Battle of Crécy

On 26th August 1346 the army of King Edward III of England (age 33) defeated the French army at the Battle of Crécy. The English army was commanded by King Edward III of England, his son Edward "Black Prince" (age 16), Thomas Beauchamp 11th Earl Warwick (age 33), William Bohun 1st Earl of Northampton (age 36) and John Beauchamp 1st Baron Beauchamp Warwick (age 30).

The English army was included: Bishop Thomas of Hatfield (age 36), Hugh Despencer 1st Baron Despencer (age 38), Bernard Brocas (age 16), Thomas Felton (age 16), James Audley (age 28), Robert Bourchier 1st Baron Bourchier, Bartholomew "The Elder" Burghesh 1st Baron Burghesh (age 59), Bartholomew "The Younger" Burghesh 2nd Baron Burghesh (age 18), Reginald Cobham 1st Baron Cobham (age 51), John Darcy 1st Baron Darcy of Knayth (age 66), Robert Ferrers 3rd Baron Ferrers of Chartley (age 37), Richard Scrope 1st Baron Scrope of Bolton (age 19), William Scrope (age 21), Stephen Scrope (age 21), William Latimer 4th Baron Latimer of Corby (age 16), John Lisle 2nd Baron Lisle (age 28), Gerard Lisle 1st Baron Lisle (age 42), Nicholas Longford (age 61), Edward Montagu 1st Baron Montagu, Walter Paveley 4th Baron Burghesh (age 27), Michael Poynings 1st Baron Poynings (age 28), Robert Ufford 1st Earl Suffolk (age 48), John de Vere 7th Earl of Oxford (age 34), Thomas West (age 34), John Willoughby 2nd Baron Willoughby (age 43), John Wingfield (age 26), Henry Percy 11th and 3rd Baron Percy (age 25), Hugh Courtenay 2nd or 10th Earl Devon (age 43) (possibly), Walter "Elder" Devereux (age 37), John Devereux (age 44), Enion Sais Brecon, John Chandos (age 26), Richard Pembridge (age 26) and John Sully (age 63).

The French army suffered significant casualties. King Philip "Fortunate" VI of France (age 52) was wounded. William de Coucy (age 60) and his son Enguerrand 6th Lord de Coucy (age 33) and were killed.

Charles Valois Count Alençon (age 49) was killed. His son Charles (age 9) succeeded Count Alençon.

Louis Chatillon II Count Blois I Count Chatillon was killed. His son Louis succeeded III Count Blois.

Louis Dampierre II Count Nevers I Count Flanders (age 42) was killed. His son Louis (age 15) succeeded III Count Nevers, II Count Flanders.

King John I of Bohemia (age 50) was killed. His son Charles (age 30) succeeded IV King Bohemia.

Rudolph "Valiant" Metz I Duke Lorraine (age 26) was killed. His son John succeeded I Duke Lorraine.

Jean IV de Harcourt (age 39) was killed.

Chronicle of Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke [-1360]. On the following day, namely Saturday [26th August 1346], the king advanced his army¹ to the field of Crécy, where he encountered the army of the tyrant. The king, always prepared for battle, arranged his army as follows: the first line of battle was placed under the command of the Prince of Wales, his son; the second division was sent as a reserve; and the third he retained for himself. He commended everything to God and the Blessed Virgin Mary. It was noted that all his foot soldiers were instructed to await the enemy's attack, while the warhorses and coursers, along with the provisions, were kept in reserve for pursuing the fleeing enemy.

The French army was divided into nine battles.² The first battle line was entrusted to the King of Bohemia,² a man of great wisdom and experience in arms, who, on that same day, in order to clear his name, requested from the tyrant the honour of leading the first charge and prophesied that he would die facing the noblest knight in the world. When he said that the King of England would not flee, he was rebuked as a madman, and so, with great insistence, was given command of the vanguard.

So confident were the French nobles in the size of their army that each one laid claim to an English prisoner to keep in his dungeons. The King of Majorca asked for the King of England himself to be given to him; others asked for the prince, or for the Earl of Northampton, or for other English lords, according to who seemed most noble. But the cunning tyrant [King Philip VI], fearing that in the scramble to capture high-born prisoners for ransom his men would become too preoccupied and thus slacken in their pursuit of victory, commanded that the banner known as the 'Oriflamme' be unfurled. Once this banner was raised, it was forbidden, on pain of death, for anyone to take a prisoner and spare his life. This banner, called the Oriflamme,³ symbolized the 'mercy of the French' being so enflamed that it was impossible to spare any mortal life just as flaming oil cannot spare anything combustible. This banner was positioned to the right of the royal French standard, bearing golden fleurs-de-lis with golden threads trailing from its edges, hanging as though in mid-air.

