s ordered to his quarters all the captains, to hold a council; go we
thither, you and I, and we will show him privately what you have told
me.' 'It is well thought on,' said Captain Jacob: 'go we thither.' So
they went thither. There were dissensions at the council: some said that
they had three or four rivers to cross; that everybody was against them,
the pope, the King of Spain, the Venetians, and the Swiss; that the
emperor was anything but certain, and that the best thing would be to
temporize: others said that there was nothing for it but to fight or die
of hunger like good-for-noughts and cowards. The good Duke of Nemours,
who had already spoken with the good knight and with Captain Jacob,
desired to have the opinion of the former, the which said, 'My lord, the
longer we sojourn, the more miserable too will become our plight, for our
men have no victual, and our horses must needs live on what the willows
shoot forth at the present time. Besides, you know that the king our
master is writing to you every day to give battle, and that in your hands
rests, not only the safety of his duchy of Milan, but also all his
dominion of France, seeing the enemies he has to-day. 'Wherefore, as for
me, I am of opinion that we ought to give battle, and proceed to it
discreetly, for we have to do with cunning folks and good fighters. That
there is peril in it is true; but one thing gives me comfort: the
Spaniards for a year past have, in this Romagna, been always living like
fish in the water, and are fat and full-fed; our men have had and still
have great lack of victual, whereby they will have longer breath, and we
have no need of ought else, for whoso fights the longest, to him will
remain the 'field.'" The leaders of note in the army sided with the good
knight, "and notice thereof was at once given to all the captains of
horse and foot."

The battle took place on the next day but one, April 11. "The gentle
Duke of Nemours set out pretty early from his quarters, armed at all
points. As he went forth he looked at the sun, already risen, which was
mighty red. 'Look, my lords, how red the sun is,' said he to the company
about him. There was there a gentleman whom he loved exceedingly, a
right gentle comrade, whose name was Haubourdin, the which replied, 'Know
you, pray, what that means, my lord? To-day will die some prince or
great captain: it must needs be you or the Spanish viceroy.' The Duke of
Nemours burst out a-la