[1] [2] But the duke of Ireland hauing with him Moli|neux, Uernon, and Ratcliffe, rode forward in statelie and glorious araie, with an armie (as ye haue heard) of fiue thousand men, supposing that none durst come foorth to withstand him. Neuerthelesse when he came to Ratcote bridge, not past foure miles from Cheping Norton (which bridge if he could haue passed, he had béene out of the danger of all enimies) he suddenlie espied where the armie of the lords laie, not far di|stant from him, readie in the midst of a vallie to a|bide his comming. Some of the earle of Derbies companie had broken the bridge, & so stopped his pas|sage. He therefore perceiuing his enimies intention, staied, and caused the kings banner to be spred, and began to set a good countenance of the matter, and to exhort his people to shew themselues valiant; and herewith caused the trumpets to sound. But when it appeared that as some were readie to fight in his quarell,The duke of Ireland his souldiers re|uolt frõ him. so there were other that quite forsooke him, and said flatlie they would not fight against so ma|nie noble men, in so vniust a cause: he being thereof aduertised, began to wax faint-harted, and to prepare himselfe to escape by flight; and declaring no lesse o|penlie vnto them, said:

Before we come to ioine, I will séeke to withdraw my selfe out of the waie, and saue my selfe if I can; for me they onlie seeke, against you they haue no quarell, so that I being shifted a|waie, you shall easilie be preserued. Herewith one of the knights said to him; You haue brought vs out of our countrie, you haue procured vs to giue you our promise, you haue caused vs to take this iournie in hand: here therefore are we readie to fight & win the victorie with you, if our hap be such; or if fortune will not so fauour vs,The duke of Ireland flieth frõ his armie. we are readie to spend our liues with you.

No said he, ye shall not so doo, and forthwith striking his horsse with spurs, he fled from them for feare which had set wings on his héeles, as one saith:

Virg. Aeneid. 9. —pedibus timor addidit alas.