These bold words, being reported to the Prince and his division, so
raised their spirits, that they fought better than ever. The King of
France charged gallantly with his men many times; but it was of no use.
Night closing in, his horse was killed under him by an English arrow,
and the knights and nobles who had clustered thick about him early in
the day, were now completely scattered. At last, some of his few
remaining followers led him off the field by force since he would not
retire of himself, and they journeyed away to Amiens. The victorious
English, lighting their watch-fires, made merry on the field, and the
King, riding to meet his gallant son, took him in his arms, kissed him,
and told him that he had acted nobly, and proved himself worthy of the
day and of the crown. While it was yet night, King Edward was hardly
aware of the great victory he had gained; but, next day, it was
discovered that eleven princes, twelve hundred knights, and thirty
thousand common men lay dead upon the French side. Among these was the
King of Bohemia, an old blind man; who, having been told that his son
was wounded in the battle, and that no force could stand against the
Black Prince, called to him two knights, put himself on horse-back
between them, fastened the three bridles together, and dashed in among
the English, where he was presently slain. He bore as his crest three
white ostrich feathers, with the motto _Ich dien_, signifying in
English ‘I serve.’ This crest and motto were taken by the Prince of
Wales in remembrance of that famous day, and have been borne by the
Prince of Wales ever since.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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