heraldryofyorkmi01custuoft

334 THE HERALDRY OF YORK MINSTER.
The concealed pits
terribly hamper the movements of the assailants, but
" Too strong in courage and in might
Was England yet, to yield the fight.
Her noblest all are here ;
Names that to fear were never known.
Bold Norfolk's
Earl de Brotherton,
And Oxford's famed de Vere ;
There Gloster plied the bloody sword,
And Berkley, Grey, and Hereford,
Bottetourt and Sanzavere,
Ross, Montagu, and Mauley came,
And Courtenay's pride and Percy's fame ;
Pembroke with these, and Argentine
Brought up the rearward battle line."
But the contest was at length decided by a stratagem on the part of
Bruce, who had caused a number of waggoners and sumpter boys to
be supplied with military standards, and to appear at some distance, as
though a formidable body were marching to the relief of the Scots. In
the turmoil of the battle their real character could not be discerned, and
on sight of them a panic seized the English, and they threw down their
arms and fled, and were pursued with great slaughter for 90 miles, until
they reached Berwick.
In Blore's Monumental Remains two chronicles are quoted, speaking
rather sarcastically of the Earl of Pembroke, Henry de Bellomonte, and
other " magnates " who fled away from the battle on their feet. But
flight
seemed to have become the order of the day, for the King himself
set the example, and narrowly escaped capture, taking shelter in Dunbar,
whose gates were opened to him by the Earl of March, and passing from
thence by
sea to Berwick. Hardyng
says,
" Whiche kild was doune, saufe fewe that led the Kyng
To Dunbarre, then fleayd with him away.
Ther was therle of Gloucester slain fleying,
The Lord Clifford and all the lordes that daye;
Therle of Herford to Bothuile fled his waye,
Therle Edmond of Arundell and erle of Valence,
Therles of Warwike and Oxenford take at defence."
Happy had it been for him, perhaps, and for his after reputation, if
he had fallen on the field of battle, and thus been spared the after years
of trouble and degradation which awaited him, when with "sobbes and
" teares
" he resigned his crown to the Bishops of Winchester, Hereford,
and Lincoln, at Kenilworth, the torments and insults inflicted upon him
by Sir Thomas Barkeley and Sir John Maltravers, and the inhuman
cruelty of that awful night at Berkeley Castle, January aoth, 1327, when
his piteous screams caused many in Berkeley, and also of the castle, as