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inclosures; fo that the French could' only attack him in front, and that through a narrow lane which would admit of no more than four horfemen a-breaft: this natural fo tification which furrounded his camp, he had ftrengthened by art during the nego tiation carried on through the Cardinal; and had lined the hedges of the lane with archers, who, being themfelves free from mo leftation, could take their aim with compofure: he had alfo, in the night, ordered the Lord John Grielly, Captal de Busche, to march under covert of a hill which lay to the right, with three hundred men át arms, and as many archers, that he might be ready to fall on the enemy's flank during the engagement. He had given the command of the van to the Earl of Warwick, the rear to the Earls of Salisbury and Suffolk, taking his own ftand at the head of the main body: the Lords Chandos, Audley, and many other brave and experienced Commanders, were at the head of dif

ferent

ferent battalions. In this pofition the Prince awaited the attack.

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The French King, who was well acquainted with the fituation of the English, ordered the Marefchals d'Endregan and Clermont to advance with a ftrong detachment of men at arms, and endeavour to force their way through the lane; but no fooner were they entered, than the English archers made fuch havock among them, that, being thrown into confufion, very few penetrated to the plain, and thefe met with fo warm a reception from the men at arms, that a small number only efcaped one of the Marefchals was killed, and the other taken prifoner; the remainder of this advanced party, who were still in the lane, harraffed by the arrows of the English archers without being able to oppose them, recoiled upon their own army and put every thing into confusion.

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In this critical moment the Captal de Busche unexpectedly appeared, and attacked in flank the battalion that was led on by the Duke of Normandy, which greatly added to the diforder. The Generals to whofe care the Heir of the French Monarch and his Brothers were committed, too anxious for their charge, or intimidated at the resolution of the English, carried them off the field, and fet an example of flight to the whole divifion. The Duke of Orleans, feized with a fimilar panic, imagining from the flight of the Dauphin's divifion that every thing was loft, thought it prudent to found a retreat; but as he could not long preferve any order in retiring, his intended retreat was likewife foon changed into a flight.

The Lord John Chandos, feeing the van of the French wholly defeated, and their main body difordered, called out to the Prince of Wales that the day was won, and advised him immediately to march forward

and

and to attack the divifion under the King: his Highness needing no folicitation mounted his horse, and boldly advancing, fell with great impetuofity on fome German brigades under the command of the Counts of Naffau, Saltsburgh, and Neydo, pofted in front of the King's battalion. A dreadful encounter now ensued, in which the Prince even exceeded the gallantry he had fhewn at Creffy at length the three German Generals, with the Duke of Athenes, Conftable of France, being flain, that body of cavalry gave way, and left the King's divifion expofed to all the fury of a victorious

enemy.

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The French Monarch having been told that his Sons and his Brother had withdrawn from the battle, declared aloud, That for his part he would not quit the field though his whole army fhould forfake him; and indeed it is allowed that he performed that day the duty of a valiant Knight: had his valour been feconded by only a fourth part

of his troops, fuccefs muft have crowned his efforts to retrieve the honour of the day

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he fought on foot with a weighty axe of fteel in his hand, which he managed with great dexterity and refolution: his youngest Son Philip, at that time not fourteen years old, fought courageoufly by his fide: he was alfo furrounded by many valiant Knights, who endeavoured to defend their Sovereign; amongst others the Duke of Bourbon, the Lord of Pons, the Count de Vantadour, the Lord John of Artois, and Sir Euftace de Ribemont, who had been vanquished by King Edward at Calais, and released by him without ransom as a reward for his courage.

On the part of the English, the Prince of Wales was no lefs confpicuous for his va lour than for his station and quality; performing not only the duties of an experienced and careful Commander, but also thofe of an approved and valiant Knight: his Nobles likewife behaved with uncom

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