[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] Sir Eustace de Ribaumõt a right vali| [...]nt knight.It chanced that in the hotest of the fight, the king was matched with sir Eustace de Ribaumont, a right strong and hardie knight. There was a sore in|counter betwixt him and the king, that maruell it was to behold them. At length they were put asun|der, for a great companie of both parts came that waie, and there fought fiercelie togither. The French|men did behaue themselues right valiantlie, and e|speciallie sir Eustace de Ribaumont:

He is taken prisoner by the king of England.

The lord Gef+frie de Char|nie is taken.

he strake the king that daie twise vpon his knées, but finallie he was taken prisoner by the king himselfe. The lord Geffrie of Charnie was also taken prisoner, and wounded right sore, but the king of his noble courte|sie caused him to be dressed by surgions, and tender|lie looked vnto. There were slaine, sir Henrie de Blois, and sir Pepin de la Ware, with other, to the number of six hundred. Monsieur de Memorancie escaped with great danger. Froissard saieth, that this battell was fought in the yeare 1348, vpon the last of December, towards the next morning being Newyeares daie: but (as Auesburie & Walsingham haue, who begin the yeare at our ladie day) this enter|prise chanced 1349, and so consequentlie in the 23 yeare of this kings reigne. All the prisoners were brought to the castell of Calis, where the K. the next night gaue them a supper,Sir Eustace de Ribau|mont. & made them right hartie cheare, and gaue to sir Eustace de Ribaumont a rich chaplet of pearles, which he then did weare on his owne head, in token that he had best deserued it for his manfull prowes shewed in the fight; & beside that in fauour of his tried valiancie, he acquit him of his ransome, and set him at libertie. This fact of the king was roiall in deed, and his clemencie greatlie to be commended; & therfore it is well said to this purpose,

Gloria consequitur reges sic bella gerentes,

Sic certare parit decus immortale duello.