BELT AND SPUR

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CHAPTER XII.

THE LAST DEEDS OF SIR HARRY HOTSPUR.

Of Owen Glendower and the Earl Douglas.

Now it came to pass that the Welsh, taking advantage of the King’s absence, rose in rebellion, having as their leader a certain Owen Glendower. He had been first apprenticed to the law at Westminster, and them become esquire to the late king; and had fought with honour, but a quarrel having arisen between him and Lord Reginald Grey de Ruthyn, on account of land which he claimed as his inheritance, on grounds of little weight, he took up arms, first against Lord Guy, wasting his lands with fire and sword, so that many perished cruelly. Which when the King heard he marched straightway against the disturber of the peace of the country, and having collected a multitude of armed men and archers, invaded Wales. But the Welsh with their leader retreating to Mount Snowden, escaped the threatened vengeance. So the King, having burnt the country and put to deal all whom fate brought within reach of his sword, returned with little spoil of horses and cattle into England.

And in the month of March there appeared in the north-west a comet, shooting out terrible flames to a great height, turning at last towards the north, where it ceased to be seen, signifying, as it was thought, that much blood would be shed in those parts where it appeared, that is, Wales and Northumberland.

And again, Owen Glendower, with a band of Welshmen, ravaged the country, carrying some away captive and putting others to a cruel death. And he wasted the lands of Lord Reginald Grey, who was at the time dwelling in his castle at Ruthyn, and he, hearing of his coming, went out against him with few men, hoping to capture him. But it fell not out as he hoped, for when they fought together Lord de Grey was taken, and many of his men killed. And this disaster increased the pride of the Welsh. Then Owen Glendower challenged the men of Hereford to battle, and they went out to meet him, under Edmund Mortimer, the most valiant of those parts, fearing nothing but the flight of the Cambrians. But alas! by treachery those who hastened to conquer were unexpectedly overthrown, and more than eleven hundred of our men were killed and Edmund Mortimer was taken, and with him some knights and armed men and servants, whose names I know not. And such deeds were perpetrated as were unheard of in any age, neither would they suffer the bodies of the dead to be buried without a heavy fine and ransom. There are those who say that Edmund Mortimer was captured by agreement and premeditated treason, and this 204 opinion the infamous intercourse of Edmund with Owen afterwards greatly confirmed.

Then the King of England, about the Feast of the Assumption, having gathered troops, entered Wales, giving one army to his son the Prince and another to the Earl of Arundel, having with him a third, so that entering secretly they might enclose Owen Glendower and his confederates with less chance of escape. But so much din of arms availed nothing, for the Welsh hid in new hiding-places; and the King suffered much, it was supposed from magical devices, and also the army which he led; for from the day in which he entered the borders of Cambria to that on which he left the place, the air was never serene, but day and night rain, mixed with snow and hail, so afflicted the army that they could not endure the cold. And on the vigil of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin, when the King had fixed his tent in a pleasant meadow, where from the nature of the place, they feared nothing, but hoped for quiet repose, suddenly, in the first watch of the night, there came down such an abundance of water that he English were nearly overwhelmed by it. There came also such a tempest of wind that it tore and blew down the tent of the King himself, and threw down the King’s lance, driving it into the armour of the King with such force that it would have been the King’s last night if he had not slept armed. Nor did those English, who were used of old to war, remember to have been ever so much vexed and exposed to peril, in any expedition that they had seen, without human 205 agency. Whence many are of opinion, if it is lawful to believe it, that these evil arts were devised by the Minor Friars, who were said to favour the Welsh party. But far be it from men of such a holy profession to hold familiar intercourse with devils, and bring upon their glory a stain never to be wiped off. Nevertheless the King, forced by necessity, returned to his burnt lands, sad at these disasters.

