Well inftrufted what they were to do. The army remained Where it was, on fool, in order of battle. When the French had thus drawn up their forces, and each knew what he was to do, the chiefs held a confutation, and long debated what war-cry they fhould ufe, and whofe banner or pen- • non they fhould fix'on asya rallying point. They for a long time determined to cry, f Nôtre Dame Auxerre !* and to make the earl of Auxerre their commander for that day. But the earl would not by any means accept of it, excufing himfelf by fay-ing ; ' My lords, I return you many thanks for the good opinion you have of me, and for the honor you offer me ; but at this moment I cannot accept of fuch an office, for I am too young to undertake fb honorable a charge. This is the firft pitched battle I was ever at : for which reafon I miift beg of you to make another choice* We have here many very able and- enterprifing knights, fuch as my lord Bertrand du Guefclin, my lord the archprieft, ray lord the grand mafter of the crofc-bows, my lord ^ewis de Chalons, my lord Edmund de Pommiers and fir Odoart de Renty, who have been in many hard engagements, and know much better than 1 do what ki fuch cafes is proper to be done. I muft, therefore, intreat you to excufe me from accepting your honorable offer.' The chiefs, after looking at each other, faid; \ Earl of Auxerre, you are the higheft by birth, and of the largeft property and eftates of any of us : you have therefore the right of being our chief/ * Cer-tainly, my fords/ repKed the earl of Auxerre, wfeat yep fey « wry pieafmg to me; but this day L % _ I will »47