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3. AN INTRODUCTION to the KNOWLEDGE of RARE and valuable EDITIONS of the GREEK and LATIN CLASSICS. BY THOMAS FROGNAL DIBDIN, D.D., F.R.S., F.A.S.

This new Edition contains a great accession of valuable materials during the Author's residence upon the Continent, and communicated by his Correspondents abroad and at home since the work was last printed.

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In Six large Volumes, with numerous illustrative Plans of Battles, price £4. 10s. in boards, the Second Edition (with great additions and alterations).

4. JAMES'S NAVAL HISTORY of the LATE WAR, to the Accession of his present Majesty in 1820; including the combined Naval and Military Operations in France, Italy, Spain, Holland, Egypt, America, the East and West Indies, &c.

By recording the name of every principal officer and first lieutenant, as well as of every officer and petty officer killed or wounded, this Work becomes a Chronicle of the personal achievements of all the naval officers who have fallen or distinguished themselves throughout the course of a long war, remarkable, above all precedent, by naval victories, the most momentous that are recorded on the pages of History.

"A second edition of this valuable work has now appeared, and the more we examine it, the more we find to admire in the persevering industry and research of the author, as well as the correctness of his statements, which seem to do justice to all parties, whether engaged under the British or any other flag."-Literary Gazette.

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Second Edition.-One very large Volume Octavo; with Nine Portraits, and other Plates, price 15s. boards.

5. THE LIFE of CARDINAL WOLSEY. By George CavenDISH, his Gentleman Usher. Printed from the original autograph manuscript. With Notes and other Illustrations by S. W. SINGER, F.S.A.

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In Two Volumes 8vo. with the whole length Portrait of Henry, by Gaultier. Price 24s. boards.

6. MEMOIRS of the COURT of HENRY THE GREAT.-No epoch in the History of Europe is so pregnant with events of consequence to subsequent relations of society, as the reigns of Elizabeth of England and of Henry the Great of France, contemporaneous in period, and rivals in the splendour and genius of their respective courts.

"That the present work is ably written, and exhibits a spirited narrative of facts, will be manifest from the extracts which follow. The account of the massacre of St. Bartholomew is the fullest in our language, and so curious that we have judged it proper to transfer the entire article, for its own sake, as well as to exhibit the talents of the Author."-Monthly Mag.

Brilliant Prospects at the Opening of Henry's Reign-Valour of the English Captains-Battle of Vernueil-Slaughter of the Scottish Allies of France-Jeopardy of Charles VII.—his Retreat—Biographical Sketch of Richard Beauchamp his early Prowess-his foreign Travels-Jousts at Verona-Pilgrimage tothe Holy Sepulchre -Courtesy of the Soldan's Lieutenant-Celebrity of the Famous Guy -Warwick is engaged to serve the Prince of Wales by Indenturehis Zeal in the Service of Religion-he is made Captain of Calais— Attends the Council of Constance-kills a foreign Nobleman at a Tilt-Compliment paid to him by the Empress-his Favour at the Emperor's Court-his courteous Conduct at Calais-he devises a new Point in Chivalry-overthrows three Knights at a Tournament —his magnificent Gifts to his Opponents—is made Tutor to the King -is appointed to the Command in France-the Splendour of his Retinue his Death-curious Inscription on his Tomb-Extracts from his Will-amusing Injunctions-Memoir of Thomas Montacute-permitted the Title of Earl by Courtesy-Favours bestowed by Henry V.-his Reputation in France-Beauty of his Countesshis Jealousy of the Duke of Burgundy-The Duke of Bedford tilts for the first time-Salisbury's Death before Orleans-the vulgar Horror of Gun-shot Wounds-The Earl of Salisbury's charitable Donations-Directions respecting his Funeral-Extracts from his

Will-second Marriage of his Widow-her Tomb at Ewelme-Supposition respecting the Order of the Garter-Robes worn by Ladiesother Particulars relating to their Participation in the Order-Attempt to revive the Ancient Privileges-Sketch of Talbot's military Career-his Exploits in France-Capture on the Field of PatayHonourable Conduct of Charles VII.-Talbot's Gratitude to Saintrailles-Present from the French King-Talbot's Successes in Guienne-his Defeat and Death-Oration of the Herald—Fuller's Encomium-Parallel drawn by Sir Walter Raleigh-Talbot's Wives -Titles conferred upon him by Henry VI.

