saint george for england-第30章

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ne　recoiled　in　confusion。　Those　marching　up　from　behind　imagined　that　they　had　been　already　engaged　and　repulsed　by　the　English；　and　the　disorder　spread　through　the　whole　army；　and　was　increased　by　the　common　people；　who　had　crowded　to　the　field　in　immense　numbers　from　the　whole　country　round　to　see　the　battle　and　share　in　the　plunder　of　the　English　camp。

From　King　Edward's　position　on　the　rising　ground　he　could　see　the　confusion　which　prevailed　in　the　French　ranks；　and　small　as　were　his　forces　he　would　probably　have　obtained　an　easy　victory　by　ordering　a　sudden　charge　upon　them。　　The　English；　however；　being　dismounted；　but　small　results　would　have　followed　the　scattering　of　the　great　host　of　the　French。　The　English　army　therefore　remained　immovable；　except　that　the　soldiers　rose　from　the　ground；　and　taking　their　places　in　the　ranks；　awaited　the　onslaught　of　the　enemy。

King　Phillip　himself　now　arrived　on　the　field　and　his　hatred　for　the　English　led　him　at　once　to　disregard　the　advice　which　had　been　given　him　and　to　order　the　battle　to　commence　as　soon　as　possible。

The　army　was　divided　into　four　bodies；　of　which　Phillip　commanded　one；　the　Count　D'Alencon　the　second；　the　King　of　Bohemia　the　third；　and　the　Count　of　Savoy　the　fourth。　Besides　these　were　a　band　of　15；000　mercenaries；　Genoese　crossbow…men；　who　were　now　ordered　to　pass　between　the　ranks　of　cavalry　and　to　clear　the　ground　of　the　English　archers；　who　were　drawn　up　in　the　usual　form　in　which　they　fought　…　namely；　in　very　open　order；　line　behind　line；　the　men　standing　alternately；　so　that　each　had　ample　room　to　use　his　bow　and　to　fire　over　the　heads　of　those　in　front。　The　formation　was　something　like　that　of　a　harrow；　and；　indeed；　exactly　resembled　that　in　which　the　Roman　archers　fought；　and　was　called　by　them　a　quincunx。

The　Genoese　had　marched　four　leagues　beneath　a　hot　sun　loaded　with　their　armour　and　heavy　cross…bows；　and　they　remonstrated　against　the　order；　urging　that　they　were　in　no　condition　to　do　good　service　without　some　repose。　　The　Count　D'Alencon；　furious　at　their　hesitation；　ordered　them　up；　but　as　they　advanced　a　terrible　thunderstorm；　with　torrents　of　rain；　broke　over　the　armies；　and　wetting　the　cords　of　the　crossbows　rendered　many　of　them　unserviceable。　At　length　the　crossbow…men　were　arranged　in　front；　while　behind　them　were　the　vast　body　of　French　cavalry；　and　the　order　was　given　for　the　battle　to　begin。

The　Genoese　advanced　with　loud　shouts　but　the　English　archers　paid　no　attention　to　the　noise；　but　waited　calmly　for　the　attack。　At　this　moment　the　sun；　now　approaching　the　west；　shone　out　brightly　between　the　clouds　behind　the　English；　its　rays　streaming　full　in　the　faces　of　the　French。　The　Genoese　were　now　within　distance；　and　began　to　discharge　their　quarrels　at　their　impassive　enemies；　but　as　they　opened　fire　the　English　archers　drew　their　bows　from　the　cases　which　had　protected　them　from　the　rain；　and　stepping　forward　poured　their　arrows　among　the　Genoese。　　The　crossbow…men　were　smitten　as　with　a　storm；　numbers　were　struck　in　the　face　and　other　unprotected　parts；　and　they　were　instantly　thrown　into　confusion；　and　casting　away　their　cross…bows　they　recoiled　in　disorder　among　the　horsemen　behind　them。

Phillip；　passionate　and　cruel　as　ever；　instead　of　trying　to　rally　the　Genoese；　ordered　the　cavalry　behind　them　to　fall　upon　them；　and　the　men…at…arms　at　once　plunged　in　among　the　disordered　mass　of　the　crossbow…men；　and　a　wild　scene　of　carnage　and　confusion　ensued；　the　English　archers　continuing　to　pour　their　unerring　arrows　into　the　midst。