Then, at the same time, the haughty Scots, growing bold during the absence of the King in Wales, and thinking none were left in the country to stop their course, with a numerous army in great array under Earl Douglas, entered the eastern part of Northumberland. But being warned of their coming, the Earl of Northumberland secretly collected an army, and he permitted the Scots to enter and rage in their usual way, hoping, as it fell out, to stop the way as they returned, and force them either to give battle or take to flight. Nor did this stratagem fail, for when the Scots learned that those whom they least expected to see, the Earl and Henry Percy, his son, and the Earl of Dunbar (who not long before leaving the Scots had sworn faith to England), were in arms against them, they made haste to retreat. For they had supposed all these to have been gone into Wales, carrying aid to the King. So they turned their bridles towards their own land, laboring to reach roads which lead to Scotland before the Earl. But the Earl and his men, riding all the night, came to the place by which they must pass, and with his army gathered in the valley waited for their coming. The 206 morning having come, the Scots, thinking that the Earl had been left behind, rode on with all speed lest the English should overtake them. But avoiding Scylla they fell into Charybdis, for they found those whom they thought to have escaped in well-ordered array before them. They were forced to stand and prepare for battle, so they chose a hill near the place. And our men, therefore, seeing them take possession of the hill, occupied the other hill themselves, and the alley separated them. It was a fair sight to see; on this side the English excellently armed, with their archers, and on that the Scots, with their bowmen, trusting in their armour, which being like silver reflected back the rays of the sun. Now there were returning from an expedition a troop of five hundred bowmen, who had gone out that night seeking victuals, and seeing the two armies with their standards unfurled on the two hills, they themselves being suddenly between them, they sent out a certain number of their archers who shot at the Scots and provoked them to descend. Then there came out some of the Scots, and the archers retired before them, but our men coming up, the Scotch archers were forced to turn their backs. But their courage did not fail them, and they essayed to shoot upon our men, till the raining tempest of our arrows put them to flight. Then Earl Douglas, seeing his men flee, determined to show them that he was not deserting the battle, so he, with a company of knights, trusting in the strength of their armour, lowered their lances and descended impetuously to attack the archers. But 207 when the bowmen saw him they went backward, shooting their arrows more thickly, and the rows penetrated their armour everywhere, and pierced the helmets and the swords, and split the lances. And Douglas himself was wounded in five places, in spite of his strong and sumptuous armour. Then the rest of the Scots who had not descended from the mountain turned round and prepared to flee, but all who fell into the hands of the archers were captured or slain, and among them Earl Douglas was taken. And some fleeing with great speed came to the river of Tweed, and not knowing the fords were by the strength of the current carried away and drowned, to the number of five hundred, as it is asserted. But God be praised for all, for He gave us the victory, not by the leaders and captains, but through the poor and the servants, neither was there a lord, nor a knight, nor an armed men, who moved a foot against the Scots, but they were overthrown by the archers, as I have said. (Homildon Hill/humbleton hill)

Now the young Edmund Mortimer, who had been captured by Owen Glendower, either from weariness of captivity, or fear of death, or some other cause unknown, declared himself for Owen against the King of England, and contracted a marriage, unworthy of his noble race, with Owen’s daughter. It is said that at the birth of Glendower there occurred fearful and prodigious things, for in the morning his father’s horses were found standing in their stable deep in blood, which many thought to forebode evil things.

And Lord Reginald de Grey, by payment of a ransom of ten thousand marks, was set free.

Then the following summer, near the towns of Bedford and Biggleswade, there were seen frequently in the morning and at midday monsters coming out of the woods, of various colours, in the appearance of men-of-war fighting together, and beginning a hard battle. But though they could be seen at a distance, they could not be found on approaching the place. And this fantastical apparition deceived many, so that they went to look.

And the Earl of Northumberland, with his son, making an expedition into Scotland, devastated the country, carrying away captives and spoil with no resistance. But when he was returned, a rumour went through all England that the Scots were prepared for war at the feast of St. Peter ad Vincula. For the Earl had laid siege to a certain castle in the expedition, and when he attacked it vehemently, the besieged, it is said, prayed for a truce until that feast, on which day, if the Scots did not give battle, or if he won the victory, they would give up the castle to him. At this rumour all the youth of England, and the nobility of the kingdom, and the King himself, bestirred themselves, hoping to be present at the battle. But the Earl showed the King that it was not a work that needed his presence, but that he should remain quiet and barons gather together. But while many made ready for this business, it was shown to be naught but an idle fancy.

Of Henry Percy and Shrewsbury Field. Thomas Otterbourne (peas confirmed in )Annales Henrici Quarti, Rolls Series, No. 28, H. T. Riley, vol. “Trokelow and Blaneford.”

