William Marshal at the The Battle of Lincoln in 1218

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After the death of King John in 1216, Louis VIII, heir to the French kingdom, sailed across the English Channel to lay claim to the England's throne. William the Marshal, who acted as the regent for the young Henry III, led the English forces against the French army that was besieging the castle of Lincoln, and on May 20th the two sides met in battle. As the text below recounts, William personally led the attack against the French forces and defeated them. A few months later Prince Louis was forced to give up his invasion of England.

	Any man with ears to hear, hear me now	Ore oie qui oreiles a;
	and make sure he pays full attention to my words!	De bien oïr s'entende ja!
	For the fact is that in my words you will hear it all,	Qu'en cez moz orreiz ja la somme
	how God came to the assistance of that worthy man	Com Dex conseilla le prodome
	who, above all others, was the very best of men,	Qui devant toz ert esleüz
	the most highly prized and trusted.	E plus presiez e plus creüz.
	"Hear me, you noble, loyal knights, "	"Oiez, frans chevaliers leials,"
	said William the Marshal,	Dist Willemes li Mareschals,
	"you who keep faith with the King.	"E qui al rei estes en fei;
16140	In God's name hear me now,	Por Dieu, or entendez a mei,
	for your attention to what I say is most necessary.	Kar molt i fait bien a entendre.
	Now that we, in order to defend our name,	Quant nos, por nostre pris defendre,
	for ourselves and for the sake of our loved ones,	E por nos e por nos amanz
	our wives and our children,	E por femes e por enfanz,
	and to defend our land	E por defendre nostre tere
	and win for ourselves the highest honour,	E por tresaute enor conquere,
	and to safeguard the peace of Holy Church	E por la pais de sainte Glise
	which our enemies have broken and infringed,	Que cil ont enfrete e malmise,
	and to gain redemption	E por aveir redemption
16150	and pardon for all our sins,	De toz noz pecchez e pardon,
	now that we, for all that, have taken on the burden of armed combat,	Sostenons des armes le fes,
	let us make sure there is no coward amongst us!	Gardez n'i ait ui nul malveis!
	Some of our enemies	Partie de nos enemis
	have got inside Lincoln,	Se sunt dedenz Nichole mis;
	and I know for a fact that the reason they have gone inside	S'i sunt entré, jel sai de veir
	is to lay siege to our castle.	Por nostre chastel asseeir,
	However, they are not all there.	Mes n'i sunt mie tot ensemble.
	I believe that lord Louis	Sire Loeïs, ce me semble,
	has gone elsewhere.	Est en autre païs torné;
16160	Those who have set out on this mission	Cil qui se sunt atorné
	have been rash in making their assault.	Se sunt enbatuz folement.
	We shall be a lily-livered lot	Trop nos deduirons molement
	if we do not now take revenge	Se nos ne pernons or venjance
	on those who have come from France	De cels qui sunt venu de France
	to take for themselves the lands of our men,	Por nostre gent deseriter,
	thinking to inherit the same.	Dont il se quident eriter.
	They seek our total destruction;	Destruire nos vuelent de bot;
	so, in God's name, let us play for the highest stakes,	Por Deu, metons tot a tot,
	for, if victory is ours,	Kar, se nos avons la victorie,
16170	we must truly bear in mind	Bien devons aveir en memorie
	that honour will accrue to us,	Qu'enor nos en sera creüe,
	and that that heritage will be defended,	E la franchise defendue
	for us and our descendants,	A nos e a nostre lignage
	which they shamefully wish	Que en volent par lor outrage
	to deprive us of; we will truly hold on to that,	Tolir nos, mes bien la tendrons;
	since it is God's wish that we defend ourselves.	Dex velt que nos nos defendons.
	And, since their army is divided,	E quant lor ost est departie,
	we shall more easily overcome a part	Nos veintruns mielz l'une partie
	of their force than if they were all together.	De lor genz que trestoz ensemble;
16180	What I say is right and makes sense, I feel;	C'est dreiz e reson, ce me semble,
	God wills it and reason proves it to be right.	Dex le velt e raison le prueve.
	So, it is right that each of you should strive	Dunt est dreiz que chascuns s'esmueve
	to the best of his ability to meet this need,	Son son poër a cest afaire,
	for otherwise we cannot achieve our objective.	Car autrement nel pouons fere.
	There is not a man here who does not see	N'i a nul sol de nos ne veie
	that we must free the road that lies ahead	Qu'il couvient delivrer la veie
	with blades of iron and steel.	Devant al fer e a l'acier;
	This is not the time for idle threats,	Or n'i a mot del manacier,
	let us quickly launch an attack on them.	Mes isnelement lor corons sore.
16190	Let us give thanks to God, who has given us the opportunity	Diex nos a doné tens e ore,
	to take our revenge	Soie merci, de nos vengier
	on those who came here	De cels que por nos ledengier
	to do us harm and damage.	Sunt ci venu e por mal faire;
	Nobody should hold back:	Nus ne s'en deit ariere traire:
	a man takes full revenge for the wrong and shame done to him	Bien venge son mal e sa honte
	who overcomes his enemy."	Cil qui sun enemi sormonte."
	These words put hope in their hearts,	A cez diz pristrent esperment
	cheered, strengthened and emboldened them,	E cuer e force e ardement,
	so that they did not hesitate to advance.	K'aler avant rien ne lor coste.
16200	On the Wednesday of Whitsun	Le mecresdi de Pentecoste
	they rode to Newark,	Dessi qu'a Newerc chevalchierent;
	where they camped for the night.	La nuit iloc se herbergerent.
	The next day, Thursday, they rested.	Le juesdi aprés sejornerent;
	The Normans in the army	E li Normant qui en l'ost erent
	went to see the young Marshal	Dusqu'al gienvle Mareschal vindrent,
	and spoke to him the words	A teil parole le tindrent
	that you will hear me say next:	Comme vos m'orrez aprés dire:
	"In the name of God," they said, "my dear lord,	"En non Dieu," font il, "beals dolz sire,
	you were born in Normandy,	Vos fuistes neiz en Normendie;
16210	so it is only right for us to tell you	Si est bien dreiz que l'en vos die
	that you are aware that the Normans,	E qu'os sachiez que li Normant
	should be given the privilege of dealing the first blows	Deivent lé premiers cops avant
	in every battle fought.	Aveir en checune bataille.
	Make sure that you don't fall down on this."	Gardez qu'endreit vos ne defaille."
	When the earl of Chester heard	E quant li cuens de Cestre oï
	these words, he was not one bit pleased,	Ces moz, point ne s'en esjoï,
	and, indeed, he told them plainly, without mincing words,	Ainz lor dit pleinnement sanz faille,
	that, if he was not given the right to launch the first attack,	S'il n'a la premiere bataille,
	he would not join them in the army	Qu'il n'ireit ovec els en l'ost,
16220	and they would not have his support.	Ne de lui n'avreient acost.
	The Marshal and those present	Li Mareschal e cil qu'i erent
	did not like this dissension at all,	La discorde point n'i amerent,
	so they granted his every wish,	S'otreierent tuz ses talenz,
	whilst reserving the rights of the Normans.	Salve la dreiture as Normanz.
