mselves victorious, not
knowing of King Charles's ambush, and began to scatter themselves over
the field, giving their minds to plunder and booty. King Charles was
upon the little hill above the valley, where was his troop, with M.
Alardo di Valleri, and with Count Guy of Montfort, beholding the
battle; and when he saw his people thus routed, first one troop and
then the other thus put to flight, he was deadly grieved, and longed
even to put in motion his own troop to go to the succour of the
others. M. Alardo, which was commander of the host, and wise in war,
with great temperance and with wise words much restrained the king,
saying that for God's sake he should suffer it a while, if he desired
the honour of the victory, because he knew the cupidity of the
Germans, and how greedy they were for booty; and he must let them
break up more from their troops; and when he saw them well scattered,
he said to the king: "Let the banners set forth, for now it is time;"
and so it was done. And when the said troop sallied forth from the
valley, neither Conradino nor his followers believed that they were
enemies, but that they were of their own party; and they were not upon
their guard; and the king, coming with his followers in close ranks,
came straight to where was the troop of Conradino, with the chief
among his barons, and there began fierce and violent combat, albeit it
endured not long, seeing that the followers of Conradino were faint
and weary with fighting, and had not near so many horsemen in battle
array as those of the king, forasmuch as the greater part were
wandering out of the ranks, some pursuing the enemy and some scattered
over the field in search of booty and prisoners; and the troop of
Conradino, by reason of the unexpected assault of the enemy, was
continually diminishing, and that of King Charles continually
increasing, because his first troops, which had been put to flight
through the first defeat, recognising the royal standard, joined on to
his company, insomuch that in a little while Conradino and his
followers were discomfited. And when Conradino perceived that the
fortunes of war were against him, by the counsel of his greater barons
he took to flight, together with the duke of Austria, and Count
Calvagno, and Count Gualferano, and Count Gherardo da Pisa, and many
more. M. Alardo di Valleri, seeing the enemy put to flight, cried
aloud, praying and entreating the king and the captains of the troop
not to