mon bravery and refolution, particularly the Lord John Chandos, who for his courage and conduct merited the greateft encomiums. But it is impoffible to recount the many noble exploits of the English Nobility; the Earls of Oxford, Salisbury, and Suffolk rendered themselves famous by their great atchievements; and the Earl of Warwick fought fo long, and with fuch fury, that his battle-axe cleaved to his hand; the Lord Audeley fought all day among the thickeft of his enemies, performing many gallant deeds, and receiving many deep wounds ; notwithstanding which he could not be prevailed on to leave the field till towards the conclufion of the battle, when his 'Squires carried him by force to an adjacent meadow, where they carefully difarmed him, and binding up his wounds, refreshed him as well as they could: these gallant Knights were well fupported by thofe of inferior rank, more especially by the archers, who behaved themfelves with wonderful conftancy and alacrity; from them all the

French

French divifions received their first foil, for being galled and difmayed by their arrows, they were easily broken by the men at arms.

The battalion of French under the command of the King, which ftill kept its ftation, was fuperior in number to the whole English army, and composed of the flower of that nation; but the Prince of Wales and his undaunted troops, though greatly fatigued with the toils of the day, boldly attacked this fresh and numerous divifion the fuccefs which had hitherto attended their arms supported them under this apparent disadvantage, and kept their hopes alive the fight now became defperate, and for a while was well maintained on both fides; for the French King's prefence and example animated his men with uncommon refolution; only troops accuftomed to conqueft, and led on by their beloved Prince, could have withstood fuch intrepidity; however after a ftout resistance this laft divifion of the French was alfo

broken, and a great flaughter enfued. The Duke of Bourbon, the Viscount Chalons, the Lord of Argentum, and fifty Noblemen of the highest quality, breathed their last on this well-difputed field; even Sir Euftace de Ribemont, who had fo bravely encountered King Edward, could not withstand the potent arm of his Son.

The forces which fought immediately under the royal banner of France were ftill fo numerous, and difputed the point fo well, that for a time they remained impenetrable, and atoned for the cowardice of their countrymen ; but the English and Gafcon Lords at length broke their way through this compact phalanx and reached the King : the royal standard was beaten down, and its bearer, the valiant Lord Geoffrey Charni, flain. This circumftance feemed to be a fignal for a general flight, and thofe who could efcape fled with precipitation into Poitiers.

In

In the first breaking of the corps that encircled his Majefty, the Lord James of Bourbon, Count de Ponthieu; Lord John of Artois, Count d'Eu; and Charles his Brother, Count de Tankerville, were taken prifoners by the Captal de Bufche; and many other Knights furrendered themselves to the most advanced of the English Nobles. Impelled both by the love of glory and of gain, the attention of every person now appeared to be only engaged on taking the King: those who knew him called out to him to furrender; but Sir Dennis de Morbeque, a Knight of Artois, who had left France on account of a murder he had committed at St. Omers, and who had ferved King Edward about five years, by his fuperior ftrength making way to his Majefty, defired him to yield: "To

whom fhall I furrender myself?" faid the King, "Where is my Coufin the Prince "of Wales to him alone would I wish "to fubmit." "The Prince," replied de Morbeque, is at a diftance; I am myself a Knight,

M 2

"a Knight, and will conduct you to him." On which the King gave him his righthand gauntlet, faying at the fame time, "Unto you I yield myself." This not appearing fatisfactory to feveral who had made up to the King before Sir Dennis, there was still a great tumult and crouding about both him and his youngest Son Philip, who had fhared his Father's fortune, and his Majefty was taken by force from de Morbeque. It appears that John de Pelham (afterwards on this account knighted) was the firft that came up to the King, and laid hold of his belt; but Sir Roger de la Warre got poffeffion of his fword. In commemoration of thefe fervices, and the honour thus attained, the defcendants of Sir John de Pelham used the buckles of a belt for their arms, and thofe of Sir Roger de la Warre the chape of a fword.

The Prince of Wales, who had been carried away in purfuit of the flying enemy

to