to that part of the Sarte which the Englifh were to pafs, large beams which they had fixed acrofs the river with fharp ftakes, fo that they would not be able to crofs it. On the banks, they dug very wide and deep ditches, to prevent their defcending to? the river, or afcending from it. The earl of Buckingham marched from Pont-valin with his army to the Sarte, where he halted ; for they could not find a ford, as the river was fwellcd and deep, and • difficult to crofs except in certain places. The van-guard marched up and down, but could not difcover any other ford but where the beams of timber and flakes had been fixed. The lords difmounted, and, obferving the ford, faid, c It is here we muft pafs, if we mean jto march further : come let us be aftive, and drag thefe beams out of our way/ You would have feen, after this fpeech, knights, barons and fquires enter the river, and labour moft heartily before they could fucceed : at laft, they gained their point, but with much difficulty, and, having cleared away all obftacles, opened a paffage. * Had ^ the French been watchful enough, they might have done them much harm g for thofe who croffed firft could not affift thofe that followed, on account of the deep marfhes they had, to go through. The Englifh took fuch pains, that .they did pafs them, and arrived at Noyon fur Sarte- .CfrlAP. \