About that time Lord Henry Percy the younger, whom fortune had greatly favoured hitherto in deeds of war, in the esteem of the common people, and in temporal things, suddenly, with many confederates declared himself against the King of England, and gathered an army near Shrewsbury, hoping, it is supposed for the aid of Owen Glendower and Edmund Mortimer, and the archers and men-at-arms of Chester and Wales. Lord Thomas Percy, his uncle, earl of Worcester (whom the King had made guardian and governor of his eldest son, the Prince of Wales), secretly encouraged him, and gave him assistance by withdrawing his treasure from London and from the house of the Prince. And he himself joined his nephew Henry with what men he could bring. And they, to excuse themselves for their conspiracy, wrote letters to diverse leaders and people of the Kingdom asserting that their purpose was not against the allegiance and fidelity that they owed to the King, neither had they assembled the army for any other end but for the security of their persons, and that they might reform the public abuses. And they wrote also the taxes, given to the King for the safe-keeping of the Kingdom, were not put the right uses, but devoured and consumed uselessly; on which account they felt themselves bound, for the good of the country, to assemble men, that they might provide a remedy for the evil.

Many then praised their insolence and extolled the faith which they pretended to the country. But the King knew their falseness, and, with a troubled mind, he considered how he could satisfy the people and confound their devices. So he wrote letters, saying that he wondered greatly that, when the Earl of Northumberland and his son Henry had received the greatest part of the sums conceded for keeping the Marches of Scotland, as he could evidently show, they should find cause for complaint, and manifest detraction. He wrote moreover, that he knew that the Earl of Northumberland and his son Henry, and the Earl of Worcester also, had certified to many by letters that, on account of the evil information and secret accusations of their rivals, the King was so moved against them that they dared not come into his presence. Therefore he wrote to the Earl and Henry, that if they would they might come to him safely and depart in safety, without deceit or peril. But Hotspur would listen to no reason, nor stop to think, and, despising the royal lenity, armed himself for rebellion, and hastened to Shrewsbury. Then the King, when he perceived the determined malice of the youth (for his father did not leave the borders of his lands), determined immediately to encounter Henry and his uncle, Lord Thomas Percy, earl of Worcester, before they could rise an army against him.

Then their party caused it to be published through the kingdom that King Richard was still alive and was among them, and that they made war in his 211 name against King Henry; and if any desired to see him they should come in arms to them, and that in the castle of Chester they would certainly find the King. By this crafty proclamation they moved the minds of many to waver, not knowing to which party they might safely adhere; for King Richard had power over many in those times, especially over those who had been familiar with him, and had received from him fiefs or other gifts.

Then King Henry, being bold of mind and prompt in action, assembled all whom he could and betook himself to the place where the rebels Henry and the Earl were known to be. The Earl Dunbar, a Scot, urged him not to delay, for he said, ‘If thou waitest in London, or near London, his forces will grow daily in the remote counties, and then it will be necessary to yield to them whatever they may, I say not supplicate, but command.’ And when the King urged that he had not sufficient troops, ‘Care not for numbers,’ he answered, ‘but advance cautiously against them, and then you will be able to see with your own eyes who love you from their hearts and who are feigning.’ And the King did as the Scot advised, and came unexpectedly to the place where the rebels were reveling. When Henry Percy saw his standard he was astonished above measure, for he thought him to have tarried at the town of Burton-upon-Trent, waiting the coming of his counsellors; and therefore, because he had no suspicion of the coming of the King, he had laid siege to the town of Shrewsbury, demanding that they should give him entrance that he might 212 refresh himself and provide victuals for his army. But the coming of the King was very advantageous for the men of Shrewsbury, for when he saw the standard of the King, Henry immediately left off troubling the citizens, saying to his men, ‘Comrades and fellow-soldiers, we must give up this enterprise and turn our arms against those who are coming with the King. You see the King’s standard, therefore be wise men; for this day will either advance us all if you determine to remain with me, or we shall meet our ruin.’

Then all those who were with Henry, to the number of fourteen thousand chosen men, agreed with one voice that they would stand by him. And they chose the ground very convenient for them; for it was necessary for the King’s army, if they wished to join battle, to advance over ground sown with peas; and they bound together and entangled the peas, so that they were like snares to those who advanced.(“aream satis pisis multis”) And when Henry saw that they were without doubt about to fight, and that the sword he loved best was missing, he sought it everywhere: and they told him that it was in the little town behind, commonly called Berwick. And at that word he turned pale, so that those standing by marvelled; then, drawing a deep sigh, he said to his servant, ‘I perceive that my plough is at its last furrow, for it was prophesied to me when I was yet in my own country that I should without doubt die at Berwick. But, alas! the name deceived me.’ Then he ordered the battle wisely, promising his followers an end of their troubles that day, 213 if they survived, and riches, and a glorious future and a name for ever.

