'God help us,' said the Black Prince; 'we must make the best of it.'
He posted his army very strongly upon a hill, while the French king marshalled his forces upon the plain below.
That night the two armies lay, strongly guarded, within sight of each other.
In the morning the battle was about to begin when a cardinal came riding in haste to the French king, and implored him to give him leave to try to save the small body of English from rushing upon certain destruction.
'Sire,' he said, 'you have here all the flower of your realm against a handful of people, for so the English are as compared to your company. I pray you that you will allow me to ride to the prince and show him what danger you have him in.'
The king gave permission, and the cardinal came riding over to the Black Prince, who received him courteously.
'Save my honour,' he said, when the cardinal offered to try to arrange terms for him, 'and the honour of my army, and I will make any reasonable terms.'
He offered to give up all the towns and castles he had taken, and to make a truce with the French king for seven years; and the cardinal rode back to his own side with this message.
After an interval of suspense he came riding to the English camp again.
'The King of France consents to make peace,' said the cardinal, 'on condition that you will yield yourself up a prisoner, with a hundred of your knights.'