"Eustace; Eustace," said he, "I bear in mind the days when you
were of great heart and high enterprise, but since King Edward
gave you yonder chaplet of pearls you have ever been backward
against the English!"
"My Lord Clermont," said de Ribeaumont sternly, "it is not for me
to brawl at the King's council and in the face of the enemy, but
we will go further into this matter at some other time.
Meanwhile, the King has asked me for my advice and I have given it
as best I might."
"It had been better for your honor, Sir Eustace, had you held your
peace," said the Duke of Orleans. "Shall we let them slip from
our fingers when we have them here and are fourfold their number?
I know not where we should dwell afterwards, for I am very sure
that we should be ashamed to ride back to Paris, or to look our
ladies in the eyes again."
"Indeed, Eustace, you have done well to say what is in your mind,"
said the King; "but I have already said that we shall join battle
this morning, so that there is no room here for further talk. But
I would fain have heard from you how it would be wisest and best
that we attack them?"
"I will advise you, sire, to the best of my power. Upon their
right is a river with marshes around it, and upon their left a
great wood, so that we can advance only upon the center. Along
their front is a thick hedge, and behind it I saw the green
jerkins of their archers, as thick as the sedges by the river.
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