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same occasion won the prize of valor from the hands of Edward of
England。 Such were the chiefs to whom the King now turned for
assistance and advice。
〃You have already heard； my friends；〃 said he； 〃that the Prince of
Wales has made no answer to the proposal which we sent by the Lord
Cardinal of Perigord。 Certes this is as it should be； and though
I have obeyed the call of Holy Church I had no fears that so
excellent a Prince as Edward of England would refuse to meet us in
battle。 I am now of opinion that we should fall upon them at
once； lest perchance the Cardinal's cross should again come
betwixt our swords and our enemies。〃
A buzz of joyful assent arose from the meeting； and even from the
attendant men…at…arms who guarded the door。 When it had died away
the Duke of Orleans rose in his place beside the King。
〃Sire；〃 said he； 〃you speak as we would have you do； and I for one
am of opinion that the Cardinal of Perigord has been an ill friend
of France； for why should we bargain for a part when we have but
to hold out our hand in order to grasp the whole？ What need is
there for words？ Let us spring to horse forthwith and ride over
this handful of marauders who have dared to lay waste your fair
dominions。 If one of them go hence save as our prisoner we are
the more to blame。〃
〃By Saint Denis； brother！〃 said the King； smiling； 〃if words could
slay you would have had them all upon their backs ere ever we left
Chartres。 You are new to war； but when you have had experience of
a stricken field or two you would know that things must be done
with forethought and in order or they may go awry。 In our
father's time we sprang to horse and spurred upon these English at
Crecy and elsewhere as you advise； but we had little profit from
it； and now we are grown wiser。 How say you； Sieur de Ribeaumont？
You have coasted their lines and observed their countenance。
Would you ride down upon them； as my brother has advised； or how
would you order the matter？〃
De Ribeaumont； a tall dark…eyed handsome man； paused ere he
answered。 〃Sire；〃 he said at last； 〃I have indeed ridden along
their front and down their flanks； in company with Lord Landas and
Lord de Beaujeu； who are here at your council to witness to what I
say。 Indeed； sire； it is in my mind that though the English are
few in number yet they are in such a position amongst these hedges
and vines that you would be well…advised if you were to leave them
alone； for they have no food and must retreat； so that you will be
able to follow them and to fight them to better advantage。〃
A murmur of disapproval rose from the company； and the Lord
Clermont； Marshal of the army； sprang to his feet； his face red
with anger。
〃Eustace； Eustace；〃 said he； 〃I bear in mind the days when you
were of great heart and high enterprise； but since King Edward
gave you yonder chaplet of pearls you have ever been backward
against the English！〃
〃My Lord Clermont；〃 said de Ribeaumont sternly； 〃it is not for me
to brawl at the King's council and in the face of the enemy； but
we will go further into this matter at some other time。
Meanwhile； the King has asked me for my advice and I have given it
as best I might。〃
〃It had been better for your honor； Sir Eustace； had you held your
peace；〃 said the Duke of Orleans。 〃Shall we let them slip from
our fingers when we have them here and are fourfold their number？
I know not where we should dwell afterwards； for I am very sure
that we should be ashamed to ride back to Paris； or to look our
ladies in the eyes again。〃
〃Indeed； Eustace； you have done well to say what is in your mind；〃
said the King； 〃but I have already said that we shall join battle
this morning； so that there is no room here for further talk。 But
I would fain have heard from you how it would be wisest and best
that we attack them？〃
〃I will advise you； sire； to the best of my power。 Upon their
right is a river with marshes around it； and upon their left a
great wood； so that we can advance only upon the center。 Along
their front is a thick hedge； and behind it I saw the green
jerkins of their archers； as thick as the sedges by the river。 It
is broken by one road where only four horsemen could ride abreast；
which leads through the position。 It is clear then that if we are
to drive them back we must cross the great hedge； and I am very
sure that the horses will not face it with such a storm of arrows
beating from behind it。 Therefore； it is my council that we fight
upon foot； as the English did at Crecy； for indeed we may find
that our horses will be more hindrance than help to us this day。〃
〃The same thought was in my own mind； sire；〃 said Arnold
d'Andreghen the veteran Marshal。 〃At Crecy the bravest had to
turn their backs； for what can a man do with a horse which is mad
with pain and fear？ If we advance upon foot we are our own
masters； and if we stop the shame is ours。〃
〃The counsel is good；〃 said the Duke of Athens； turning his shrewd
wizened face to the King； 〃but one thing only I would add to it。
The strength of these people lies in their archers； and if we
could throw them into disorder； were it only for a short time； we
should win the hedge； else they will shoot so strongly that we
must lose many men before we reach it； for indeed we have learned
that no armor will keep out their shafts when they are close。〃
〃Your words； fair sir； are both good and wise；〃 said the King；
〃but I pray you to tell us how you would throw these archers into
disorder？〃
〃I would choose three hundred horsemen； sire； the best and most
forward in the army。 With these I would ride up the narrow road；
and so turn to right and left； falling upon the archers behind the
hedge。 It may be that the three hundred would suffer sorely； but
what are they among so great a host； if a road may be cleared for
their companions？〃
〃I would say a word to that； sire；〃 cried the German Count of
Nassau； 〃I have come here with my comrades to venture our persons
in your quarrel； but we claim the right to fight in our own
fashion； and we would count it dishonor to dismount from our
steeds out of fear of the arrows of the English。 Therefore； with
your permission； we will ride to the front； as the Duke of Athens
has advised； and so clear a path for the rest of you。〃
〃This may not be！〃 cried the Lord Clermont angrily。 〃It would be
strange indeed if Frenchmen could not be found to clear a path for
the army of the King of France。 One would think to hear you talk；
my Lord Count； that your hardihood was greater than our own； but
by our Lady of Rocamadour you will learn before nightfall that it
is not so。 It is for me； who am a Marshal of France； to lead
these three hundred； since it is an honorable venture。〃
〃And I claim the same right for the same reason；〃 said Arnold of
Andreghen。
The German Count struck the table with his mailed fist。 〃Do what
you like！〃 said he。 〃But this only I can promise you； that
neither I nor any of my German riders will descend from our horses
so long as they are able to carry us； for in our country it is
only people of no consequence who fight upon their feet。〃
The Lo