field, about the midway to Amyon-hill. Here he drew up in order of battle; his right extended towards the north end of the field, where he made his oration, from which the place acquired, and ftill bears the name of Dicken's-nook.

Though history and tradition are filent, with regard to Lord Stanley's movements, yet there is not a doubt but he marched, and halted with Richard, as if folely attached to his caufe, ftill keeping a little to the rear of his left, for it was evidently his defign to amuse his mafter till the last mo

ment.

Richmond sent an exprefs to Lord Stanley, requesting his affiftance in forming his men, for he earnestly wished to have Stanley with him for fear of a disappointment;

but

but he returned for anfwer,

"that the Earl

"muft form them himself, he would come ❝ at a convenient feafon." He afterwards, however, left his own corps to the care of an officer, and privately affifted for a short

time.

Henry, though inferior to Richard in numbers, had more horfe. Both armies were drawn up exactly alike, each in two lines; the bow-men in the front, the billmen in the rear, and the horfe formed the wings. The principal officers were in armour, that is, each wore a coat of mail, and a helmet. Every man carried a sword, to which were added, for the cavalry, a fpear, and for the infantry, fome a bow, fome a bill, and fome a battle-ax. I am inclined to think Richard had artillery, though this is not mentioned by any author;

G

thor; because it was ufed in the royal army long before that period; and old Hewit, who refided fourfcore years upon the spot, where the battle was fought, affured me he had found three or four cannon balls, of a fmallish fize, in his garden, and pointed to the places; I have alfo other authority. Richard was dreffed in the fame fuit of armour, of polished steel, in which, fourteen years before, he won the battle of Tewkesbury. We are told he had his crown. upon his head. He had. But this is an unfair reprefentation; for we fhould fuppose he wore his crown, as a man wears his his hat; whereas, he wore the helmet belonging to the fuit, and upon this the crown was fixed, by way of creft; the practice of knighthood.

Richard's front line was commanded by

John

John Howard Duke of Norfolk, a faithful veteran, affifted by his fon Thomas Earl of Surry, the fecond by the King himself. In the right of this line, Henry Earl of Northumberland led a confiderable body.

Richmond's front, for want of numbers, was fpread very thin, to fhew to the greater advantage; and was commanded by John de Vere, Earl of Oxford, a firm adherent to the houfe of Lancafter, whofe father and brother, twenty-four years before, died upon one fcaffold, for the fame caufe.. This able commander knew well how to marshall Henry's men, and as well how to fight them. From him are defcended the

houfes of St. Alban's and Townshend. Over the right wing was appointed Sir Gilbert Talbot, who joined Henry at New, port, with the Shrewsbury intereft; a man

of experience and valour, ancestor to the Earls of Shrewsbury and Talbot. Sir John Savage commanded the left, and proved himself worthy of the command. Henry directed the fecond line, or rather his uncle the Earl of Pembroke, a perfon of wisdom and prudence. An officer of reputation of the name of Barnard, faid to have been defcended from the royal line of Scotland, commanded the French. Henry knew nothing, from experience, of the art of war, neither had he the leaft relifh for it, or wish to attain it.

The two chiefs rode through the ranks, and are faid to have addreffed their followers in an oratorial harrangue, wherein they plentifully abused each other. But these Speeches, like thofe of the House of Commons, perhaps meet the eye rather mended. We