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* Froissart and Barnes. James' History of the Black Princi, vol. i. p. 435.
74
THE HERALDRY OF YORK MINSTER.
manipulated his force with great skill and gallantry.* At one time, beset
by nearly 40,000 of the enemy, a knight was despatched to the King by
the Earl of Warwick, urging him to advance to his son's support. "Go
"back to those who sent you," was the stern reply; "tell them from me
" that whatever happens, to require no aid from me as long as my son is
"in life. Tell them, also, that I command them to let
my boy win his
" spurs
; for, God willing, the day shall be his, and the honour shall rest
" with him and those to whose charge I have given him." This message
inspired the Prince and those around him with renewed ardour, and the
French men-at-arms dashed down upon the English ranks only to fall
wounded, or die in heaps before them. The Count of Harcourt, the Count
d'Aumale with his two gallant sons, were slain ; Charles of Luxemburg
turned his rein and fled, casting off the rich surcoat of his arms, to
avoid being recognised. His father, the blind King of Bohemia, learning
from those around him that the day was well-nigh lost, heroically exclaimed,
" Lords !
you are my vassals, my friends, and my companions ; and on this
"day I command and beseech you to lead me so far forward that I may
" deal one blow of my sword in the battle." And tying his horse's bridle
to theirs, they galloped into the midst of the thickest strife, in front of the
Prince of Wales, fighting gallantly, till at length the standard of Bohemia
went down ;
and John of Luxemburg was found next day dead upon the
field, with all his friends round him, and their horses still linked together
with their bridles.
Night only closed the carnage, amidst the shades of which the routed
forces of France fled away. By the light of blazing torches the young
Prince was brought to his father. " Sweet son," said the King, when he
had embraced him in his arms and kissed him, "God give you good
" perseverance, for most loyally have you acquitted yourself this day : you
"are worthy to be a sovereign."
The young Prince generously recognised the support which he had
received from Sir Thomas Danvers in the most hazardous part of the
battle ; for we are told that " the said Sir Thomas relieved the banner of
"his Earl, and took prisoner the Chamberlain of France, Tankerville."f
For this service, as Earl of Chester, he settled on him an annuity of forty
marks out of his manor of Frodsham, until a convenient grant of land
could be made, which (2ist Richard II.) was apportioned from the lands
of Hanley in Macclesfield Forest, called Lyme, because situated on the
limes or borders of Cheshire. He also granted him, as an augmentation
of honour to his arms, an escutcheon of pretence sable, semee of mullets
argent, an arm embowed, armed, and couped proper, bearing a pennon
argent.
t Ormerod's History of Cheshire.