In response, the King of England ordered his own standard to be raised, on which a dragon clothed in his arms was depicted; and from this it was called the Dragon, signifying that the gentleness of the lilies had been turned into the dragon's cruelty, and the ferocity of the leopard was now ready to be unleashed.

In crastino, scilicet die Sabbati, rex promovit suum exercitum ad campum de Cressi, ubi obviavit eii exercitus tiranni. Igitur rex semper ad prelium preparatus, et sui exercitus acie prima principi Wallie filio subordinata, custodia secunde missa, terciam custodiam sibi retinens, omnia Deo et Virgini beate commendavit, observato quod sui omnes pedites insultum hostilem expectabant, dextrariis et cursariis cum victualibus venacioni hostium fugitivorum reservatis.

Exercitus Francorum fuit in novem turmas divisus. Prima custodia regi Boemie, viro magne sapiencie et armorum experiencie, commendabatur, qui eodem die in purgacionem sue fame peciit a tiranno primum ducatum atque prophetavit se moriturum contra nobiliorem mundi militem; sibi enim dicenti regem Anglie non esse fugam initurum fuit vecordia improperata, unde regimen prime custodie habuit cum instancia magna.

Tantum securi fuerunt in multitudine sui exercitus heroes Francorum, quod singuli pecierunt singulas personas Anglicas suis carceribus mancipandas. Rex Malogrie peciit regem Anglorum sibi dari, alii principem, alii comitem Norhamptonie, alii alios, secundum quod videbantur nobiliores; set tirannus hastutus, timens ne circa capcionem nobilium redimendorum sui forent nimium ocupati, et proinde segnius ad communem victoriam hanelarent, iussit explicari suum vexillum quod vocatur Oliflammum, quo erecto, non licuit sub pena capitis aliquem capere ad vitam reservandum. Vocabatur inquam Oliflammum, significans misericordiam Francorum incensam aliquem mortalem reservare ad vitam non posse, sicud nee oleum inflammatum alicui cremabili posse parcere. Ita vexillum ad dextram stacionardi regalis Francie habuit aurea lilia lata cum filis aureis a lateribus vexilli regii Francorum, quasi in vacuo dependencia.

E contra rex Anglie iussit explicari! suum vexillum, in quo draco armis suis togatus depingebatur et abinde fuit nuncupatum 'Drago,' significans feritatem leoparditam atque miticiam liliorum in draconcinam crudelitatem fuisse conversam.

Note 1. The English army was divided, as Baker says, into three battles: the first under the prince of Wales, the second under Arundel and Northampton, and the third under the king. They were posted on the plateau running from south-west to north-east between Crecy and Wadicourt. The latest account of the battle will be found in Kohler, Die Enttuickelung des Kriegswesens in der Ritterzeit (1886), 2.385-416.

Note 2. The different accounts of the disposition of the French forces are most conflicting. The only point upon which all are perfectly in accord is that the Genoese crossbowmen (6000 men under Carlo Grimani and Ottone Doria) led the van. As to the rest of the army, according to some, it was divided into two, according to others, into three or even more battles, the first being under Alençon, while Philip is variously placed in command of one of the others, but generally in the rear guard. The fact is, that the French advanced in such haste that the troops got quite out of hand and came into action, as Froissart says, 'sans arroy et ordonnance' i.e. 'without array and order'. In the Récits d'un Bourgeois de Valenciennes, ed. Baron Kervyn de Lettenhove, 230.

The English, looking down upon the enemy from the high ground of their position, could no doubt form a good opinion of the French plan of attack. Froissart got his information chiefly from them and from John of Hainault, who was in the rear with the French king.

Michael Northburgh, who was present, in Avesbury 369.

One of the MSS. of Murimuth comes near to Baker's account by making the number of battles to be seven; Murimuth 246.

Note 2. Villani, Cronica, ed. 1823, 7.164.

The Continuation of Nangis 2.203.

