The impetuous charge of Hotspur and Douglas was the ruin of themselves,
and their army. Had they paused until their troops had advanced close
to the enemy, and the mounted men-at-arms were all ranged closely
behind them, and in a position to support them, the fight would
assuredly have speedily terminated in their favour; but before these
arrived the royal army had closed its ranks, and the rebel leaders,
with all their principal knights, were cut off from the main body. In
vain the men of the north tried to cut their way through the southern
ranks, and to come to the assistance of their chiefs; who, surrounded
now by the English knights and men-at-arms, were fighting desperately
against overwhelming numbers.
An hour after the battle began, many parties of Welshmen came up and
joined in the conflict; but the absence of leaders, and the loss of
their respective captains, Hotspur and Douglas, paralysed the efforts
of the Northumbrians and the Scottish contingent. Yet both fought
stoutly, and suffered very heavy losses.
For upwards of two hours Hotspur maintained the unequal fight; but at
length an arrow pierced Hotspur's visor, and he fell dead from his
horse. Further resistance was useless, and the survivors of the group,
which had been reduced to a mere handful, surrendered.
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