match before the King？ Now show your skill and beat me and I'll say
'thank you。' Keep count of your arrows shot； Jack； and I'll keep count
of mine； and when the battle is over； he who has grassed most
Frenchmen shall be called the better man。〃
〃Then I'm that already； lad；〃 answered the great yeoman with a grin as
he set his teeth in the apple。 〃For； look you； having served at Court
I've learned how to lie； and shall swear I never wasted shaft； whereas
you； being country born； may own to a miss or two for shame's sake。
Or； likelier still； those French will have one or both of us in their
bag。 If all tales are true； there is such a countless host of them
that we few English shall not see the sky for arrows。〃
Dick shrugged his shoulders and was about to answer when suddenly a
sound of shouting deep and glad rose from the serried companies upon
their left。 Then the voice of an officer was heard calling：
〃Line！ Line！ The King comes！〃
Another minute and over the crest of a little rise appeared Edward of
England clad in full armour。 He wore a surtout embroidered with the
arms of England and France； but his helm hung at his saddle…bow that
all might see his face。 He was mounted； not on his war steed； but on a
small； white； ambling palfrey； and in his hand he bore a short baton。
With him came two marshalls； gaily dressed； and a slim young man clad
from head to foot in plain black armour； and wearing a great ruby in
his helm； whom all knew for Edward； Prince of Wales。
On he rode； acknowledging the cheering of his soldiers with smiles and
courtly bows； till at length he pulled rein just in front of the
triple line of archers； among whom were mingled some knights and men…
at…arms； for the order of battle was not yet fully set。 Just then； on
the plain beneath； riding from out the shelter of some trees and； as
they thought； beyond the reach of arrows； appeared four splendid
French knights； and with them a few squires。 There they halted； taking
stock； it would seem； of the disposition of the English army。
〃Who are those that wear such fine feathers？〃 asked the King。
〃One is the Lord of Bazeilles；〃 answered a marshall。 〃I can see the
monk upon his crest； but the blazons of the others I cannot read。 They
spy upon us； Sire； may we sally out and take them？〃
〃Nay；〃 answered Edward； 〃their horses are fresher than ours； let them
go； for pray God we shall see them closer soon。〃
So the French knights； having stared their full； turned and rode away
slowly。 But one of their squires did otherwise。 Dismounting from his
horse； which he left with another squire to hold； he ran forward a few
paces to the crest of a little knoll。 Thence he made gestures of
contempt and scorn toward the English army； as he did so shouting foul
words； of which a few floated to them in the stillness。
〃Now；〃 said Edward； 〃if I had an archer who could reach that varlet；
I'll swear that his name should not be forgotten in England。 But alas！
it may not be； for none cam make an arrow fly true so far。〃
Instantly Grey Dick stepped forward。
〃Sire； may I try？〃 he asked； stringing his great black bow as he
spoke。
〃Who are you？〃 said the King； 〃who seem to have been rolled in ashes
and wear my own gold arrow in your cap？ Ah！ I remember； the Suffolk
man who showed us all how to shoot at Windsor； he who is called Grey
Dick。 Yes； try； Grey Dick； try； if you think that you can reach so
far。 Yet for the honour of St。 George； man； do not miss； for all the
host will see Fate riding on your shaft。〃
For one moment Dick hesitated。 Such awful words seemed to shake even
his iron nerve。
〃I've seen you do as much； Dick；〃 said the quiet voice of Hugh de
Cressi behind him。 〃Still； judge you。〃
Then Dick ground his heels into the turf and laid his weight against
the bow。 While all men watched breathless； he drew it to an arc； he
drew it till the string was level with his ear。 He loosed； then；
slewing round； straightened himself and stared down at the earth。 As
he said afterward； he feared to watch that arrow。
Away it sped while all men gazed。 High； high it flew； the sunlight
glinting on its polished barb。 Down it came at length； and the King
muttered 〃Short！〃 But while the word passed his lips that shaft seemed
to recover itself； as though by magic； and again rushed on。 He of the
foul words and gestures saw it coming； and turned to fly。 As he leapt
forward the war arrow struck him full in the small of the back； just
where the spine ends； severing it； so that he fell all of a heap like
an ox beneath the axe； and lay a still and huddled shape。
From all the English right who saw this wondrous deed there went up
such a shout that their comrades to the left and rear thought for a
moment that battle had been joined。 The King and the Prince stared
amazed。 Hugh flung his arms about Dick's neck； and kissed him。 Jack
Green cried：
〃No archer； but a wizard！ Mere man could not have sent a true shaft so
far。〃
〃Then would to heaven I had more such wizards；〃 said the King。 〃God be
with you； Grey Dick； for you have put new heart into my and all our
