ed them [his marshals] if they knew any
thing of the King of France: they replied, "No, sir, not for a
certainty; but we believe he must be either killed or made
prisoner, since he has never quitted his battalion." The prince
then, addressing the Earl of Warwick and Lord Cobham, said, "I beg
of you to mount your horses, and ride over the field, so that on
your return you may bring me some certain intelligence of him." The
two barons, immediately mounting their horses, left the prince, and
made for a small hillock, that they might look about them. From
their stand they perceived a crowd of men-at-arms on foot, who were
advancing very slowly. The King of France was in the midst of them,
and in great danger; for the English and Gascons had taken him from
Sir Denys de Morbeque, and were disputing who should have him, the
stoutest bawling out, "It is I that have got him."--"No, no,"
replied the others: "we have him." The king, to escape from this
peril, said, "Gentlemen, gentlemen, I pray you conduct me and my
son in a courteous manner to my cousin the prince; and do not make
such a riot about my capture, for I am so great a lord that I can
make all sufficiently rich." These words, and others which fell
from the king, appeased them a little; but the disputes were always
beginning again, and they did not move a step without rioting. When
the two barons saw this troop of people, they descended from the
hillock, and, sticking spurs into their horses, made up to them. On
their arrival, they asked what was the matter. They were answered,
that it was the King of France, who had been made prisoner, and
that upward of ten knights and squires challenged him at the same
time, as belonging to each of them. The two barons then pushed
through the crowd by main force, and ordered all to draw aside.
They commanded, in the name of the prince, and under pain of
instant death, that every one should keep his distance, and not
approach unless ordered or desired so to do. They all retreated
behind the king; and the two barons, dismounting, advanced to the
king with profound reverences, and conducted him in a peaceable
manner to the Prince of Wales.

We continue our citation from Froissart with the brief chapter in which
the admiring chronicler tells the gallant story of the Black Prin