Soon King David, too, turned back, and enraged at seeing his men lying wounded and slain, he determined not to leave the place before he had been revenged. Every one at once began to make ready quarters for the night, to bury the dead, tend the wounded, and prepare for a new attack on the castle on the morrow.

The Countess of Salisbury, who was famous as one of the most beautiful and virtuous ladies in England, happened to be in the castle. Her lord was away a prisoner in France. By her sweet looks and comforting words the Countess so cheered the garrison that she gave to each one the courage of two. They boldly withstood the attack made by the Scots, and slew many of them; but they saw that if King David went on long with the attack they would not be able to hold out. So they thought it best to send some one out of the castle to tell King Edward the straits they were in, for they had learned where he was from some of the Scottish prisoners they had taken. At first no one was willing to leave the castle and the pleasant task of defending the lovely Countess till Sir William Montacute said he would go himself. When night came Sir William left the castle secretly; it was a dark night and raining heavily, so that the Scots were all quiet, and no one saw him. As he went on his way about daybreak he met two Scots driving two oxen and a cow. Sir William attacked them, wounded them both severely, and killed the cattle, that they might not take them to the army. Then he said to them, "Go, tell your King that Sir William Montacute has passed through his army, and has gone to seek help from the King of England."

The men went on to the army and told what had befallen them. Then the Scottish lords thought that it would be foolish to wait there before the castle till Edward III. should come and give them battle and they went in a body to King David and told him that they thought they had gained enough booty and done the English enough harm already, and that it would be best now to carry their booty home in safety. So they marched off, and when Edward III. reached Wark he found that the Scots had gone home and he was much disappointed. But he was cheered by the sight of the lovely Countess, who came out to meet him richly dressed, and led him into the castle and entertained him with great kindness.

. XXIII.

THE BATTLE OF CRESSY.

A. D. 1346.

WHEN Edward III. became king in real earnest after the death of Mortimer he was young and brave, and was eager to do something to win fame. In those days men did not shrink from war as people do now; but on the contrary every gentleman longed for a chance of showing how brave he was, and thought that he could not spend his time better than in fighting. So every one was very pleased when Edward III.

made war on the King of France. The English met with much success at first when they landed in France, and they went farther and farther into the country, getting rich stores of plunder wherever they went. But when at last they turned to go back Philip King of France came with a large army and got between them and the sea, so that they could not get back to their ships without fighting him.

Edward III. stopped at a little village called Cressy to await the French King; his army was much smaller than the French army, but the English were not afraid, and awaited the battle with cheerful hearts. The evening before the battle there was great bustle amongst the English. The soldiers were busy polishing and mending their armour, whilst Edward III. gave a supper to the earls and barons of the army, and they made good cheer. When they had all left him the King went into his oratory, and, falling on his knees before his altar, he prayed God that if he should fight his enemies on the morrow he might come off with honour. About midnight he went to his bed. The next morning he was up early, and he and his son Edward Prince of Wales took the Sacrament together. The greater part of the army did the same, and so prepared themselves for the battle. Then the King put his men in order on the sloping ground in front of the little village of Cressy. He divided them into three battalions, and he put the first under the command of the Prince of Wales. The Prince was only sixteen years old, but his father wished the glory of the day to be his. In front of the first battalion was The English archers were famous

large body of archers.