[1] [2] The people on the marches of Wales, for the fa|uour which they bare to the Mortimers linage, more gladlie offered him their aid and assistance than he could desire the same; so that he had incontinentlie a puissant armie, to the number of thrée and twentie thousand, readie to go against the quéene, and the murtherers of his father. But when he was setting forward,The earle of Penbroke. newes was brought to him, that Iasper earle of Penbroke halfe brother to king Henrie, and Iames Butler earle of Ormund and Wilshire, had assembled a great number of Welsh and Irish peo|ple to take him: he herewith quickned, retired backe and met with his enimies in a faire plaine, néere to Mortimers crosse,The battell of Mortimers crosse. not far from Hereford east, on Candlemasse daie in the morning. At which time the sunne (as some write) appeared to the earle of March like thrée sunnes, and suddenlie ioined altogither in one. Upon which sight he tooke such courage, that he fiercelie setting on his enimies, put them to flight: and for this cause men imagined, that he gaue the sunne in his full brightnesse for his badge or cogni|sance.The cogni|sãce of bright sunne. Of his enimies were left dead on the ground thrée thousand and eight hundred.