[Sidenote: Edrike de Streona his treason. _Simon Dun._]
Writers haue reported, that this second day, when duke Edrike
perceiued the Englishmen to be at point to haue got the vpper hand, he
withdrew aside, and hauing by chance slaine a common souldier called
Osmear, which in visage much resembled king Edmund, whose head he cut
off, held it vp, & shaking his swoord bloudie with the slaughter,
cried to the Englishmen; "Flee ye wretches, flee and get awaie, for
your king is dead, behold heere his head which I hold in my hands."
Heerewith had the Englishmen fled immediatlie, if king Edmund aduised
of this stratagem, had not quicklie got him to an high ground where
his men might see him aliue and lustie. Heerewith also the traitor
Edrike escaped hardlie the danger of death, the Englishmen shot so
egerlie at him. At length, as is said, the night parting them in
sunder, they withdrew the one armie from the other, as it had beene by
consent. The third day they remained in armor, but yet absteining
from battell, sate still, in taking meate and drinke to relieue their
wearied bodies, and after gathered in heapes the dead carcases
[Sidenote: Twentie thousand dead bodies.]
that had beene slaine in the former fight, the number of which on
either partie reckoned, rose to the point of twentie thousand and
aboue.
[Sidenote: The armies dislodged.
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