The boy's Froissart : $b being Sir John Froissart's Chronicles of adventures, battle, and custom in England, France, Spain, etc.Froissart, Jean
History
The boy's Froissart : $b being Sir John Froissart's Chronicles of adventures, battle, and custom in England, France, Spain, etc.
Froissart, Jean
France -- History -- House of Valois, 1328-1589; Great Britain -- History -- 14th century; Hundred Years' War, 1339-1453
Neither Philip von Artaveld nor the Flemings were quite at their ease
after this alarm. They were suspicious of having been betrayed and
surprised. They armed themselves leisurely with whatever they had, made
large fires in their quarters, and breakfasted comfortably, for they had
victuals in abundance. About an hour before day, Philip said, “I think
it right that we march into the plain, and draw up our men; because,
should the French advance to attack us, we ought not to be unprepared,
nor in disorder, but properly drawn up like men, knowing well what we
are to do.” All obeyed this order, and, quitting their quarters, marched
to the heath beyond the grove. There was in front a wide ditch newly
made, and in their rear quantities of brambles, junipers, and shrubs.
They drew up at their leisure in this strong position, and formed one
large battalion, thick and strong. By the reports from the constables
they were about fifty thousand, all chosen men, who valued not their
lives. Among them were about sixty English archers, who, having stolen
away from their companions at Calais, to gain greater pay from Philip,
had left behind them their armor in their quarters.
Every thing being arranged, each man took to his arms. The horses,
baggage, women, and varlets were dismissed; but Philip von Artaveld had
his page mounted on a superb courser, worth five hundred florins, which
he had ordered to attend him, to display his state, and to mount if a
pursuit of the French should happen, in order that he might enforce the
commands which he had given to kill all. It was with this intention that
Philip had posted him by his side. Philip had likewise from the town of
Ghent about nine thousand men, well armed, whom he placed near his
person; for he had greater confidence in them than any of the others:
they therefore, with Philip at their head with banners displayed, were
in front; and those from Alost and Grammont were next; then the men from
Courtray, Bruges, Damme, Sluys, and the Franconate. They were armed, for
the greater part, with bludgeons, iron caps, jerkins, and with gloves of
iron-work. Each man had a staff with an iron point, and bound round with
iron. The different townsmen wore liveries and arms, to distinguish them
from one another. Some had jackets of blue and yellow, others wore a
welt of black on a red jacket, others chevroned with white on a blue
coat, others green and blue, others lozenged with black and white,
others quartered red and white, others all blue. Each carried the
banners of their trades. They had also large knives hanging down from
their girdles. In this state they remained, quietly waiting for day,
which soon came.
CHAPTER XXII.
PHILIP VON ARTAVELD AND HIS FLEMINGS QUIT THE STRONG POSITION THEY
HAD TAKEN IN THE MORNING, TO ENCAMP ON MONT D’OR, NEAR TO
YPRES.--THE CONSTABLE AND ADMIRAL OF FRANCE, WITH SIR WILLIAM OF
POITIERS, SET OUT TO RECONNOITRE THEIR SITUATION.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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