The　Count　D'Alencon；　who　was　behind；　separated　his　division　into　two　bodies；　and　swept　round　on　one　side　himself；　while　the　Count　of　Flanders　did　the　same　on　the　other　to　attack　the　Prince　of　Wales　in　more　regular　array。　Taking　a　circuitous　route；　D'Alencon　appeared　upon　a　rising　ground　on　the　flank　of　the　archers　of　the　Black　Prince；　and　thus；　avoiding　their　arrows；　charged　down　with　his　cavalry　upon　the　800　men…at…arms　gathered　round　the　Black　Prince；　while　the　Count　of　Flanders　attacked　on　the　other　flank。　Nobly　did　the　flower　of　English　chivalry　withstand　the　shock　of　the　French；　and　the　prince　himself　and　the　highest　nobles　and　simple　men…at…arms　fought　side　by　side。　None　gave　away　a　foot。

In　vain　the　French；　with　impetuous　charges；　strove　to　break　through　the　mass　of　steel。　The　spear…heads　were　cleft　off　with　sword　and　battle…axe；　and　again　and　again　men　and　horses　recoiled　from　the　unbroken　line。　Each　time　the　French　retired　the　English　ranks　were　formed　anew；　and　as　attack　followed　attack　a　pile　of　dead　rose　around　them。　The　Count　D'Alencon　and　the　Duke　of　Lorraine　were　among　the　first　who　fell。　The　young　Count　of　Blois；　finding　that　he　could　not　ride　through　the　wall　of　steel；　dismounted　with　his　knights　and　fought　his　way　on　foot　towards　the　banner　of　the　Prince　of　Wales。　For　a　time　the　struggle　was　desperate；　and　the　young　prince；　with　his　household　knights；　was　for　a　time　well…nigh　beaten　back。



Walter；　fighting　close　beside　the　prince；　parried　more　than　one　blow　intended　for　him；　and　the　prince　himself　slew　the　Count　of　Blois；　whose　followers　all　fell　around　him。　The　Count　of　Flanders　was　also　slain；　and　confusion　began　to　reign　among　the　assailants；　whose　leaders　had　now　all　fallen。　　Phillip　himself　strove　to　advance　with　his　division　into　the　fight；　but　the　struggle　between　the　Genoese　and　the　men…at…arms　was　still　continuing；　and　the　very　multitude　of　his　troops　in　the　narrow　and　difficult　field　which　the　English　had　chosen　for　the　battle　embarrassed　his　movements。

Charles　of　Luxembourg；　King　of　the　Romans；　and　afterwards　Emperor　of　Germany；　son　of　the　old　King　of　Bohemia；　with　a　large　body　of　German　and　French　cavalry；　now　assailed　the　English　archers；　and　in　spite　of　their　flights　of　arrows　came　to　close　quarters；　and　cutting　their　way　through　them　joined　in　the　assault　upon　the　men…at…arms　of　the　Black　Prince。　Nearly　40；000　men　were　now　pressing　round　the　little　body；　and　the　Earls　of　Northampton　and　Arundel　moved　forward　with　their　divisions　to　his　support；　while　the　Earl　of　Warwick；　who　was　with　the　prince；　despatched　Sir　Thomas　of　Norwich　to　the　king；　who　still　remained　with　his　powerful　reserve；　to　ask　for　aid。

〃Sir　Thomas；〃　demanded　the　king；　〃is　my　son　killed；　overthrown；　or　wounded　beyond　help？〃

〃Not　so；　sire；〃　replied　the　knight；　〃but　he　is　in　a　rude　fight；　and　much　needs　your　aid。〃

〃Go　back；　Sir　Thomas；　to　those　who　sent　you　and　tell　them　from　me　that　whatsoever　happens　they　require　no　aid　from　me　so　long　as　my　son　is　in　life。　　Tell　them　also　that　I　command　them　to　let　the　boy　win　his　spurs；　for；　God　willing；　the　day　shall　be　his；　and　the　honour　shall　rest　with　him　and　those　into　whose　charge　I　have　given　him。〃

The　prince　and　those　around　him　were　filled　with　fresh　ardour　when　they　received　this　message。　Each　man　redoubled　his　efforts　to　repel　the　forces　that　were　incessantly　poured　down　upon　them　by　the　French。　On　all　sides　these　pressed　around　them；　striving　desperately；　but　ever　in　vain；　to　break　through　the　solid　ranks　of　the　English。　The　French　men…at…arms　suffered；　moreover；　terribly　from　the　attacks　of　the　Welsh　infantry。　These　men；　clad　in　thick　leather　jerkins；　nimble　of　foot；　accustomed　to　a　life　of　activity；　were　armed　with　shortened　lances　and　knives；　mingled　fearlessly　among　the　confused　mass　of　French　cavalry；　creeping　beneath　the　horses'　bellies；　standing　up　when　they　got　a　chance；　and　stabbing　horses　and　men　with　their　knives　and　pikes。　Many　were　trampled　upon　or　struck　down；　but　numbering；　as　they　did；　6000；　they　pervaded　the　whole　mass　of　the　enemy；　and　did　terrible　execution；　adding　in　no　small　degree　to　the　confusion　caused　by　the　shower　of　arrows　from　the　archers　within　the　circle　of　the　men…at…arms。　The　instant　a　French　knight　fell；　struck　from　his　horse　with　a　battle…axe　or　arrow；　or　by　the　fall　of　a　wounded　steed；　the　half…wild　Welsh　were　upon　him；　and　slew　him　before　he　could　regain　his　feet。

