He addressed the
Spaniards who stood before the
king and who had just given him this advice.
"You, sirs", and he called them all by name or by nickname, for he knew them well, "How could you be wiser in battle or more experienced in arms than these valiant knights here present? How could you imagine anything beyond what they have conceived that could possibly be of any value? They have done nothing else in life save travel from kingdom to kingdom to find and accomplish deeds of arms. How dare you refute their words or oppose their advice, which is so fine and noble and given in defence of the honour of the
king and his realm, in which you have greater interest than they do? For there you have your heritage and your persons, while they have only their bodies - which they are ready to put at risk, having already requested the same of the
king, asking that they might thus have the first taste of battle - to which request the
king has yet to give his answer. Consider the great courage that they possess, to put themselves at risk before you and on your behalf. Some might well believe that you are envious of them and do not wish any honour or gain to come to them, or that the
king should defeat his enemies who have fought him many times, so long as they remain in your company. Worthy men-at-arms who strive for perfect honour should not pay any regard to or covet such things, but rather be of one mind and one will. Besides, it is on your advice that my lord the king finds himself out here in the field, having sustained the siege of
Lisbon at such great cost and expense to himself and his men, without the chance of doing battle until this self-styled
king of Portugal who has no right to the throne, being as he is a bastard, entered the field. He is here now with his allies, but they are not many, and if they should happen to withdraw stealthily and we lose them without a fight, you will risk the people of this country assailing and killing you, or the
king denouncing you as a traitor and having you beheaded and your lands confiscated. I therefore see no other option for you but to be silent and leave it to those who have experienced more of such affairs than you ever have or ever will." After these words, the
king of Spain raised his head, looking very pleased with what
Sir Arnaud Limousin had just said. The
Spanish were dumbfounded and believed they had done worse than they really had, for although the
knight had reproached and chided them, they had spoken well and been loyal in their advice to the
king so that he could not have received anything better, but his valour and honesty made him speak in this way in consideration of the many foreign knights and squires who were eager for battle.
Everyone fell silent and the
king spoke. "It is my wish, in the name of God and my lord St James that we combat our enemies. Those who wish to become knights should come forward and I will confer on them the order of knighthood in honour of God and St George."
Then stepped forward a great many squires from
France and
Béarn, and by the
king's hand were knighted
Sir Roger d'Espagne,
Edmund,
Sir Roger's son, from the
county of Foix,
Sir Bertrand de Barège,
Sir Pierre de Sarabiere,
Sir Pierre de Balansun,
Sir Pierre de Ker,
Sir Angier Solenare,
Sir Pierre de Vaude,
Sir Geoffroi de Parthenay,
Sir Guillaume de Montdigi, and many others.
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