	Once the matter had been settled,	Quant agreanté fu l'affere,
	the papal legate, as was his duty,	Li legaz, qui bien le dut faire,
	absolved them with full remission	Les assolt en remission
	and pardon of their sins,	De lor pecchez e en pardon,
	of all the sins committed by them	De trestoz icels que il firent
16230	since the hour of their birth,	Puis icele ure qu'il nasquirent,
	so that they might be free to receive	Si qu'il en fussent quitement
	salvation on Judgement Day.	Salvé al jor del jugement.
	He then excommunicated the French	Puis escumenia les genz
	inside the town,	De France qui erent dedenz;
	a fact that is well known to people.	Issi fu fet, bien le seit l'en.
	The legate then rode	Li legaz vers Notingaham
	straight to Nottingham,	Tint son dreit chemin e sa veie.
	whilst the army proceeded to Torksey.	L'ost ves Torkesie s'aveie;
	They camped there that night	La nuit i jurent, tant vos di,
16240	and the next day, a Saturday,	E l'endemain al samedi
	following mass, they took up their arms	Aprés messe les armes pristrent
	and put every effort into preparing themselves.	D'els acesmer mult s'entremistrent.
	When they were well and truly armed,	Quant bien e bel armé se furent,
	they organised and duly	Lors atornerent comme il durent
	drew up their squadrons,	Lor batailles e conreerent
	and formed their battalions.	E lor escheles ordinerent.
	The earl of Chester rode out first,	Li cuens de Cestre eissi avant,
	a brave and highly experienced knight,	Proz chevaliers e bien savant,
	with the earl Marshal next,	E li cuens Mareschal aprés,
16250	he and his son side by side,	Il e si fiz tot pres a pres,
	both of them having high expectations	Qui molt erent en grant espeir
	of advancing their cause to the best of their ability.	D'avancier l'euvre a lor poeir.
	And so they did, very clearly,	Si firent il, bien i parut,
	for their ability produced a rich return.	Car lor poer molt i valut;
	The worthy earl of Salisbury,	E li boens cuens de Salesbere,
	whom may the Lord our God and his mother	Lequel Damlnedex e sa mere
	grant the right to share in his glory,	Face compaignon de sa glorie,
	rode forward in the third formation.	S'en eissi en la tierce estorie.
	The worthy bishop of Winchester,	Li buens evesque de Vincestre,
16260	who was in command of one part of the army	Qui d'une part ert de l'ost mestre,
	led the fourth formation	Si conduist la quarte bataille
	....................................................	..............................................
	was not for one moment harmed by that.	Unques point n'en fu enconbrez.
	When the entire army was counted up,	Quant tot li oz fu ennonbrez,
	there were only four hundred	Ne furent il que quatre cent
	and five knights amongst them,	E .v. chevalier solement,
	and, I can assure you, crossbowmen	Ne d'arbalestiers entreset
	only three hundred and seventeen.	Fors sol treis cenz e .xvii.;
	They were few, but they conducted themselves in a fine manner,	Poi furent, mes bel se porterent,
16270	for they were brave and valiant men.	Car buene gent e hardie erent.
	And once they had ridden out,	E quant issi eissu s'en furent,
	properly drawn up in close ranks,	Al reingnie, si comme il durent,
	the Marshal spoke to them	Lores parla molt hautement
	in a very stirring way,	Li Mareschal a cele gent,
	in the manner of a man who well knew how to do that	Comme cil qui bien le sout feire,
	and was best capable of pulling it off.	Car mielz en saveit a chief traire,
	He said: "Now listen, my lords!	Si dist: "Ore escoutez, seignor!
	There is honour and glory to be won here,	Vez ici hautece e enor,
	and my opinion is that we have the chance	Vez ici, ce nos est a vis,
16280	to free our land.	La delmorance del païs;
	It is true that you can win this battle.	Ci poez conquerre, c'est veirs.
	Our lands and our possessions those men	Cil nos terres e nos avers
	have seized and taken by force.	Sesissent e pernent a force;
	Shame be upon the man who does not strive,	Honiz seit qui ci ne s'esforce
	this very day, to put up a challenge,	De metre i, ui cest jor, chalenge,
	and may the Lord our God take care of the matter!	E Damlnedex conrei en prenge!
	You see them here in your power.	Vez les bel isi suz uim;
	So much do I fully guarantee,	Itant vos prenc je bien em main
	that they are ours for the taking, whatever happens,	Il sunt nostre, comment qu'il aut,
16290	if courage and bravery are not found wanting.	Se cuers e herdemenz n'i faut.
	And, if we die .......................,	E se nos morons ...........................,
	God, who knows who are his loyal servants,	Dex, qui ses buens veit e descuevre,
	will place us today in paradise,	Nos met ui en son paradis;
	of that I am completely certain.	De ce sui je certeins e fis;
	And, if we beat them, it is no lie to say	E se nos lé vencons, sanz fable,
	that we will have won eternal glory	Nos avrons enor pardurable
	for the rest of our lives,	Conquise a trestoz nos eages,
	both for ourselves and for our kin.	A nos e a toz nos lignages.
	And I shall tell you another fact	Si vos dirrai un autre acontre
16300	which works very badly against them:	Qui trop leidement les encontre,
	they are excommunicated	Que il sunt escomenïé,
	and for that reason all the more trapped.	D'itant sunt il plus enlïé;
	I can tell you that they will come to a sticky end	Si vos di que mal chief prendront,
	as they descend into hell.	Que que en enfer descendrunt.
	There you see men who have started a war	Vez ci cels qui gerre ont enprise
	on God and Holy Church.	Contre Dieu e vers seinte Glise;
	I can fully guarantee you this,	Itant vos prenc je bien en main,
	that God has surrendered them into our hands.	Dex lé nos a mis en la main.
	Let us make haste and attack them,	Haston nos, si lor coron sore,
16310	for it truly is time to do so!"	Car bien est e tens e ore!"
	When the Marshal had spoken,	Quant parlé out li Mareschals
	as the worthy, loyal,	Comme proz e comme leials
	and wise knight he was,	E come sages chevaliers,
	he entrusted his crossbowmen	Lors bailla les arbalestiers
	to Peter, the worthy bishop of Winchester,	Al buen evesque de Wincestre,
	who was in charge of leading them,	Qui de bien mener ses fu mestre,
	who had sound knowledge in that sphere,	Pieres, qui molt sout de l'afere
	and who strove hard to perform well.	E mult se pena de bien faire.
	Then he told him to place himself straightway	Aprés lui dist que demaneis
16320	to the right of the French,	Fust a la destre de Franceis;
	and he told the bowmen to make sure to	E si lor dist que tant feïssent
	spread themselves out in a long line,	Que estenduement s'entendissent,
	so that, when the French arrived,	Si que quant li Franceis venissent
	their horses would be killed under them.	Que lor chevals lor occeïssent.
	The Marshal then asked for	E li Mareschal demanda
	two hundred soldiers and ordered them	Deus cenz serjanz e quemanda
	to be ready to kill	Qu'en ocire meïssent peine
	their own horses with their knives,	Des couverez lor chevals demeine,
	so as to be able to take shelter behind them,	Si qu'en lieu de lices lor fussent
16330	if necessary, in an emergency.	Al besoingn se mestier eüssent.
