lute in his post,
amidst the arrows which whirled round him, and often struck, blunted,
against his Milan mail, the marquis received the reports of his
aides-de-camp (may that modern word be pardoned?) as one after one they
emerged through the fog to his side.

"Well," he said, as one of these messengers now spurred to the spot, "we
have beaten off Hastings and his hirelings; but I see not 'the Silver
Star' of Lord Oxford's banner." [The Silver Star of the De Veres had its
origin in a tradition that one of their ancestors, when fighting in
the Holy Land, saw a falling star descend upon his shield. Fatal to men
nobler even than the De Veres was that silver falling star.]

"Lord Oxford, my lord, has followed the enemy he routed to the farthest
verge of the heath."

"Saints help us! Is Oxford thus headstrong? He will ruin all if he be
decoyed from the field! Ride back, sir! Yet hold!"--as another of the
aides-de-camp appeared. "What news from Lord Warwick's wing?"

"Sore beset, bold marquis. Gloucester's line seems countless; it already
outflanks the earl. The duke himself seems inspired by hell! Twice has
his slight arm braved even the earl's battle-axe, which spared the boy
but smote to the dust his comrades!"

"Well, and what of the centre, sir?" as a third form now arrived.

"There rages Edward in person. He hath pierced into the midst. But
Somerset still holds on gallantly!" Montagu turned to the first
aide-de-camp.

"Ride, sir! Quick! This to Oxford--No pursuit! Bid him haste, with all
his men, to the left wing, and smite Gloucester in the rear. Ride, ride,
for life and victory! If he come but in time the day is ours!" [Fabyan.]

The aide-de-camp darted off, and the mist swallowed up horse and
horseman.

"Sound trumpets to the return!" said the marquis. Then, after a moment's
musing, "Though Oxford hath drawn off our main force of cavalry, we have
still some stout lances left; and Warwick must be strengthened. On to
the earl! Laissez aller! A Montagu! a Montagu!" And lance in rest,
the marquis and the knights immediately around him, and hitherto not
personally engaged, descended the hillock at a hand-gallop, and were met
by a troop outnumbering their own, and commanded by the Lords D'Eyncourt
and Say.

At this time Warwick was indeed in the same danger that had routed the
troops of Hastings; for, by a similar position, the strength of the
hostile numbers being arrayed with Gloucester, the duke's troops ha