out from amidst these hedges。 Have you seen the French？〃
〃Nay； fair sir； I have but this moment arrived。〃
〃I was about to ride forth myself to coast their army and observe
their countenance； so come with me ere the night fall； and we
shall see what we can of their order and dispositions。〃
There was a truce betwixt the two forces for the day； on account
of the ill…advised and useless interposition of the Cardinal of
Perigord； Hence when Chandos and Nigel had pushed their horses
through the long hedge which fronted the position they found that
many small parties of the knights of either army were riding up
and down on the plain outside。 The greater number of these groups
were French； since it was very necessary for them to know as much
as possible of the English defenses； and many of their scouts had
ridden up to within a hundred yards of the hedge； where they were
sternly ordered back by the pickets of archers on guard。
Through these scattered knots of horsemen Chandos rode； and as
many of them were old antagonists it was 〃Ha； John！〃 on the one
side； and 〃Ha； Raoul！〃 〃Ha； Nicholas！〃 〃Ha； Guichard！〃 upon the
other； as they brushed past them。 Only one cavalier greeted them
amiss； a large； red…faced man； the Lord Clermont； who by some
strange chance bore upon his surcoat a blue virgin standing amid
golden sunbeams； which was the very device which Chandos had
donned for the day。 The fiery Frenchman dashed across their path
and drew his steed back on to its haunches。
〃How long is it； my Lord Chandos；〃 said he hotly； 〃since you have
taken it upon yourself to wear my arms？〃
Chandos smiled。 〃It is surely you who have mine；〃 said he； 〃since
this surcoat was worked for the by the good nuns of Windsor a long
year ago。〃
〃If it were not for the truce；〃 said Clermont； 〃I would soon show
you that you have no right to wear it。〃
〃Look for it then in the battle to…morrow； and I also will look
for yours；〃 Chandos answered。 〃There we can very honorably settle
the matter。〃
But the Frenchman was choleric and hard to appease。 〃You English
can invent nothing；〃 said he； 〃and you take for your own whatever
you see handsome belonging to others。〃 So； grumbling and fuming；
he rode upon his way； while Chandos； laughing gayly； spurred
onward across the plain。
The immediate front of the English line was shrouded with
scattered trees and bushes which hid the enemy； but when they had
cleared these a fair view of the great French army lay before
them。 In the center of the huge camp was a long and high pavilion
of red silk； with the silver lilies of the King at one end of it；
and the golden oriflamme； the battle…flag of old France； at the
other。 Like the reeds of a pool from side to side of the broad
array； and dwindling away as far as their eyes could see； were the
banners and pennons of high barons and famous knights； but above
them all flew the ducal standards which showed that the feudal
muster of all the warlike provinces of France was in the field
before them。
With a kindling eye Chandos looked across at the proud ensigns of
Normandy； or Burgundy； of Auvergne； of Champagne； of Vermandois；
and of Berry； flaunting and gleaming in the rays of the sinking
sun。 Riding slowly down the line he marked with attentive gaze
the camp of the crossbowmen； the muster of the German mercenaries；
the numbers of the foot…soldiers； the arms of every proud vassal
or vavasor which might give some guide as to the power of each
division。 From wing to wing and round the flanks he went； keeping
ever within crossbow…shot of the army； and then at last having
noted all things in his mind he turned his horse's head and rode
slowly back； heavy with thought； to the English lines。
XXV。 HOW THE KING OF FRANCE HELD COUNSEL AT MAUPERTUIS
The morning of Sunday； the nineteenth of September； in the year of
our Lord 1356； was cold and fine。 A haze which rose from the
marshy valley of Muisson covered both camps and set the starving
Englishmen shivering； but it cleared slowly away as the sun rose。
In the red silken pavilion of the French King … the same which had
been viewed by Nigel and Chandos the evening before … a solemn
mass was held by the Bishop of Chalons； who prayed for those who
were about to die； with little thought in his mind that his own
last hour was so near at hand。 Then； when communion had been
taken by the King and his four young sons the altar was cleared
away； and a great red…covered table placed lengthwise down the
tent； round which John might assemble his council and determine
how best he should proceed。 With the silken roof； rich tapestries
of Arras round the walls and Eastern rugs beneath the feet； his
palace could furnish no fairer chamber。
King John； who sat upon the canopied dais at the upper end； was
now in the sixth year of his reign and the thirty…sixth of his
life。 He was a short burly man； ruddy…faced and deep…chested；
with dark kindly eyes and a most noble bearing。 It did not need
the blue cloak sewed with silver lilies to mark him as the King。
Though his reign had been short； his fame was already widespread
over all Europe as a kindly gentleman and a fearless soldier … a
fit leader for a chivalrous nation。 His elder son； the Duke of
Normandy； still hardly more than a boy； stood beside him； his hand
upon the King's shoulder； and John half turned from time to time
to fondle him。 On the right； at the same high dais； was the
King's younger brother； the Duke of Orleans； a pale heavy…featured
man； with a languid manner and intolerant eyes。 On the left was
the Duke of Bourbon； sad…faced and absorbed； with that gentle
melancholy in his eyes and bearing which comes often with the
premonition of death。 All these were in their armor； save only
for their helmets； which lay upon the board before them。
Below； grouped around the long red table； was an assembly of the
most famous warriors in Europe。 At the end nearest the King was
the veteran soldier the Duke of Athens； son of a banished father；
and now High Constable of France。 On one side of him sat the
red…faced and choleric Lord Clermont； with the same blue Virgin in
golden rays upon his surcoat which had caused his quarrel with
Chandos the night before。 On the other was a noble…featured
grizzly…haired soldier； Arnold d'Andreghen； who shared with
Clermont the honor of being Marshal of France。 Next to them sat
Lord James of Bourbon； a brave warrior who was afterwards slain by
the White Company at Brignais； and beside him a little group of
German noblemen； including the Earl of Salzburg and the Earl of
Nassau； who had ridden over the frontier with their formidable
mercenaries at the bidding of the French King。 The ridged armor
and the hanging nasals of their bassinets were enough in
themselves to tell every soldier that they were from beyond the
Rhine。 At the other side of the table were a line of proud and
warlike Lords； Fiennes； Chatillon； Nesle； de Landas； de Beaujeu；
with the fierce knight errant de Chargny； he who had planned the
surprise of Calais； and Eustace de Ribeaumont； who had upon the
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