And of the nobles who followed him to that place there were his uncle Lord Thomas Percy, earl of Worcester, who was never before in all his life suspected of perfidy, and who alone among the English, who are known abroad for their fickleness, obtained praise for faithfulness, so that the kings of France and Spain trusted his word more than any writing; and Earl Douglas, the Scot, had followed him who had been captured in the battle of Homildon Hill, and he was a very warlike man and equaled by few for courage, prudence, or fortitude. And the Lord Kinderton, and Sir Hugh Browne, and also sir Richard Vernon, were there, with ten other barons.

Then the King, perceiving the order of the army opposed to him, and chiefly the archers gathered together, ordered his own army with the alacrity that became him; and committing part to his eldest son the Prince, retained another part under his own command. The front of the King’s battle was given to the Earl of Stafford, a man of great honour who was that day made Constable of the Kingdom. And when each army was opposed to the other and waiting the signal for battle, the Abbot of Shrewsbury and the Clerk of the Privy Seal went to Henry on the part of the King, offering him peace if he would desist from this undertaking, demanding to know his grievances and those of them that were with him, which they promised on the part of the King should be redressed, if he would refer them to arbitration. If he would 214 secretly explain them to the King, they prayed him to send one whom he could trust to go with them to the King and lay his wishes before him, who, God willing, would bring him back good tidings.

Henry, somewhat moved by these persuasions, sent his uncle Lord Thomas Percy, to the King, that he should explain to him the cause of the trouble and demand redress. And some say that the King agreed to all the matters, but that Lord Thomas, when he returned to his nephew, perverted the business, bringing back a contrary answer, and exasperating the young man and urging him to battle against his will. With such embassies much of the day passed away, and it was told the King that the rebels delayed the negotiations only that their allies might come up on the next Monday and strengthen them. And it was Saturday when these things were done. Then the Earl of Dunbar urged him to delay no longer, but to give the signal for battle.

From the other side, as soon as the messengers had reached their own camp, Henry’s archers began to shoot their arrows — and better men could not be found in the county of Chester — and many of the King’s men fell by them; and there was made such a slaughter that four thousand of the King’s army took to flight, thinking that, without doubt, the King was shot. Then the leader of the rebels and the Earl Douglas, than whom none were found bolder, despising the arrows of the King’s archers and the body of armed men, turned their arms towards one person alone — to wit, the king — esteeming him worth 215 ten thousand, seeking him with lances lowered and drawn swords. But the Earl of Dunbar, perceiving their purpose, drew the King away, lest his pursuers should find out where he was; which change of place was very fortunate for the King, for his standard-bearer was overthrown and his standard thrown down and torn, and those who were round it killed, among whom were the brave young Earl of Stafford and Sir Walter Blunt.

In the meantime many fell in both armies, shot by chance arrows, which flew as thick as hail; and the Prince, now for the first time in battle, was wounded in the face by an arrow: but though he was but a youth, he quailed not, but making light of the wound, encouraged the army to stand firm. And the men committed to him were the first to reach the enemy’s lines, and they penetrated them and passed through them, overthrowing all who opposed, so that they were shut in between the Prince’s men and the squadron of the King. And the enemy were in doubt, not knowing whether they were fighting against the King’s men or their own companions.

At this time of confusion their leader, Henry Percy, fell slain, by whose hand is not known, his men not knowing of his fall, but supposing him either to have taken the King or to have killed him. Therefore, to encourage themselves, they cried again and again, ‘Henry Percy, king!’ which the King hearing, that they might not fight longer, because of their vain hopes, desiring to prevent more bloodshed, cried as loud as he could, ‘Henry Percy is dead!’ And when 216 they heard that even those who were fighting most earnestly, began to draw off, and to see their only hope in flight. And the King’s men gaining courage, there were slain a great part of the knights of the county of Chester, to the number it is said, of two hundred. And there fell besides of foot-soldiers and servants, a great number, I know not how many; and Earl Douglas was taken. But if the rest of the rebels had imitated his courage and constancy, there is no doubt that an incurable wound would have been made in the kingdom of England. Thus, twice in that year fighting against the English, he found fortune adverse; for in the first battle he lost an eye and was taken prisoner, and in the second he was grievously wounded and again made prisoner. And the Earl of Worcester, Thomas Percy, was also taken prisoner; and he, it was said, was the stirrer-up of all the evil, and the cause of the disaster. And Sir Richard Vernon was captured, and the Lord Kinderton, both noble and powerful men.

