l the prisoners to be put
to the sword; and the carnage lasted till it was known they were
actually running away. He then stopped it; and explained that his
orders were given in doubt of the enemy's intentions.--This writer
seems to have been mistaken in his view of the circumstances; but the
thought of Henry having acted unjustifiably does not seem to have
crossed his mind.

Monstrelet's account is somewhat different from the two last, and more
full in its details:

"During the heat of the combat the English made several
prisoners; and then came news to the King of England that the
French were attacking them from the rear, and that they had
already taken his sumpter-horses and baggage. This was true; for
Robinet de Bournonville and Rifflart de Clamasse, Ysambert
d'Azencourt, and some other men-at-arms, accompanied by six
hundred peasants, went to plunder the baggage, and carried off a
great quantity of the property of the camp, and a large number of
horses, whilst those who were their guards were engaged in the
battle. This pillage caused the King great trouble, for he saw
also at the same time in the open field those French who had
taken to flight rallying themselves in companies; and he doubted
whether their intention was not to renew the engagement. He
therefore caused a proclamation to be made by sound of trumpet,
that every Englishman should on pain of death[137] slay his
prisoners, to prevent their succouring their own people in the
time of need; and then, on the sudden, followed a very great
carnage of French prisoners. For which proceeding, Robinet de
Bournonville and Ysambart d'Azencourt were afterwards (p. 181)
punished and imprisoned a long time by order of John Duke of
Burgundy, notwithstanding they had given to Philip Earl of
Charolois, his son, an exceedingly valuable sword, studded with
precious stones and jewels, belonging to the King of England,
which they had found and taken with the other booty, that the
Earl might interest himself for them should any trouble overtake
them in consequence of this circumstance."

Des Ursins represents the catastrophe to have been occasioned by
the news spread through the field that the Duke of Brittany was
arrived with a powerful reinforcement, on which the French
rallied. He gives, however, two accounts; in o