Note 3. Baker's ingenious derivation is unique. The Oriflamme is said to have received its name from its orange-red colour.

Roxburghe Club 1842. Saturday, the 26th of August [1346], when we reached Crécy, our enemy appeared very near us around the third hour, with a great number of men—more than 12,000 men-at-arms, including 8,000 knights and squires of noble birth. We formed our battle lines and waited on foot until just before vespers, when the armies engaged on open ground. The battle was fierce and long, lasting from just before vespers until nightfall. The enemy fought nobly and reformed many times. But—thanks be to God—they were defeated, and our adversary fled. Among the dead were: the King of Bohemia, the King of Majorca, the Duke of Lorraine, the Archbishop of Rouen, the Bishop of Noyon, the High Prior of the Hospital in France, the Abbot of Corbeil, the Count of Alençon, the Count of Flanders, the Count of Blois, the Count of Harcourt and his son, the Count of Sancerre, the Count of Montbéliard, the Count of Grandpré, the Viscount of Melun, the Viscount of Coucy, the Lord of Risenberg, the Lord of Morel, the Lord of Cayeux, the Lord of Savenay, and many other counts, barons, and great lords, too numerous to name. More than 1,500 knights and squires were killed in the initial clash alone, not to mention others killed throughout the field. After the battle, we remained there all night rejoicing, without food or drink. The next morning, the pursuit continued, during which around 4,000 more enemy troops were killed—including knights, nobles, and other men-at-arms. Our said adversary, after his defeat, withdrew to Amiens, where he had many of his own generals killed, saying they had betrayed him. It is said he is now gathering a new army to engage us again, but we firmly trust in God's grace, which has helped us thus far. We have now moved toward the sea to be refreshed with reinforcements from England, including men-at-arms, artillery, and other necessary things. For this campaign we have waged has been long and constant, yet we do not intend to depart from the kingdom of France until we have, with God's help, brought this war to a conclusion. Given under our privy seal before Calais, the 3rd day of September [1346], in the 20th year of our reign in England.

et le Samady le xxvj. jour Daugust a notre venu a Cresci notre ennemi se monstra bien pres de nous a hour de tirce ou grant nombre de gents, car il avoit plus de xij mille des hommes darmes, desquelx viij mille furent de gentil gent; chevaliers et eschuiers; et maintenaunt nous arraimez nos batailles et ensi attendimes au pee tantque un pou devant hour de vespere, a quel hour lez batailles se assemblerent en plain champ: et estoient le bataillez trop fort et longement duraunt quar il deurra de deuant hour de vespre tantqe a soire, et les ennemis se porterount moult noblement, et moult sovent se relierent, ayez loiez en soit dieux ils furent discomfis et notre adversaire se mist au fuite et yfurent morts le roy de Beame, Le roy de Maylocre, Le duc de Lorraigne, Larchevesqe de Jaunx, l'Evesqe de Noron, Le hault Priour del Hospital de ffraunce, l'Abbe de Corbell, le counte de Alounzone, le counte de Flaundres, le counte de Bloys, le counte de Harcourt et son ffits, le counte de Saumes, le counte Danser, le count de Mutbiliart, le count de Grauntpree, le viscount de Meloigne, le viscount de Coarci, le sieur de Risenbergh, le sieur de Morel, le sieur de Kayen, le sieur de Savenant, et tut playn des aultres Comites et Barons et aultrez graunt sieurs, dont homme ne puest savoir les nomes encore; et morerent en ung petit place ou la primer assemble estoiet plus de mille et v. chivalers et esquiers estre tout plaine des aultres si que mourrerent apres de tout pars du champ. Et apres la discomfiture nous y demourrames tout le nut joien saunz boire et mangier, et le demain matin fust le chace fait, en quel furent occiz bien iiij. mille qe de gent; darmes qe de genereiz et aultres gents darmes. Et notre dit adversaire apres la discomfiture se trait devers Amyas ou il fait tuer grant nombre de ses genenors, et dit quilz lui traierent a sa besoigne. Et homme dit quil a fait assembler son povair de nouel pour nous doner autrefois bataille, et si fioms bien en dieu q'il continuera deuers nos sa grace en maner comme il a fait tantqe enca. Et si soums ore trait devers la mere pour estre refresshe hors Dangleterre, si bien des gent; darmes comme d'artillery et aultres choses besoignables, car le journee qe nos avons faite a este bien loigne et continuel; mez toutefois nous ne pensoms a departier du royaume de ffraunce tantqe eyoms fait fyne de notre gerr en laide de Dieu. Dom sobs nre prive seel devant Calais, le iij Jour, de Sept. lan de nre reigned Dangletiere vintisme & c.

