Disdaining, he to murder man rush'd forth,
Bearing the bow, and those Di&tæan shafts
Diana gave, when she the youth's fair form
Saw softened, and forgave the mother's fault.

Saint Loup's strong fort stood first. Here † Gladdisdale Commands the fearful troops.

As lowering clouds

Swept by the hoarse wind o'er the blacken'd plain,
Mov'd on the host of France: they from the fort,
Thro' secret opening, shower their pointed shafts,
Or from the battlements the death-tipt spear

Sanguinis humani pudor est nescire sagittas.

Statins. IV. 256.

+ Gladdisdale must be the Sir William Glansdale of Shakespeare. Henry VI. Part 1. Howes calls him William Gladesdale.

It is proper to remark that I have introduced no fictitious names among the killed. They may all be found in the various histories.

Hurl fierce. Nor from the strong arm only launch'd
The javelin fled, but driven by the strained force
Of the + balista, in one carcass spent

Stay'd not; thro' arms and men it makes its way,
And leaving death behind, still holds its course
By many a death unclogg'd. With rapid march
Right onward they advanced, and soon the shafts,
Impell'd by that strong stroke beyond the host,

+ Neque enim solis excussa lacertis

Lancea, sed tenso baliste turbine rapta,
Haud unum contenta latus transire, quiescit;

Sed pandens perque arma viam, perque ossa, relictâ
Morte fugit: superest telo post vulnera cursus.

Lucan. III

Vegetius says, that the Balista discharged darts with such rapidity and violence, that nothing could resit their force. This engine was used particularly to discharge darts of a surprizing length and weight, and often many small ones together. Its form was not unlike that of a broken bow; it had two arms, but strait and not curve like those of a crossbow, of which the whole acting force consists in bending the bow. That of the balista as well as of the catapulta, lies in its cords.

Rollin

Wasting their force, fell harmless. Now they reach'd
Where by the § bayle's embattled wall in arms
The Knights of England stood. There Poynings shook
His lance, and Gladdisdale his heavy mace
For the death-blow prepar'd. Alencon here,
And here the Bastard strode, and by the Maid
That daring man who to the English host
Then insolent of many a conquest gain'd,

§ The bayle or lists was a space on the outside of the ditch, surrounded by strong pallisades, and sometimes by a low embattled wall. In the attack of fortresses, as the range of the machines then in use did not exceed the distance of four stadia, the besiegers did not carry on their approaches by means of trenches, but began their operations above ground, with the attack of the bayle or lists, "where many feats of chivalry were performed by the Knights and men at arms, who considered the assault of that work as particularly belonging to them, the weight of their armour preventing them from scaling the walls. As this part was attacked by the Knights and men at arms, it was also defended by those of the same rank in the place, whence many single combats were fought here. This was at the first investing of the place.

Grose:

Bore her bold bidding. A rude * coat of mail
Unhosed, unhooded, as of lowly line

Arm'd him, tho' here amid the high-born chiefs
Præeminent for prowess. On his head

A black plume shadowed the rude-featur'd + helm.
Then was the war of men, when front to front
They rear'd the hostile hand, for low the wall
Where the bold Frenchman's upward-driven spear,
Might pierce the foemen.

* In France only persons of a certain estate, called un fief de hauber, were permitted to wear a hauberk, which was the armor of a Knight. Esquires might only wear a simple coat of mail without the hood and hose. Had this aristocratic distinction consisted in the ornamental part of the arms alone, it would only have been ridiculous. In the enlightened and free States of Greece, every soldier was well provided with defensive arms. In Rome, a civic wreath was the reward of him who should save the life of a citizen. To use the words of Dr. Gillies, "the miserable peasants of modern Europe are exposed without defence as without remorse, by the ambition of men, whom the Greeks would have stiled tyrants."

The burgonet, which represented the shape of the head and features.

As Alencon moved,

On his crown-crested * helm with ponderous blow Fell Gladdisdale's huge mace. Back he recoil'd Astounded; soon recovering, his keen lance

Thrust on the warrior's shield: there fast-infix'd,
Nor could Alencon the deep-driven spear

Recover, nor the foeman from his grasp
Wrench the contended weapon. Fierce again
He lifts the mace, that on the ashen hilt
Fell full; it shiver'd, and the Frenchman held
A pointless truncheon. Where the Bastard fought
The spear of Poynings, thro' his plated mail
Pierced, and against the + iron fence beneath
Blunted its point. Again he speeds the spear;

* Earls and Dukes frequently wore their coronets on the crests of their helmets. At the battle of Azincour, Henry wore a bright helmet, whereupon was set a crowne of gold, repleate with pearle and precious stones, marvellous rich."

Howes.

A breast-plate was sometimes worn under the hauberk.