saint george for england-第59节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
throne he had usurped； offering at the same time to act as mediator between him and his brother； and to do all in his power to remove differences and abuses。 Henry； confident in his strength； replied haughtily and prepared for battle。
The forces were extremely unequal。 The Black Prince had under him 30；000 men； while under Don Henry were 3000 men…at…arms on mail…clad horses； 20；000 men…at… arms on horses not so protected； 6000 light cavalry； 10；000 crossbow…men； and 60；000 foot armed with spear and sword。
The night before the battle the Black Prince lodged in the little village of Navarretta； which had been deserted by its inhabitants。 Walter had been his close companion since he started； and occupied the same lodging with him in the village。
〃This reminds me；〃 the prince said； 〃of the day before Cressy。 They outnumber us by more than three to one。
〃There were greater odds still；〃 Walter replied； 〃at Poitiers； and I doubt not that we shall make as good an example of them。〃
〃They are more doughty adversaries；〃 the prince replied。 〃There are nigh 20；000 English in their ranks … all veterans in war … and they are led by Du Guesclin； who is a host in himself。〃
〃Their very numbers will be a hindrance to them；〃 Walter replied cheerfully； 〃and never did I see a better army than that which you have under you。 I would we were fighting for a better man； for Don Pedro is to my mind treacherous as well as cruel。 He promises fairly； but I doubt if when he has gained his end he will keep his promises。 He speaks fairly and smoothly； but his deeds are at variance with his words。〃
〃It may be； my lord；〃 the prince replied； 〃that I am somewhat of your opinion； and that I regret I so quickly committed myself to his cause。 However； he was my father's ally； and having fulfilled all his engagements had a right to demand our assistance。 I am a bad hand； Walter； at saying no to those who beseech me。〃
〃It is so； Sir Prince；〃 Walter said bluntly。 〃Would that your heart had been a less generous one； for your nobleness of disposition is ever involving you in debts which hamper you sorely； and cause more trouble to you than all your enemies！〃
〃That is true enough；〃 the Black Prince said with a sigh。 〃Since I was a boy I have ever been harassed with creditors； and though all Aquitaine is mine； I verily believe that there is not a man in my father's dominions who is so harassed and straitened for money as I。〃
〃And yet；〃 Walter said； smiling； 〃no sooner do you get it than you give it away。〃
〃Ah！〃 the prince laughed； 〃I cannot deny it。 It is so much pleasanter to give than to pay； that I can never find heart to balk myself。 I am ever surrounded by suitors。 Some have lost estates in my cause； others have rendered brilliant services in the field； some have burdened themselves with debts to put their retainers in arms … all have pleased to urge； and for the life of me I cannot say them nay。 I trust； though；〃 he added more seriously； 〃that Don Pedro will fulfil his promises to pay my army。 I have bound myself to my soldiers for their wages； besides advancing large sums to Pedro； and if he keeps not his engagements I shall indeed be in a sore strait。〃
〃There is one thing；〃 Walter said； 〃if he fail to keep his promises； we will not fail to oblige him to do so。 If we win a kingdom for him； we can snatch it from him again。〃
〃We have not won it yet；〃 the prince said。
〃We will do so tomorrow；〃 Walter rejoined confidently。 〃I hope the fortunes of the day may bring me face to face with Du Guesclin。 I am thrice as strong as when I fought at Cressy； and I should like to try my hand against this doughty champion。〃
The next morning the two armies prepared for battle； the Black Prince dividing his army as before。 The divisions were commanded as in the passage of the Pyrenees； and each numbered 10；000 men。
Don Henry had also divided his force in three parts。 In the first division； commanded by Du Guesclin； were 4000 veteran French knights and men…at…arms with 8000 foot…soldiers； the second was led by the prince's brother； Don Tillo； with 16；000 horse； while he himself commanded the third； in which were a multitude of soldiers； making up the gross total of 100；000 men。