	All those who listened to the earl	Tuit cil qui le conte escouterent
	displayed their joy	Joiosement se demenerent,
	and disported themselves as merrily	E aussins envoisiement
	as if they were at a tournament.	Com se ço fust torneiement.
	In the castle,	Laïnz furent Franceis par nombre,
	if I have got my figures right,	Qui li nonbre ne m'en encombre,
	there were six hundred and eleven French knights,	Sis cenz e unze chevaliers;
	and at least a thousand foot soldiers,	S'i furent bien mil peoniers,
	not counting the English with them,	Estre Engleis qui o els esteient,
16340	who were still on the French side.	Qui encore a els se teneient.
	Out of the city rode	De la vile eissirent eissi
	Sir Simon de Poissy,	Missires Simons de Peissi
	along with the count of Perche	E le conte del Perche o lui
	and the earl of Winchester,	E cil de Vincestre autresi,
	their mission being to observe the King's men	Que l'ost des reals sorveïssent
	and bring back a true report on their strength.	E verité lor en deïssent.
	They went and quickly returned.	Cil alerent e tost revindrent;
	The result of their observation	Lor sorveüe a itant tindrent
	was that they estimated them to be a fine body of men,	Que bele gent i ont esmee:
16350	and that a troop better equipped for war	Unques nule mielz acesmee
	and more resolute to wage it,	Ne melz enpernante de guerre
	nobody had ever seen in any land.	Ne vit mes uns en nule terre.
	Once they heard the news given to them,	As noveles que cil lor distrent
	the French withdrew behind their walls,	Franceis dedenz lor murs se mistrent,
	and they said that they knew full well	E si distrent que bien saveient
	that the King's men had not the power	Que li real poër n'aveient
	to attack them inside the city,	Qu'en la vile les assaillissent,
	whatever pretence they put up,	Quel semblant que il en feïssent,
	and that they would go away;	E distrent qu'il s'en partireient;
16360	but the King's men would not be allowed	Mes ja issi ne s'en ireient
	to get away scot-free,	Li real o correies ointes,
	because they would have other encounters	Qu'il n'eüssent autres acointes
	as they left, so they swore.	Al departir, ce s'afichoent,
	And they disclosed and gave what,	E bien disoient e mostroent,
	in their opinion, was the real reason	Ce lor ert vis, dreite acheison
	why and how	Coument e pur quele raison
	they would gain many of their possessions:	Il avreient del lor assez,
	their horses were weary	Car lor chevals erent lassez
	from carrying heavy burdens, from the long journeys,	Des grant fes e des granz tornees,
16370	from all the stopping, the turning round,	De l'arester, des retornees,
	because both by night and by day	Qu'il lor couveneit nuit e jor
	their masters had to be mounted on their backs.	Que sor els fussent lor seignor.
	The French in saying this spoke the truth,	Li Franceis d'itant veir se distrent,
	but, nevertheless, the King's men	Mes totes veies s'entremistrent
	began to move quickly	Li real d'aler bien e tost
	with the entire army towards the city,	Vers la vile e tote lor ost
	and boldly so, not caring who saw them.	Herdïement, ne chaut quis veie.
	And the Marshal constantly	E li Mareschal tote veie
	exhorted and addressed them,	Les amoneste e lor sermone
16380	giving them heart and courage.	E herdement e cuer lor done,
	His words to them were: "My lords, my friends,	Si lor a dit: "Seignor ami,
	look how those who mustered	Veiz ci cels qui sunt arrami
	with a view to riding to attack you	De venir vers vos a bataille
	have already shown their true colours	Ont ja depeciee lor caille
	and retreated behind their walls;	E dedenz lor murs se sunt mis;
	that is what God promised us.	C'est ce que Dex nos a pramis.
	God gives us great glory!	Dex nos done grant glorie;
	This is our first victory,	C'est ci la premiere victorie
	the fact that we have made the French hide away,	Que por nos se muchent Franceis,
16390	men who in the past were accustomed	Cil qui soleient estre anceis
	to coming first in the tournament;	Li premier al tornïement;
	God is giving us good guidance.	Dex nos feit bel aveiement.
	They greatly increase our worth and lessen their own	Mult nos haucent e mult s'abessent
	when they leave us in charge of the fields outside.	Cill qui les chans defors nos lessent.
	We shall encircle the city,	Nos seron entor la cité,
	I can tell you that for a fact.	Cest vos di je por verité;
	Let us perform well, God so wishes it.	Feson le bien, car Dex le volt.
	Whoever was wont to be a brave man,	Qui c'onques prodom estre seult
	let him really see to it that he is so now,	Si le soit ui en bone atente;
16400	lest he repent of his deeds this day."	Ja por un jor ne se repente."
	My lords, I must add something further:	Seignor, ci me covient plus dire,
	those who have given me my subject matter	Car cil qui me donent matire
	do not agree unanimously,	Ne s'acordent pas tot a un,
	and I cannot follow all of them	Ne je ne puis pas a chascun
	for that would be wrong of me	Obeïr, car je mefereie,
	and I would lose the right road	Sin perdreie ma dreite veie,
	and be less trustworthy,	Si en fereie mains a creire,
	since, when telling a true story,	Car en estorie qui est veire
	nobody does right to lie;	Ne doit nus par reison mentir,
16410	lies are not to be condoned	Car ne fait pas a consentir
	in a matter which is so well known,	Mensonge en chose si seüe,
	so widely heard about and witnessed.	Qui tant est oï e veüe;
	But I well tell you this much, in a word,	Mes tant vos dirrei a un mot,
	that when the Marshal saw and knew	Quant li Mareschal vit e sout
	about the whole business and the manner of it,	Tote la chose e le portreit
	namely that the other side had retreated,	Que cil s'erent arriere treit,
	before our army advanced further,	Ainz que l'ost plus avant venist
	he told John the Marshal,	A Johan li Mareschal dist,
	his nephew, to go	Son nevo, qu'el chastel alast
16420	and make enquiries	Si enqueïst e demandast
	about the lie of the land inside,	L'estre dedenz e la maniere,
	and then return.	Puis si s'en revenist arriere.
	And Sir John carried out	E missire Johans si fist
	quickly and to good effect what his uncle had said:	Tost e bien, si commë il dist:
	he went straight to the castle,	Tot dreit vers le chastel ala,
	and, as he reached it,	E issi conmë il vint la
	Sir Geoffrey de Serlant	A l'encontre li ert errant
	came riding up to meet him.	Missires Geffrei de Cerllant,
	On one side of the road	Qui d'une part en une estree
16430	he showed him the entrance	Li demostra tote l'entree
	through which the army could penetrate the castle,	Par ou l'ost laïnz avendreit,
	for there would be nobody there to stop it.	Que ja nuls nel contretendreit.
	Sir John could see for himself	Misssire Johans vit molt bien
	that the man showing him the entrance	Que cil ne li menteit de rien
	was not lying in any way,	Qui l'entree li enseignot;
	and so he returned as soon as possible,	Retorna s'en a l'einz qu'il pout,
	for he had no wish to tarry.	Car n'out talent de sejorner.
	Just as he thought to turn his horse round,	Si comme il s'en quida torner,
	the French, who were lying in ambush,	Li Franceis, qui en aguet furent,
16440	immediately assailed him.	Erraument sore li corrurent.