Chronicle of Robert de Avesbury. 26th August 1346. And on the Saturday, in the morning, he moved towards Crécy; and the scouts of our lord the king spied out the king of France, who was coming against us in four great battles, and they perceived there their enemy. And, by the will of God, a little before the hour of vespers his power gathered against ours in open field; and the battle was very stubborn, and endured a long while, for the enemy bore themselves right nobly. But, praised be God, there were our enemies discomfited, the king our adversary took to flight; and there were slain the king of Bohemia, the duke of Lorraine, the count of Alençon, the count of Flanders, the count of Blois, the count of Harcourt and his two sons, the count of Aumarle, the count of Nauvers and his brother the lord of Trouard, the archbishop of Nimes, the archbishop of Sens, the grand prior of the Hospital of France, the count of Savoy, the lord of Moreuil, the lord of Guyes, the lord of Saint Venant, the lord of Rosenberg, six counts of Germany, and great numbers of other counts and barons and other men and lords whose names cannot yet be known. And Philip of Valois and the marquis who is called the elect of the Romans escaped wounded, as they say. The full number of the good men of arms which were slain in the field on that day, without reckoning the commons and foot soldiers, amounteth to fifteen hundred and forty and two, all told. And the same night the king of England with all his host abode in arms on the field where was the discomfiture.

Et ln Samady a matin se remus devers Cressy, et lez descoverers nostre seignur le roi discovererent le roy de Fraunce, qe vint devers nous en iiIJ grosses batailles, et entenderont illesqes lor enemys. Et, a la volente de Dieu, un poy avaunt le heure de vespre sa poair assembla a nostre en plain champ; et le bataille estoit tres fort et endura longement, car lez enemys se porterount mult noblement. Mais, loiez soit Dieux, illesqes farent noz enemys descomfitz, le roy nostre adversarie se mist a fayte; et fusrent mortz le roy de Bealme, le duc de Loreigne, le counte Dalesoun, le counte de Flaundrez, le counte de Bloys, le counte de Harecourt et sez IJ filtz, le counte Damarle, le counte de Nauvers et son frere le seignur de Trouard, lercevesqe de Niemes, lercevesqe de Saunz, le haut priour de lospitel de Fraunce, le counte de Savoie, le seignur de Morles, le seignur de Guyes, le sire de Seint Vinaunt, le seignur de Rosingbergh, vj. countes Dalmaigne, et tut plein dez autres countes et barons et anltres gentz et seignurs dount homme ne peot unquore savoir lez nouns. Et Phelip de Valoise et le markys qest appelle le elitz du Romeyns eschaperent naufrez, a ceo qe homme dist. La summe dez bones gentz darmes qe fusrent mortz en la champ a ceste jour, saunz comunes et pedailles, amounte a mil DXLIJ acountez. Et mesme la nuyt, le roy Dengleterre od tout son host demurra en la champ armez, od la disconfiture fuist.

Chronicle of Henry Knighton. [26th August 1346] And then, because Philip of Valois was moving from that place with his army, King Edward with his people withdrew into the forest of Cressy. Around the ninth hour, new rumours came to King Edward that King Philip was ready and arrayed in three distinct battle lines. King Edward, made joyful by this, prepared his people. And he came to the bridge of Cressy, and around the hour of vespers, and a little before, Edward watched the enemies approach. The English had remained fasting due to the long delay in waiting for the French, so that they could always be ready at their arrival. Immediately the trumpets and horns sounded, and there was an accompanying downpour of rain, with great thundering horror, and soon that remarkable storm ceased.

In the foremost line was Edward, Prince of Wales, firstborn son of King Edward, the Earl of Northampton, and the Earl of Warwick with their forces, who attacked and overthrew the first division of the French, aided by divine support. Then, without any pause, they likewise engaged and defeated the second division, in which were two kings and one duke—namely, the King of Bohemia, the King of Majorca, and the Duke of Lorraine, along with many other nobles. Then the Prince of Wales engaged with the third division, in which were King Philip of Valois, the King of Germany, and Lord John of Hainault, and, relying on the grace of God, he struck them down and overcame them.

