Battle in Spring Sleet For the largest battle ever fought in England, March 1461, the Lancastrian king's troops had more men with more experience, better supplies, and the high ground-but couldn't command the weather. One untested archer in that host is Albin Hayward. He manages to survive the battle. But as an injured teen-ager on his own, far from home, he must co-operate with strangers to survive. Albin also needs the neighbor he wants least to co-operate with, his rival for the girl back home.