CHAP. I. THE glories of the early part of the reign of Henry VI. afford a striking contrast to its lamentable conclusion. The baby brow of the young king was decked with two crowns. The sword of his gallant uncle, the Duke of Bedford, hewed its splendid path through the fields of France, crimsoned with the blood of those who ventured to oppose themselves to English sway. His throne was surrounded by a band of heroes, yielding not in valour or in fortune to the most renowned paladins who ever shone upon the dazzling page of chivalry. A Warwick, a Salisbury, a Talbot, a Clifford, a Fastolf, fought under his banners: bright luminaries, whose daring exploits were emulated by every noble knight and soldier in his service. Until the fatal siege of Orleans every march of the English troops led them to victory. Before Crevant, in 1423, the second year of Henry's reign, the Earl of Salisbury defeated an army assembled by Charles VII. with great slaughter and the capture of many prisoners of note. Again in the following year another im portant victory rewarded the English arms. Assisted by his faithful allies the Scots, Charles sent eighteen thousand men into the field, and Bedford with an

inferior force advanced to meet them on the plains CHAP. I. of Vernueil. Seated on a bay courser, in the centre

his arms,

66

"St.

"St.

of his host, "under a banner curiously beten with
"* the duke animated his soldiers by a
spirited address, and shouting their war cry,
George! a Bedford! a Bedford!" they rushed upon
the foe, who amazed by the startling acclamations
and the fury of the onset, quailed for a moment
beneath the shock, but recovering from their
panic, answered with Montjoy!" and
Denis!" and the field was obstinately contested.
The military talents of the English commander and
the steady discipline of his troops prevailed. The
baggage, the pages, the horses, and the ineffective
persons attached to the army, were placed by the
order of the Duke of Bedford behind the men at
arms, protected by a guard of two thousand archers.
The French directed the Lombards in their service
to attack the rear; but finding it stoutly defended,
these mercenary soldiers seized the plunder within
their reach and fled. Intent upon securing their
booty they quitted the field without returning to
the charge, and the archers immediately joined
the main body, and by this opportune reinforce-
ment spread confusion and death throughout the
French ranks, unable to maintain the combat against
the fresh assailants who poured down upon them
with irresistible impetuosity. Eleven thousand of the
enemy fell in this engagement, which was designated
by the English parliament as the "grettest dede
doon by Englishmen in our dayes, save the battaile
of Agyncourte." The Duke of Touraine, the

CHAP. I. Earl of Buchan, and the Viscount Narbonne were left amid the slain. The dead body of the latter was hanged by the victors on a gibbet in revenge for the murder of the Duke of Burgundy, in which he had been concerned.* The Duke of Alençon with two hundred gentlemen were taken prisoners; and Bedford assembling the chiefs of his army kneeled down upon the field of battle, and piously returned thanks to the Almighty disposer of human events for the success which had crowned the English arms. Nearly all the Scottish force perished with their commanders in this bloody encounter. A reason has been assigned for the dreadful havoc committed upon these devoted men by Walsingham,† who tells us, that "scarcely any of them could escape by reason of the inhuman slaughter of the Duke of Clarence." All parties in these uncivilized times were wont to make the most cruel reprisals, and to take signal vengeance at the first favourable opportunity upon those who had been instrumental in any former injury or disgrace. The Scots, after so severe a loss, though still serving under the French banners, could no longer appear in separate battalions, but henceforward fought promiscuously in the ranks of their allies.

Charles VII. reduced to a most humiliating state by the defeat of his army, was compelled to shut himself up, weak and inactive, in a city of little note; and his authority extended to so short a distance beyond the walls, that the English styled him, in scorn, "The king of Bourges." The feud which + Sloane's MSS. 1776.

* Hall.