	He did not behave like a man terrified	Ne fist pas esbaïement,
	but boldly encountered	Ainz encontra herdïement
	the first few of them to reach him,	Toz les primereins qui li vindrent,
	and they could not withstand him,	Si qu'onques vers lui ne se tindrent,
	because of his bravery and courage,	Par herdement e par proëce
	his skill and his speed.	E par bien faire e par vistesse;
	He returned so quickly to where he had come from ...	Meis retorna si tost ariere ....
	and there was not a single one of them there.	Qu'onques nuls d'els n'i eüst.
	Thus, in very truth, John the Marshal	Issi parti de cels de France
16450	departed from the French	Sanz meschef e sanz mesestance
	without suffering any harm or mischief,	Johans li Mareschal por veir,
	and he fully made them realise	E bien lor fist aperceveir
	that he had gone there to seek them out	Qu'i esteit venuz por els querre
	and to claim his land from them.	E por chalengier lor sa terre.
	Once he had sent them on their way,	Quant il les out mis en la veie,
	he rode straight back to his uncle	Tot dreit vers son oncle s'aveie,
	and told him all that had happened to him.	Si li conta tot son afaire;
	I can tell you that his uncle was much pleased	Sachiez qu'a l'oncle pot molt plere
	by his exploit, the encounter with the enemy,	E de l'uevre e de l'assemblee
16460	and with the news about the entrance.	E des noveles de l'entree.
	That is what Sir John did on that occasion,	Issi le fist a cele feiz
	but it would not be right for me	Sire Johans, mes n'est pas dreiz
	to relate my account in advance;	Que redie par ci me taille;
	what he did in the battle	De ce qu'il fist en la bataille
	will be related when the right moment comes,	Sera parlé quant lius en iert,
	and as my written source stipulates.	Si com l'estorie le requiert.
	The bishop of Winchester,	E li avesques de Wincestre,
	who had a great wish to learn about their situation,	Qui molt volt saveir de lor estre,
	rode of his own will towards the walls,	Ala vers les murs volentiers
16470	with a big contingent of crossbowmen.	A grant plenté d'arbalestiers;
	Then he told them to wait for him there,	Puis lor dist qu'iloc l'atendissent,
	and to remain patient for a while,	O un poi iloc se soufrissent,
	and said that he would return quickly.	Qu'il revendreit hastivement.
	Taking with him only one soldier,	O un servant tant solement
	he entered the castle,	Dedenz le chastel s'en entra,
	and, as he did so, he met	E en son entrer encontra
	Sir Geoffrey de Serlan,	De Serlant monseignor Geiffrei,
	who had been in great fear.	Qui out esté en grant esfrei;
	They saw the collapsing fallen walls	Les murs trebuchiez e quassez
16480	and greatly lamented what they saw.	Virent, si les pleinstrent asez.
	The bishop witnessed the damage sustained	Li evesques vit les tormenz
	by walls, houses, and people,	Des murs, des meissons e des genz
	knocked down to the ground and laid low	Que les perrieres qui jetoent
	by the stones launched by catapults.	Trebuchoent e abateient.
	Some of those inside the castle	Alcuns de cels qui laïnz erent
	tried to protect him, and asked him,	Le garnirent, si li roverent,
	for God's sake, to stand back,	Por Dieu, qu'il se traïst arrieres
	because of the mangonels and catapults	Por mangonels e por perieres,
	which were breaking everything in sight,	Qui pecieient tot entor,
16490	but he entered the tower.	Et il s'en entra en la tor.
	There he found that worthy lady	Iloec trova la boene dame,
	(may God protect her in body and soul!)	Que Dex gard en cors e en ame,
	who was its castellan	Qui dame cel chastel esteit,
	and was defending it to the best of her ability.	A son poeir le defendeit.
	The lady was very pleased	Bien s'en tint la dame avenue,
	and was full of joy at his arrival,	Molt se heta de sa venue,
	and he gave her great comfort	E il molt le conforta
	through the news he brought her.	Des noveles qu'il aporta.
	I can tell you that he did not stay long there;	Poi i demora, ge vos di;
16500	he entered the town on foot	Par un postiz a pié eissi
	through a postern gate, for his wish was	En la vile, car il voleit
	to see what the situation was there.	Veer coument ke seeit.
	And as he looked around him,	E comme il esgardout issi,
	he caught sight of an old gate,	Une vielle porte choisi,
	a gate of great antiquity	Qui ert de grant antequité
	which was the link between the city walls	E qui les murs de la cité
	and those of the castle.	Joigneit ovec cels del chastel.
	When he saw it, he was very pleased,	Quant il la vit, molt li fu bel,
	but it had long before been	Mes el fu ancïenement
16510	blocked in with stone and cement,	Close de pere e de ciment,
	so that nobody could have passed through it,	Si que nuls entrer n'i peüst
	whatever need he had to do so.	Por nul bosoing qu'il en eüst.
	Once the bishop had seen	Quant li evesques out veüe
	and espied that gate,	Cele porte e aparceüe,
	he had it knocked out	Por le chastel plus enforcier
	so as to give better protection to the castle,	La fist abatre e trebuchier,
	and so that the king's army could see and know	E que l'ost veïst e seüst
	that they had a certain point of entry there.	Que seüre entree i eüst,
	But, before doing so, he prayed to God in the matter,	Mes Deu tot avant en preia,
16520	and God granted him his wish.	E Damlnedex li otreia.
	The bishop returned to join the army,	Li avesques a l'ost revint,
	whose men came to meet him with joy in their hearts,	Qui a joie encontre lui vint,
	and every man in his squadron was singing,	E chantout chascuns en s'estorie
	as if victory were already theirs.	Cum il eüsent ja victorie.
	The bishop was full of mirth	Li evesques joiosement
	as he told them gently, in jest,	Lor dist par giu buenement
	why he had played that trick of his:	Por ço qu'il out fait cele tresque,
	it was with a view to claiming the bishop's palace	Qu'il eüst la meisun l'evesque
	to sleep in when he got there,	A lui gesir quant la vendreit,
16530	for he ought to have it by right.	Qu'il la deveit aveir par dreit.
	"The reason why it should be given up to me	"Por ço me deit estre livree
	is that I have arranged that entrance	Que l'entree i ai aparaillé
	for the safe	Par ou noz genz seürement
	and valorous entry of our men."	I enterront proosement."
	And when Fulcher's men heard	E quant les genz Fauques oïrent
	these words, they were overjoyed;	Itels moz, molt s'en esjoïrent;
	they went straight ahead and entered,	Tot avant dedenz entrerent,
	but those inside repelled them	Mes leidement les reüserent
	savagely, so that they achieved hardly anything	Cil dedenz, qu'il n'i firent gueres,
16540	and so their fortunes quickly turned.	Tost lor changierent lor afeires.
	The bishop said to the Marshal:	Li avesque al Mareschal
	"Upon my soul, these men of ours did badly,	Dist: "Par mon chef, cist ont fait mal,
	for it is abundantly obvious	Car c'est la verité provee
	that they haven't yet found	Qu'il n'ont pas unquore trovee
	the right gate, the one I had in mind.	La dreite entree ou mis cuers pense,
	There they will find no resistance,	Car ja n'i troveront defense;
	for I can tell you that nobody guards it;	Car sachiez que nuls ne la garde
	no man on our side need have any fear.	Ne nuls de nos n'i avra garde.
