, yet he would not suffer them so to doo, least his departure from amongst his men might happilie haue striken some feare into their harts: and so with|out regard of his hurt, he continued with his men, & neuer ceassed, either to fight where the battell was most hot, or to incourage his men where it séemed most néed. This battell lasted thrée long houres,A sore battell & well main|teined. with indifferent fortune on both parts, till at length, the king crieng saint George victorie, brake the arraie of his enimies, and aduentured so farre, that (as some write) the earle Dowglas strake him downe,The valiant dooings of the earle Dow|glas. & at that instant slue sir Walter Blunt, and thrée other, apparelled in the kings sute and clothing, saieng: I maruell to sée so many kings thus suddenlie arise one in the necke of an other. The king in deed was raised, & did that daie manie a noble feat of armes, for as it is written, he slue that daie with his owne hands six and thirtie persons of his enimies.

The high manhood of the king.

The lord Persie slaine.

The o|ther on his part incouraged by his doings, fought valiantlie, and slue the lord Persie, called sir Henrie Hotspurre. To conclude, the kings enimies were vanquished, and put to flight, in which flight, the earle of Dowglas, for hast, falling from the crag of an hie mounteine, brake one of his cullions,The earle Dowglas ta|ken prisoner. and was taken, and for his valiantnesse, of the king frankelie and freelie deliuered.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 There was also taken the earle of Worcester,The earle of Worcester taken. the procuror and setter foorth of all this mischéefe, sir Ri|chard Uernon, and the baron of Kinderton, with di|uerse other. There were slaine vpon the kings part, beside the earle of Stafford,Knights slaine on the kings part. to the number of ten knights, sir Hugh Shorlie, sir Iohn Clifton, sir Iohn Cokaine, sir Nicholas Gausell, sir Walter Blunt, sir Iohn Caluerleie, sir Iohn Massie of Podington, sir Hugh Mortimer, and sir Robert Gausell, all the which receiued the same morning the order of knight|hood: sir Thomas Wendesleie was wounded to death, and so passed out of this life shortlie after. There died in all vpon the kings side sixteene hundred, and foure thousand were gréeuouslie wounded. On the contrarie side were slaine, besides the lord Persie, the most part of the knights and esquiers of the countie of Chester, to the number of two hundred,The slaugh|ter of Cheshire men at this battell. besides yeomen and footmen, in all there died of those that fought on the Persies side, about fiue thousand. This battell was fought on Marie Magdalene euen, be|ing saturdaie. Upon the mondaie folowing,The earle of Worcester and others behea|ded. the earle of Worcester, the baron of Kinderton, and sir Ri|chard Uernon knights, were condemned and behea|ded. EEBO page image 524 The earles head was sent to London, there to be set on the bridge.

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