King Philip of France was struck in the face with an arrow, and his warhorse was killed; he then mounted another suitable one and fled. Nor did any Englishman know from whence it came. Similarly, many others fled.

Bellum de Cressy. Et tunc quia Philippus Valoys se mouebat de illo loco cum exercitu, rex Edwardus cum populo suo recepit se in forestam de Cressy. Et circa horam nonam uenerunt noui rumores ad regem Edwardum, quod rex Philippus paratus erat et arraiatus in .iij. distentibus aciebus. Rex Edwardus, ex hoc letus effectus, parauit populum suum. Et uenit ad pontem de Cressy, et circa horam uesperarum et parum ante, prospexit Edwardus inimicos appropinquare. Anglici ieiuni adhuc erant pre longa mora Francos expectando, ut semper possent esse parati in eorum aduentu. Statimque clanxerunt clarriones et tube, inundacioque pluuiarum comitabatur, tonutruique magni horribilitas, et in breui cessauit illa mirabilis tempestas.

Total killed in battle: the French were slain. And there were killed two thousand armed men, knights, and squires, and almost an innumerable multitude of foot soldiers. The number of men coming with King Philip of France was twelve thousand foot soldiers, one thousand men armed to the shins and feet. Of whom in those three battles were killed two thousand armed men and thirty-two thousand other armed men. For they fought until deep into the night, in the field of Westglyse near Cressy.

Two kings, one duke, sixteen earls, more than two hundred others were killed. Sixteen earls were killed there. The two kings, of Bohemia and the King of Majorca, and the Duke of Lorraine, the Archbishop of Sens, the Bishop of Noyon, the Grand Master of the Hospital of France, and the Abbot of Corbeil. King Edward stood all night with his army in the field, and the French attacked them sixteen times before the day dawned. For the moon shone brightly, as God willed, for three parts of the night. At sunrise, the French army approached the English in the field, but as it pleased God, they did not dare to engage, and when the English advanced towards them, they fled, and the English pursuing them, killed many of them.

Of the English, three knights were killed in battle. From the English, one squire was killed before the battle, and in the battle, three knights; the rest God preserved. Many of the English knights became very poor.

In anteriori acie erat Edwardus, princeps Wallie, primogenitus regis Edwardi, comes Northamptone, et comes Warwyche cum suis, qui expugnauerunt primam aciem Francorum, diuino adminiculo subfulti. Deinde similiter et secundam, absque pausacione aliquali. In qua erant duo reges et unus dux, uidelicet rex Boemie, rex Malogrie, et dux Loryngie et multi alii proceres. Deinde tercio congressus est princeps Wallie cum tercia acie, in qua rex Philippus Valoys fuit, et rex Almonye, et dominus Iohannes de Hunaldia, et ipsos Dei gracia fretus prostrauit et deuicit.

Rex Francie Philippus percussus est in facie cum una sagitta, dextrariusque eius occisus est, ascenditque alium competem et fugit. Nec quisque Anglicus sciuit unde deuenit. Similiter et multi alii fugierunt.

Summa occisorum in bello: occisi Franci. Et interfecti sunt IJ milia uirorum armatorum, militum, et scutiferorum, et quasi innumerabilis multitudo pedestrium. Numerus uirorum ueniencium cum rege Francie Philippo XIJ milia galliarum, I milia uirorum armatorum ad tibias et pedes. De quibus in ills tribus preliis interfecti sunt IJ millia uirorum armatorum et XXXIJ millia aliorum armatorum. Nam pugnauerant usque ad profundam noctem, in campo de Westglyse iuxta Cressy.

Occist IJ reges, J dux, XVJ comites, IJ C plures. Comites XVJ occisi sunt ibidem. Duo reges, Boemie et rex Malogrie, et dux Loryngie, archiepiscopus Seyensis, et episcopus Neyensis, et magnus magister hospitalis Francie, et abbas de Corbella. Rex Edwardus tota nocte cum exercitu suo stetit in campo, et Franci XVJ. / uicibus dederunt eis insultum antequam dies illucesceret. Nam luna clare lucebat, sicut Deus uoluit, per .iij. partes noctis. In ortu solis uenit exercitus Francorum uersus Anglos in campum, set sicut Deo placuit congredi non audebant, et cum Angli uersus eos procederent, fugerunt, et Angli eos insequentes, multos eorum occiderunt.