	And I can tell you for a fact	E sachiez bien, tot a seür,
16550	that a part of their wall	C'une partie de lur mur
	is breached, to our advantage,	I est a nostre ues aoverte
	but not open to those inside.	E a cels de laïnz coverte;
	Come, I will take you there!"	Je vos i merrai; venez i!"
	The Marshal replied,	E li Mareschal respondi,
	that worthy earl William,	Li boens cuens qui ot non Willelme:
	"God's lance! Here, bring me my helmet!"	"Por la glavie Dieu! cha mon helme!"
	The bishop said in reply: "My lord,	Li evesques respondi: "Sire,
	listen a while to what I wish to say:	Oiez un poi que vuil dire:
	it is not wise to act in such haste	L'en ne deit mie en tel sorsalt
16560	and launch such an attack at this time.	Ci endreit faire teil assalt;
	Instead, allow two men	Mes souffrez que entor la tor
	from each of our squadrons	Augent dui home tot entor
	to go round the tower,	De chascune de noz batailles,
	to find out about the hiding-places,	Qui enquerront les repostailles
	and, in line with what they discover,	E, selon ce que il veront,
	to give us their advice."	Selonc ce nos conseilleront.
	The Marshal accepted this,	Li Mareschal bien li otreie.
	and then set forth,	Lors se mist avant a la veie,
	whilst the bishop of Winchester	E li evesque de Wincestre
16570	.......... ten ................;	Dis ...........................................;
	he took two from each formation,	De chascune eschiele en prist deus,
	and with them he went to the place.	Dessi qu'al liu vint ovec els.
	And when those who went encountered the soldiers,	E quant les servanz encontrerent,
	who had beaten an ugly retreat,	Qui leidement parti s'en erent,
	they reviled them greatly	Molt les ledirent cil qui vindrent
	when they were close to them in the throng.	Quant dedenz la presse les tindrent.
	"Ride on!" the Marshal then said	Lors dist li Mareschal: "Errez!"
	to all his men, "for you will see them	A toz les suens, "car les verrez,
	beaten in a short while.	Qu'il seront vencu en poi d'ore.
16580	Shame be upon the head of him who waits longer!"	Honiz seit qui plus demore!"
	The bishop said to him: "My dear lord,	Li evesques li dist: "Bel sire,
	listen a while to what I wish to say to you.	Oiez un poi que jo vueil dire.
	Wait in there for your men,	Atendez leiens vostre gent;
	for it will be a finer and more proper thing,	Si sera plus bel e plus gent
	and far safer, I think,	E greingnor seürté, ce semble,
	if we all rode there as a body.	Que nos augons trestuit ensemble,
	That is what is fitting, I believe,	Que s'apartient, ce m'est a vis,
	and, at the same time, our enemies will have greater fear of us	Si nos creindront nos enemis
	when they see us all together;	Plus, quant ensemble nos veront;
16590	our arrival will cost them dearly."	Nostre venue comperont."
	The truth is that the Marshal	D'icez paroles, c'est la veire,
	had no inclination to accept these words of advice.	Nel volt pas li Mareschal creire,
	Instead, more swiftly than a merlin could fly,	Mes plus tost c'uns emerillons
	he spurred on his horse,	Feri cheval des esperonz,
	and all those in his company	Si que tot cil qui o lui erent
	were emboldened by what they saw him do.	S'enhardirent quant l'esgarderent.
	A young lad then said to him:	Un vallez li comence a dire:
	"In God's name, my dear lord, wait for us;	"Por Deu, atendez nos, beal sire;
	you haven't got your helmet on."	Vos n'avez pas vostre healme."
16600	It was then that earl William realised that this was so,	Lors s'aparchust li cuens Willealme;
	so he said to the young Marshal:	Lors dist al giemble Mareschal:
	"Wait for me here	"Atendez moi a cest ostal
	while I get my helmet;	Tant que j'aie mon helme pris,
	I nearly made a mistake there."	Mes d'itant dui aveir mespris."
	The delay was not for long,	Ne fist mie grant demoree;
	and once the helmet was on his head	E quant il ot sa teste armee
	he appeared more handsome than all the rest.	Sor trestoz les autres fu bels;
	As swiftly as if he were a bird,	Si treslegiers come uns oisels,
	a sparrowhawk or an eagle,	Esperviers ne alerions,
16610	he pricked the horse with his spurs.	Feri le cheval des esperons.
	From now on he wished to be in full view.	Des uimés velt que l'en le veie;
	No ravenous lion, on finding its prey	Lions famillos sor sa preie,
	helpless on the ground beneath it,	Quant soz sei la trueve a bandon,
	ever rushed at it with such ferocity,	Ne vient unques de cel randon
	I would say, as did the Marshal	Cum li Mareschal, ce m'est vis
	when he attacked his enemies.	Corut sore a ses enemis.
	This man, who had performed so many deeds of valour,	Cil qui des proëces fist tantes
	plunged into the very thick of them	Plus que la longor de treis hantes
	over a distance greater than three spears' length,	S'enbati en lor grant espeisse,
16620	thinning their ranks by main force	Si qu'a force les deespeisse
	and breaking up in his path a press	E derront avant sei la presse,
	which was very tightly formed and crowding in on him.	Qui molt ert espresse e empresse;
	He really knew how to clear the way ahead,	Bien sout fere avant lui la veie,
	routing them all and pushing them aside.	Que toz les desrote e deveie.
	The bishop followed,	Li evesques aprés ala,
	shouting loudly	Qui a haute voiz s'escria:
	many times, in all directions:	Plusors feiz amont e aval:
	"This way! God is with the Marshal!"	"Ça! Dex aïe al Mareschal!"
	But I nearly omitted to mention the fact	Mes d'itant dui aveir mespris
16630	that, as our side arrived, there was killed	Qu'el venir des noz fu ocis
	their most expert stonethrower,	Lor plus mestre perreior,
	the one who was bombarding the tower.	Cil qui perreiot a la tor;
	When he saw our knights,	Cil, quant il vit noz chevaliers,
	he had become more heartened and resolute,	Si em fu plus bauz e plus fiers,
	for he thought they were on his side,	Qu'il quida ce fuissent des suens,
	so the game seemed a better one to him.	Si li sembla li gius plus buens.
	He put his stone in the catapult,	Lors mist la pierre en la perriere,
	and those coming up behind him,	E cil qui li erent derriere,
	once they had heard him say "Eh!" twice,	Si comme il out dit deus feiz: "é!"
16640	prevented him from saying another "Eh!",	Le firent faillir a l'autre "é",
	for they cut off his head	Car il li couperent la teste,
	without any further ceremony.	N'unques n'en firent autre feste.
	I can vouch for the fact that the young Marshal	Li genvles Mareschal por veir
	made it plain for all to see	Fist bien a toz aparceveir
	that he had no wish to be left behind,	Qu'il ne voleit pas estre ariere,
	since his banner was always	Car toz dis esteit sa baniere
	seen at the very front,	El premier front devant veüe;
	and was well recognised there that day.	Bien i fu le jor coneüe.