As on the night preceding the battle of Poitiers； the English army had lain down supperless。 Soon after midnight the trumpets sounded； and the troops soon moved forward。 At sunrise the prince and his forces reached the summit of a little hill； whence was visible the approaching host of Spain。 The first division； under the Duke of Lancaster and Lord Chandos； immediately quickened its pace and charged the division of Du Guesclin； which received it with great steadiness； and a desperate conflict ensued。 The Black Prince charged the division of Don Tillo； which gave way at the first attack； and its commander； with 2000 horse； at once fled。 The remainder of the division resisted for some time； but was unable to withstand the steady advance of the English； who without much difficulty dispersed and scattered it from the field。 The King of Majorca now joined his division with that of the Black Prince； and the two advanced against the great division led by Don Henry。
The Spanish slingers opened upon the advancing force and for a time annoyed them greatly； but when the English archers arrived within bow…shot and opened fire they speedily dispersed the slingers； and the men…at…arms on both sides advanced to the attack。 The conflict was long and desperate； and both sides fought with great gallantry and determination。 Don Pedro … who； although vicious and cruel； was brave … fought in the ranks as a common soldier； frequently cutting his way into the midst of the Spaniards； and shouting to Don Henry to cross swords with him。 Henry on his part fought with great valour； although； as he had the burden of command upon him； he was less able to distinguish himself by acts of personal prowess。 Though fighting in the thickest of the press； he never lost his grasp of the general purpose of the battle。 Three times； when his troops wavered before the assaults of the Black Prince and his knights； he rallied them and renewed the fight。
While this battle was raging； a not less obstinate fight was proceeding between the divisions of Lancaster and Du Guesclin。 For a long time victory was doubtful； and indeed inclined towards the side of the French。 The ranks of both parties were broken； and all were fighting in a confused mass； when； in the midst of the melee； a body of French and Spaniards poured in upon the banner of Chandos。 He was struck to the ground； and a gigantic Castilian knight flung himself upon him and strove to slay him as he held him down。 Chandos had lost sword and battle…axe； but drawing his dagger； he held with one hand his opponent's sword…arm； and at last； after repeated strokes with his dagger； he found an undefended part of his armour and pierced him with his dagger to the hilt。 The Spaniard relaxed his hold； and Chandos； throwing him off； struggled to his feet and rejoined his friends； who had thought him dead。 They now fought with more enthusiasm than ever； and at last； driving back the main body of the French knights； isolated a body of some sixty strong； and forced them to surrender。 Among these were Du Guesclin himself； the Marshal D'Audenham； and the Bigue de Vilaines。
As these were the leaders of the division； the main body lost spirit and fought feebly； and were soon completely routed by Lancaster and Chandos。 These now turned their attention to the other part of the field where the battle was still raging； and charged down upon the flank of Don Henry's army； which was already wavering。 The Spaniards gave way at once on every side； and ere long the whole were scattered in headlong rout； hotly pursued by the English。 The greater portion fled towards the town of Najarra； where they had slept the previous night； and here vast quantities were slaughtered by the English and Gascons。 A number of prisoners were taken； and the palace and town sacked。 The pursuit was kept up the whole day； and it was not until evening that the leaders began once more to assemble round the banner of the Prince of Wales。 Among the last who arrived was Don Pedro himself。 Springing from his charger he grasped the hand of the Prince of Wales； thanking him for his victory； which he felt would restore him to his throne。
〃Give thanks and praise to God； and not to me；〃 the prince replied； 〃for from Him； and not from me； you have received victory。〃
About 8000 men fell in the battle； the loss of the English； French； and Spaniards being nearly equal； but many thousands of the latter fell in the pursuit； and as many more were drowned in endeavouring to cross the river Ebro。 Don Henry escaped after fighting till the last； and reaching the French territory in safety took refuge in the Papal court of Avignon。
Upon the morning after the battle Don Pedro requested the Black Prince to give him up all the Castilian prisoners； in order that he might put them to death。 The prince； however； was always opposed to cruelty； and asked and obtained as a boon to himself that the lives of all the Spanish prisoners； with the exception of one whose conduct had been marked with peculiar treachery； should be spa
