saint george for england-第59章
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and in November the Prince sailed for Bordeaux； with the advance…guard of his force。 Sir Walter Somers accompanied him。 During the years which had passed since the plague he had resided principally upon his estates； and had the satisfaction of seeing that his tenants escaped the distress which was general through the country。 He had been in the habit of repairing to London to take part in the tournaments and other festivities； but both he and Edith preferred the quiet country life to a continued residence at court。 Two sons had now been born to him； and fond as he was of the excitement and adventure of war； it was with deep regret that he obeyed the royal summons； and left his house with his retainers； consisting of twenty men…at…arms and thirty archers； to join the prince。
Upon the Black Prince's landing at Bordeaux he was joined by the Gascon lords； the vassals of the English crown； and for three months marched through and ravaged the districts adjoining； the French army； although greatly superior in force； offering no effectual resistance。 Many towns were taken； and he returned at Christmas to Bordeaux after a campaign attended by a series of unbroken successes。
The following spring the war recommenced； and a diversion was effected by the Duke of Lancaster； who was in command of Brittany； joining his forces with those of the King of Navarre； and many of the nobles of Normandy； while King Edward crossed to Calais and kept a portion of the French army occupied there。 The Black Prince； leaving the principal part of his forces under the command of the Earl of Albret to guard the territory already acquired against the attack of the French army under the Count of Armagnac； marched with 2000 picked men…at…arms and 6000 archers into Auvergne； and thence turning into Berry； marched to the gates of Bourges。
The King of France was now thoroughly alarmed； and issued a general call to all his vassals to assemble on the Loire。 The Prince of Wales； finding immense bodies of men closing in around him； fell back slowly； capturing and levelling to the ground the strong castle of Romorentin。
The King of France was now hastening forward； accompanied by his four sons； 140 nobles with banners； 20；000 men…at…arms； and an immense force of infantry。 Vast accessions of forces joined him each day； and on the 17th of September he occupied a position between the Black Prince and Guienne。 The first intimation that either the Black Prince or the King of France had of their close proximity to each other was an accidental meeting between a small foraging force of the English and three hundred French horse； under the command of the Counts of Auxerre and Joigny； the marshal of Burgundy； and the lord of Chatillon。 The French hotly pursued the little English party； and on emerging from some low bushes found themselves in the midst of the English camp； where all were taken prisoners。 From them the Black Prince learned that the King of France was within a day's march。
The Prince despatched the Captal de Buch with 200 men…at…arms to reconnoitre the force and position of the enemy； and these coming upon the rear of the French army just as they were about to enter Poitiers； dashed among them and took some prisoners。 The King of France thus first learned that the enemy he was searching for was actually six miles in his rear。 The Captal de Buch and his companions returned to the Black Prince； and confirmed the information obtained from the prisoners； that the King of France； with an army at least eight times as strong as his own； lay between him and Poitiers。
The position appeared well…nigh desperate； but the prince and his most experienced knights at once reconnoitered the country to choose the best ground upon which to do battle。 An excellent position was chosen。 It consisted of rising ground commanding the country towards Poitiers； and naturally defended by the hedges of a vineyard。 It was only accessible from Poitiers by a sunken road flanked by banks and fences； and but wide enough to admit of four horsemen riding abreast along it。 The ground on either side of this hollow way was rough and broken so as to impede the movements even of infantry； and to render the maneuvers of a large body of cavalry nearly impracticable。 On the left of the position was a little hamlet called Maupertuis。 Here on the night of Saturday the 17th of September the prince encamped； and early next morning made his dispositions for the battle。 His whole force was dismounted and occupied the high ground； a strong body of archers lined the hedges on either side of the sunken road； the main body of archers were drawn up in their usual formation on the hillside； their front covered by the hedge of the vineyard； while behind them the men…at…arms were drawn up。
The King of France divided his army into three divisions； each consisting of 16；000 mounted men…at…arms besides infantry； commanded respectively by the Duke of Orleans； the king's brother； the dauphin； and the king himself。 With the two royal princes were the most experienced of the French commanders。 In the meantime De Ribaumont； with three other French knights； reconnoitered the English position； and on their return with their report strongly advised that as large bodies of cavalry would be quite useless owing to the nature of the ground； the whole force should dismount except 300 picked men designed to break the line of English archers and a small body of German horse to act as a reserve。
Just as the King of France was about to give orders for the advance； the Cardinal of Perigord arrived in his camp； anxious to stop； if possible； the effusion of blood。 He hurried to the King of France。
〃You have here； sire；〃 he said； 〃the flower of all the chivalry of your realm assembled against a mere handful of English； and it will be far more honourable and profitable for you to have them in your power without battle than to risk such a noble array in uncertain strife。 I pray you； then； in the name of God； to let me ride on to the Prince of Wales； to show him his peril； and to exhort him to peace。〃
〃Willingly； my lord；〃 the king replied； 〃but above all things be quick。〃
The cardinal at once hastened to the English camp； he found the Black Prince in the midst of his knights ready for battle； but by no means unwilling to listen to proposals for peace。 His position was indeed most perilous。 In his face was an enormously superior army； and he was moreover threatened by famine； even during the two preceding days his army had suffered from a great scarcity of forage； and its provisions were almost wholly exhausted。 The French force was sufficiently numerous to blockade him in his camp； and he knew that did they adopt that course he must surrender unconditionally； since were he forced to sally out and attack the French no valour could compensate for the immense disparity of numbers。 He therefore replied at once to the cardinal's application； that he was ready to listen to any terms by which his honour and that of his companions would be preserved。
The cardinal returned to the King of France and with much entreaty succeeded in obtaining a truce until sunrise on the following morning。 The soldiers returned to their tents； and the cardinal rode backward and forward between the armies； beseeching the King of France to moderate his demands； and the Black Prince to submit to the evil fortune which had befallen him； but on the one side the king looked upon the victory as certain； and on the other the Black Prince thought that there was at least a hope of success should the French attack him。 All； therefore； that the cardinal could obtain from him was an offer to resign all he had captured in his expedition； towns； castles； and prisoners； and to take an oath not to bear arms against France for seven years。 This proposal fell so far short of the demands of the French king that pacification soon appeared hopeless。
Early on the Monday morning the cardinal once more sought the presence of the French king； but found John inflexible； while some of the leaders who had viewed with the strongest disapproval his efforts to snatch what they regarded as certain victory from their hands； gave him a peremptory warning not to show himself a