	Our men rode up most fiercely,	Nos genz vindrent molt durement,
16650	and the other side began to put up	E cil molt angosusement
	a very stout defence,	Se coumencierent a defendre,
	though they had no wish to tarry there for very long,	Mes n'i voldrent pas trop atendre;
	for it was not a matter of issuing threats.	N'i aveit mot del manescier.
	By the time the Marshal had had his helmet laced up,	Quant son healme fist lacier
	I can tell you for a fact that	Li Mareschal, por verité,
	his son entered the city	Entra sis filz en la cité
	through the breach in the wall, with a sizeable contingent of his own men,	Par la breque o plenté des suens,
	of which there were many worthy present.	Dont il i ot asez de buens,
	.....................................	E molt entor lui seu
16660	....he found the enemy there,	La gent trova de la,
	who formed a far more handsome contingent,	Qui plus esteient bels d'asez
	for there were many more of those there	Car trop en i ot amassez
	assembled in the city	De cels qui en la cité erent
	than in the company of those who had entered.	Plus que de cels qui i entrerent,
	Despite that, he lost no time in assailing them.	Mes il lor corust tantost sore.
	And I can tell you that, within a very short time,	Si vos di en molt poi d'ore
	they had inflicted great damage on those inside,	Orent cels dedenz molt quassez,
	although many feats of arms had been performed	Mes fait i out d'armes asés
	by both sides in the meantime.	Entre tant d'ambedeus parties.
16670	Before it came to the conclusion of the fight,	Ainz qu'il venist as departies
	those inside the city had had	En orent cil de la cité
	the worst of it, I can tell you,	Le pis parti, c'est verité,
	for I can assure you that	Car je vos di que tote veie
	the young Marshal continually	Les mist cil par force a la veie
	sent their men on their way by force.	Qui esteit gienvles Mareschals;
	And the father came galloping up,	E li peres, qui vit grant dals,
	together with the worthy earl of Salisbury,	E li buens cuens de Salesbere,
	to whom may God and his mother	A cui Damlnedex e sa mere
	grant such a reward	Otreit issi buen gueredon
16680	that he find pardon for his sins;	Qu'il ait de ses pecchez pardon,
	these two turned to the right,	Icist dui tornerent a destre
	leaving on their left	E si lasserent a senestre
	a church, and they came across the enemy,	Un mostier e lor gent troverent,
	many of them	Dunt grant partie ileques erent
	in great fear and trembling.	En grant peor e en esmai,
	Robert of Roppesley	Si que Robert de Ropelai
	picked up a lance to joust,	Prist une lance por joster;
	and, whatever the cost might be to him,	Que que il li deüst coster,
	he dealt such a savage blow to the earl	Si durement feri le conte
16690	of Salisbury, as our story has it,	De Salesbire, c'est al conte,
	that he broke his lance into pieces,	Que sa lance en pieces bruissa;
	after which he rode on past.	A itant utre s'en passa.
	As he rode back,	Al retor, en son revenir,
	the Marshal dealt him such a fierce	Li Mareschal de teil aïr
	blow between the shoulders	Entrë espalles le feri
	that he almost knocked him to the ground.	Si que par poi ne l'abati.
	And he, who had all the misfortune,	E il, qui tot a le mescheeir,
	slid to the ground	Se lassa a terre chaeir;
	and, out of fear, went to hide	Por la poor s'ala muchier,
16700	as quickly as he could in an upper room,	A l'einz qu'il pout, en un solier,
	for he dared not be found on the ground.	Car il n'osa remeindre a terre.
	And our side had no inclination to pay him much attention	Ne voldrent atendre a lui guere,
	and rode on in pursuit.	Mes por teser avant passerent.
	They found the count of Perche	Le conte de Perche troverent
	right in front of the church,	Aseiz pres devant le mostier
	looking very arrogant and proud.	Molt orguillos e molt tresfier.
	He was a very tall, handsome, fine-looking man,	Molt esteit bels e granz e genz
	and he had many men with him.	E molt out grant plenté de genz;
	They put up a very stern defence,	Molt durement se defendirent,
16710	whilst our side strove with all their might	Et li nostre molt entendirent
	to do them mischief,	A els grever de grant puissance,
	for they detested the French.	Car molt haeient cels de France.
	There were many feats of arms performed there,	Ilec ot fet d'armes assez,
	and the truth is that there were many	Car de bleciez e de quassez
	of their men who were found	E de folez e de batuz
	within the walls wounded and maimed,	E de pris e de retenuz
	trampled on and beaten,	I ot molt, c'est la verité,
	and many taken captive,	Des trovez dedenz la cité,
	and many of our own also came to grief,	E des nos genz lediz sovent,
16720	for nobody there sought protection	Car nuls n'i quereit tensement
	or gave himself up for ransom or wished to be enrolled among the prisoners;	N'amercïer ne metre en taille;
	all were intent on the fight.	Tuit tendeient a la bataille.
	[Fierce was the battle and the fighting,]	Grant fu la mellee e l'estor,
	and the count of Perche performed	E molt i fist d'armes le jor
	many great feats of arms that day,	Li quens del Perche durement,
	although he did not last out long,	Mes n'i dura pas longement,
	for he began to inflict	E molt commença fierement
	great damage on our men.	A grever tote nostre gent.
	The Marshal could see that the French	Li Mareschal vit que sa gent
16730	were forcing his men	Remuoent molt durement
	from the high ground to the low,	Les Franceis del mont vers le val
	pushing them back down.	E les reüsoent aval.
	Immediately he stretched out his hand	En es le pas tendi la main
	and took the count of Perche's horse by the bridle,	E prist le conte par le frein,
	and that seemed the right thing to do,	Del Perche, e si sembla raison,
	for he was the highest ranking man	Por ço qu'il ert le plus hauz hom
	to be found on the French side.	Qui i fust devers les Franceis,
	However, before that, he had been wounded	Mais il esteit navrez anceis
	mortally through his eyehole	Parmi l'oilliere mortelment
16740	by a cruel straight thrust of the sword	D'un espee estreit leidement,
	delivered by Sir Reginald Croc	Del quel misire Reinal Croc
	with the point of the sword straight through the eye.	L'aveit feru tot a estoc.
	When the count of Perche saw the defenders	Quant li cuens del Perche a noz genz
	being so pushed back by our men,	Vit si reüser cels dedenz,
	he immediately let go of his bridle,	Par lui fu tost laschiez sis freins
	took his sword in both hands,	E a pris l'espee de deus mains
	and dealt the Marshal	E fiert li Mareschal Willielme
	three consecutive blows on his helmet.	Treis cops pres a pres sor le helme;
	The blows dealt were so hard and fierce	Si tresgranz e si estult furent
16750	that the marks could be clearly seen on the helmet.	Que sor le healme bien parurent;
	But, immediately after that, he slumped down	Tantost si branla contreval
	and fell from his horse.	E trebucha de son cheval.
	Truly, when the earl Marshal saw	Quant li cuens Mareschal por veir
	the count fall in this manner,	Vit issi le conte chaeir,
	he thought he had fainted	Si cuida qu'il se fust pasmez
	and feared he would be blamed.	E dota qu'il n'en fust blasmez.