On the King’s side there fell the Earl of Stafford, sir John Clinton, Sir Walter Blunt, Sir B. Gousile, and many more. And this Sir B. Gousile, who had that day been made a knight, was not slain in battle, but fell by the treachery of one of his own household, as he was retiring from the battle wounded in the side. For as he threw himself down under a hedge, seeming about to draw his last breath, there came one of his household, to whom he had shown much love. He had fled at the beginning of the battle, but returned when the battle was over, that in the evening he 217 might spoil the dead, as the manner is of such people. And, alone, he came to the place where his lord was lying, and he knew him by his arms. Just when he was come, he asked his lord how he was. And he, as well as he was able, answered, that he was alive, but much weighed down. ‘I am suffocated by my armour; take off my breastplate and arms, that I may revive.’ Therefore, when the breastplate was removed, he gave him a ring to carry to his wife, and told him that he had sixty marks in a box, which he commanded him to keep for him if he lived, but that if he died, he might take them for his own use. But what would a traitor do who had deserted his master? The coward in battle drove his knife into his master’s breast, and held him till he saw that he was quite dead. The he took his collar, and rings, and jewels, and all the marks of his nobility, and the money, and went away, leaving his master’s naked body lying under the hedge. But a certain soldier saw and heard it all; for he was escaped from the field of battle, crawling on his hands and knees to the same hedge, being revived by the fresh air, for he was himself wounded and overpowered by the weight of his armour. So he afterwards made known the wickedness of the ruffian, telling it all to his mistress when was recovered. She was the Duchess of Norfolk, widow of the Duke, Lord Thomas Mowbray, who died in exile. And the villain being found by the things he had stolen, suffered the due penalty for his deeds.

Of the common people who died on the King’s side 218 the number was not given, but of the wounded there were three thousand, of whom the greater part died afterward. This battle was fought on Saturday, the vigil of St. Mary Magdalene, in the afternoon, and those who were there say that there was never a fiercer, for there were many on both sides fighting so steadfastly that when night came they did not know whose was the victory, and they lay mingled together weary, wounded, and bleeding.

The next day the King commanded the bodies of the dead to be buried; and when he saw the body of Henry Percy it is said he wept, protesting he was grieved by his death. And as there were many who would not believe him dead, he ordered that his body should be exposed that all might see him. Then many sent mediators to the King to plead with him; and Thomas Percy, earl of Worcester, when he saw the body of his nephew, shed abundance of tears, saying he cared not what fortune might do to him. The following Monday, by judicial sentence, he was beheaded, although the King, it is said, wished to spare his life, but he had much enraged the King’s friends; and with him were beheaded Lord Kinderton and Sir Richard Vernon.

Then the Earl of Northumberland, with a strong force, hastening to his son, or, as some say, to the King to make peace, heard that the Earl of Westmoreland and Robert Waterton had assembled a great army to oppose him if he advanced further; and he turned rein and came to Newcastle upon Tyne, and the citizens, seeing the army following 219 him, closed the gates against him. But he prayed for entrance to rest there that night, and the citizens replied that he might enter with his family, but on no account with an army; and the Earl, accepting the conditions, entered the town, and stayed there that night and the next day with few companions, but the army, being excluded, either from desire of vengeance or fear of their master the Earl being betrayed, came to the walls and tried to enter the town by force. But it availed them nothing, for they were repulsed by the archers and wounded. Then the Earl satisfied them as well could, and, excusing himself to the citizens, went away, and when he heard of his son’s death he dismissed his army and retired with his family to his own castle of Warkworth

And the King came to York to meet the Earl in battle if he would not submit and send away his army, and when he heard of his coming he sent letters to him, and the Earl came to him with few attendants on the morrow after Saint Laurence; but he was received neither with joy nor kindness as he was wont to be, but as a suppliant seeking favour; and in few words the King promised him life and honourable treatment, but he gave him not his liberty, but kept him under guard until the time appointed.

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