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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 Lord Clermont was leaning angrily forward with some hot reply
when King John intervened。 〃Enough； enough！〃 he said。 〃It is for
you to give your opinions； and for me to tell you what you will
do。 Lord Clermont； and you； Arnold； you will choose three hundred
of the bravest cavaliers in the army and you will endeavor to
break these archers。 As to you and your Germans； my Lord Nassau ；
you will remain upon horseback； since you desire it； and you will
follow the Marshals and support them as best you may。 The rest of
the army will advance upon foot； in three other divisions as
arranged： yours； Charles；〃 and he patted his son； the Duke of
Normandy； affectionately upon the hand； 〃yours； Philip；〃 he
glanced at the Duke of Orleans； 〃and the main battle which is my
own。 To you； Geoffrey de Chargny； I intrust the oriflamme this
day。 But who is this knight and what does he desire？〃
A young knight； ruddy…bearded and tall； a red griffin upon his
surcoat； had appeared in the opening of the tent。 His flushed
face and disheveled dress showed that he had come in haste。
〃Sire；〃 said he； 〃I am Robert de Duras； of the household of the
Cardinal de Perigord。 I have told you yesterday all that I have
learned of the English camp。 This morning I was again admitted to
it； and I have seen their wagons moving to the rear。 Sire； they
are in flight for Bordeaux。〃
〃'Fore God； I knew it！〃 cried the Duke of Orleans in a voice of
fury。 〃Whilst we have been talking they have slipped through our
fingers。 Did I not warn you？〃
〃Be silent； Philip！〃 said the King angrily。 〃But you； sir； have
you seen this with your own eyes？〃
〃With my own eyes； sire； and I have ridden straight from their
camp。〃
King John looked at him with a stern gaze。 〃I know not how it
accords with your honor to carry such tidings in such a fashion；〃
said he； 〃but we cannot choose but take advantage of it。 Fear
not； brother Philip； it is in my mind that you will see all that
you would wish of the Englishmen before nightfall。 Should we fall
upon them whilst they cross the ford it will be to our advantage。
Now； fair sirs； I pray you to hasten to your posts and to carry
out all that we have agreed。 Advance the oriflamme； Geoffrey； and
do you marshal the divisions； Arnold。 So may God and Saint Denis
have us in their holy keeping this day！〃
The Prince of Wales stood upon that little knoll where Nigel had
halted the day before。 Beside him were Chandos； and a tall
sun…burned warrior of middle age； the Gascon Captal de Buch。 The
three men were all attentively watching the distant French lines；
while behind them a column of wagons wound down to the ford of the
Muisson。
Close in the rear four knights in full armor with open visors sat
their horses and conversed in undertones with each other。 A
glance at their shields would have given their names to any
soldier； for they were all men of fame who had seen much warfare。
At present they were awaiting their orders； for each of them
commanded the whole or part of a division of the army。 The youth
upon the left； dark； slim and earnest； was William Montacute； Earl
of Salisbury； only twenty…eight years of age and yet a veteran of
Crecy。 How high he stood in reputation is shown by the fact that
the command of the rear； the post of honor in a retreating army；
had been given to him by the Prince。 He was talking to a grizzled
harsh…faced man； somewhat over middle age； with lion features and
fierce light…blue eyes which gleamed as they watched the distant
enemy。 It was the famous Robert de Ufford； Earl of Suffolk； who
had fought without a break from Cadsand onward through the whole
Continental War。 The other tall silent soldier； with the silver
star gleaming upon his surcoat； was John de Vere； Earl of Oxford；
and he listened to the talk of Thomas Beauchamp； a burly； jovial；
ruddy nobleman and a tried soldier； who leaned forward and tapped
his mailed hand upon the other's steel…clad thigh。 They were old
battle…companions； of the same age and in the very prime of life；
with equal fame and equal experience of the wars。 Such was the
group of famous English soldiers who sat their horses behind the
Prince and waited for their orders。
〃I would that you had laid hands upon him；〃 said the Prince
angrily； continuing his conversation with Chandos； 〃and yet；
perchance； it was wiser to play this trick and make them think
that we were retreating。〃
〃He has certainly carried the tidings；〃 said Chandos； with a
smile。 〃No sooner had the wagons started than I saw him gallop
down the edge of the wood。〃
〃It was well thought of； John；〃 the Prince remarked； 〃for it would
indeed be great comfort if we could turn their own spy against
them。 Unless they advance upon us； I know not how we can hold out
another day； for there is not a loaf left in the army； and yet if
we leave this position where shall we hope to find such another？〃
〃They will stoop； fair sir； they will stoop to our lure。 Even now
Robert de Duras will be telling them that the wagons are on the
move； and they will hasten to overtake us lest we pass the ford。
But who is this； who rides so fast？ Here perchance may be
tidings。〃
A horseman had spurred up to the knoll。 He sprang from the
saddle； and sank on one knee before the Prince。
〃How now； my Lord Audley；〃 said Edward。 〃 What would you have？〃
〃Sir；〃 said the knight； still kneeling with bowed head before his
leader； 〃I have a boon to ask of you。〃
〃Nay； James； rise！ Let me hear what I can do。〃
The famous knight errant； pattern of chivalry for all time； rose
and turned his swarthy face and dark earnest eyes upon his master。
〃Sir；〃 said he； 〃I have ever served most loyally my lord your
father and yourself； and shall continue so to do so long as I have
life。 Dear sir； I must now acquaint you that formerly I made a
vow if ever I should be in any battle under your command that I
would be foremost or die in the attempt。 I beg therefore that you
will graciously permit me to honorably quit my place among the
others； that I may post myself in such wise as to accomplish my
vow。〃
The Prince smiled； for it was very sure that vow or no vow；
permission or no permission； Lord James Audley would still be in
the van。 〃Go； James；〃 said he； shaking his hand； 〃and God grant
that this day you may shine in valor above all knights。 But hark；
John； what is that？〃
Chandos cast up his fierce nose like the eagle which smells
slaughter afar。 〃Surely； sir； all is forming even as we had
planned it。〃
》From far away there came a thunderous shout。 Then another and yet
another。
〃See； they are moving！〃 cried the Captal de Buch。
All morning they had watched the gleam of the armed squadrons who
were drawn up in front of the French camp。 Now whilst a great
blare of trumpets was borne to their ears； the distant masses
flickered and twinkled in the sunlight。
〃Yes； yes； they are moving！〃 cried the Prince。
〃They are moving！ They are moving！〃 Down the line the murmur
ran。 And then with a sudden impu