ace of Ribemont answered for all and
said: 'Sir, we have seen the Englishmen: by estimation they be two
thousand men of arms and four thousand archers and a fifteen hundred
of other. Howbeit they be in a strong place, and as far as we can
imagine they are in one battle; howbeit they be wisely ordered, and
along the way they have fortified strongly the hedges and bushes: one
part of their archers are along by the hedge, so that none can go nor
ride that way, but must pass by them, and that way must ye go an ye
purpose to fight with them. In this hedge there is but one entry and
one issue by likelihood that four horsemen may ride afront. At the end
of this hedge, whereas no man can go nor ride, there be men of arms
afoot and archers afore them in manner of a herse, so that they will
not be lightly discomfited,'[3] 'Well,' said the king, 'what will ye
then counsel us to do?' Sir Eustace said: 'Sir, let us all be afoot,
except three hundred men of arms, well horsed, of the best in your
host and most hardiest, to the intent they somewhat to break and to
open the archers, and then your battles to follow on quickly afoot and
so to fight with their men of arms hand to hand. This is the best
advice that I can give you: if any other think any other way better,
let him speak.'

[3] The translation of this passage is unsatisfactory. It should
be: 'Howbeit they have ordered it wisely, and have taken post
along the road, which is fortified strongly with hedges and
thickets, and they have beset this hedge on one side (_or
according to another text_, on one side and on the other) with
their archers, so that one cannot enter nor ride along their road
except by them, and that way must he go who purposes to fight
with them. In this hedge there is but one entry and one issue,
where by likelihood four men of arms, as on the road, might ride
a-front. At the end of this hedge among vines and thorn-bushes,
where no man can go nor ride, are their men of arms all afoot,
and they have set in front of them their archers in manner of a
harrow, whom it would not be easy to discomfit.

The king said: 'Thus shall it be done': then the two marshals rode
from battle to battle and chose out a three hundred knights and
squires of the most expert men of arms of all the host, every man well
armed and horsed. Also it was ordained that the battles of Almains
should abide still on