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and men…at…arms who would gladly play a part in the matter。〃
〃Then choose ten；〃 said Beaumanoir。
But for the first time the wolf…like squire opened his thin lips。
〃Surely； my lord； you will not allow archers；〃 said he。
〃I fear not any man。〃
〃Nay； fair sir； consider that this is a trial of weapons betwixt
us where man faces man。 You have seen these English archers； and
you know how fast and bow strong are their shafts。 Bethink you
that if ten of them were against us it is likely that half of us
would be down before ever we came to handstrokes。〃
〃By Saint Cadoc； William； I think that you are right；〃 cried the
Breton。 〃If we are to have such a fight as will remain in the
memories of men； you will bring no archers and we no crossbows。
Let it be steel upon steel。 How say you then？〃
〃Surely we can bring ten men…at…arms to make up the thirty that
you desire； Robert。 It is agreed then that we fight on no quarrel
of England and France； but over this matter of the ladies in which
you and Squire Loring have fallen out。 And now the time？〃
〃At once。〃
〃Surely at once； or perchance a second messenger may come and this
also be forbidden。 We will be ready with to…morrow's sunrise。〃
〃Nay； a day later；〃 cried the Breton Squire。 〃Bethink you； my
lord； that the three lances of Radenac would take time to come
over。〃
〃They are not of our garrison； and they shall not have a place。〃
〃But； fair sir； of all the lances of Brittany … 〃
〃Nay； William； I will not have it an hour later。 Tomorrow it
shall be； Richard。〃
〃And where？〃
〃I marked a fitting place even as I rode here this evening。 If
you cross the river and take the bridle…path through the fields
which leads to Josselin you come midway upon a mighty oak standing
at the corner of a fair and level meadow。 There let us meet at
midday to…morrow。〃
〃Agreed！〃 cried Bambro'。 〃But I pray you not to rise； Robert！
The night is still young and the spices and hippocras will soon be
served。 Bide with us； I pray you； for if you would fain hear the
latest songs from England； these gentlemen have doubtless brought
them。 To some of us perchance it is the last night； so we would
make it a full one。〃
But the gallant Breton shook his head。 〃It may indeed be the last
night for many；〃 said he； 〃and it is but right that my comrades
should know it。 I have no need of monk or friar； for I cannot
think that harm will ever come beyond the grave to one who has
borne himself as a knight should； but others have other thoughts
upon these matters and would fain have time for prayer and
penitence。 Adieu； fair sirs； and I drink a last glass to a happy
meeting at the midway oak。〃
XXIII。 HOW THIRTY OF JOSSELIN ENCOUNTERED THIRTY OF PLOERMEL
All night the Castle of Ploermel rang with warlike preparations；
for the smiths were hammering and filing and riveting； preparing
the armor for the champions。 In the stable yard hostlers were
testing and grooming the great war…horses； whilst in the chapel
knights and squires were easing their souls at the knees of old
Father Benedict。
Down in the courtyard； meanwhile； the men…at…arms had been
assembled； and the volunteers weeded out until the best men had
been selected。 Black Simon had obtained a place； and great was
the joy which shone upon his grim visage。 With him were chosen
young Nicholas Dagsworth； a gentleman adventurer who was nephew to
the famous Sir Thomas； Walter the German； Hulbitee … a huge
peasant whose massive frame gave promise which his sluggish spirit
failed to fulfil … John Alcock； Robin Adey and Raoul Provost。
These with three others made up the required thirty。 Great was
the grumbling and evil the talk amongst the archers when it was
learned that none of them were to be included； but the bow had
been forbidden on either side。 It is true that many of them were
expert fighters both with ax and with sword； but they were unused
to carry heavy armor； and a half…armed man would have short shrift
in such a hand…to…hand struggle as lay before them。
It was two hours after tierce； or one hour before noon； on the
fourth Wednesday of Lent in the year of Christ 1351 that the men
of Ploermel rode forth from their castle…gate and crossed the
bridge of the Due。 In front was Bambro' with his Squire Croquart；
the latter on a great roan horse bearing the banner of Ploermel；
which was a black rampant lion holding a blue flag upon a field of
ermine。 Behind him came Robert Knolles and Nigel Loring； with an
attendant at their side； who carried the pennon of the black
raven。 Then rode Sir Thomas Percy with his blue lion flaunting
above him； and Sir Hugh Calverly； whose banner bore a silver owl；
followed by the massive Belford who carried a huge iron club；
weighing sixty pounds； upon his saddlebow； and Sir Thomas Walton
the knight of Surrey。 Behind them were four brave Anglo…Bretons；
Perrot de Commelain； Le Gaillart； d'Aspremont and d'Ardaine； who
fought against their own countrymen because they were partisans of
the Countess of Montfort。 Her engrailed silver cross upon a blue
field was carried at their head。 In the rear were five German or
Hainault mercenaries； the tall Hulbitee； and the men…at…arms。
Altogether of these combatants twenty were of English birth； four
were Breton and six were of German blood。
So； with glitter of armor and flaunting of pennons； their
warhorses tossing and pawing； the champions rode down to the
midway oak。 Behind them streamed hundreds of archers and men…
at…arms whose weapons had been wisely taken from them lest a
general battle should ensue。 With them also went the townsfolk；
men and women； together with wine…sellers； provisions merchants；
armorers； grooms and heralds； with surgeons to tend the wounded
and priests to shrive the dying。 The path was blocked by this
throng； but all over the face of the country horsemen and footmen；
gentle and simple； men and women； could be seen speeding their way
to the scene of the encounter。
The journey was not a long one； for presently； as they threaded
their way through the fields； there appeared before them a great
gray oak which spread its gnarled leafless branches over the
corner of a green and level meadow。 The tree was black with the
peasants who had climbed into it； and all round it was a huge
throng； chattering and calling like a rookery at sunset。 A storm
of hooting broke out from them at the approach of the English； for
Bambro' was hated in the country where he raised money for the
Montfort cause by putting every parish to ransom and maltreating
those who refused to pay。 There was little amenity in the warlike
ways which had been learned upon the Scottish border。 The
champions rode onward without deigning to take notice of the
taunts of the rabble； but the archers turned that way and soon
beat the mob to silence。 Then they resolved themselves into the
keepers of the ground； and pressed the people back until they
formed a dense line along the edge of the field；' leaving the
whole space clear for the warriors。
The Breton champions had not yet arrived； so the English tethered
their horses at one side of the ground； and then gathe