	To William de Montigny	A Willeme de Montigni
	he said: "Dismount and take off	Dist: "Decendez e ostez lui
	that helmet which is causing him great distress;	Son helme qui forment le grieve;
16760	I fear that he may not get up again."	De li dot qu'il ne se relieve."
	Once his helmet had been removed,	Quant li helmes lui fu ostez,
	while the Marshal was by his side	E cil fu de lui el costez,
	to see that he was stone dead,	E vit qu'il esteit toz freiz morz,
	the sorrow there was intense.	La fu grant li desconforz.
	Once the blade had been withdrawn	De la plaie qui lui fu fete
	from the wound he had received through	Par l'oiliere, quant en fu trete
	his eyehole, there was nothing for him but death.	L'alemele, morir l'estut;
	It was a great pity that he died in this manner.	Ce fu grant dous qu'issi morut.
	And when the French, who were a mighty force,	E quant Franceis, qui grant gent erent,
16770	saw that our men had attacked	Virent que nos genz se meslerent
	them with such vigour,	A els si vigorosement
	they were greatly dismayed	Si s'esmaierent durement
	and could no longer stand and resist.	E qu'il n'i poeient plus estre;
	They rode down a street on the left	Aval une rue a senestre
	and headed for Wigford,	S'en tornerent ver Wikefort,
	for it was difficult for them to stand their ground.	Car l'atendre lor ert fort.
	They were pleased when they found	Bel lor fu, car troverent
	some of their men still in the field;	De lor genz qui encore i erent;
	very pleased, I should think.	Molt lor en fu bel, ce me semble.
16780	They then grouped together	Lors se ralïerent ensemble
	with a view to launching another assault,	Por venir encore assembler,
	but they would have done better to steal away,	Mes melz les en venist embler,
	as some did subsequently,	Come tels i ot firent puis,
	as I read it in my source,	Si comme en l'estorie le truis;
	for they looked to their right	Car il regarderent sor destre
	and saw the earl of Chester	Si virent le conte de Cestre
	in the company of his worthy men,	E sa bone gent ovec lui;
	and that turned out to be to their great cost.	Molt lor torna en grant ennui.
	The young Marshal went to see his father,	Li gienbles Mareschal al pere
16790	and he gave him a very warm welcome	Vint, qui molt li fist bele here
	and was overjoyed	E molt durement s'esjoï
	by what he had seen and heard,	De ce que il vit e oï
	that is that his son performed so exceedingly well	Que si durement le feseit
	in the combat, which was much to his liking.	En l'estor qui molt li pleseit.
	The father asked: "Are you wounded?"	Li pere dist: "Avés nul mal?"
	He replied: "My lord, not at all."	Il respondi: "Sire, nenal."
	The worthy man in turn said: "I am certain that,	E li prodom respondi: "Certes,
	if it please God, our losses	Si Dieu pleist, nos avrons nos pertes
	will be somewhat repaired today.	Alques restorees encui.
16800	In my opinion and estimation,	Si comme g'entent e je cui,
	we shall either defeat them this very day	Nos lé veintromes ui cest jor
	or they will leave us victors in the field.	Ou il nos guerperont l'estor.
	Then it will be plain for all to see	Si ert veü apertement
	how the French perform.	Qu'il uevrent li Franceis.
	Let every man take thought to do well,	Ore penst chascuns de bien faire,
	for we have no wish to seek their company."	Car nos nes volons mie atrere."
	After that the French arrived	A itant vindrent li Franceis
	with the English	E ensemble o els li Engleis,
	who had fallen in with them.	Icil qui o els se teneient;
16810	In tight battle-formation	Serré e bataillié esteient
	they came riding uphill,	E veneient encontremont,
	but, before they had reached the top,	Mes anceis qu'il fussent amont
	they met our forces.	Encontrerent il nostre gent.
	They were not at all pleased by what they saw,	Ne lor sembla pas bel ne gent,
	for our side rode in a fine, orderly fashion	Qu'il vindrent sagement e bel
	between the church and the castle.	Entre l'eglise e le chastel.
	They engaged with their men and attacked them	Nostre gent a els assemblerent
	so savagely that they drove them	Si durement qu'il les menerent
	by force back down hill, in disarray	Par force contreval arriere,
16820	and not following road or track.	Sanz quere chemin ne chariere.
	Sir Alan Basset and his brother,	Sire Aleins Basset e sis freres
	Sir Thomas, with loud shouts	Sire Thomas, o lor vois cleres,
	attacked them from behind	Les escrierent par deriere
	together with all their bold and valiant men.	A toz lor genz herdie e fere.
	When they saw themselves surrounded,	Quant enclos se virent issi,
	they were somewhat dismayed,	Lors furent alques esbahi,
	and they had no time to rest nor find relief	Qu'il n'orent arrest ne confort
	until they reached the bridge in Wigford.	Dessi qu'al pont de Wikefort;
	But then they were on soft ground.	Lors furent en la mole terre.
16830	A man would not have had to ride there	La ne covint pas aler quere
	very far to seek out combat,	Chevalerie gueres loingnz,
	for every man with a mind to do that	Car chascuns en out pleins les poins
	had his hands full of it;	Qui d'armes se volt entremetre;
	there was no question there of offering pledges,	Qu'il n'i aveient gaige a metre
	for the sole price to pay would be their heads and their lives.	Ne mes les testes e les vies.
	The boasts made at night in the lodgings	La n'erent proz les aaties
	were of no use here;	Que l'en feit al seir a l'osteil;
	they had much else to do.	Asez aveient a feire eil.
	There were many feats of arms performed there	Ilec ot fet d'armes assez
16840	by both sides, until	D'amedeus pars, tant que lassez
	even the very strongest amongst them felt weary,	S'en sentirent tot li plus fort,
	for there was no succour	Car ilec n'aveit nul confort
	to be expected:	Ou il se peüssent atendre
	all they could expect was the giving and receiving of blows.	Fors de cops doner e de prendre.
	Some speak of great feats of arms	Tel parole de bien fait d'armes
	who, if they held a shield	Que, s'il teneit par les enarmes
	by the straps at such a time,	Un escu en itel afaire,
	would certainly not know what to do with it.	Certes, qu'il n'en savreit que faire;
	And, if they were fully armed,	E s'il esteit de tot armez,
16850	they would think they were bewitched,	Il quidereit estre charmez,
	to the point where they would be powerless to move,	Si que ja mes ne se meüst
	however much they needed to do so.	Por nul besoing qu'il en eüst.
	What is armed combat? Is it the same	Qu'est fere d'armes? fet en l'an
	as working with a sieve or winnow,	Si comme d'un crible ou d'un van
	with an axe or mallet?	Ou d'une coingnie ou d'un mail?
	Not at all, it is much nobler work,	Nenil, c'est trop greignor travail,
	for he who undertakes these tasks is able to take a rest	Car cil quin uevre se repose
	when he has worked for a while.	Quant il a ovré une pose.
	What, then, is chivalry?	Que est donques chevalerie?
16860	Such a difficult, tough,	Si forte chose e si herdie
	and very costly thing to learn	E si trescostos a aprendre
	that no coward ventures to take it on.	Que nuls malveis ne l'ose enprendre.
	Is every knight really such?	Est chascuns chevaliers un tels?
	Not at all, for.............	Nenil, nen a astels
	there are many who do nothing with their arms,	Assez qui d'armes n'en font rien
	but that does not prevent them from boasting.	E sin richeient il molt bien.
