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 strode forward and shook Bambro' by the hand。
〃By Saint Cadoc！ this is a very joyous meeting； Richard；〃 said
he； 〃and we have certainly hit upon a very excellent way of
keeping a truce。〃
〃Indeed； Robert；〃 said Bambro'； 〃we owe you much thanks； for I can
see that you have been at great pains to bring a worthy company
against us this day。 Surely if all should chance to perish there
will be few noble houses in Brittany who will not mourn。〃
〃Nay； we have none of the highest of Brittany；〃 Beaumanoir
answered。 〃Neither a Blois； nor a Leon； nor a Rohan； nor a Conan；
fights in our ranks this day。 And yet we are all men of blood and
coat…armor； who are ready to venture our persons for the desire of
our ladies and the love of the high order of knighthood。 And now；
Richard； what is your sweet will concerning this fight？〃
〃That we continue until one or other can endure no longer； for
since it is seldom that so many brave men draw together it is
fitting that we see as much as is possible of each other。〃
〃Richard； your words are fair and good。 It shall be even as you
say。 For the rest； each shall fight as pleases him best from the
time that the herald calls the word。 If any man from without
shall break in upon us he shall be hanged on yonder oak。〃
With a salute he drew down his visor and returned to his own men；
who were kneeling in a twinkling； many colored group whilst the
old bishop gave them his blessing。
The heralds rode round with a warning to the spectators。 Then
they halted at the side of the two bands of men who now stood in a
long line facing each other with fifty yards of grass between。
The visors had been closed； and every man was now cased in metal
from head to foot； some few glowing in brass； the greater number
shining in steel。 Only their fierce eyes could be seen smoldering
in the dark shadow of their helmets。 So for an instant they stood
glaring and crouching。
Then with a loud cry of 〃Allez！〃 the herald dropped his upraised
hand； and the two lines of men shuffled as fast as their heavy
armor would permit until they met with a sharp clang of metal in
the middle of the field。 There was a sound as of sixty smiths
working upon their anvils。 Then the babel of yells and shouts
from the spectators； cheering on this party or that； rose and
swelled until even the uproar of the combat was drowned in that
mighty surge。
So eager were the combatants to engage that in a few moments all
order had been lost and the two bands were mixed up in one furious
scrambling； clattering throng； each man tossed hither and thither；
thrown against one adversary and then against another； beaten and
hustled and buffeted； with only the one thought in his mind to
thrust with his spear or to beat with his ax against anyone who
came within the narrow slit of vision left by his visor。
But alas for Nigel and his hopes of some great deed！ His was at
least the fate of the brave； for he was the first to fall。 With a
high heart he had placed himself in the line as nearly opposite to
Beaumanoir as he could； and had made straight for the Breton
leader； remembering that in the out set the quarrel had been so
ordered that it lay between them。 But ere he could reach his goal
he was caught in the swirl of his own comrades； and being the
lighter man was swept aside and dashed into the arms of Alain de
Karanais； the left…handed swordsman； with such a crash that the
two rolled upon the ground together。 Light footed as a cat； Nigel
had sprung up first； and was stooping over the Breton Squire when
the powerful dwarf Raguenel brought his mace thudding down upon
the exposed back of his helmet。 With a groan Nigel fell upon his
face； blood gushing from his mouth； nose； and ears。 There he lay；
trampled over by either party； while that great fight for which
his fiery soul had panted was swaying back and forward above his
unconscious form。
But Nigel was not long unavenged。 The huge iron club of Belford
struck the dwarf Raguenel to the ground； while Belford in turn was
felled by a sweeping blow from Beaumanoir。 Sometimes a dozen were
on the ground at one time； but so strong was the armor； and so
deftly was the force of a blow broken by guard and shield； that
the stricken men were often pulled to their feet once more by
their comrades； and were able to continue the fight。
Some； however； were beyond all aid。 Croquart had cut at a Breton
knight named Jean Rousselot and had shorn away his shoulder…piece；
exposing his neck and the upper part of his arm。 Vainly he tried
to cover this vulnerable surface with his shield。 It was his
right side； and he could not stretch it far enough across； nor
could he get away on account of the press of men around him。 For
a time he held his foemen at bay； but that bare patch of white
shoulder was a mark for every weapon； until at last a hatchet sank
up to the socket in the knight's chest。 Almost at the same moment
a second Breton； a young Squire named Geoffrey Mellon； was slain
by a thrust from Black Simon which found the weak spot beneath the
armpit。 Three other Bretons； Evan Cheruel； Caro de Bodegat； and
Tristan de Pestivien； the first two knights and the latter a
squire； became separated from their comrades； and were beaten to
the ground with English all around them； so that they had to
choose between instant death and surrender。 They handed their
swords to Bambro' and stood apart； each of them sorely wounded；
watching with hot and bitter hearts the melee which still surged
up and down the field。
But now the combat had lasted half an hour without stint or rest；
until the warriors were so exhausted with the burden of their
armor； the loss of blood； the shock of blows； and their own
furious exertions； that they could scarce totter or raise their
weapons。 There must be a pause if the combat was to have any
decisive end。 〃Cessez！ Cessez！ Retirez！〃 cried the heralds； as
they spurred their horses between the exhausted men。
Slowly the gallant Beaumanoir led the twenty…five men who were
le