No clang of bugle rose from their stern ranks, but in the centre waved the leopards of England, on the right the ensign of the Company with the roses of Loring, and on the left, over threescore of Welsh bowmen, there floated the red banner of Merlin with the boars'-heads of the Buttesthorns. Gravely and sedately they stood beneath the morning sun waiting for the onslaught of their foemen.
'By Saint Paul!' said Sir Nigel, gazing with puckered eye down the valley, 'there appear to be some very worthy people among them. What is this golden banner which waves upon the left?'
'It is the ensign of the Knights of Calatrava,' answered Felton.
'And the other upon the right?'
'It marks the Knights of Santiago, and I see by his flag that their grand-master rides at their head. There, too, is the banner of Castile amid yonder sparkling squadron which heads the main battle. There are six thousand men-at-arms with ten squadrons of slingers, as far as I may judge their numbers.'
'There are Frenchmen among them, my fair lord,' remarked Black Simon. 'I can see the pennons of De Couvette, De Brieux, Saint Pol, and many others who struck in against us for Charles of Blois.'
'You are right,' said Sir William, 'for I can also see them. There is much Spanish blazonry also, if I could but read it. Don Diego, you know the arms of your own land. Who are they who have done us this honour?'
The Spanish prisoner looked with exultant eyes upon the deep and serried ranks of his countrymen.
'By Saint James!' said he, 'if ye fall this day ye fall by no mean hands, for the flower of the knighthood of Castile ride under the banner of Don Tello, with the chivalry of Asturias, Toledo, Leon, Cordova, Galicia, and Seville. I see the guidons of Albornez, Caçorla, Rodriguez, Tavora, with the two great orders, and the knights of France and of Aragon. If you will take my rede you will come to a composition