	Any man seeking to achieve high honour	Qui en haute enor se velt metre
	must first see to it	Primes li covient entremetre
	that he has been well schooled.	Qu'il en ait esté a escole.
16870	At the battle of Lincoln	En la bataille de Nichole
	were some who had learned sufficiently	Ot de tels quin orent apris
	to have won high renown.	Tant qu'il esteient de haut pris.
	I can tell you that in that battle	Bien sachiez qu'en cele assemblee
	prowess was not lacking,	Ne fu mie proësse emblee,
	for you would have seen knights	Car la veïst l'en chevaliers
	armed and mounted on their chargers,	Armez seeir sor les destriers,
	holding their shields by the straps.	Les escuz as enarmes pris.
	Any man who rode a valuable horse	Qui aveit buen cheval de pris
	and had in his hand a sturdy lance,	E teneit en sa main boen glavie
16880	would not have traded that lance for all the gold in Blaye,	Nel chanjast por tot l'or de Blaive,
	nor would he have lent it at that hour of need,	Ne nel prestast a cel bosoingn:
	for, had he done so, he would have been hard put to it to get it back.	Trop li fust li recovrers loing.
	Had you been there, you would have seen great blows dealt,	La veïst l'en grant coups ferir,
	heard helmets clanging and resounding,	Haumes soner e retentir
	seen lances fly in splinters in the air,	E gleives voler en esteles,
	saddles vacated by riders, knights taken prisoner.	Chevaliers prendre e vuidier seles.
	You would have heard, from place to place,	La oïst l'en parmi les places
	great blows delivered by swords and maces	Grant cops d'espees e de maches
	on helmets and on arms,	Sor les helmes e sor les braz
16890	[and seen] knives and daggers drawn	E coutels treire e alesnaz
	for the purpose of stabbing horses;	Por chevals ocire a estoc;
	their protective covering was not worth a fig.	N'i valeit coverture un froc.
	You would have seen hands stretched out	La veïst l'en tendre les mains
	on many a side to take horses by their bridles.	De plusors parz por prendre as freinz;
	Some spurred forward to help	Li un poigneient por secore
	and come to the rescue of companions	Lor compaignons e por recore
	they saw suffering injury,	Qu'il veeient venir a honte,
	but there was no question of an actual rescue.	Mes del rescorre n'eirt nul conte.
	The noise there was so great	La esteit la noise si grant
16900	that you would not have heard God thunder	Que l'en n'i oïst Deu tonant,
	for anything, had he chosen to do so,	Por nule rien, se il tonast,
	and nobody would have been aware of it.	Ne nuls garde ne s'en donast.
	When the shout "The King's men! The King's men!" went up,	Quant l'en criout: "Reials! Reials!"
	you would have seen the traitors	Lors veïst l'en les desleals
	so disturbed and careworn,	Si trespensez e alordiz
	so bowed down and dumbfounded,	E enbronchiez e estordiz
	that they did not know what to do,	Que il ne saveient que feire,
	nor was there any question of retreat.	N'il n'i aveit mot del retreire.
	The King's men began to get the upper hand;	Li Real se pristrent a prendre;
16910	there was no question of putting up a defence there,	Ça n'i aveit mot de defendre,
	for they knew and could see only too well	Car bien virent e bien saveient
	that they had completely lost.	Que tot a tot perdu aveient.
	William Bloet, who held the banner	Ne voleit pas estre deriere
	of the young Marshal,	Willeme, qui tint la baniere,
	had no wish to be left behind;	Bloët, al gienvle Mareschal,
	indeed, he spurred his horse so quickly	Ainz hurta si tost le cheval
	that he landed in the press,	Que il s'enbati en la presse,
	which was very dense and violent,	Qui molt ert espresse e engresse,
	so heavily and head on	Si angoisseement de front
16920	that he fell over the side of the bridge,	Que il chaï outre le pont,
	he and his horse with him;	Il e son cheval tot ensemble;
	a man who launches such an attack is no coward.	N'est pas mauveis qui si asemble.
	He had not come there to lie down, however;	Il n'i vint pas por sei gesir;
	any man who had seen him leap to his feet,	Qui lors le veïst sus saillir
	would have born witness to his fleetness of foot,	Torner le deüst a vistesce
	his valour and prowess.	E a valor e a proësce.
	There the contest was fought,	Iloc fu li chaples tenuz
	but hardly long	Mes ne fu gueres meintenuz
	by the French side,	Devers la partie as Franceis,
16930	men who, beforehand, had made so many boasts	Qui tant se vantoent anceis
	about driving from the land	Qu'il chacereient de la terre
	all the men of England.	Trestoz les Engleis d'Engleterre.


	In the battle was taken prisoner Saher de Quincy,	La fu pris Sechiers de Quenci,
	earl of Winchester, as was	Cuens de Wincestre, e autresi
	Sir Robert fitz Walter.	Sire Robert le filz Gauter;
	Without any delay my lord Robert de Quincy	Si fu pris sanz nul demorier
	was also taken,	Missire Robert de Quenci,
16940	as were many others too,	E plosors autres autresi
	which was not a matter to my displeasure.	Furent pris, dont point ne m'ennuie,
	The rest rode off in flight	E li sorplus torna en fuie
	down along the street	Tote la rue contreval
	that leads straight to the Hospital;	Qui s'en veit dreit a l'Hospital;
	the way seemed a very difficult one to them	Molt lor sembla la veie forte
	until they had reached the last gate.	Dusqu'a la dererene porte.
	But then there occured an incident	La lor avint une aventure,
	which caused them great harm and injury:	Qui mult lor fu pesante e dure,
	a cow went through the gate,	C'une vache entra en la porte,
16950	the one with the port-cullis,	En cele qui le fleel porte,
	and as it did the gate came down to the ground,	E la porte se clost aval
	with the result that no rider	Issi que nuls homme a cheval
	could have passed through, try as he might.	N'i passast en nule maniere.
	They now could not move either forward or backward,	Lors ne porent avant n'arriere;
	and, anxious as they were	Mes cil, qui angoissos en erent
	to get out, they killed the cow.	De issir s'en, la vache acorerent.
	The danger was at its worst there,	La fu plus fors li enconbrers,
	and many of their knights were taken prisoner,	La out molt pris de chevaliers
	as if they had been surrendered up.	Des lor, cum se ce fust livree.
16960	Once the gate had been broken down,	Quant la porte fu debrusee,
	immediately Sir Simon de Poissy	Tant tost fuant s'en issi
	fled through the gap	Missires Simons de Peissi,
	and after him went the castellan of Arras,	E puis li chasteleins de Arraz,
	he who had come to chase away the rats	Cil qui vint por chacier les raz
	for the ladies who had come to London	As dames qui a Londres vindrent
	to surrender and who took their side.
	All the others who made their escape
	rested neither by night or day
	in any house or any town,
16970	because they believed that the bushes
	everywhere, on the hills and in the valleys,
	were hiding any number of Marshals,
	and they were much afraid at last by that thought.
	That was all too obvious at the Holland bridge,
	which was broken and in a dangerous condition,
	for they killed their horses
	to make a bridge to cross over,
	such was their haste to do so.

This text was translated by Stewart Gregory, with the assistance of David Crouch. We thank Ian Short of the Anglo-Norman Text Society and David Crouch for their permission and assistance in republishing this section.