looked down the valley they could scarce credit their own senses。
Behind the division of the Dauphin； which had pressed them so
hard； stood a second division hardly less numerous； led by the
Duke of Orleans。 The fugitives from in front； blood…smeared and
bedraggled； blinded with sweat and with fear； rushed amidst its
ranks in their flight； and in a moment； without a blow being
struck； had carried them off in their wild rout。 This vast array；
so solid and so martial； thawed suddenly away like a snow…wreath
in the sun。 It was gone； and in its place thousands of shining
dots scattered over the whole plain as each man made his own way
to the spot where he could find his horse and bear himself from
the field。 For a moment it seemed that the battle was won； and a
thundershout of joy pealed up from the English line。
But as the curtain of the Duke's division was drawn away it was
only to disclose stretching far behind it； and spanning the valley
from side to side； the magnificent array of the French King；
solid； unshaken； and preparing its ranks for the attack。 Its
numbers were as great as those of the English army； it was
unscathed by all that was past； and it had a valiant monarch to
lead it to the charge。 With the slow deliberation of the man who
means to do or to die； its leader marshaled its ranks for the
supreme effort of the day。
Meanwhile during that brief moment of exultation when the battle
appeared to be won； a crowd of hot…headed young knights and
squires swarmed and clamored round the Prince； beseeching that he
would allow them to ride forth。
〃See this insolent fellow who bears three martlets upon a field
gales！〃 cried Sir Maurice Berkeley。 〃He stands betwixt the two
armies as though he had no dread of us。〃
〃I pray you； sir； that I may ride out to him； since he seems ready
to attempt some small deed；〃 pleaded Nigel。
〃Nay； fair sirs； it is an evil thing that we should break our
line； seeing that we still have much to do；〃 said the Prince。
〃See！ he rides away； and so the matter is settled。〃
〃Nay； fair prince；〃 said the young knight who had spoken first。
〃My gray horse； Lebryte； could run him down ere he could reach
shelter。 Never since I left Severn side have I seen steed so
fleet as mine。 Shall I not show you？〃 In an instant he had
spurred the charger and was speeding across the plain。
The Frenchman； John de Helennes； a squire of Picardy； had waited
with a burning heart； his soul sick at the flight of the division
in which he had ridden。 In the hope of doing some redeeming
exploit； or of meeting his own death； he had loitered betwixt the
armies； but no movement had come from the English lines。 Now he
had turned his horse's head to join the King's array； when the low
drumming of hoofs sounded behind him； and he turned to find a
horseman hard upon his heels。 Each had drawn his sword； and the
two armies paused to view the fight。 In the first bout Sir
Maurice Berkeley's lance was struck from his hand； and as he
sprang down to recover it the Frenchman ran him through the thigh；
dismounted from his horse； and received his surrender。 As the
unfortunate Englishman hobbled away at the side of his captor a
roar of laughter burst from both armies at the spectacle。
〃By my ten finger…bones！〃 cried Aylward； chuckling behind the
remains of his bush； 〃he found more on his distaff that time than
he knew how to spin。 Who was the knight？〃
〃By his arms；〃 said old Wat； 〃he should either be a Berkeley of
the West or a Popham of Kent。〃
〃I call to mind that I shot a match of six ends once with a
Kentish woldsman … 〃 began the fat Bowyer。
〃Nay； nay； stint thy talk； Bartholomew！〃 cried old Wat。 〃Here is
poor Ned with his head cloven； and it would be more fitting if you
were saying aves for his soul； instead of all this bobance and
boasting。 Now； now； Tom of Beverley？〃
〃We have suffered sorely in this last bout； Wat。 There are forty
of our men upon their backs； and the Dean Foresters on the right
are in worse case still。〃
〃Talking will not mend it； Tom； and if all but one were on their
backs he must still hold his ground。〃
Whilst the archers were chatting； the leaders of the army were in
solemn conclave just behind them。 Two divisions of the French had
been repulsed； and yet there was many an anxious face as the older
knights looked across the plain at the unbroken array of the
French King moving slowly toward them。 The line of the archers
was much thinned and shredded。 Many knights and squires had been
disabled in the long and fierce combat at the hedge。 Others；
