PRELUDE TO THE BATTLE
In 1403 the Percy family were major landowners in Northumberland, but relations with King Henry had broke down over many issues including land ownership and profits from ransoming scottish prisoners.

Henry (hotspur) Percy allied himself with the Earl of Dunbar and Glyndwr of Wales to remove King Henry from the throne.

Henry Percy marched his army south intending to meet up with Glyndwr near Shrewsbury and his farther was to bring reinforcements from northumberland.

King Henry had already marched to Shrewsbury to intercept Hotspur.  Hotspur took up a defensive position out side shrewsbury when he recieved news that King Henry and Prince Henry (The Black Prince) were marching towards his encampment.
THE BATTLEFIELD
This part of Shropshire was reletively clear of hedges and other boundries, low shrubby vegetation crawled across the plains.
THE BATTLE BEGINS
Hotspur drew up his forces in a line about half a mile long.The bulk of his army consisted of heavily armoured men at arms bristling with swords, billhooks,halbards and other murderous tools of chivalry as well as a large amount of longbows.

Like Hotspurs forces the Royal army consisted of men at arms and longbows.The Royal forces had the numerical advantage in the region of 15000 men to Hotspurs 10000.

The battle began when Hotspurs longbows stepped forward and began to rain death on the Royal forces Thus the Royal longbows replied.The sky darkened as wave after wave of arrows were exchanged. The casualties were massive , as the bowmen had only little or no protection from there own deadly missiles.

The Royal longbows came off worst and began to faulter, sensing this Hotspurs men at arms charged and began to engage longbowmen and Royal men at arms alike..
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