Anglicr occisi .iij. milites mn bello. De Anglicis occisus est unus scutifer ante prelium, et in prelio .iij. milites, reliquos Deus reseruauit. Facti sunt multi milites pauperimi de Anglicis.

Adam Murimuth Continuation. 26th August 1346. And the said battle was committed near Crecy on the Saturday after the feast of Saint Bartholomew, which was the twenty-sixth day of August, as is evident from other letters sent previously and some other, albeit not contradictory, contents.

Et fuit commissum dictum bellum prope Cressy die Sabbati post festum sancti Bartholomæi, que fuit vicesima, sexta mensis Augusti, sicut patet per alias literas præmissa et quædam alia, non tamen contraria, continentes.

Chronicle of the Monastery of Melsa. 26th August 1346. Where King Edward, having left his horses and wagons behind to prevent his men from fleeing more freely, divided his army into three battalions and chose a field between the town and the forest of Crécy. In these three battalions, there were estimated to be a total of 8,000 men at arms, with archers placed strategically on either side. And when Edward was thus positioned with his men on that Saturday, the 26th day of August, behold, Philip appeared with 30,000 armed men and innumerable commoners, arranged in order. There, they fought continuously from the hour of vespers until night. The French, forming one large battalion from their three divisions, fiercely attacked the first battalion of the English, in which was Edward, Prince of Wales, the eldest son of King Edward. And immediately, a great multitude of crows and ravens appeared flying and croaking around the French, and a terrifying thunderstorm followed, with thunder roaring twice and rain falling, which brought down the dust that had been lifted into the air. It had not rained on that land since the day King Edward entered the kingdom of France, for 6 weeks and 8 days.

Ubi rex Edwardus, equis suis et cariagiis post tergum dimissis, ne sui liberius ad fugam convolarent, exercituque suo in tres acies diviso, inter villam et forestam de Cressy campum preelegit. In istis siquidem tribus aciebus 8,000 hominum ad arma fuerunt totaliter eestimati, aliis hinc inde dispositis de sagittariis constitutis. Et ipso Edwardo sic cum suis ibidem constituto, sabbato 26 die Augusti, ecce Philippus cum 30,000 armatorum et communitatibus innumerabilibus, ordine disposito, apparebat. Ibique ab hora vesperarum usque ad noctem continue decertarunt. Franci autem de tribus ocuneis unam aciem maximam componebant, et Anglorum primam aciem, in quo erat Edwardus Princeps Wallis, regis Edwardus primogenitus, acrius invadebant. Et statim videbatur maxima multitudo corvorum et cornicum circumquaque volantium et orocitantium super Francos; et tonitruum terribilem bis tonantem pluvia, que pulverem per aiera levatum dejecit, sequebatur. Nec pluerat super terram illam a die quo rex Edwardus regnum Francie ingressus est, per 6 videlicet septimanas et 8 dies.

Nuova Cronica de Giovanni Villani Book 7. Of a great and disastrous defeat suffered by King Philip of France at the hands of Edward III, King of England, at Crécy in Picardy.

King Philip of Valois, King of France, who with his army was pursuing the King of England and his men, upon hearing that Edward had encamped near Crécy and was awaiting battle, advanced toward him boldly, believing he would easily overcome him, thinking the English were worn out and weakened by hardship and hunger during their march. And since he believed he had more than three times as many good cavalry troops, for the King of France had some twelve thousand knights, and foot soldiers almost without number, whereas the King of England had only four thousand knights and about thirty thousand English and Welsh archers, along with some troops bearing doulondacs (likely a type of light shield or armor) and short lances. When he had come within a crossbow's range of the English camp, on a Saturday afternoon, the 26th of August, 1346, the King of France arranged his troops into three divisions, known as battles, in their usual fashion. In the first division were around six thousand Genoese crossbowmen and other Italians, commanded by Messrs. Charles Grimaldi and Ottone Doria. With these crossbowmen were King John of Bohemia and his son Charles, elected King of the Romans, along with over three hundred knights on horseback and other barons. The second division was led by Charles, Count of Alençon, brother of the King of France, and included many counts and barons, about four thousand knights and many infantrymen.

