New-York tribune., 1906-04-15

also that the hedge had been well-nigh leveled to
the ground in the course of the combat, that 1t
longer presented obstacle had ordered his
followers To remount their horses, and II was as a
solid mass of cavalry that the chivalry OF France
advanced to their last supreme effort. The King
was in the center of the front line, Godfrey de
Chargny with the golden orfamme upon his right,
and Eustace de Rbeaumont with the royal lilies
upon the left At his elbow the Duke of Athens,
High Constable of France, and round him were the
mobiles of the court, fiery and furious, yelling their
war-cries as they waved their weapons over their
heads. Six thousand gallant men of the bravest
race in Europe men whose very names are like
blasts of a tletrumpet-BeauJeus and Chatillons,
Tancarvilles and Ventadours-pressed hard behind
the silver lilies.
Slowly they moved at first, walking their horses,
that thev might be the fresher for the shock. Then
thev broke into a trot which was quickening into
a galop when the remains of the hedge IN front OF
them was beaten in an instant TO the ground and
the broad line of the stee-clad chivalry of England
swept grandly forth to the final shock With loose
rein and busy spur the two lines of horsemen
galloped at the top of their speed straight and
hard for each other. An instant later they met
with a thunderc crash which heard by the
burghers the walls of Poitiers, seven good miles
away.
Under that frightful impact horses fell dead with
broken necks and many rider. held in his saddle
by the high pOmmel, fractured his thighs with the
shock. Here and there pair met breast To breast,
the horses rearing straight upward and falling back
upon their masters. But for the most part the line
had opened in the galop, and the cavaliers, flying
through the gaps, buried themselves IN the enemy
ranks. Then the flanks shredded out, and the thick
press in the center loosened until there space to
swing a sword and to guide a steed. For ten acres
there was wild tumultuouS swirl OF tossing
heads. of cleaning weapons which rose and Tell,
of upthrown hands of tossing plumes and of lifted
shields whilst the din of a thousand war-CrIeS and
the clash-clash of metal upon metal rose and
swelled like the and beat of an ocean surge
upon a bound coast. Backward and forward
swaved the mighty throng now down the valley
and now up, each side in turn put forth its
strength for a fresh rally Locked in one long
deadly grapple great England and gallant France
with iron hearts and souls of fire strOve and strOve
for mastery.
Sir Walter Woodland riding hard upon his high
black horse. had plunged into the swelter and
headed for the blue and silver banner of King John.
Close his heels in solid wedge rode the Prince,
Chandos Nigel. Lord Reginald Gotham, Audley
with his four famous squlres, and score OF the
flower of the English and GaSCOn knighthOOd. Hold
ing together and bearing down opposition by
shower of blows and by the weight of their powerful
horses. their progress still very slow for ever
fresh waves of French cavaliers surged up against
them and broke in front only to close in again upon
their rear. Sometimes they were swept backward
by the rush sometimes they gained a few PAGES,
sometimes they could but keep their foothold, and
Yet from minute To minute that blue and silver flag
which waved above the press grew ever
a little closer. y dozen furious hard
breathing French knights had broken
into their ranks. and Clutchcd Sir
Walter Woodlands banner: but Chan
dos and Nigel guarded it side,
Audley with his squires on the other,
that no man laid his hand upon it and
lived.