ep his promises, we
will not fail to oblige him to do so. If we win a kingdom for him, we
can snatch it from him again."

"We have not won it yet," the prince said.

"We will do so tomorrow," Walter rejoined confidently. "I hope the
fortunes of the day may bring me face to face with Du Guesclin. I am
thrice as strong as when I fought at Cressy, and I should like to try my
hand against this doughty champion."

The next morning the two armies prepared for battle, the Black Prince
dividing his army as before. The divisions were commanded as in the
passage of the Pyrenees, and each numbered 10,000 men.

Don Henry had also divided his force in three parts. In the first
division, commanded by Du Guesclin, were 4000 veteran French knights and
men-at-arms with 8000 foot-soldiers; the second was led by the prince's
brother, Don Tillo, with 16,000 horse; while he himself commanded the
third, in which were a multitude of soldiers, making up the gross total
of 100,000 men.

As on the night preceding the battle of Poitiers, the English army had
lain down supperless. Soon after midnight the trumpets sounded, and the
troops soon moved forward. At sunrise the prince and his forces reached
the summit of a little hill, whence was visible the approaching host of
Spain. The first division, under the Duke of Lancaster and Lord Chandos,
immediately quickened its pace and charged the division of Du Guesclin,
which received it with great steadiness, and a desperate conflict
ensued. The Black Prince charged the division of Don Tillo, which gave
way at the first attack, and its commander, with 2000 horse, at once
fled. The remainder of the division resisted for some time, but was
unable to withstand the steady advance of the English, who without
much difficulty dispersed and scattered it from the field. The King of
Majorca now joined his division with that of the Black Prince, and the
two advanced against the great division led by Don Henry.

The Spanish slingers opened upon the advancing force and for a time
annoyed them greatly, but when the English archers arrived within
bow-shot and opened fire they speedily dispersed the slingers, and the
men-at-arms on both sides advanced to the attack. The conflict was
long and desperate, and both sides fought with great gallantry
and determination. Don Pedro--who, although vicious and cruel, was
brave--fought in the ranks as a common soldier, frequently cutting his
way into the midst of the Spania