122 SOLDIERS AND SAILORS This prince's father, the veteran King of Bohemia, was seated on horseback at a little distance from the fight. The old man had fought in almost every quarter of Europe ; but, though still full of valor, he was now blind. Unable himself to mark the progress of the fight, he continued to inquire anxiously, and soon dis covered that the day was lost. " My son," demanded the veteran monarch of his attendants ; " my son ! can you still see my son ? " " The King of the Romans is not in sight, sire," was the reply ; " but doubt- less he is somewhere engaged in the mStie." " Lords," continued the old king, drawing his own conclusions from what he heard, and resolved not to quit the field alive " Lords, you are my vassals, my friends, and my companions ; and on this day, I command and beseech you to lead me forward so far that I may deal one blow of my sword in the battle." They linked their horses' bridles to one another, and placing their venerable lord in the centre, galloped down into the field. Entering the thickest strife, they advanced directly against the Prince of Wales. Here the blind monarch was seen fighting valiantly for some time ; but at length his banner went down. Next day he was found dead on the field of Cre"cy his friends around him their horses still linked to each other by the bridles. It was growing dark ere the angry Philip could force his way through the confusion he had himself chiefly caused by the imprudent command he gave at the commencement of the battle. The unremitting arrows of the English still continued to pour like hail ; and his followers fell thickly around him. Many fled, leaving him to his fate ; and presently his own horse was killed by an arrow. One of his attendants, John of Hainault, who had remained by his side the whole day, mounted him on one of his own chargers, and entreated him to quit the field. Philip refused ; and, making his way into the thickest battle, fought for some time with great courage. At length his troops almost annihilated, himself wounded in two places he suffered John to half force him from the field ; and, with a few of his lords, and only sixty men-at-arms, reached his near- est castle of Broye in safety. At midnight he again set out, and did not slacken his flight till he reached Amiens. The gallant Prince of Wales still held his station firmly in the battle ; the utmost efforts of the French had not made him yield a single step. By degrees, as night fell, the assailants decreased in numbers, the banners disappeared, and the shouts of the knights and the clang of arms died away. Silence at last crept over the field, and told that victory was completed by the flight of the enemy. Torches were then lighted, in immense numbers, along the English lines to dis- pel the darkness. King Edward now first quitted his station on the hill ; he hastily sought his conquering boy, and clasped him proudly to his bosom. "God give you perseverance in your course, my child !" cried the king, as he still held him. " You are indeed my son ! Nobly have you acquitted yourself and worthy are you of the place you hold ! "
