saint george for england-第52节
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； as they drew alongside； cast into them heavy bars of iron； which pierced holes in the bottom of the ship。
Walter was on board the ship commanded by the Black Prince。 This had been steered towards one of the largest and most important of the Spanish vessels。 As they approached； the engines poured their missiles into them。 Several great holes were torn in the sides of the ship； which was already sinking as she came alongside her foe。
〃We must do our best； Sir Walter；〃 the prince exclaimed； 〃for if we do not capture her speedily our ship will assuredly sink beneath our feet。〃
The Spaniard stood far higher above the water than the English ship； and the Black Prince and his knights in vain attempted to climb her sides； while the seamen strove with pumps and buckets to keep the vessel afloat。 Every effort was in vain。 The Spaniard's men…at…arms lined the bulwarks； and repulsed every effort made by the English to climb up them； while those on the towers rained down showers of bolts and arrows and masses of iron and stone。 The situation was desperate when the Earl of Lancaster； passing by in his ship； saw the peril to which the prince was exposed； and； ranging up on the other side of the Spaniard； strove to board her there。 The attention of the Spaniards being thus distracted； the prince and his companions made another desperate effort； and succeeded in winning their way on to the deck of the Spanish ship just as their own vessel sank beneath their feet； after a few minutes' desperate fighting the Spanish ship was captured。
The English were now everywhere getting the best of their enemies。 Many of the Spanish vessels had been captured or sunk； and after the fight had raged for some hours； the rest began to disperse and seek safety in flight。 The English vessel commanded by Count Robert of Namur had towards night engaged a Spanish vessel of more than twice its own strength。 His adversaries； seeing that the day was lost； set all sail； but looking upon the little vessel beside them as a prey to be taken possession of at their leisure； they fastened it tightly to their sides by the grappling irons； and spreading all sail； made away。 The Count and his men were unable to free themselves； and were being dragged away； when a follower of the count named Hennekin leapt suddenly on board the Spanish ship。 With a bound he reached the mast； and with a single blow with his sword cut the halyards which supported the main…sail。 The sail fell at once。 The Spaniards rushed to the spot to repair the disaster which threatened to delay their ship。 The count and his followers； seeing the bulwarks of the Spanish vessel for the moment unguarded； poured in； and after a furious conflict captured the vessel。 By this time twenty…four of the enemy's vessels had been taken； the rest were either sunk or in full flight； and Edward at once returned to the English shore。
The fight had taken place within sight of land； and Queen Philippa； from the windows of the abbey； which stood on rising ground； had seen the approach of the vast Spanish fleet； and had watched the conflict until night fell。 She remained in suspense as to the result until the king himself with the Black Prince and Prince John； afterwards known as John of Gaunt； who； although but ten years of age； had accompanied the Black Prince in his ship； rode up with the news of the victory。
This great sea…fight was one of the brightest and most honourable in the annals of English history； for not even in the case of that other great Spanish Armada which suffered defeat in English waters were the odds so immense or the victory so thorough and complete。 The result of the fight was； that after some negotiations a truce of twenty years was concluded with Spain。
CHAPTER XX： POITIERS
After the great sea…fight at the end of August； 1350； England had peace for some years。 Phillip of France had died a week before that battle； and had been succeeded by his son John； Duke of Normandy。 Upon the part of both countries there was an indisposition to renew the war； for their power had been vastly crippled by the devastations of the plague。 This was followed by great distress and scarcity owing to the want of labour to till the fields。 The truce was therefore continued from time to time； the pope strove to convert the truce into a permanent peace； and on the 28th of August； 1354； a number of the prelates and barons of England； with full power to arrange terms of peace； went to Avignon； where they were met by the French representatives。 The powers committed to the English commissioners show that Edward was at this time really desirous of making a permanent peace with France； but the French ambassadors raised numerous and unexpected difficulties； and after lengthened negotiations the conference was broken off。
The truce came to an end in June； 1355； and great preparations were made on both sides for the war。 The King of England strained every effort to furnish and equip an army which was to proceed with the Black Prince to Aquitaine； of which province his father had appointed him governor； 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
