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his beautiful Joanna. In fact, every man who had taken part in this expedition would be a great deal richer when he returned home than he had been when it started. |
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More important in the long run was the enormous tonnage of supplies, the meat, corn, wine, flour, and arms that were still in the bellies of the ships. It was incredible, but nonetheless true, that Philip had not waited to unload the supplies for his campaign before he sent his army out to plunder the land. He had been too sure of his supremacy, too contemptuous of his enemies. Doubtless, he would not make that mistake again, but the lesson would come too late for the Flemish campaign. Without food for his army, the siege of Ghent could not be prosecuted. Without ships, the army would have to retreat overland. Without the extra arms and armor, the French would take heavy losses as they fought their way back through a hostile countryside. |
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When it grew too dark to continue loading, the parties ranging out from the town were thinned into a line of guards. More guards were set on the beached ships, and the captured vessels that were already fully laden were dispatched back to England with prize crews aboard. With the return of Salisbury and his party, Geoffrey found that he had been the only really hard pressed member of the army. The others had a calm, pleasant ride through the countryside, although they were loud in complaint over the damage the French had done. By the time they got onto that subject, Geoffrey had imbibed rather freely of the excellent wine the French had brought along for their own pleasure. It struck him very funny that his father and such other notable war lords as Dammartin and William of Holland should deplore in Flanders what they themselves would do in France if they had half a chance. |
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This line of thought led to a slightly maudlin decision that he was no better than they. Had he not bid the men spare the life of that knight and not even remembered to ask his name or whether he had survived? Thought and action being one when the passage between them was lubricated with wine, Geoffrey lunged to his feet and began to stagger out to make inquiries. |
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