2 24 Chaucer's Knight and his Exploits in the South 



IIP 



In order to the construction of this fort [a third fort for the siege 

 of Algeciras], a large number of soldiers kept guard over those who 

 were at work. And the Moors in the city, being much disturbed 

 over the building of the fort, would sally out to engage the Chris- 

 tians, in order to make an end of it. During these conflicts many, 

 both Christians and Moors, were wounded and slain. It happened 

 that one day, when the Moors issued forth to fight with the Chris- 

 tians, the Earls of Derby and Salisbury armed themselves and all 

 their companies, and took part in the conflict. At that moment the 

 Castilian knights who were on guard had vanquished the Moors, 

 and driven them into the city; but the earls and their companions 

 made their way to the city-gates on the side of the army, where 

 the encounter had taken place, and advanced so far that they thrust 

 with their lances at the Moors who were in the trench and behind their 

 walls. Then all the Moors in the city ran thither and sallied forth, 

 and there was a great battle with them. The Earl of Derby was 

 wounded in the face with an arrow,^ and two of his knights were 

 slain, but the Moors were forced back into the city. 



IV 



And he [Philip III, King of Navarre*] arrived at headquarters 

 in the month of July. . . . They of France and Gascony joined 



^ Cronica, p. 546. 



' Cf. the Poema de Alfonso Onceno (Bibl. de Autores Espanoles 57. 

 545-6), stanzas 2274, 2279-81: 



Un buen conde fue armado, 

 De Moros grand enemigo, 

 Arbit era su condado, 

 Deste conde que bos digo. ... 



Bien lidiaron los paganos, 

 Bien ferian a rreueses, 

 Los Castellanos llegaron 

 Por bandear los Ingleses. 

 E los Moros engerraron 

 Con su alcayde fardido, 

 E los Ingleses tornaron 

 Con el conde, mal ferido. 

 Dieronle tres saetadas , 

 Los ballesteros clareses, 

 Fueronse a sus posadas 

 Con el conde los Ingleses. 

 ' Cronica, p. 550. 



* He fell ill, left the camp in September, and went to Jerez de la 

 Frontera (source of sherry) where he soon died {Cronica, pp. 587-8; 