The third division was led by the King of France, and in his company were the other named kings, counts, and barons, with the rest of his army, an innumerable multitude of men on horseback and on foot. Before the battle began, two great ravens appeared above the said hosts, crying and croaking; and then there fell a light rain, and when it ceased, the battle commenced. The first line of Genoese crossbowmen, together with others on horseback, advanced close to the wagon-fort of the King of England and began shooting their bolts; but they were soon driven back, for on and under the wagons, covered with canvas and cloths that shielded them from the quarrels, and in the battle formations of the King of England, who was within the wagon-fort in ordered ranks among the knights, there were three thousand archers, as said before, both English and Welsh. And when the Genoese shot one crossbow bolt, the others shot three arrows from their bows, which seemed in the air like a cloud, and they did not fall in vain, without striking men or horses, not to mention the blows of the bombards, which made such a great thunder and noise that it seemed as though God Himself were thundering, with great slaughter of men and breaking down of horses.

But what did the greatest harm to the host of the French was that, since the ground for fighting was as narrow as the space opened by the wagons of the King of England, when they struck and pressed upon the second battle line, that is, the division of the Count of Alençon, they pushed the Genoese crossbowmen so close to the wagons that they could neither hold their ground nor shoot with their crossbows. All the while, those on the wagons above them kept wounding them with arrows and shots from bombards, so that many of them were wounded and killed. For this reason, the said crossbowmen, unable to withstand it, being pressed by the soldiers and their horses against the wagon-fort, turned to flight. The French knights and their men-at-arms, seeing them flee, believed they had betrayed them, and they themselves struck them down, so that few escaped alive.

D'una grande e sventurata sconfitta ch' ebbe il re Filippo di Francia da Adoardo terzo re d'Inghilterra a Crecì in Piccardia.

Lo re Filippo di Valos re di Francia, il quale col suo esercito seguiva il re d'Inghilterra e sua gente, sentendo come s'era accampato presso di Crecì e aspettava la battaglia, sì andò verso di lui francamente credendolo avere soppreso, come straccato e vinto per lo disagio e fame sofferta in cammino. E sentendosi avere più de' tre tanti di buona gente d'arme a cavalle, perocchè 'l re di Francia avea bene da dodicimila cavalieri, e sergenti a pie quasi innumerabili, ove il re d'Inghilterra non avea che quattromila cavalieri, e da trentamila arceri inghilesi e gualesi, e alquanti con dulundacche e lance corte; e venuto presso al campo degl' Inghilesi quanto uno balestro potesse trarre, uno sabato dopo nona, a di 26 d'Agosto 1346, il re di Francia fece fare alla sua gente tre schiere a loro guisa, dette battaglie ; nella prima avea bene seimila balestrieri genovesi e altri Italiani, la quale guidava messer Carlo Grimaldi e Ottone Doria, e co' detti balestrieri era il re Giovanni di Boemia, e messer Carlo suo figliuolo eletto re deTioaiani, con più altri baroni e cavalieri in quantità di trecento a cavallo. L'altra schiera guidava Carlo conte di Lanzona fratello del re di Francia con più conti e baroni in quantità di quattromila cavalieri e sergenti a piè assai.

La terza schiera guidava il re di Francia , e in sua compagnia gli altri re nomati e conti e baroni, con tutto il rimanente del suo esercito, ch'erano innumerabile gente a cavallo e a pie. Linanzi che la battaglia si cominciasse, apparvero sopra le dette osti due grandi corbi gridando e gracchiando ; e poi piovve una piccola acqua; e ristata, incominciò la battaglia. La prima schiera de'balestrieri de'Genovesi con gli altri a cavallo si strinsono al carrino del re d'Inghilterra e cominciarono a saettare con loro verrettoni ; ma furono ben tosto rimbeccati, che in su' carri e sotto i carri alla coverta di sargane e di drappi che gli guarentivano da' quadrelli , e nelle battaglie del re d'Inghilterra, eh' erano dentro al carrino nelle schiere ordinate tra' cavalieri , avea da tremila arceri , come detto è addietro , tra Ingliilesi e Gualesi , che quando i Genovesi saettavano uno quadrello di balestro , quegli saettavano tre saette d' arco, che parca in aere una nuvola , e non cadevano invano sanza fedire genti o cavalli, sanza i colpi delle bombarde , che facieno sì grande treaiuoto e romore , che parca che Iddio tonasse, con grande uccisione di gente e sfondamento di cavalli.