exhausted by want of food； had no strength left and were stretched
panting upon the ground。 Some were engaged in carrying the
wounded to the rear and laying them under the shelter of the
trees； whilst others were replacing their broken swords or lances
from the weapons of the slain。 The Captal de Buch； brave and
experienced as he was； frowned darkly and whispered his misgivings
to Chandos。
But the Prince's courage flamed the higher as the shadow fell；
while his dark eyes gleamed with a soldier's pride as he glanced
round him at his weary comrades； and then at the dense masses of
the King's battle which now； with a hundred trumpets blaring and a
thousand pennons waving； rolled slowly over the plain。 〃Come what
may； John； this has been a most noble meeting；〃 said he。 〃They
will not be ashamed of us in England。 Take heart； my friends； for
if we conquer we shall carry the glory ever with us； but if we be
slain then we die most worshipfully and in high honor； as we have
ever prayed that we might die； and we leave behind us our brothers
and kinsmen who will assuredly avenge us。 It is but one more
effort； and all will be well。 Warwick； Oxford； Salisbury；
Suffolk； every man to the front！ My banner to the front also！
Your horses； fair sirs！ The archers are spent； and our own good
lances must win the field this day。 Advance； Walter； and may God
and Saint George be with England！〃
Sir Walter Woodland； riding a high black horse； took station by
the Prince； with the royal banner resting in a socket by his
saddle。 From all sides the knights and squires crowded in upon
it； until they formed a great squadron containing the survivors of
the battalions of Warwick and Salisbury as well as those of the
Prince。 Four hundred men…at…arms who had been held in reserve
were brought up and thickened the array； but even so Chandos' face
was grave as he scanned it and then turned his eyes upon the
masses of the Frenchmen。
〃I like it not； fair sir。 The weight is overgreat；〃 he whispered
to the Prince。
〃How would you order it； John？ Speak what is in you mind。〃
〃We should attempt something upon their flank whilst we hold them
in front。 How say you； jean？〃 He turner to the Captal de Buch；
whose dark； resolute face reflected the same misgivings。
〃Indeed； John； I think as you do；〃 said he。 〃The French King is a
very valiant man； and so are those who are about him； and I know
not how we may drive them back unless we can do as you advise。 If
you will give me only a hundred men I will attempt it。〃
〃Surely the task is mine； fair sir； since the thought has come
from me；〃 said Chandos。
〃Nay； John； I would keep you at my side。 But you speak well；
Jean； and you shall do even as you have said。 Go ask the Earl of
Oxford for a hundred men…at…arms and as many hobblers； that you
may ride round the mound yonder； and so fall upon them unseen。
Let all that are left of the archers gather on each side； shoot
away their arrows； and then fight as best they may。 Wait till
they are past yonder thorn…bush and then； Walter； bear my banner
straight against that of the King of France。 Fair sirs； may God
and the thought of your ladies hold high your hearts！〃
The French monarch； seeing that his footmen had made no impression
upon the English； and also that the hedge had been well…nigh
leveled to the ground in the course of the combat； so that it no
longer presented an obstacle； had ordered his followers to remount
their horses； and it was as a solid mass of cavalry that the
chivalry of France advanced to their last supreme effort。 The
King was in the center of the front line； Geoffrey de Chargny with
the golden oriflamme upon his right； and Eustace de Ribeaumont
with the royal lilies upon the left。 At his elbow was the Duke of
Athens； High Constable of France； and round him were the nobles of
the court； fiery and furious； yelling their warcries as they waved
their weapons over their heads。 Six thousand gallant men of the
bravest race in Europe； men whose very names are like blasts of a
battle…trumpet … Beaujeus and Chatillons； Tancarvilles and
Ventadours … pressed hard behind the silver lilies。
Slowly they moved at first； walking their horses that they might
be the fresher for the shock。 Then they broke into a trot which
was quickening into a gallop when the remains of the hedge in
front of them was beaten in an instant to the ground and the broad
line of the steel…clad chivalry of England swept grandly forth to
the final shock。 With loose rein and busy spur the two lines of
horsemen galloped at the top of their speed str