Michael Jones

Plantagenet style because Edward III gives his son the honor position and I'm not quite sure, Dan, how much he told him of the full plan, but he's also making his son and the vanguard a target.

If we look at the topography of the battle, Edward's scouted out the site in advance, and he knows that French cavalry is going to come up towards the English army.

There is an agricultural ditch, so they'll be funneled into an area where the prince's division is.

They'll see his banner.

They'll go for him.

And Edward knows that by making his son a target, he has the possibility of...

getting a huge tactical advantage, but there's also a considerable element of risk.

And we know famously that the prince is concussed, probably falls down and then picks himself up his standard bearer, which is the person holding the standard is a couple of feet away.

is knocked over, the French get the standards.

So the French are broken in through the main line into the prince's bodyguard, and the prince himself is close to being killed.

And a breathless messenger comes to Edward III and says,

Quick, do something or you'll lose your son.

And according to Jean Frasier, the king just says, let him win his spurs.

Well, that would send us to a therapist for 20 years, wouldn't it?

But what I love is after making this great soundbite, the king kind of thinks, what have I done?

And according to another source, he then quietly said, look, send 40 of my best knights to support my son.

So tough love, but also a loving father.

I think it's a great moment.

And the prince does hang on there.

He does survive.