The riuer’s watrie wombe did proudly swell, As if it had turn’d rebell with the foes, Or as if louing either armie well, It would preuent poore England of the woes Which must ensue, if both parts came to bloes: Her waters rose beyond their wonted bounds, And for three daies deferr’d vnnaturall wounds. 60. Aquarius with the foot-bands manly fought Gainst those, that on the bridge at Burton stood, While with our troopes vnseene we cast about Vnder the couert of a leauie wood, Distant three miles from thence, where ore the flood Th’whole host did passe by shallowes lately found, To meete the barons vpon equall ground. 61. The deadly drum doth tell the foes from far The fatall march of their approching king: Who seeing their weaknesse to sustaine the war Gainst such a powre, which with vs we do bring, They turne their backes, swift feare their feet doth wing: Yet stubborne men still to prouoke our ire, Before they flie, they set the towne on fire. 62. Horrour pursues them euery way they flie, Repentance comes too late to calme our frowne, All former wrongs afresh for vengeance crie, They, that did whilome wish them all renowne, By aduerse fortune being thus cast downe, Lift vp their hands, yet lower to suppresse them, All friends turne foes in pursuite to distresse them. 63. At Burrough bridge, in their vnluckie flight, Where for th’encounter death did readie stand, They were enforc’d in most vnequall fight, For loued life to vse defensiue hand Against the stubborne bands of Cumberland: Led by stout _Herckley_, who with bold assay Of his drawne sword began a bloodie day. 64. In mutuall slaughter, both the hosts do stand, Earth trembling shakes beneath their trampling feet, The singing shafts thicke loos’d on euery hand, Flie to and fro, then hand to hand they meet, And wound for wound each doth the other greet, While ouer head the heau’n’s remorsefull stood Dropping downe teares to see their sides drop blood. 65. Valiant _Bohume_, Herford’s vndanted lord, That stood in fight by foes besieged round, His heart not female made to flie as skar’d, Neuer gaue backe, but brauely kept his ground, Till life gaue backe from that same deadly wound, Giu’n by a stout Welch Britaine, that did stand Beneath the bridge with fatall speare in hand. 66.