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their horses at one side of the ground； and then gathered round
their leader。 Every man had his shield slung round his neck； and
had cut his spear to the length of five feet so that it might be
more manageable for fighting on foot。 Besides the spear a sword
or a battle…ax hung at the side of each。 They were clad from head
to foot in armor； with devices upon the crests and surcoats to
distinguish them from their antagonists。 At present their visors
were still up and they chatted gayly with each other。
〃By Saint Dunstan！〃 cried Percy； slapping his gauntleted hands
together and stamping his steel feet。 〃I shall be right glad to
get to work； for my blood is chilled。〃
〃I warrant you will be warm enough ere you get through；〃 said
Calverly。
〃Or cold forever。 Candle shall burn and bell toll at Alnwick
Chapel if I leave this ground alive； but come what may； fair sirs；
it should be a famous joust and one which will help us forward。
Surely each of us will have worshipfully won worship； if we chance
to come through。〃
〃You say truth； Thomas；〃 said Knolles； bracing his girdle。 〃For
my own part I have no joy in such encounters when there is warfare
to be carried out； for it standeth not aright that a man should
think of his own pleasure and advancement rather than of the
King's cause and the weal of the army。 But in times of truce I
can think of no better way in which a day may be profitably spent。
Why so silent； Nigel？〃
〃Indeed； fair sir； I was looking toward Josselin； which lies as I
understand beyond those woods。 I see no sign of this debonair
gentleman and of his following。 It would be indeed grievous pity
if any cause came to hold them back。〃
Hugh Calverly laughed at the words。 〃You need have no fear； young
sir；〃 said he。 〃Such a spirit lies in Robert de Beaumanoir that
if he must come alone he would ride against us none the less。 I
warrant that if he were on a bed of death he would be borne here
and die on the green field。〃
〃You say truly； Hugh；〃 said Bambro'。 〃I know him and those who
ride behind him。 Thirty stouter men or more skilled in arms are
not to be found in Christendom。 It is in my mind that come what
may there will be much honor for all of us this day。 Ever in my
head I have a rhyme which the wife of a Welsh archer gave me when
I crossed her hand with a golden bracelet after the intaking of
Bergerac。 She was of the old blood of Merlin with the power of
sight。 Thus she said …
〃'Twixt the oak…tree and the river
Knightly fame aid brave endeavor
Make an honored name forever。'
Methinks I see the oak…tree； and yonder is the river。 Surely this
should betide some good to us。〃
The huge German Squire betrayed some impatience during this speech
of his leader。 Though his rank was subordinate； no man present
had more experience of warfare or was more famous as a fighter
than he。 He new broke brusquely into the talk。 〃We should be
better employed in ordering our line and making our plans than in
talking of the rhymes of Merlin or such old wives' tales；〃 said
he。 〃It is to our own strong arms and good weapons that we must
trust this day。 And first I would ask you； Sir Richard； what is
your will if perchance you should fall in the midst of the fight？〃
Bambro' turned to the others。 〃If such should be the case； fair
sirs； I desire that my Squire Croquart should command。〃
There was a pause while the knights looked with some chagrin at
each other。 The silence was broken by Knolles。
〃I will do what you say； Richard；〃 said he； 〃though indeed it is
bitter that we who are knights should serve beneath a squire。 Yet
it is not for us to fall out among ourselves now at this last
moment； and I have ever heard that Croquart is a very worthy and
valiant man。 Therefore； I will pledge you on jeopardy of my soul
that I will accept him as leader if you fall。〃
〃So will I also； Richard；〃 said Calverly。
〃And I too！〃 cried Belford。 〃But surely I hear music； and yonder
are their pennons amid the trees。〃
They all turned； leaning upon their short spears； and watched the
advance of the men of Josselin； as their troop wound its way out
from the woodlands。 In front rode three heralds with tabards of
the ermine of Brittany； blowing loudly upon silver trumpets。
Behind them a great man upon a white horse bore the banner of
Josselin which carries nine golden torteaus upon a scarlet field。
Then came the champions riding two and two； fifteen knights and
fifteen squires； each with his pennon displayed。 Behind them on a
litter was borne an aged priest； the Bishop of Rennes； carrying in
his hands the viaticum and the holy oils that he might give the
last aid and comfort of the Church to those who were dying。 The
procession was terminated by hundreds of men and women from
Josselin； Guegon； and Helleon； and by the entire garrison of the
fortress； who came； as the English had done； without their arms。
The head of this long column had reached the field before the rear
were clear of the wood； but as they arrived the champions picketed
their horses on the farther side； behind which their banner was
planted and the people lined up until they had inclosed the whole
lists with a dense wall of spectators。
With keen eyes the English party had watched the armorial blazonry
of their antagonists； for those fluttering pennons and brilliant
surcoats carried a language which all men could read。 In front
was the banner of Beaumanoir； blue with silver frets。 His motto
〃J'ayme qui m'ayme〃 was carried on a second flag by a little page。
〃 Whose is the shield behind him … silver with scarlet drops？〃
asked Knolles。
〃It is his Squire； William of Montaubon；〃 Calverly answered。 〃And
there are the golden lion of Rochefort and the silver cross of Du
Bois the Strong。 I would not wish to meet a better company than
are before us this day。 See； there are the blue rings of young
Tintiniac； who slew my Squire Hubert last Lammastide。 With the
aid of Saint George I will avenge him ere nightfall。〃
〃By the three kings of Almain；〃 growled Croquart； 〃we will need to
fight hard this day； for never have I seen so many good soldiers
gathered together。 Yonder is Yves Cheruel； whom they call the man
of iron； Caro de Bodegat also with whom I have had more than one
bickering … that is he with the three ermine circles on the
scarlet shield。 There too is left…handed Alain de Karanais； bear
in mind that his stroke comes on the side where there is no
shield。〃
〃Who is the small stout man〃 … asked Nigel … 〃 he with the black
and silver shield？ By Saint Paul！ he seems a very worthy person
and one from whom much might be gained； for he is nigh as broad as
he is long。〃
〃It is Sir Robert Raguenel；〃 said Calverly； whose long spell of
service in Brittany had made him familiar with the people。 It is
said that he can lift a horse upon his back。 Beware a full stroke
of that steel mace； for the armor is not made that can abide it。
But here is the good Beaumanoir； and surely it is time that we
came to grips。〃
The Breton leader had marshaled his men in a line opposite to the
English； and now he str