Holinshed's Chronicle 1547. [10 Sep 1547]. The valiant lord Greie, Edward Shelleie, little Preston, Brampton, and Ierningham, Bulleners, Ratcliffe, the lord Fitzwaters brother, sir Iohn Cleres sonne and heire, Rawleie a gentleman of right commendable prowesse, Digs of Kent, Ellerker a pensioner, Segraue: of the duke of Summersets band, Standleie, Woodhouse, Conisbie, Horgill, Norris, Denis, Arthur, and Atkinson, with other in the fore-ranke, not being able in this earnest assault, both to tend to their fight afore, and to the retire behind: the Scots againe well considering herby how weake they remained, caught courage afresh, ran sharplie forward vpon them, and without anie mercie, slue the most part of them that abode furthest in prease a six more of Bulleners, and other than before are named, in all to the number of twentie six, and most part gentlemen. My lord Greie yet and my lord Iohn Greie, and likewise my lord Edward Seimer (as some grace was) returned againe; but neither all in safetie, nor without euident markes they had bin there: for the lord Greie with a pike through the mouth was rased a long from the tip of the toong, and thrust that waie verie dangerouslie more than two inches in the necke; and the other two had their horsses vnder them with swords sore wounded. Like as also a little before this onset, sir Thomas Darcie vpon his approch to the enimies, was striken glansing wise on the right side, with a bullet of one of their field péeces, and thereby his bodie brused with the bowing in of his armour, his sword hilts broken, and the forefinger of his right hand beaten flat. Euen so vpon the parting of this fraie, was sir Arthur Darcie slasht at with swords, and so hurt vpon the wedding finger of his right hand also, as it was counted for the first part of curing to haue it quite cut awaie.

Holinshed's Chronicle 1547. [10 Sep 1547]. Edward Shelleie lieutenant vnder the lord Greie of his band of Bulleners, was the first that passed ouer the s [...]ough. The lord Greie himselfe next, with the lord Iohn Greie and others in the foremost ranke, and so then after two or thrée rankes of their former bands. But badlie yet could they make their rase, by reason the furrowes laie trauerse to their course. That notwithstanding, and though also they were nothing likelie well to be able thus afront to come within them to doo them hurt, as well bicause the Scotishmens pikes were as long or longer than their staues, as also for that their horsses were all naked without bards, whereof though there were right manie among them, yet not one put on, for as much as at their comming forth in the morning, they looked for nothing lesse than for battell that daie: yet did those worthie gentlemen, the lord Greie of Wilton, the lord Iohn Greie, and maister Shelleie with the residue, so valiantlie & stronglie giue the charge vpon them, that whether it were by their prowesse or power, the left side of the enimies that his lordship did set vpon (though their order remained vnbroken) was yet compelled to swaie a good waie backe, and giue ground largelie, and all the residue of them beside to stand much amazed.

Tudor Tracts Chapter 4. [10 Sep 1547]. Yet my Lord Grey and my Lord Edward (as some grace was) returned, but neither all in safety, nor without evident marks they had been there: for the one, with a pike through the mouth, was raced [torn] along from the tip of the tongue, and thrust that way very dangerously, more than two inches with the neck; and my Lord Edward had his horse under him, wounded sore with swords, and I think to death.

Tudor Tracts Chapter 4. [10 Sep 1547]. Edwward Shelley, alas, that worthy gentleman and valiant Captain! lay all pitifully disfigured and mangled among them; and nothing discernable but by his beard. Of whom, besides the properties of his person, for his wit, his good qualities, his activities in feats of war, and his perfect honesty, for the which he was, by all men of all estates, so much esteemed and so well beloved: and hereto, for that he was my so near friend, I had cause enough here, without parsimony to praise his life and lament his death, were it not that the same should be too great a digression, and too much interruption of the matter.

But touching the manner of his death, I think his merit too much, to let pass in silence: who not inferior, in fortitude of mind, either unto the Roman Curtius¹ or the two DECII: he, being in this business, foremost of all our men against the enemy: considering with himself, that as his hardy charge upon them, was sure to be their terror, and very likely to turn to the breach of their order; and herewith also that the same should be great courage to his followers that came to give the charge with him; and pondering again that his turning back at this point, should cause the contrary, and be great danger of our confusion, was content, in his King's and country's quarrel, in hopes the rather to leave victory unto his countrymen, thus honourably to take death to himself.

Note 1. As there fell suddenly in Rome, a great dungeon, and swallowing of ground, Curtius, a Roman Gentleman, for the pleasing of the gods, and that the same might cease, mounted on his horse and leapt down into the same, which then after closed up again. Valerius Maximus, /*. vi. ca. vi.

Decius Mus and Publius Decius his son, Consuls of Rome, as they should fight, the father against the Latins, and the son after that against the Samnites; and were warned, by dream, that those armies should have the victory, whose Captains were first slain in field: they both ran willingly into the hosts of their enemies. They were slain, and their armies wan the field.

Plutarch, De Decio preparal. xxxvii. Et Livius de P. Decio li. x. dec. i.

Holinshed's Chronicle 1547. Sir Rafe Vane knight lieutenant of all the men of armes and demilances. Sir Thomas Darcie knight capteine of all the kings maiesties pensioners, and men at armes. Sir Richard Leigh knight deuiser of the fortifications. Sir Peter Mewtas knight capteine of the harquebutters, which were in number six hundred. Sir Peter Gamboa knight, capteine of two hundred harquebutters on horssebacke. Sir Francis Fleming knight was master of the ordinance. Sir George Blaag & sir Thomas Holcroft commissioners of the musters. Edward Shelleie, the lord Greies lieutenant of the men of armes of Bullongne, who was the first that gaue the onset in the daie of battell, and died most honorablie in the same. Iohn Brenne capteine of the pioners being in number a thousand foure hundred. Thomas Audeleie and Edward Chamberleine harbengers of the field.

Tudor Tracts Chapter 4. [10 Sep 1547]. Edward Shelley, Lieutenant under my Lord Grey, of his band of Boulogners, was the first on our side that was over this slough, my Lord Grey next; and so then after, two or three ranks of the former [leading] bands. But badly, yet, could they make their race; by reason, the furrows lay travers to their course. That notwithstanding, and though there were nothing likely well to be able thus a front to come within them to hurt them, as well because the Scottish men's pikes were as long or longer than their staves [spears], as also for that their horses were all naked without barbs [breastplates] whereof, though there were right many among us, yet not one put on: forasmuch as at our coming forth in the morning, we looked for nothing less than for battle that day: yet did my Lord, and Shelley, with the residue, so valiantly and strongly give the charge upon them, that, whether it were by their prowess or power, the left side of the enemy that his Lordship did set upon, though their order remained unbroken, was yet compelled to sway a good way back and give ground largely; and all the residue of them besides, to stand much amazed.