When supper was done, every man went to his lodging with their prisoners.  The same night they put many to ransom and believed them on their faiths and troths, and ransomed them but easily, for they said they would set no knight’s ransom so high, but that he might pay at his ease and maintain still his degree.  The next day, when they had heard mass and taken some repast and that everything was trussed and ready, then they took their horses and rode towards Poitiers.  The same night there was come to Poitiers the lord of Roye with a hundred spears:  he was not at the battle, but he met the duke of Normandy near to Chauvigny, and the duke sent him to Poitiers to keep the town till they heard other tidings.  When the lord of Roye knew that the Englishmen were so near coming to the city, he caused every man to be armed and every man to go to his defence to the walls, towers and gates; and the Englishmen passed by without any approaching, for they were so laded with gold, silver and prisoners, that in their returning they assaulted no fortress; they thought it a great deed if they might bring the French king, with their other prisoners and riches that they had won, in safeguard to Bordeaux.  They rode but small journeys because of their prisoners and great carriages that they had:  they rode in a day no more but four or five leagues and lodged ever betimes, and rode close together in good array saving the marshals’ battles, who rode ever before with five hundred men of arms to open the passages as the prince should pass; but they found no encounters, for all the country was so frayed that every man drew to the fortresses.

As the prince rode, it was shewed him how the lord Audley had given to his four squires the gift of the five hundred marks that he had given unto him:  then the prince sent for him and he was brought in his litter to the prince, who received him courteously and said:  ’Sir James, we have knowledge that the revenues that we gave you, as soon as ye came to your lodging, you gave the same to four squires:  we would know why ye did so, and whether the gift was agreeable to you or not.’  ‘Sir,’ said the knight, ’it is of truth I have given it to them, and I shall shew you why I did so.  These four squires that be here present have a long season served me well and truly in many great businesses and, sir, in this last battle they served me in such wise that an they had never done nothing else I was bound to reward them, and before the same day they had never nothing of me in reward.  Sir, I am but a man alone:  but by the aid and comfort of them I took on me to accomplish my vow long before made.  I had been dead in the battle an they had not been:  wherefore, sir, when I considered the love that they bare unto me, I had not been courteous if I would not a rewarded them.  I thank God I have had and shall have enough as long as I live:  I will never be abashed for lack of good.  Sir, if I have done this without your pleasure, I require you to pardon me, for, sir, both I and my squires shall serve you as well as ever we did.’  Then the prince said:  ’Sir James, for anything that ye have done I cannot blame you, but can you good thank therefor; and for the valiantness of these squires, whom ye praise so much, I accord to them your gift, and I will render again to you six hundred marks in like manner as ye had the other.’