Spectarent, caperentque sui solatia fati, Supplementum Lucani, Lib. III. I am not conscious of having imitated these lines; but I would not lose the opportunity of quoting so fine a passage from Thomas May, an author to whom I owe some obligations, and who is not remembered as his merits deserve. May himself has imitated Valerius Flaccus in this passage, though he has greatly surpassed him. Et pater orantes casorum Tartarus umbras, Man unassisted 'gainst Infernal powerɛ To some, says Speed, it may appear more honourable to our nation, that they were not to be expelled by a human power, but by a divine, extraordinarily revealing itself. Page 158. line 79. — By their numbers now made bold in fear May, Sup. Lucani. Page 154. line 92. — Joy ran through all the troops. In Rymer's Foedera are two proclamations, one "contra capitaneos et soldarios tergiversantes, incantationibus Puella terrificatos;" the other, "de fugitivis ab exercitu quos terriculamenta Puellæ exanimaverant, arestandis.” Page 155. line 113. The social howl. Ronsard remarks, -- Rien n'est meilleur pour l'homme soulager Page 159. line 230. A casquetel. A lighter kind of helmet. Franciado. Page 159. line 231.- Hung from her neck the shield. The shield was often worn thus. "Among the Frenchmen there was a young lusty esquire of Gascoigne, named William Marchant, who came out among the foremost into the field, well mounted, his shield about his neck, and his spear in his hand."- Barnes. This is frequently alluded to in romance. “Then the knight of the burning sword stept forward, and lifting up his arm as if he would strike Cynocephal on the top of his head, seized with his left hand on the shield, which he pulled to him with so much strength, that plucking it from his neck he brought him to the ground." — Amadis de Greece. Sometimes the shield was laced to the shoulder. The shield of the middle ages must not be confounded with that of the ancients. The knight might easily bear his small shield around his neck; bnt the Grecian warrior stood protecting his thighs and his legs, his breast also and his shoulders with the body of his broad shield. Μηρούς τε κνημας τε κατω και στέρνα και ωμους But the most convenient shields were used by The armet or chapelle de fer was an iron hat, occasionally put on by knights when they retired from the heat of the battle to take breath, and at times when they could not with propriety go unarmed. Page 164. line 398. Fix'd their last kisses on their armed hands. Sed contra Enotria pubes Non ullas voces ducis aut præcepta requirit. Silius Italicus, xii. 587. Page 171. line 151. He brake a sullen smile. "She sternly shook her dewy locks, and brake Quarles. then on the herald A robe rich-furr'd and broider'd he bestow'd. When the armies of England and France lay in the plain between Vironfosse and Flemenguere, 1339, Edward sent to demand a day of battle of the French king. "An herald of the duke of Gueldres, being well skilled in the French tongue, was sent on this errand: he rode forth till he came to the French host, where being admitted before the king and his council, he spake aloud these words, Sir, the king of England is here hard by in the fields, and desires to fight you power against power; and if you please to appoint him a day he will not fail to meet you upon the word of a king.' This message being thus delivered, king Philip yielded either to give or take battle two days after, and in token of his acceptance of the news, richly rewarded the herald with furred gowns, and other gifts bestowed on him, as well by himself as others, the princes and lords of his host, and so dismissed him again.” Barnes. Page 172. line 189. · And at the third long sound They ranged them in their ranks. Every man was warned to rise from sleep at the first sound of the trumpet; at the second to arm without delay, and at the third to take horse in his due place under the colours. Barnes. Page 172. line 192. To shrive them. Religious ceremonies seem to have preceded all settled engagements at this period. On the night before the battle of Cressy "King Edward made a supper in his royal pavilion for all his chief barons, lords and captains: at which he appeared wonderful chearful and pleasant, to the great encouragement of his people. But when they were all dismissed to their several quarters, the king himself retired into his private oratory, and came before the altar, and there prostrated himself to Almighty God and devoutly prayed, That of his infinite goodness he would vouchsafe to look down on the justice of his cause, and remember his unfeigned endeavours for a reconcilement, although they had all been rendered frustrate by his enemies that if he should be brought to a battle the next day, it would please him of his great mercy to grant him the victory, as his trust was only in him, and in the right which he had given him.' Being thus armed with faith, about midnight be laid himself upon a pallet or mattress to take a little repose; but he arose again betimes and heard mass, with his son the young prince, and received absolution, and the body and blood of his Redeemer, as did the prince also, and most of the lords and others who were so disposed." — Barnes. Thus also before the battle of Agincourt " after prayers and supplications of the king, his priests and people, done with great devotion, the king of England in the morning very early set forth his hosts in array.". Stowe. The roundel. A shield too weak for service which was borne before the general of an army. Page 173. line 220. That in undiminish'd strength Strong, they might meet the battle. The conduct of the English on the morning of the battle of Cressy is followed in the text. "All things being thus ordered, every lord and captain under his own banner and pennon, and the ranks duly settled, the valourous young king mounted on a lusty white hobby, and with a white wand in his hand, rode between his two marshalls from rank to rank, and from one battalia unto another, exhorting and encouraging every man that day to defend and maintain his right and honour and this he did with so chearful a countenance, and with such sweet and obliging words, that even the most faint-hearted of the army were sufficiently assured thereby. By that time the English were thus prepared, it was nine o'clock in the morn ing, and then the king commanded them all to take their refreshment of meat and drink, which being done, with small disturbance they all repaired to their colours again, and then laid themselves in their order upon the dry and warm grass, with their bows and helmets by their side, to be more fresh and vigorous upon the approach of the enemy." Barnes. The English before the battle of Agincourt "fell prostrate to the ground, and committed themselves to God, every of them tooke in his mouth a little piece of earth, in remembrance that they were mortall and made of earth, as also in remembrance of the holy communion.". Page 175. line 274. Stowe. The pennons rolling their long waves Before the gale, and banners broad and bright. The pennon was long, ending in two points, the banner square. "Un seigneur n'etoit banneret et ne pouvoit porter la banniere quarrée, que lors qu'il pouvoit eniretenir a ses depens un certain nombre de chevaliers et d'Ecuyers, avec leur suite a la guerre: jusques-la son etendard avoit deux queues ou fanons, et |