HIC JACET RANULPHUS D.S.  DE DAKREET—­MILES ET OCCISUS ERAT IN BELLO
   PRINCIPE HENRICO VIe ANNO DOM 1461.—­29 DIE MARTII VIDELICET DOMICA
   DIE PALMARUM—­CUJUS ANIME PROPITIETUR DEUS.—­AMEN.

The local poet, in giving an account of the battle, has written:—­

  The Lord Dacres
  Was slain at Nor acres,

for his lordship had been killed in a field known as the North Acres.  He had removed his gorget, a piece of armour which protected the throat, for the purpose, it was supposed, of getting a drink to quench his thirst, when he was struck in the throat by a bolt, or headless arrow, shot from a cross-bow by a boy who was hiding in a bur-tree or elder bush.  The boy-archer must have been a good shot to hit a warrior clothed from head to foot in armour in the only vulnerable point exposed, but in those days boys were trained to shoot with bows and arrows from the early age of six years, their weapons, being increased in size and strength as they grew older; their education was not considered complete until they could use that terrible weapon known as the English long-bow, and hit the smallest object with their arrows.  Lord Dacres was buried in an upright position, and his horse was buried with him; for many years the horse’s jaw-bone and teeth were preserved at the vicarage, One of his lordship’s ancestors, who died fighting on Flodden Field, had been buried in a fine tomb in Lanercrost Abbey.

Lord Clifford was another brave but cruel warrior who was killed in a similar way.  He had removed his helmet from some unexplained cause—­possibly to relieve the pressure on his head—­when a random arrow pierced his throat; but his death was to many a cause of rejoicing, for owing to his cruel deeds at the Battle of Wakenfield, he had earned the sobriquet of “the Butcher.”  While that battle was raging, the Duke of York’s son, the Earl of Rutland, a youth only seventeen years of age, described as “a fair gentleman and maiden-like person,” was brought by his tutor, a priest, from the battle-field to shelter in the town.  Here he was perceived by Clifford, who asked who he was.  The boy, too much afraid to speak, fell on his knees imploring for mercy, “both by holding up his hands and making dolorous countenance, for his speech was gone from fear.”  “Save him,” said the tutor, “for he is a prince’s son and, peradventure, might do you good hereafter.”  With that word Clifford marked him, and said, “By God’s blood thy father slew mine, and so will I thee, and all thy kin,” and, saying this, he struck the Earl to the heart with his dagger, and bade the tutor bear word to his mother and brothers what he had said and done.  Not content with this, when he came to the body of the Duke, the child’s father, he caused the head to be cut off and a paper crown to be placed on it; then, fixing it on a pole, he presented it to the Queen, saying, “Madame, your war is done—­here is your King’s ransom.”  The head was placed over the gates of York by the side of that of the Earl of Salisbury, whom Queen Margaret had ordered to be beheaded.