There was much pressing at this time, through eagerness to take the
king; and those who were nearest to him, and knew him, cried out,
"Surrender yourself, surrender yourself, or you are a dead man!" In
that part of the field was a young knight from St. Omer, who was
engaged by a salary in the service of the king of England; his name
was Denys de Morbeque, who for five years had attached himself to the
English, on account of having been banished in his younger days from
France, for a murder committed in an affray at St. Omer. It
fortunately happened for this knight, that he was at the time near to
the king of France, when he was so much pulled about. He, by dint of
force, for he was very strong and robust, pushed through the crowd,
and said to the king, in good French, "Sire, sire, surrender
yourself!" The king, who found himself very disagreeably situated,
turning to him, asked, "To whom shall I surrender myself? to whom?
Where is my cousin, the Prince of Wales? If I could see him, I would
speak to him." "Sire," replied Sir Denys, "he is not here; but
surrender yourself to me, and I will lead you to him." "Who are you?"
said the king. "Sire, I am Denys de Morbeque, a knight from Artois;
but I serve the king of England because I cannot belong to France,
having forfeited all I possessed there." The king then gave him his
right-hand glove, and said, "I surrender myself to you." There was
much crowding and pushing about; for every one was eager to cry out,
"I have taken him!" Neither the king nor his youngest son Philip were
able to get forward, and free themselves from the throng....
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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