Page:Readings in European History Vol 1.djvu/505

The Himdred Years' War 469 little, but the Englishmen removed not one foot. Thirdly they shouted again and went forth until they came within shot. Then they shot fiercely with their crossbows. Then the English archers stepped forth one pace and let fly their arrows so wholly and so thick that it seemed snow. When the Genoese felt the arrows piercing through their heads, arms, and breasts, many of them cast down their crossbows and did cut their strings and returned discomfited. When the French king saw them fly away he said, " Slay these rascals, for they shall let and trouble us without reason." Then ye should have seen the men-at-arms dash in among them and they killed a great number of them ; and ever still the Englishmen shot where they saw the thickest press. The sharp arrows ran into the men-at-arms and into their horses, and many fell, horses and men, among the Genoese, and when they were down they could not rise again ; the press was so thick that one overthrew another. And also among the Eng- lishmen there were certain rascals that went afoot with great knives, and they went in among the men-at-arms and slew and murdered many as they lay on the ground, both earls, barons, knights, and squires ; whereof the king of England was after displeased, for he had rather that they had been taken prisoners. . . . [The division led by the king's son, the Black Prince, being hard pressed,] they sent a messenger to the king, who was on a little windmill hill. Then the knight said to the king, " Sir, the earl of Warwick and the earl of Oxford, Sir Raynold Cobham, and others, such as be about the prince your son, are fiercely fought withal and are sorely handled ; wherefore they desire you that you and your battle will come and aid them ; for if the Frenchmen increase, as they doubt they will, your son and they will have much ado." Then the king said, " Is my son dead, or hurt, or on the earth felled ? " " No, sir," quoth the knight, "but he is hardly matched, where- for he hath need of your aid." " Well," said the king, " return to him and to them that sent you hither, and say to them that they send no more to me for any adventure that falleth, as long as my son is alive ; and also say to them that they