By the Rev. Arthur Fane. 



105 



by Longespee — the Saracens again and again try to cut them 

 down — Sir Robert de Yere is mentioned as setting his back to a 

 wall and slaying 17 Saracens " before his soul went rejoicing to 

 God" — Longespee fights on — Giffard is described as the trusty 

 knight who was ever distinguished for his activity in arms — the 

 good knights kept firmly together, each as close to the rest as he 

 well could be. Around these five knights now gathered a great 

 host of the infidels well provided with horses and arms, and the 

 knights when they saw them were much dismayed — " Quant veint 

 les chivalers mulct sunt esmaez." Sir Alexander Giffard then says 

 to his Lord, "Sir, for the love of God, what is your counsel regard- 

 ing this host of Saracens which now comes against us? shall we 

 remain here, or fly for fear of them ?" The Earl then answered 

 with a steadfast heart, "Here ought each of us to show his prowess; 

 let us ride on to encounter these dogs ; for the love of Jesus Christ 

 we will die here — for the love of Jesus Christ came we here to 

 win by prowess our inheritance, the Bliss of Heaven.' ' In the 

 midst of the din and confusion and horror of this fearful butchery, 

 the valiant Longespee addressed his faithful follower, Sir Alexander 

 Giffard, and thus lays his commands as liege Lord upon him : — 



•"If you can escape, you, who have the care of my goods, and are 

 my knight, distribute my goods among my people in this manner : 

 — First, give to the poor brethren of holy houses to sing for my 

 soul, that it may forthwith be received into bliss ; and to the poor 

 English who have fought in the army, to the poor sick who are in 

 greatest need, to the lepers and orphans, that they may all pray for 

 my soul ; give for my soul my gold and my silver ; my stores and 

 my arms give to my good followers, and bestow all my other goods 

 so wisely, that with me you may attain to bliss with God." 



There is something wonderfully striking and magnificent in this 

 parley, as it were, in the midst of the din of war — the noble war- 

 rior's thought of home — his deep piety — his valorous resolve there 

 to die — and, on the other hand, Giffard's feudal dependence on his 

 lord, that made him as it were extempore executor to Longespee, 

 and, caused him to obey even when the high spirit and calm resolve 

 of the Crusader would have made him wish to die with his Lord, 



