- *£hô duke of Gueldres was informed; that his /fcnemies^ to the amount of ten thoufand, Were •Abroad, • and had paffed the Meufe àt the bridge at Raveftein. The duke halted* on hearing this* • to confider again the beft mode of proceeding, for fome of his companions w,ëre alarmed at the • -fmallnefs of their numbers^ in comparifon with the enemy* who were at leaft thirty or forty for tone. They faid,—* How is it poflible for 'three or four hundred lances to oppofe ten or twelve thoufand ? it is not in our power to overthrow , them, but they may very eafily flay us.' Several aflembled round the duke, and advifed him tb retreat to Grave; but he replied, * he would ne-ver do fo, nor confine himfelf in any town bift march to meet his enemies^ fot his courage told % ' him he fhould defeat them ; and he preferred dying with honour to living iii difgrace. ' We will overthrow, faid he, our enemies, and'gairi this day infinite honour and wealth/ He theli, after a fhort paufe, added in a loud voicedf Forward, foi ward! thofe who love me will follow me/ • : ,l! • This fpeech of the duke greatly encouraged his men, more efpecially thole who had heard the * whole ; and they all fhewed a great earnefthefs to combat their enemies, who were faft approach- % ing They tightened their armours, lowered the vifors of their helmets, and re-girthed their fad-dies, and marched flowly in1 handfome array, that their horfes might be freïh for the charge. Some new knights were made,'and they marched in this order towards Raveftein. P2 % 'The; ,811