The　slaughter　was　immense。　The　Count　of　Harcourt；　with　his　nephew　the　Count　D'Aumale　and　his　two　gallant　sons；　fell　together；　and　at　last　Charles　of　Luxembourg；　seeing　his　banner　down；　his　troops　routed；　his　friends　slain；　and　the　day　irreparably　lost；　and　being　himself　severely　wounded　in　three　places；　turned　his　horse　and　fled；　casting　off　his　rich　emblazoned　surcoat　to　avoid　recognition。　In　the　meantime　Prince　Charles's　father；　the　veteran　King　of　Bohemia；　once　one　of　the　most　famous　warriors　of　Europe；　but　now　old　and　blind；　sat　on　horseback　at　a　little　distance　from　the　fight；　the　knights　around　him　told　him　the　events　as　they　happened；　and　the　old　monarch　soon　saw　that　the　day　was　lost。　He　asked　them　for　tidings　of　his　son　Charles　of　Luxembourg；　but　they　were　forced　to　reply　that　the　banner　of　the　King　of　the　Romans　was　no　longer　in　sight；　but　that；　doubtless；　he　was　somewhere　engaged　in　the　melee。

〃Lords；〃　said　the　old　man；　〃you　are　my　vassals；　my　friends；　and　my　companions；　and　on　this　day　I　command　and　beseech　you　to　lead　me　forward　so　far　that　I　may　deal　one　blow　of　my　sword　in　the　battle。〃

His　faithful　friends　obeyed　him；　a　number　of　knights　arranged　themselves　around　him；　and　lest　they　should　lose　him　in　the　fight　they　tied　their　horses　together　by　the　bridles　and　charged　down　into　the　fray。　Advancing　directly　against　the　banner　of　the　Prince　of　Wales；　the　blind　monarch　was　carried　into　the　midst　of　the　thickest　strife。

There　the　little　group　of　knights　fought　gallantly；　and　after　the　battle　was　over；　the　bodies　of　the　king　and　his　friends　were　found　lying　together；　their　dead　horses　still　linked　by　the　bridles。

During　this　terrible　battle；　which　had　been　raging　since　three　o'clock；　Phillip　had　made　strenuous　efforts　to　aid　his　troops　engaged　in　the　front　by　continually　sending　fresh　bodies　to　the　assault。　It　was　now　growing　dark；　terror　and　confusion　had　already　spread　among　the　French；　and　many　were　flying　in　all　directions；　and　the　unremitting　showers　of　English　arrows　still　flew　like　hail　among　their　ranks。　As　the　king　made　his　way　forward；　surrounded　by　his　personal　attendants　to　take　part　himself　in　the　fight；　his　followers　fell　thick　around　him；　and　his　horse　was　slain　by　an　arrow。　John　of　Hainault；　who　had　remained　by　his　side　during　the　whole　day；　mounted　upon　a　fresh　horse　and　urged　him　to　fly；　as　the　day　was　lost。　Phillip；　however；　persisted；　and　made　his　way　into　the　melee；　where　he　fought　for　some　time　with　extreme　courage；　until　almost　all　around　him　were　slain；　the　royal　standard　bearer　killed；　and　himself　wounded　in　two　places。　　John　of　Hainault　then　seized　his　bridle　exclaiming　〃Come　away；　sire；　it　is　full　time；　do　not　throw　your　life　away　foolishly；　if　you　have　lost　this　day　you　will　win　another；〃　and　so　almost　forced　the　unwilling　king　from　the　field。　Phillip；　accompanied　by　the　lords　of　Montmorency；　Beaujeu；　Aubigny；　and　Mansault；　with　John　of　Hainault；　and　sixty　men…at…arms；　rode　to　the　Castle　of　Broye；　and　there　halted　for　a　few　hours。　At　midnight　he　again　set　out；　and　in　the　morning　arrived　safely　at　Amiens。

The　Black　Prince　held　his　station　until　night　without　yielding　a　single　step　to　all　the　efforts　of　the　French。　　Gradually；　however；　the　assailants　became　less　and　less　numerous；　the　banners　disapp