then bore
the news of his failure to the Prince of Wales. "Fair son," he said, "do
the best you can, for you must needs fight, as I can find no means of
peace or amnesty with the King of France."

"Be it so, good father," the prince replied, "it is our full resolve to
fight, and God will aid the right."

The delay which had occurred had not been without advantages for the
British army, although the shortness of provisions was greatly felt.
Every effort had been made to strengthen the position. Deep trenches
had been dug and palisades erected around it, and the carts and baggage
train had all been moved round so as to form a protection on the weakest
side of the camp, where also a rampart had been constructed.

Upon a careful examination of the ground it was found that the hill on
the right side of the camp was less difficult than had been supposed,
and that the dismounted men-at-arms who lay at its foot under the
command of the Dauphin would find little difficulty in climbing it to
the assault. The prince therefore gave orders that 300 men-at-arms and
300 mounted archers should make a circuit from the rear round the
base of the hill, in order to pour in upon the flank of the Dauphin's
division as soon as they became disordered in the ascent. The nature
of the ground concealed this maneuver from the enemies' view, and the
Captal De Buch, who was in command of the party, gained unperceived the
cover of a wooded ravine within a few hundred yards of the left flank
of the enemy. By the time that all these dispositions were complete the
huge French array was moving forward. The Black Prince, surrounded by
his knights, viewed them approaching.

"Fair lords," he said, "though we be so few against that mighty power
of enemies, let us not be dismayed, for strength and victory lie not in
multitudes, but in those to whom God give them. If He will the day be
ours, then the highest glory of this world will be given to us. If we
die, I have the noble lord, my father, and two fair brothers, and you
have each of you many a good friend who will avenge us well; thus, then,
I pray you fight well this day, and if it please God and St. George I
will also do the part of a good knight."

The prince then chose Sir John Chandos and Sir James Audley to remain by
his side during the conflict in order to afford him counsel in case of
need. Audley, however, pleaded a vow which he had made long before, to
be the first in battle should he ever be