A large portion of this body were in murrey and blue , and in the mounted knight who ordered their array Dick recognised Sir Daniel Brackley . Then there befell a long pause , which was followed by the almost simultaneous sounding of four trumpets from four different quarters of the town . A fifth rang in answer from the market-place , and at the same moment the files began to move , and a shower of arrows rattled about the barricade , and sounded like blows upon the walls of the two flanking houses . The attack had begun , by a common signal , on all the five issues of the quarter . Gloucester was beleaguered upon every side ; and Dick judged , if he would make good his post , he must rely entirely on the hundred men of his command . Seven volleys of arrows followed one upon the other , and in the very thick of the discharges Dick was touched from behind upon the arm , and found a page holding out to him a leathern jack , strengthened with bright plates of mail . `` It is from my Lord of Gloucester , '' said the page . `` He hath observed , Sir Richard , that ye went unarmed . '' Dick , with a glow at his heart at being so addressed , got to his feet and , with the assistance of the page , donned the defensive coat . Even as he did so , two arrows rattled harmlessly upon the plates , and a third struck down the page , mortally wounded , at his feet . Meantime the whole body of the enemy had been steadily drawing nearer across the market-place ; and by this time were so close at hand that Dick gave the order to return their shot . Immediately , from behind the barrier and from the windows of the houses , a counterblast of arrows sped , carrying death . But the Lancastrians , as if they had but waited for a signal , shouted loudly in answer ; and began to close at a run upon the barrier , the horsemen still hanging back , with visors lowered . Then followed an obstinate and deadly struggle , hand to hand . The assailants , wielding their falchions with one hand , strove with the other to drag down the structure of the barricade . On the other side , the parts were reversed ; and the defenders exposed themselves like madmen to protect their rampart . So for some minutes the contest raged almost in silence , friend and foe falling one upon another . But it is always the easier to destroy ; and when a single note upon the tucket recalled the attacking party from this desperate service , much of the barricade had been removed piecemeal , and the whole fabric had sunk to half its height , and tottered to a general fall . And now the footmen in the market-place fell back , at a run , on every side . The horsemen , who had been standing in a line two deep , wheeled suddenly , and made their flank into their front ; and as swift as a striking adder , the long , steel-clad column was launched upon the ruinous barricade .
Of the first two horsemen , one XXXXX , rider and steed , and was ridden down by his companions .
begun fell followed found launched protect recalled sped strengthened struck