by his two younger brothers; the third
by the king himself, who had by his side Philip, his fourth son and
favorite, then about fourteen years of age. There was no reaching the
English army but through a narrow lane, covered on each side by
hedges and in order to open this passage, the mareschals, Andrehen and
Clermont, were ordered to advance with a separate detachment of men at
arms. While they marched along the lane, a body of English archers, who
lined the hedges, plied them on each side with their arrows; and being
very near them, yet placed in perfect safety, they coolly took their
aim against the enemy, and slaughtered them with impunity. The French
detachment, much discouraged by the unequal combat, and diminished in
their number, arrived at the end of the lane, where they met on the open
ground the prince of Wales himself, at the head of a chosen body, ready
for their reception. They were discomfited and overthrown: one of the
mareschals was slain; the other taken prisoner: and the remainder of the
detachment, who were still in the lane, and exposed to the shot of the
enemy, without being able to make resistance, recoiled upon their own
army, and put every thing into disorder.[*]

* Froissard, liv. i. chap. 162.

In that critical moment the Captal de Buche unexpectedly appeared, and
attacked in flank the dauphin's line, which fell into some confusion.
Landas, Bodenai, and St. Venant, to whom the care of that young prince
and his brothers had been committed, too anxious for their charge, or
for their own safety, carried them off the field, and set the example of
flight, which was followed by that whole division. The duke of Orleans,
seized with alike panic, and imagining all was lost, thought no longer
of fighting, but carried off his division by a retreat, which soon
turned into a flight. Lord Chandos called out to the prince, that the
day was won; and encouraged him to attack the division under King John,
which, though more numerous than the whole English army, were somewhat
dismayed with the precipitate flight of their companions. John here
made the utmost efforts to retrieve by his valor what his imprudence
had betrayed; and the only resistance made that day was by his line of
battle. The prince of Wales fell with impetuosity on some German cavalry
placed in the front, and commanded by the counts of Sallebruche, Nydo,
and Nosto; a fierce battle ensued: one side were encouraged by the near
prospect of