Ma quello che peggio faceva all'oste de'Franceschi si fu, che essendo il luogo stretto da combattere quant' era 1' aperta de' carri del re d' Inghilterra , e percuotendo e pignendo la seconda battaglia ovvero schiera del conte di Lanzona , strinsono si i balestrieri genovesi a' carri, che non si potevano reggere , né saettare colle loro balestra , essendo al continuo al di sotto da quelli che erano in su' carri fediti di saette dagli arceri e dalle bombarde , onde molti ne furono fediti e morti. Per la qual cosa i detti balestrieri non potendo sostenere, essendo da' soldati stretti e da'loro cavalli al carrino per modo, che si misono in volta , i cavalieri franceschi e loro sergenti veggendoli fuggire , credettono gli avessono traditi, ed eglino medesimi gli uccidevano , che pochi ne scamparono.

Life of the Black Prince by Chandos Herald. 26th August 1346

A quoy faire vous conteroye	Why should I recount and prolong
Le matere et alongeroye?	The matter?
Celuy jour y ot il bataille	That day there was a battle
Si orible, que, tout sanz faille,	So horrible, that, without fail,
Onques ne fu corps si hardis	There was never a body so brave
Que n'en pooit estre esbahis.	That could not be astonished.
Qui veist venir le puissance	Whoever saw the power
Et le pooir du Roi de ffrance,	And the might of the King of France,
Grant mervaille seroit a dire!	It would be a great marvel to tell!
Espris de mautalent et d'ire	Driven by malice and wrath
Se vont ensamble entr'encontrer,	They went together to meet,
En faisant d'armes le mester,	In making their craft of arms,
Si tres chevalerousement	So very chivalrously
Que onques puis 'avenement	That ever since the advent
Ne vit on bataille plus fiere.	No fiercer battle was ever seen.
La veoit on maynte baniere,	There one could see many banners,
Pointe de fin or et de soye,	Pointed with fine gold and silk,
Et la, se li vrais Dieux m'avoye,	And there, if the true God aids me,
Englois estoient tout a pie,	The English were all on foot,
Com cil qui feurent afaitie	As those who were accustomed
De combatre et entalente.	To fight and eager.
La fu li Princes de bonte,	There was the Prince of goodness,
Qui I'avantgarde conduisoit,	Who led the vanguard,
Si vaillantment se governoit	So valiantly he conducted himself
Que merveille fu a veir;	That it was a marvel to see;
A paines lessoit envair	He scarcely let
Nuli, tant fust hardyz ne forz.	Anyone, however brave or strong, invade.
Que vous feroie lons recorz?	What long record should I make?
Tant combatirent celui jour	They fought so much that day
Qu'Englois en avoyent le meillour.	That the English had the better of it.
Et la fu morz li nobles Roys	And there died the noble King
De Behaigne qui fu courtoys,	Of Bohemia who was courteous,
Et li bons ducs de Loerayne	And the good Duke of Lorraine
Qui moult fu noble capitayne,	Who was a very noble captain,
Et de fflandres li nobles conte	And the noble Count of Flanders
Dont on fesoit un grant aconte,	Of whom a great account was made,
Et li bons conte d'Alencion	And the good Count of Alençon
Qui fu frere au Roy Philippon,	Who was brother to King Philip,
Cils de Joii + de Harcourt.	Those of Joinville + of Harcourt.
Que vous diroye a brief mot court?	What can I tell you in brief words?
Uns roys, uns ducs et sept contes	A king, a duke, and seven counts
Et, ensi com dit li acontes,	And, as the account says,
Plus que LX baneres	More than sixty banners
ffurent illoecques mort, tout fres,	Were there killed, all fresh,
Et trois roi qui s'en departirent;	And three kings who departed from there;
Et plusours autre s'en fuirent,	And many others fled,
Dont je ne say mie le nombre,	Of whom I do not know the number,
Ne n'est pas droiz que je le nombre;	Nor is it right that I count them;
Mais je sai bien que celi jour	But I know well that that day
Li nobles Princes de valour	The noble Prince of valor
Del bataille avoit 'avantgarde	Had the vanguard of the battle
Si com on doit bien prendre garde,	As one must take note,
Car par lui et par ses vertus	For by him and by his virtues
ffu li champs gaigniez et vaincus.	Was the field won and conquered.