semed snowe. Whan the genowayes felte the arowes
persynge through heedes, armes, and brestes, many of
them cast downe their crosbowes and did cutte their
strynges and retourned dysconfited. Whan the frenche
kynge sawe them flye away, he said, Slee these
rascals, for they shall lette and trouble us without
reason; than you shoulde haue sene the men of armes
dasshe in among them and kylled a great nombre of
them; and euerstyll the englysshmen shot where as
they sawe thyckest preace, the sharpe arowes ranne
into the men of armes and into their horses, and
many fell horse and men amonge the genowayes, and
whan they were downe they coude nat relyne agayne;
the preace was so thycke that one ouerthrewe a
nother. And also amonge the englysshemen there were
certayne rascalles that went a fote with great
knyues, and they went in among the men of armes and
slewe and murdredde many as they lay on the grounde,
both erles, barownes, knyghts, and squyers, whereof
the kyng of Englande was after dyspleased, for he
had rather they had been taken prisoners."

[49] His blindness was supposed to be caused by poison,
which was given to him when engaged in the wars of
Italy.

[50] The following is Lord Berners' version of this
narration: "In the mornyng the day of the batayle
certayne frenchemen and almaygnes perforce opyned
the archers of the princes batayle, and came and
fought with the men at armes hande to hande. Than
the second batayle of thenglyshe men came to socour
the prince's batayle, the whiche was tyme, for they
had as than moche ado, and they with the prince sent
a messangar to the kynge who was on a lytell
wyndmill hill. Than the knyght sayd to the kyng, Sir
therle of Warwyke and therle of Cafort [Stafford]
Sir Reynolde Cobham and other such as be about the
prince your sonne are feersly fought with all, and
are sore handled, wherefore they desire you that you
and your batayle woll come and ayde them, for if the
frenchemen encrease as they dout they woll your
sonne and they shall have moche a do. Than the kynge
sayde, is my son