company。 Mark； each of you； that he smote him in the back； smote him
running！ What reward would you have； man？〃
〃None；〃 answered Dick in a surly voice。 〃My reward is that； whatever
happens； yon filthy French knave will never mock honest English folk
again。 Or so I think； though the arrow barely reached him。 Yet； Sire；〃
he added after a pause； 〃you might knight my master； Hugh de Cressi；
if you will； since but for him I should have feared to risk that
shot。〃
Then turning aside； Dick unstrung his bow； and； pulling the remains of
the apple out of his pouch； began to munch it unconcernedly。
〃Hugh de Cressi！〃 said the King。 〃Ah！ yes； I mind me of him and of the
rogue； Acour； and the maid； Red Eve。 Well； Hugh； I am told you fought
gallantly at Blanche…Tague two days gone and were among the last to
cross the Somme。 Also； we have other debts to pay you。 Come hither；
sir； and give me your sword。〃
〃Your pardon； my liege；〃 said Hugh； colouring； 〃but I'll not be
knighted for my henchman's feats； or at all until I have done some of
my own。〃
〃Ah； well； Master Hugh；〃 said the King； 〃that's a right spirit。 After
the battle； perhaps； if it should please God that we live to meet
again in honour。 De Cressi；〃 he added musingly； 〃why this place is
called Crecy； and here； I think； is another good omen。 At Crecy shall
de Cressi gain great honour for himself and for St。 George of England。
You are luck bringers； you two。 Let them not be separated in the
battle； lest the luck should leave them。 See to it； if it please you；
my lord of Warwick。 Young de Cressi can draw a bow； let him fight
amongst the archers and have liberty to join the men…at…arms when the
time comes。 Or stay； set them near my son the Prince； for there surely
the fight will be hottest。
〃And now； you men of England； whatever your degree； my brothers of
England； gentle and simple； Philip rolls down upon us with all the
might of France； our heritage which he has stolen； our heritage and
yours。 Well； well； show him to…day； or to…morrow； or whenever it may
be； that Englishmen put not their faith in numbers； but in justice and
their own great hearts。 Oh； my brothers and my friends； let not
Edward； whom you are pleased to serve as your lawful King； be whipped
off the field of Crecy and out of France！ Stand to your banners； stand
to your King； stand to St。 George and God！ Die where you are if need
be； as I will。 Never threaten and then show your backs like that knave
the archer shot but now。 Look； I give my son into your keeping；〃 and
he pointed to the young Prince； who all this while sat upon his horse
upright and silent。 〃The Hope of England shall be your leader； but if
he flies； why then； cut him down； and fight without him。 But he'll not
fly and you'll not fly； no； you and he together will this day earn a
name that shall be told of when the world is grey with age。 Great is
the chance that life has given you； pluck it； pluck it from the land
of opportunity and； dead or living； become a song forever in the
mouths of men unborn。 Think not of prisoners； think not of ransoms and
of wealth。 Think not of me or of yourselves； but think of England's
honour； and for that strike home； for England watches you to…day。〃
〃We will； we will！ Fear not； King； we will；〃 shouted the host in
answer。
With a glad smile； Edward took his young son's hand and shook it； then
rode away followed by his marshals。
〃De Cressi；〃 he said； as he passed Hugh； 〃the knave Acour； your foe
and mine； is with Philip of France。 He has done me much damage； de
Cressi； more than I can stop to tell。 Avenge it if you can。 Your luck
is great； you may find the chance。 God be with you and all。 My lords；
farewell。 You have your orders。 Son Edward； fare you well； also。 Meet
me again with honour； or never more。〃
It was not yet noon when King Edward spoke these words； and long hours
were to go by before the battle joined。 Indeed； most thought that no
blow would be struck that day； since it was known that Philip had
slept at Abbeville； whence for a great army the march was somewhat
long。 Still； when all was made ready； the English sat them down in
their ranks； bows and helmets at side； ate their mid…day meal with
appetite； and waited whatever fate might send them。
In obedience to the King's command Hugh and Grey Dick had been
attached to the immediate person of the Prince of Wales； who had about
him； besides his own knights； a small band of chosen archers and
another band of men…at…arms picked for their strength and courage。
These soldiers were all dismounted； since the order had gone forth
that knight and squire must fight afoot； every horse having been sent
to the rear； for that day the English expected to receive charges； not
to make them。 This； indeed； would have been impossible； seeing that
all along their front the wild Welsh had laboured for hours digging
pits into which horses might plunge and fall。
There then the Prince's battle sat； a small force after all； perhaps
twelve hundred knights and men…at…arms； with three or four thousand
archers； and to their rear； as many of the savage； k