Bernard Cornwell: 1356 (Special Edition)

Then the King of France approached, bringing up a great power, for to him went every man who wanted to acquit himself well. When the Prince saw him come he looked up to Heaven, cried mercy of Jesus Christ, and spoke thus: ‘Mighty Father, right so as I believe that Thou art King of Kings and didst willingly endure the death on the cross for all of us, to redeem us out of hell, Father, who art true God, true man, be pleased, by Thy most holy name, to guard me and my people from harm, even as Thou knowest, true God of heaven, that I have good right.’ Then the Prince straightway, when he had made his prayer, said: ‘Forward, forward, banner! Let each one take heed to his honour.’ There was a right sore battle, there you might see many men killed. This struggle lasted a long time until none so bold but was abashed at heart; but the Prince cried out aloud many times; ‘Forward, sirs, for God! Let us win this field if we set store by life and honour’. So much did the valiant Prince, that the victory turned to him, and his enemies fled. King John fought valiantly, and with him many good knights. But his strength helped him little, for the Prince made such onslaught that he was taken by force, and Philip also, his son, my Lord Jacques de Bourbon, and a good number of others, the Count of Eu, the courteous Count Charles of Artois, and Charles the good Count of Dammartin, and the good Count of Joigny; he of Tancarville also, the Count of Sarrebruck and Ventadour, the good Count of Sancerre. All these were taken that day, and many whose names I cannot give; but, by what I heard, there were fully sixty taken, counts and bold bannerets, and more than a thousand others, whose titles I cannot give. And, by what I heard, there died there full three thousand dead. May God receive their souls! Then did one see the English joyful, and they shouted in many a place: ‘Guyenne! St. George!’ There might you see the French scattered! For plunder you might see many an archer, many a knight, many a squire, running in every direction, to take prisoners on all sides. Thus were the French taken and slain that day.

Sirs, that time was one thousand three hundred and fifty and six years after the birth of Christ, and also, as I think, it was nineteen days on in September, the month before October, that this great battle happened so terribly. Pardon me if I relate it briefly, because I would narrate to you of this noble Prince, so valiant and bold, gallant in words and deeds. Then was King John brought before him; the Prince gave him hearty greeting, and gave thanks to Almighty God, and to do more honour to the King would help him to disarm. Then said the Prince: ‘Sweet sir, it is God’s doing and not ours: and we are bound to give thanks to Him therefore, and beseech that He would grant us His glory and pardon us the victory.’ Thus did they both speak kindly together. The English made merry. The Prince lodged that night in a little pavilion among the dead on the plain, and his men all around him. That night he slept but little. In the morning he broke camp, set out towards Bordeaux, and took with (him) their prisoner. At Bordeaux was such joy made that it was marvellous to behold. There the Prince stayed the whole winter. Then he dispatched his messenger to the noble King, his father, and to the Queen his mother, with the tidings how in what wise God had wrought for him, and asked that they should send him vessels wherein he might bring the King of France to England to do more honour to the land.

About the Author

Bernard Cornwell was born in London, raised in Essex and worked for the BBC for eleven years before meeting Judy, his American wife. Denied an American work permit he wrote a novel instead and has been writing ever since. He and Judy divide their time between Cape Cod and Charleston, South Carolina.

www.bernardcornwell.net

Also by Bernard Cornwell

The Fort

The WARRIOR Chronicles

The Last Kingdom

The Pale Horseman

The Lords of the North

Sword Song

The Burning Land

Death of Kings

Azincourt

The GRAIL QUEST Series

Harlequin

Vagabond

Heretic

Stonehenge: a novel of 2000 BC

The STARBUCK Chronicles

Rebel

Copperhead

Battle Flag

The Bloody Ground

The WARLORD Chronicles

The Winter King

The Enemy of God

Excalibur

Gallows Thief

By Bernard Cornwell and Susannah Kells

A Crowning Mercy

Fallen Angels

The SHARPE Series

(in chronological order)

Sharpe’s Tiger (1799)

Sharpe’s Triumph (1803)

Sharpe’s Fortress (1803)

Sharpe’s Trafalgar (1805)

Sharpe’s Prey (1807)

Sharpe’s Rifles (1809)

Sharpe’s Havoc (1809)

Sharpe’s Eagle (1809)

Sharpe’s Gold (1810)

Sharpe’s Escape (1810)

Sharpe’s Fury (1811)

Sharpe’s Battle (1811)

Sharpe’s Company (1812)

Sharpe’s Sword (1812)

Sharpe’s Enemy (1812)

Sharpe’s Honour (1813)

Sharpe’s Regiment (1813)

Sharpe’s Siege (1814)

Sharpe’s Revenge (1814)

Sharpe’s Waterloo (1815)

Sharpe’s Devil (1820–21)

Copyright

This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it, while at times based on historical figures, are the work of the author’s imagination.

HarperCollins Publishers

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London W6 8JB

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First published by HarperCollins Publishers 2012

Copyright © Bernard Cornwell 2012

Bernard Cornwell asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work

Maps © John Gilkes 2012