The besieged, seeing that the Gargantuists had won
the town upon them, and that they were like to be
secure in no corner of it, submitted themselves unto
the mercy of the monk, and asked for quarter, which
the monk very nobly granted to them, yet made them
lay down their arms; then, shutting them up within
churches, gave order to seize upon all the staves of
the crosses, and placed men at the doors to keep them
from coming forth. Then opening that east gate,
he issued out to succour and assist Gargantua.
But Picrochole, thinking it had been some relief
coming to him from the town, adventured more forwardly
than before, and was upon the giving of a most desperate
home-charge, when Gargantua cried out, Ha, Friar John,
my friend Friar John, you are come in a good hour.
Which unexpected accident so affrighted Picrochole
and his men, that, giving all for lost, they betook
themselves to their heels, and fled on all hands.
Gargantua chased them till they came near to Vaugaudry,
killing and slaying all the way, and then sounded
the retreat.
Chapter 1.XLIX.
How Picrochole in his flight fell into great misfortunes,
and what Gargantua did after the battle.
Picrochole thus in despair fled towards the Bouchard
Island, and in the way to Riviere his horse stumbled
and fell down, whereat he on a sudden was so incensed,
that he with his sword without more ado killed him
in his choler; then, not finding any that would remount
him, he was about to have taken an ass at the mill
that was thereby; but the miller’s men did so
baste his bones and so soundly bethwack him that they
made him both black and blue with strokes; then stripping
him of all his clothes, gave him a scurvy old canvas
jacket wherewith to cover his nakedness. Thus
went along this poor choleric wretch, who, passing
the water at Port-Huaulx, and relating his misadventurous
disasters, was foretold by an old Lourpidon hag that
his kingdom should be restored to him at the coming
of the Cocklicranes, which she called Coquecigrues.
What is become of him since we cannot certainly tell,
yet was I told that he is now a porter at Lyons, as
testy and pettish in humour as ever he was before,
and would be always with great lamentation inquiring
at all strangers of the coming of the Cocklicranes,
expecting assuredly, according to the old woman’s
prophecy, that at their coming he shall be re-established
in his kingdom. The first thing Gargantua did
after his return into the town was to call the muster-roll
of his men, which when he had done, he found that
there were very few either killed or wounded, only
some few foot of Captain Tolmere’s company, and
Ponocrates, who was shot with a musket-ball through
the doublet. Then he caused them all at and
in their several posts and divisions to take a little
refreshment, which was very plenteously provided for
them in the best drink and victuals that could be
had for money, and gave order to the treasurers and
