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Anecdotes of Archery
Part 20 of 34

The King himfelf was wounded fore,
An arrow fierce in's forehead light,
That hardly he cou'd fee his foes
The blood fo blemifhed his fight.

Yet like a warrior ftout he faid,
And fiercely did exhort that tide;
His men to be nothing difmay'd,
But battle boldly there to bide.

But what avail'd his valour great,
Or bold device all was but vain ;
His captains keen fail'd at his feet,
And ftandard-bearer down was flain.

The van-guard was led: by LORD THOMAS and SIR EDWARD HOWARD. The centre by their father LORD SURREY ; and the rear BY SIR EDWARD STANLEY[43]. The LORD DACRES, with a body of horfe, was to act as a referve on all occafions. The king of Scots exhorting his men to behave like foldiers, immediately joined battle. SIR EDWARD HOWARD for fometime fuftained a heavy charge, and had nearly been routed by the fingular valour of the EARLS of LENOX and ARGYLE, had not the LORD DACRES, with the Baftard HERON, brought up the referve, and reftored the fight.

LORD THOMAS HOWARD met with a brave refiftance from the EARLS of CRAUFORD and MONTROSE. The KING and the EARL of SURREY maintained a long and a fharp difpute, till SIR EDWARD STANLEY bringing up his Archers, who let fly their arrows with fuch force and effect, that the Scots troops began to give way by opening their ranks. The KING perceiving the diforder redoubled his efforts, and preffing forward with irrefiftible fury, had well nigh overthrown the Englifh ftandard, when LORD THOMAS HOWARD coming to the affiftance of his father, and being joined by LORD DACRE'S horfe, immediately gave a turn to the fortune of the day. The Scottifh monarch, with the flower of his nobility and gentry, threw themfelves into a ring, in which form they did all that valiant men could do to defend themfelves; nor did any one exceed the King in perfonal valour; but being mortally wounded in the forehead with an arrow he fell, and with his life ended this fierce and cruel conflict. The royal corpfe being found the next morning, and acknowledged by feveral of both nations, was conveyed to the Charter-houfe, from thence to Shene, a Monaftry in Surrey; " Where," fays STOWE,

" it remained for a time, in what order I am not certain ;
" but fince the diffolution of the Abbeys in the
" reign of EDWARD VI. HENRY GREY, then
" Duke of Suffolk, keeping houfe there, I have
" been fhewed the fame body, as was affirmed,
" wrapped in lead, thrown into an old wafte
" room, amongft old timber, ftone, lead, and
"other rubbifh." A ftrange monument of human inftability !
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