after vich she nevir dothed them and served them with a plentiful finner he then presentet ach me with a sum of money and had zem sortet ut i the amp in safety. 67. Battle of Poitiers The Black Prince. V nd ven as purs it Crécy, gained a famous victory, ten years later, wver the French king Jonn, at Poitiers. As at Crecy, the French number 1 the Engisa about three to one, but bad genera.smp prevented them from using effectively their supezor force. Once more, the ongbow, in the lands of sturdy English archers paved is effectiveness against mail-cad snights. To say the tria. the Engish archers vere of infinite service to their am for they shet se thickly and so well that the French fid not knew which way to turn themselves to avoid the arrows: by this means they kept advancing by Ettle and little and mined mound. When the men-at-arms perceived that the irst battalion was beaten, and that the one under the duke of Normandy was in scrier and beginning to open, they hastened to mount their horses, which they had close at hand. As soon as they were all mounted, they gave a shout of "St. George, for Guienne!" and Sir John Chandos said to the prince. "Siz. sir, new push forward for the day is ours; God will this day put it in your hand. Let us make for our adversary the king of France; for where he is will lie the main stress of the business: I well know that his valor will not let him fly; and he will remain with us, if it please God and St. George; but he must be well fought with: and you have before said that you would show yourself this day a good knight." The prince replied. "John, get forward: you shall not see me turn my back this day, but I will always be among the foremost." He then said to Sir Walter Woodland, his banner-bearer, “Banner, advance, in the name of God and St. George." The knight obeyed the commands of the prince. In that part of the field the battle was very hot, and greatly crowded; many a knight 1 Froissart. Chroniques, bk. i. pt. ii, chs. 41-42, 44−45, 49. 2 The patron saint of England. was unhorsed, and you must know that whenever anyone fell, he could not get up again, unless he were quickly assisted. King John, on his part, proved himself a good knight; and, if a fourth of his people had behaved as well, the day would have been his own. Those, however, who had remained with him acquitted themselves to the best of their power, and were either slain or taken prisoners. Scarcely any who were with the king attempted to escape. ... King John himself did wonders: he was armed with a battle-ax, with which he fought and defended himself. . . . There was much pressing at this time, through eagerness to capture the king; and those who were nearest to him and knew him cried out, "Surrender yourself, surrender yourself, or you are a dead man." In that part of the field was a young knight from St. Omer, who was engaged at a salary in the service of the king of England; his name was Denys de Morbeque.... It fortunately happened for this knight that he was at the time near to the king of France, when he was so much pulled about. Denys, by dint of force, for he was very strong and robust, pushed through the crowd and said to the king in good French, "Sire, sire, surrender yourself." The king, who found himself very disagreeably situated, turning to him, asked, "To whom shall I surrender myself: to whom? Where is my cousin, the Prince of Wales? If I could see him, I would speak to him." "Sire," replied Denys, "he is not here; but surrender yourself to me and I will lead you to him." "Who are you?" said the king. "Sire, I am Denys de Morbeque, a knight from Artois; but I serve the king of England, because I cannot belong to France, having forfeited all I possessed there." The king then gave him his right-hand glove and said, "I surrender myself to you." There was much crowding and pushing about, for every one was eager to cry out, “I have taken him.". Neither the king nor his youngest son Philip was able to get forward and free himself from the throng. . . . The king, to escape from this peril, said, "Gentlemen, gentlemen, I pray you conduct me and my son in a courteous manner to my cousin, the prince; and do not make such a riot about ... e Ta ir ai riered all The Immandet ne name of the prince, and mter pan instant at the pay he should keep as fiance at mad mes rei r iesired so to 10. They il seratet bent the king and the two barons, dismoming aranet me kng via profound reverences and maturet im in a peacente matter to the Prince of Wales. When evening tai mme. the Prince of Wales give a supper In a pan lion to the king of France, and to the greater part of the princes and bames who were prisoners. The prince seated the king of France and his son Philip at an elevated and well-covered table.... The other knights and squires were placed at different taties. The prince himself served the king's table, as well as the others, with every mark of humility, and would not sit down at it, in spite of his entreaties for him so to do, saying that he was not worthy of such an honor, nor did it appertain to him to seat himself at the table of so great a king, or of so valiant a man as he had shown himself by his actions that day." He added also with a noble air, "Dear air, do not make a poor meal because the Almighty God has not gratified your wishes in the event of this day; for be assured that my lord and father will show you every honor and friendship in his power, and will arrange your ransom so reasonably that you will henceforward always remain friends. In my opinion, you have cause to be glad that the success of this battle did not turn out as you desired; for you have this day acquired such high renown for prowess that you have surpassed all the best knights on your side. I do not, dear sir, say this to flatter you, for all those of our side who have seen and observed the actions of each party have unanimously allowed this to be your due and decree you the prize and garland for it." At the end of this speech there were murmurs of praise heard from every one; and the French said the prince had spoken nobly and truly and that he would be one of the most gallant rulers in Christendom, if God should grant him life to pursue his career of glory. TEAFTER NI 1 NEW ORS OF A FRENCH COURTER 1 PELLOM DE SANT ES DOCT 1-1 was a prominent member du: Frea court during the reigns of Lock I mi e i As & diplomat and minister he became intimately familiar with European politics, and in is immer vone in narement during his later years he his kit is an amended account of what he S&W ADC di Commines has been called the "father of modem beste The tide is not deserved, for he wis the first Eungent historian who gave up the practice of merely thrichtling events and attempted, instead, to dellbente the characters of men and the causes and consequences of the actions. As a writer Commines was inferior to his French predecessors, Joinville and Froissart d but as a thinker he was much their superior. 68. Character of Louis XI ← Commines has drawn a faithful portrait of his patron, Louis XI 1400-2493 the crafty sing who labored with such success to break the power of feudalism in France and make that country a strong, centralized state The chief reason that has induced me to enter upon this subject is that I have seen many deceptions, especially in serv ants toward their masters; and I have always found that proud and stately princes who will hear but few are more likely 1 The Memoirs of Fräizme de Comments, the translation revised by A. R. Scoble, 2 vols. London, 1855. George Bell and Sons. * See page 118. 4 Commines, Mémoires, bk. 1, à a * See page 125. |